Venezia: Society writers do more than fluff | society, coverage ...

A while back a political blogger ? who didn't like me very much ? thought he was dissing me by calling me nothing more than a "society writer."

I was flattered. To be lumped into a category with great society editors of the past like O.C. Register's Carol Humphreys, L.A. Times' Ann Conway and the Daily Pilot's Vide Dean, is an honor.

Bruce Cook, society editor at the Daily Pilot for 20 years

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBARA VENEZIA

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Though I've never been a society writer, the folks who do this job are the unsung heroes of journalism. They have more of an impact on the arts, charitable organizations and the publications they write for than many realize.

"As a PR person, I consider social scene and lifestyle media coverage important," said Tim Dunn of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. "They raise awareness and funds for organizations that provide important services and opportunities to the entire community."

Nowadays, society editors like Gloria Zigner of Orange Coast Magazine, Bruce Cook of the Daily Pilot, Anne Valdespino of the OC Register, and online blogs like Donna Bunce's and, Lynn Selich rule this world now.

"We're not taken seriously in the world of journalism, and yet we are major attractions for readers just like the sports page or the political pages," Cook says.

Though Cook's column has run twice a week for 20 years, this week he got word he'll only run once a week.

"It's insanity to cut this coverage back because the retail community wants to be associated with these events," he told me.

Cook says it doesn't' make business sense for the paper since many advertisers request their ads be placed near his society coverage.

Cook, who covers events throughout the county, says his coverage helps bring in donations and supporters to these causes.

"Let's face it, people are attracted to other people and if they see their friends and neighbors supporting a cause, they will too," he said.

While the OC Register laid off long-time society editor Bunce in February, the new owners of the paper are increasing social event coverage. They've added Valdespino and are using content from Selich's OC Social Scene as well.

Bunce, who also was society editor of 714 Magazine for 10 years, says "I'm delighted to see the new owners have upped their society coverage with Anne. It's good for the paper and good for the community."

But Bunce isn't ready for retirement.

"I took three months off and my friends kept urging me to get back into it since I'd made so many contacts over the years," she said.

A few months ago she launched her blog, Donna on the Town, and her own PR firm.

"What can I say, I love what I do" she told me.

Newcomer to the society editor arena is Selich. Her OC Social Scene blog now has six contributing writers, who cover events countywide.

Selich, the new breed of society editor, says declining advertising in print papers means less editorial space for event coverage. Online she has no limitations of space, which means more photos, and more in-depth coverage of events.

She also has the advantage over her print counterparts because she can get information up sooner than later. A luxury Cook and Zigner don't have.

Cook says because he covers so many events, and has such limited space in the paper, sometimes events don't make the paper until two or three weeks later.

Zigner's Orange Coast Magazine gives her more pages to work with, but it's a monthly publication, and events she covers sometimes come out weeks or even months later.

But what shouldn't be missed here is the impact these writers have on the philanthropic community in Orange County.

Giving acknowledgement to volunteers, donors, and explaining what organizations do and where the money goes, keeps these non-profits thriving.

It's the society journalists who bring their causes home to readers. They inspire us to get involved and help make a difference.

When I started the Friends of Dorothy Guild benefiting AIDS Services Foundation OC in 2007, all of these folks covered my first event ? a Drag Queen Tupperware party in my backyard that raised $17,000.00.

The fact that people in the community knew who we were because of their coverage made it easier for us to raise money with each event that followed. To date, the guild had raised more than $700,000 for ASF.

Zigner is also the founder of the CHOC Follies. In its 16 years the event has raised $6 million for the hospital.

As journalists, they make a difference in people's lives and the organizations they write about, and they deserve respect for what they do.

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/society-377267-coverage-cook.html

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