Get ready to see some alterations to your San Jose Mercury News and your Palo Alto Daily News — some belt-tightening, maybe a bit of staff-cutting.
Both papers were reportedly purchased by MediaNews Group Inc. earlier this week, putting the notorious Dean Singleton in control of a big chunk of the South Bay’s local news. Singleton also reportedly picked up the Contra Costa Times and Monterey County Herald as part of the deal.
How Singleton organizes his new holdings remains to be seen, but it seems likely he’ll just fold them into ANG Newspapers, the Bay Area chain which already nearly rings the Bay. These latest acquisitions complete the circle.
Now, I’ve worked for ANG Newspapers, as a writer and an editor, and all I can say is, yikes.
Everything you’ve heard about Singleton is true: His papers tend to be news mills, with profitability topping his list of priorities and quality, relevance and employee happiness near the bottom — somewhere just above “what Don Frances thinks about my newspapers.”
But I’m not alone in saying this. South Bay journalists, I can tell you, are none too happy about this deal — particularly the ones working at the Merc. Ask any of them.
NOT ALL THE biz-related news is joyless this week. Plenty of new establishments seem to be making their presence known in Mountain View lately, including two which should catch the eye of local builders and home-improvement buffs:
* Artisan Tile is holding a grand opening in its new Mountain View showroom this Friday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The opening includes food and music after 5:30, says company rep Rebecca Juretic.
“We import tiles from around the world, represent several top American artisans, and also manufacture tiles ourselves at a facility in San Luis Obispo,” Juretic wrote. “Our designs are award-winning and grace the homes of many celebrities and well-known personalities.”
The showroom is located at 1954-C Old Middlefield Way. Visit www.artisantilemarble.com or call (650) 237-9177 for more info. …
* Mountain View-based Glass Paradigm is taking its fancy high-tech glass products to the San Jose Home and Garden Show next weekend, in particular to show off its “white smart glass” and “blue smart glass.”
According to the company, white smart glass is able “to change its shade from clear to frosted white, which helps control the level of sun glare while helping to provide privacy in your living and working spaces.” The blue glass is similar, except that you can “tune” the amount of light and heat passing through it.
In other words, it’s extremely cool.
Owner Barbara Lang is setting up her company’s booth among hundreds of others, so be sure to seek it out. The Home and Garden Show is May 5-7 at the San Jose Convention Center. Visit at www.sanjosehomeshow.com for more info. …
Anybody else seeking recognition for their new (or newly successful, or newly expanded) business should go the upcoming Market Place 2006 forum, May 17 at the Computer History Museum, and shout it from the showroom floor. …
REMEMBER when a group of local artists met at the Cuesta Park Annex a couple months back to paint landscapes? They called it “Art in the Annex.” Now the fruits of their labor are about to go on display at the very place they were made. Stop by the Annex next weekend, May 6, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to see the goods. Hopefully the weather holds. …
THOUGH MY IDEA of a Cinco de Mayo party involves very salty chips, very hot salsa and a pitcher of margaritas, the city’s celebrating the day in a more kid-friendly manner at Graham Middle School from 3 to 6 p.m. Don’t ask me which day.
Don Frances is editor of the Mountain View Voice. He can be reached at dfrances@mv-voice.com.
