The Malibu Times wants to know what readers think about it as a tabloid. I think that the most precious thing we have is life. Yet it has absolutely no trade-in value. I was reminded of how important The Malibu Times is in Malibuites’ lives when I received a call from a follower of my “letters to the editor.”
This Malibuite has been restricted to his living quarters for sometime with a rare disease, but wanted to join the Lily’s Caf Malibu Steering Committee (no this letter is not about local politics, it is about this newspaper). As he has written to The Malibu Times from time to time, we reminisced about the assortment of articles he has composed. He (I haven’t been given permission to use his name) showed humor and imagination in each of his observations about Malibu.
We both agreed that The Malibu Times is jam-packed with the commentary of outstanding contributors, both professional writers and the helper donors of poets and letter writers. Pam Linn’s article in the June 22, 2000 issue of The Malibu Times regarding her “Dear Old Dad” is a case in point. Her observations were enlightening, educational and revealing. Pam demonstrated a deep perception of life with her father, which was considerate, affectionate and kindhearted. Not leaving out mothers, I recall an editorial written by a cantankerous publisher of a Malibu newspaper that showed the same qualities when writing about a visit to his mother a few years back.
The predicament at The Malibu Times, we concluded, is the significant wealth of writing genius in such a diminutive community and a limited amount of space in which to publish exceptional articles and wonderfully written “Letters to the Editor.” We don’t always agree with the scribe of the letter, however, we enjoy the substance of a correspondence that demonstrates the author has put their essence into the letter. The same holds true when your staff writers show character in their articles.
I wonder how many Malibuites observe the community in which they live through the observations and soul of The Malibu Times? I wonder how many citizens look faithfully for their weekly edition of The Malibu Times? I wonder how many “letters to the editor” never see the ink of day? I wonder if your staff looked around the pressroom would they find a “letter to the editor” explaining “relativity” from Albert Einstein or even a set of plans by Ed Niles for Noah’s Ark?
In a world of full-size and bulky newspapers The Malibu Times is nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, The Malibu Times is perfect.
Can I have my $3,000 prize now?
And this is all I have to say (sure)
Tom Fakehany