Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Scott Shafer.
Scott Shafer was named senior editor of the California Politics and Government Desk at KQED. He will continue to contribute to KQED Newsroom and The California Report. Shafer was press secretary to San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos and Chief of Staff to Controller Gray Davis.
Politico launched Playbook California with a video featuring Kamala Harris. Carla Marinucci writes the Playbook.
The Columbia Journalism Review announced it will cut back to two print issues a year from bi-monthly. The journal says there will a corresponding ramp-up on the digital side.
Vice has added former Bloomberg editor Josh Tyrangiel to oversee a new weekly, half-hour news program airing on HBO.
The New York Times newsroom has designated and staffed an "Express Team" to "cover news that readers are searching for and talking about online, but also push that news forward rather than just repackaging it for clicks."
BuzzFeed says it will begin creating native video ads for politicians and political causes. Rena Shapiro was named vice president, politics & advocacy for BuzzFeed.
Longtime KPFK producers Derek Rath, Betto Arcos and Yatrika Shah-Rais have resigned from their programs at "Global Village" to protest the ongoing decline of the Pacifica Radio station in Los Angeles. In a joint letter on Facebook.
Major League Baseball is developing its first scripted series, a miniseries about Babe Ruth with Allen Coulter the director and executive producer.
Jean Sharley Taylor, the first female editor on the Los Angeles Times masthead, died at age 91. Her portfolio included the feature sections and entertainment coverage. Taylor retired as associate editor in 1989.
Elena Stern is moving from Cal State LA back to City Hall to be public information director for the Department of Public Works.
Saba Hamedy, formerly of the LA Time, is the first Digital Entertainment Reporter for Mashable.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck wrote a letter to the editor complaining about LA Times coverage of his police shooting comments — and the paper ran the letter.
Hillel Aron of the LA Weekly didn't find Chris Erskine's LAT column about millennials funny and plays the age, white-guy and print dinosaur cards.
Alejandra Campoverdi, managing editor of the LAT's Emerging US product, on her background and "the roots of my passion for public service."
KFI has dropped the mid-day show hosted by Mark Thompson and Elizabeth Espinosa. The 1 to 3 p.m. slot will be filled for now by morning news anchor Gary Hoffmann and afternoon news anchor Shannon Farren.
Californian Ali Rezaian has logged thousands of miles trying to free his brother Jason, the Washington Post reporter being held by Iran. Brian Stelter profile for CNN
CNN says 15.3 million watched last night's Democratic candidates debate, a record for a primary season debate among Democrats.
Donald Trump will host "Saturday Night Live" on Nov. 7.
Sarah Silverman will be the guest on the next “Inside the Actors Studio,” debuting Oct. 22.
The Hollywood Reporter unveiled its list of the most powerful show runners of 2015.
A boy volunteer proposed to a girl volunteer in the KCRW pledge drive phone room and she accepted.
And two tweets regarding the Playboy drops nude pics news:
Talk about investigative reporting. @Davidlaz baring it to talk about Playboy's new policy of no more nudes. pic.twitter.com/cBP3yxppsf
— Kacey Montoya (@kaceymontoya) October 13, 201510 yrs ago I was offered quite a large sum from @Playboy , which I declined, but not before secretly enjoying I'd been asked ;) #clothed
— Liz Phair (@PhizLair) October 13, 2015Also this. We know that "Hardball" is like sports talk for politics, so we understand the mistake. Submitted by Don Bentley.
