Four in the morning

1. Utah wants to limit the pesky public from making requests for public documents. Poynter

2. Huffington Post names six new reporters, including former Yahoo-er Michael Calderon. Romenesko; Arianna Huffington says "meh" to the threat of unpaid bloggers going on strike (i.e., some people doing free work deciding not to work for free). fishbowlLA

3. Most media outlets are the worst at covering themselves - still, the New York Times ombud says it's about time the paper did some reporting on its highly anticipated paywall plan. NYT

4. For those living and voting in Los Angeles, the city will suspend parking restrictions on Election Day. City Maven (found via LA Observed)

National Enquirer bankrupcty proves even gossip doesn't pay*

The owner of the National Enquirer plans to file a pre-packaged bankruptcy in two weeks to shed debt and reorganize management. The process sounds similar to what MediaNews Group did  earlier this year to unload about $765 million worth of debt.

From AP:

American Media said it will file a prepackaged plan, which the company said should allow it to emerge from bankruptcy less than 60 days after the filing. The company said 80% of bondholders support a plan that calls for them forgiving debt in exchange for ownership.

The company, which also publishes Men's Fitness, Shape and Star magazines, said all its operations will continue as usual, and the reorganization won't affect its business or its staff.

* Update: Oh, and in case you don't care about gossip mags, American Media also publishes Playboy.

Stopping the presses in San Diego

One month before an election in which three college board seats are up for grabs, the administration at Southwestern College has cited a rule that could stop the student newspaper from printing its next edition.

A spokesman for the college said the Sun newspaper must choose a printer through a defined bid procedure or it won't get any money to pay for the printing. Student journalists say the paper has for decades shopped around for printers and asked why the administration decided to enforce the rule on the eve of the board elections.

From the Voice of San Diego:

The Sun was supposed to go to print tomorrow. If the printing question has to go to the college board, students fear the board could prevent them from printing before a November election in which three members of the college board are up for re-election.

Their campaigns are tied to the controversial tenure of Superintendent Raj Chopra, who has been in the crosshairs of faculty members after making unpopular, unilateral cuts. The Sun has written extensively about the clashes and their campaigns. Its upcoming issue was slated to include articles about the candidates, the ongoing battle over whether the college will keep its state accreditation, and a summer fundraiser held by the college vice president in which he raised money from companies whose contracts he oversees.

"It seems very convenient. They're pulling this ancient policy out of nowhere," said Lyndsay Winkley, a student writer for the Sun.

Students are considering raising the approximate $3,000 needed to print the paper from outside sources.

(via fishbowlLA)

Test bias

"Tests Are Biased Against Kids Who Don't Give A Shit" The Onion (via FishbowlLA) *naughty language alert*

A new look in San Diego

The redesigned San Diego Union-Tribune launched last week (h/t fishbowlLA). Apparently old people don't like it - but will continue subscribing as long as they don't fuss with the comic strips.

Four today

1. California Watch, run by the nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting, has hired three new reporters: former Los Angeles Daily Journal and LA Times reporter Joanna Lin; Pulitzer Prize-winner Ryan Gabrielson, and reporter Susanne Rust. LA Observed

2. The San Diego Union-Tribune appears to be contemplating more newsroom cuts. fishbowlLA

3. Blogger Danny Sullivan accuses the "mainstream media" of doing what he claims the mainstream media accuses bloggers of doing: taking a scoop without giving due credit. Daggle

4. The San Diego News Network, bolstered by big donations and rosy talk, has followed its cousin, the Orange County News Network, into oblivion. All writers and freelancers were fired as of June 1. San Diego Reader