Media Watch

PORTILLO IN, MERINO OUT AS EDITOR OF ‘LA ESTRELLA’

La Estrella de Tucsón, the
Arizona Daily Star‘s Spanish-language publication, has
made a rather abrupt change at the top.

Out is Jose Merino, who acted as editor for nearly five
years. In is Ernesto Portillo Jr. While Star officials
will not go into details about the transition, it doesn’t look as
though the move was particularly amicable.

First, consider this e-mail comment contribution from Star executive editor Bobbie Jo Buel, responding to a question about
the matter from the Weekly: “La Estrella is a very
important part of the Star family and our future. We do not have
more to say.”

Now, Merino’s e-mail response: “I was the editor of La
Estrella from October 2004 ’til (July 30), but I am afraid I can’t
comment on it.”

Brrr. Shivers like that are usually welcome during a Tucson
summer.

At least Portillo, who has held down his share of positions with the
Star, provided an optimistic outlook about his role and the
future of the publication.

“I am excited about the challenge to be editor of La Estrella de
Tucsón,” he e-mailed. “I intend to build on an already
strong publication which serves a growing audience in Southern Arizona
and Nogales, Sonora. No major changes are planned, but, like other good
publications, we will strive to improve content to attract more readers
and advertisers.

“Personally, it is my sincere privilege and an honor. I was born and
raised in Tucson. I am the son of a Mexican immigrant father and
Tucson-born mother, both of whom imbued me with deep appreciation and
love for Tucson. My father for 50 years was a strong voice in
Spanish-language radio. I have spent many years observing the changing
role of Spanish-language media and the changing demographics in Tucson
and Southern Arizona, which I have continued to do for more than nine
years as a columnist for the Arizona Daily Star.

“My goal is to help La Estrella become even more dominant as
the source of news and information for the fast-growing, monolingual
and bilingual Latino communities.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS’ TUCSON REPORTER TAKES EARLY OUT

When The Associated Press offered early retirement to about
100 employees nationally, Tucson/Southern Arizona reporter Art
Rotstein accepted the buyout.

Granted, saying that Rotstein utilized the “early” part of the
package might be semantics, given that he worked for the organization
for 35 years and spent 28 of those in Tucson. Nonetheless, his
departure has forced the AP to scramble a bit to fill the void.

“There are a lot of things in flux,” said Arizona and New Mexico
bureau chief Michelle Williams. “What we’re doing in the short
term is (using) Jacques Billeaud, an immigration and border
reporter for us based in Phoenix who is on a national reporting team
that includes California, Arizona and Texas. He and Art have worked on
many stories together over the years. Jacques will resume part of that
responsibility. He will now follow the stories as needed in
Tucson.”

Williams is also hopeful that in the interim—however long
“interim” may be—the AP’s contributing partners can help.

“Because AP is a cooperative organization, we rely on our other
members to stay abreast of the situation,” Williams said. “We have the
Arizona Daily Star (and AP member newspapers in) Sierra Vista,
Green Valley, Yuma, the TV and radio stations. That’s part of what we
do. They share their news, and we generate our own so we can keep the
coverage and maintain the coverage we have and, in this case, exceed
the coverage they expect from us in Southern Arizona. I feel confident
that during this time of transition, we’ll be covered very well in
Tucson.”

NO MORE MOTEN AT KRQ

Carrie Moten, the third (untitled) voice on the otherwise
aptly named Johnjay and Rich morning show on KRQQ FM
93.7 that’s now broadcast out of Phoenix, announced her departure
from the program last week.

“The cool thing for me is I sat in that chair for seven years and
just acted like who I was,” said Moten in a recent radioexiles.com podcast. “It was a
rollercoaster. It was cool that over the course of seven years, I was
able to come in and get the support of some kickass people. And as the
show started to grow and expand into different cities, that was cool. I
couldn’t think of a more perfect place to leave things. Trust me, I’m
aware and conscious every second.

“It’s not like it’s not scary, and I don’t have fear and doubt (over
leaving the show), but I’d much rather be in a situation where you feel
overwhelmed, and you find out whether you’re strong enough and smart
enough for the challenge. I’m ready for whatever. The second I told
people—immediate support.”

Moten did not get into specifics about future plans, but is
contributing to a Phoenix-based entertainment blog for 944
Magazine (944.com), continuing to
host The Very Bad Movie on KTTU Channel 18, and
keeping up her podcast at radioexiles.com.

“It’s like a relationship. It runs its course. I couldn’t pick a
better time,” Moten said about the KRQ split. “It was the right
decision and a good decision for everybody. The show is amazing.
They’re going to do some amazing things. I’m so happy, and it’s the
right thing to do. I wish the boys nothing but the best.

“I want to say thank you to all the people who turned on the radio
and supported the chick with the annoying voice. I don’t have the words
to say how thankful I am.”

In addition to KRQ, the Johnjay and Rich Show is broadcast on
Clear Channel-owned stations in Phoenix (from the KISS FM 104.1
FM studios); Portland, Ore.; and Colorado Springs and Fort Collins
in Colorado.

This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2009.