VC Star writer Tim Herdt “moves on,” takes job with Sen. Fran Pavley
By George Miller
Longtime VC Star editorialist and columnist Tim Herdt announced today that it would be his last column after a 31 year run. He ruminated about the state and transition of newspapers
to less influence, but touted their role in informing the community and bringing it together. His words: “People who get their news online spend on average a pathetic one minute or less on news websites before moving on to Instagram or whatever. It feeds a shallowness of understanding, which in turn fosters a pervasive cynicism” (Ed. note: We are pleased to say that our average site visits are much longer and we bet that the Star’s are, too). Herdt confessed that even he uses on-line sources for much information now. However, he recommended 20 minutes a day of reading newspapers.
It was 38 years ago, in 1977 when he first accepted an offer as a $120 a week sports intern for the then Star-Free Press. Since then, he has worked his way up into a important role, covering politics and writing columns. He started the Star’s news bureau in Sacramento 19 years ago,
When we asked why he’s leaving and what he’ll be doing, Mr. Herdt said “it was time to move on and try something else” and that he intends to write a book. He said it was “bittersweet” for him, but he’s going on to other interesting things. It seems he will be going to work for a year for State Senator Fran Pavley, who is termed out and in her home stretch.
Even his competitors and detractors must admit that he had become an institution and a leading regional political commentator. We at CitizensJournal.us wish Tim the very best for the future!
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George Miller is Publisher of Citizensjournal.us and a “retired” operations management consultant, active in civic affairs, living in Oxnard.
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Herdt is a good political writer. But his work belongs in the opinion or fiction section, not “news.”
So, he went to work for Pavley- what does that tell you?
I know I read articles in Citizens Journal that exceed Mr. Herdt’s estimate of time spent on articles. I even exceed his recommendation of spending 20 minutes reading articles.
Thanks for keeping us informed. You were very instrumental in keeping the public abreast of politics and legislation.