Janofsky, who lives in Los Angeles, worked at the Times for 24 years as a staff correspondent and bureau chief, specializing in domestic politics and policy and writing on such issues as education, energy, the environment and culture. He brings with him some serious journalism chops and we welcome him aboard as we expand our coverage of the intersection of politics and education in Los Angeles.
Janofsky replaces Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Alexander Russo, who served as editor since our inception. Russo is now focusing on his own blog at Scholastic and on a book project. We wish him a fond farewell.
Since our launch, LA School Report has reported on the politics of education in Los Angeles, covering the inside scoop on education policy, School Board politics, and the various players and special interests influencing our city’s decision-makers. We hope we’re earning our keep as an objective, must-read for those who care about improving education in Los Angeles.
“[J]ournalism chops,” “objective,” “improving education”? For LASR to pretend that it’s anything other than a PR site for The Heartland Institute’s education agenda is laughable on its face. The bias here is stronger than found even in my writing, and I’m an admitted polemicist, not a hack pretending to be “objective.”
LASR is at best yellow journalism.
Just as a follow-up — personally I’m fine with an advocacy point of view, whether or not it agrees with my point of view. But don’t stake out a strong advocacy position — as LA School Report has from the beginning — and then claim to be objective! That’s not kosher.
You all are running a very interesting site — I follow it even though I’m not in L.A. because I follow national education policy. But please don’t pretend to be objective. Your point of view openly favors the “reform” sector — support of “reform” policies permeates your coverage — and that is what it is, but please don’t be dishonest about it. That taints Mr. Janofsky from the beginning.