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From the Archives: Wild Animal Park
From the Archives heads today to the San Pasqual Valley in North County for this photo of the dedication ceremony for the then-named San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park in...
From the Archives: Santa Fe Depot
From the Archives goes back to 1914 for this photo of the Santa Fe Depot under construction on Broadway (originally D Street) at Kettner Boulevard in downtown San Diego. Wm....
From the Archives: Outdoor Christmas
From the Archives stays in the Christmas spirit with this photo from 1913 of two children outside their home, where their Christmas tree stands, along with their gifts that include...
From the Archives: Go Navy
This Saturday marks the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. To recognize the historic event at the Navy base, From the Archives Date goes back to 1915 for...
Scene: WILDCOAST’S Baja Bash
WILDCOAST held its 2024 Baja Bash last month and raised $281,000 that will go directly into the organization’s programs in the field to protect global coastal and marine ecosystems and...
Reader points out error in archived photo caption
A reader emailed last week to report an error in a photo caption that will set the historical record straight.The reader wrote about the From the Archives feature on B2...
Demonstrations can be difficult events to cover
A participant in a recent demonstration emailed the Union-Tribune to dispute the estimated size of the crowd reported in a story on the event.The reporter said the rally and march...
Readers contribute more info to archives
The U-T and the San Diego History Center have teamed up for a From the Archives photograph feature that appears on B2 Tuesdays and Fridays.The photos, a significant number of...
Toasty temps forecast for Thursday and then cooling
Fall weather — not just yet. In fact, Thursday is going to be downright hot.The National Weather Service forecasts high temperatures to hit 5 to 15 degrees above seasonal averages....
U-T changes printing location
The San Diego Union-Tribune is moving its printing from the Los Angeles Times plant in L.A. to the Southern California News Group Press Enterprise Facility in Riverside. The change starts...
What’s with those little letters off to the sides of pages?
I've always been amazed at how newspaper readers can have eagle eyes. A reader emailed last week saying that she has been seeing the letter "E" on the left side...
Joor Muffler Man in Escondido gets some national press
ESCONDIDO — The national program "Sunday Morning" on CBS broadcast a piece last Sunday on the restoration of giant "Muffler Men," those roadside figures of advertising kitsch that appear in various forms...
L.A. Times stories can still appear in the U-T
Several readers have emailed over the past few weeks asking what happened to the Los Angeles Times Calendar section that had appeared daily in the Union-Tribune's e-edition.As many of you...
Yes, something changed with a crossword puzzle
Many newspaper readers are dedicated crossword puzzle aficionados. They will notice immediately if something feels different or wrong with a puzzle.A couple of weeks ago emails began trickling in about...
Changes with Sunday’s Local section
Readers will notice a different look to today's Local section. The section is no longer zoned into metro and North County editions. Sunday is now one countywide edition for all...
A dedication to journalism
Back when the Union-Tribune was still based at its five-story Mission Valley building — and pre-COVID, when staff worked together in a central office — then U-T Editor Jeff...
‘USS’ will now appear before Navy ship names
Many U-T readers, particularly those with naval backgrounds, might have noticed the U-T does not use "USS" in front of Navy ship names. I started as a copy editor here...
Reader’s catch reveals story of SDSU name change
The names SDSU, San Diego State and San Diego State University probably appear every day in the Union-Tribune. But the university, whose stature in the region keeps growing, was not...
Using race in a description of a criminal suspect
The story of the fatal shooting outside the downtown San Diego library Tuesday drew a question from a reader about identifying the suspect.The reader said he saw a TV news...
Union-Tribune changes word style on WWII ‘internment’ camps
The Union-Tribune has made a change to its style that will hit home to residents of Japanese ancestry.The term "internment" will no longer be used, unless in quoted matter, in...
Project used multiple mediums to go deep on mental health
Union-Tribune readers last Sunday saw the results of an ambitious nearly two-year-old project that dove into the county's growing and relentless mental health problem.Twenty reporters, nine photographers, two project editors,...
Readers spot goofs; replacing ‘Dilbert;’ inaccurate social media posts
Readers have always been valuable sources of — either by spotting errors or reminding editors and reporters of word choice. Patrick Renner of Carlsbad emailed about a photo caption...
The story behind a ballfield’s name
ESCONDIDO — I've lived in Escondido for 26 years, frequently visiting Washington Park in the middle of town. A youth baseball field sits in a far corner of the park, by tennis...
New sports editor ready to Union-Tribune
The U-T and its readers will welcome a new Sports editor this month.Ryan Finley s the paper Jan. 9. He succeeds Jay Posner, who retired in December.Although Finley comes to...
Meet Pam Kragen, the Union-Tribune’s new Arts & Entertainment Editor
Pam Kragen, a longtime critic and writer for the Union-Tribune, has been named the new Arts & Entertainment Editor, taking over the role previously held by Michael James Rocha, who...
Parade magazine ends print publication
A Union-Tribune subscriber emailed last week asking what happened to the Parade magazine Sunday supplement. He had not seen it the past two Sundays.Like so much in life nowadays, it's...
Reporter, photojournalists, watchdog editor the U-T
Four journalists recently ed the Union-Tribune. I'm sure many readers have already recognized their names and work.Adriana HeldizHeldiz is a multimedia journalist. She is part of the U-T's photo and...
U-T Editorial Board sees value in continuing with political endorsements
The second-largest owner of newspapers in the U.S. told readers this month that its papers' opinion pages will no longer endorse presidential, Senate and gubernatorial candidates.Alden Global Capital owns about...
Festival of Journalism; more on Oxford comma
Readers can get inside huge San Diego County stories, and learn more about the pressures and dangers — sometimes death — confronting journalists, during an event Saturday. The Festival of...
The Oxford comma: Is it needed?
A New York Times story last month on the new head of Britain's state run health care system telling employees to avoid using the Oxford comma caught the eye of...
Behind-the-scenes: A look at the Union-Tribune’s arts and entertainment coverage
We all have our favorite parts of the Sunday newspaper. One of mine is the Arts+Culture section. I like the design, the large photos, the Books section, and there's always...
Accessing Sunday’s North County e-edition
One of the most frequent emails the readers' rep receives about the e-edition is how to access the Sunday North County Local section. The e-edition is an exact replica of...
Readers react to the all-digital edition
A number of subscribers emailed in response to the U-T going all digital, with no printed edition, on July Fourth for the first time in its history.Most of the responses...
Print remains, but e-edition is the future
As many readers know, Monday’s U-T will not be delivered on paper. The U-T, which dates back to 1868, will arrive to your desktop, laptop or other device in a...
La Mesa business is not involved in federal case
“When shopping for funeral services, be wary,” read the headline on The New York Times story that ran May 8 on the Business section front.The news hook for the piece...
Choosing images of war’s horrors
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, stories and photos have dominated the Union-Tribune’s front pages. Most days, a four- or five-column picture occupies the most prominent position above the...
New journalists the Union-Tribune
Many astute Union-Tribune readers (over the years, I’ve learned newspaper readers are astute) might have noticed names of new staff .Five journalists from a variety of specialties have ed the...
Reader has an eagle eye for horses
Earlier this month, the Union-Tribune published a display of photos from the Tournament of Roses Parade. The participants in the photos had local connections — Marine Corps musicians, of...
Readers speak out on term ‘granny flats’
The common term “granny flats” elicited quite a reaction from readers last week. Last Sunday’s column presented the views of reader Maria Cook of San Diego. She said the term...
Should ‘granny flat’ be retired?
Unless you’re a character from the “Beverly Hillbillies,” if you’re a woman of a certain age, you probably wouldn’t like the name “granny.” (I know I don’t want to be...
What’s up with ‘Interstate’ 805?; readers set the record straight
Why is Interstate 805 called an “interstate”?Subscriber and frequent letter writer Allen Stanko of Alpine disputed the name in a recent email to the readers’ rep. He had seen the...
Story did not detail hate speech
A repugnant tirade by a speaker during a public comment period in Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting was so horrible that it became the story.The speaker made his comments during...
The editors behind the reporters
Readers can easily U-T news reporters, since their email addresses appear at the end of their articles. But what about their editors? Below are U-T topic editors who lead...
‘Elderly’ — a label journalists should avoid
If you are 65 and older, would you describe yourself as “elderly”? I’m going to guess most readers would answer no. In fact, many might take offense to it.That certainly...
Editor looks back at year as president of national journalists organization
Matthew T. Hall, the Union-Tribune's editorial and opinion director, served as president of the national Society of Professional Journalists for the past year.His year term ends Saturday. The year was...
Inside scoop on covering Tokyo Olympics
Union-Tribune readers have been receiving coverage, much of it localized, of the Tokyo Olympics from veteran sports writer Mark Zeigler. His stories have been appearing on the front page as...
Two types of obituaries run in newspaper
I hearing an old newspaper tale about an editor who said every person should get their name in a newspaper at least twice: once in a birth announcement, and...
Coronado is not really an island
Former longtime U-T reporter and editor Bill Callahan emailed early this week to flag an error in a story. It’s an error that probably every county resident has heard and...
Readers’ eagle eyes catch mistakes
In the many years I’ve had the job of readers’ rep, I’ve always been amazed at the eagle eye of some readers. They will spot something amiss through their incredibly...
Press problems serious delivery issues
Readers flooded the Union-Tribune with phone calls, emails and Facebook messages Wednesday morning after they received their print editions late or not at all.Serious technical production issues that began Tuesday...
Union-Tribune adds new reporter
A new reporter ed the Union-Tribune last week.Tammy Murga will cover the South Bay — Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach.She grew up in the San Fernando Valley, but...
Why U-T’s letters to the editor have been running four days a week
The Union-Tribune’s opinion section runs unsigned editorials and letters to the editor four days a week in print. Reader and regular letter writer Jim Varnadore of City Heights wondered why...
New column looks at perspectives
Readers might have noticed a new column that made its debut Jan. 18. The second piece was published Jan. 22. The column is by Union-Tribune staffer Charles T. Clark.Clark’s column...
Trump’s tweets turned out to be newsworthy
In December 2016, about a month after Donald Trump was elected president, I wrote a column about his tweeting. Would the media have to cover his frequent tweets? Would they...
Photos told story of infamous day
When U-T editors gathered Wednesday afternoon to discuss coverage of the turmoil in Washington, D.C., they quickly agreed that photos were going to be key in telling the story.“What we...
Someone San Diego Should Know column features uplifting stories
Many readers are familiar with the “Someone San Diego Should Know” column that runs Mondays on B1. But they probably don’t know how it’s produced.It’s a well-received column that highlights...
The story behind the U-T’s Faces of the Arts Shutdown series
In Sunday's Arts+Culture section, you'll find the third installment of the Faces of the Arts Shutdown series. The Union-Tribune's arts and entertainment editor, Michael James Rocha, tells us more about...
Readers give their thoughts on what makes a ‘journalist’
Last week this column discussed what it means to be a “journalist.” With social media providing anyone a platform to publish, does that make everyone a journalist? Does it take...
What’s the definition of a journalist?
A few weeks ago a reader emailed me links to several political stories and to a video allegedly showing tinkering with votes counts by a major news organization during a...
Rumors fly about Sharpie ink
During the week of the election I saw a message sent to the Union-Tribune subscribers Facebook page. A woman said she had been given a Sharpie pen at her polling...
Editor brought readers the world
Union-Tribune news services editor Mitch Weinstock retired Thursday night after his shift of curating the state, national and international wire report. He had worked at the U-T for 30 years.Readers...
Reporters can be targets for abuse
Ask a reporter or editor today about they receive, and they’ll tell you that much of tends to be vitriolic and at times downright abusive.As the readers’ rep, I...
The story behind newspaper corrections
Reader Dale Rodebaugh of San Diego recently emailed about corrections.He asked about this sentence that appears at the end of a correction: “It is the policy of the Union-Tribune to...
Effort behind reporting Trump-COVID story
When the news broke that the president had tested positive for COVID-19 late Thursday night, U-T staffers from across the newsroom moved quickly to get the story on the website...
U-T editor to lead national organization of professional journalists
U-T Editorial and Opinion Director Matthew T. Hall takes the helm Sunday as the new president of the Society of Professional Journalists national organization.The SPJ has about 6,000 , with...
Social justice reporting at the Union-Tribune
Reporting on social justice issues has become a priority in newsrooms since the death of George Floyd in May and its national aftershocks.The U-T is part of that effort with...
Debate over replacing a statement
Posting news stories online has the obvious benefit of providing news to readers in a timely manner. It also gives reporters and editors the opportunity to easily correct errors and...
Young journalism scholars U-T
Readers will once again this year be able to see the work of a group of teenage journalists, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.The Union-Tribune’s Community Journalism Scholars program will begin its...
Highlighting the good being done
The Union-Tribune for the past several weeks has been running “Front-line Heroes,” short items at the top of the weather page that recognize those working on the front-lines during the...
Style change for ‘Black’ and ‘White’
The Union-Tribune made a significant style change last week. The word “Black” will now be uppercase in reference to race, as are other racial and ethnic identifiers, such as White,...
Charts dig down on COVID numbers
Readers the past couple of weeks have emailed seeking more information on the graphics that give local numbers on the coronavirus pandemic.One reader wanted to confirm that the “San Diego...
Letters move aside 3 days per week
Readers have been emailing asking why some days the opinion section has no letters to the editor.Letters editor Andrew Kleske, Editorial and Opinion Director Matthew T. Hall and the readers’...
Keeping up with coronavirus news
Local news on the coronavirus pandemic flows throughout the day, with breaking stories or updates. It’s a tough job to stay in front of.Reporters throughout the newsroom — so to...
Education features in times of COVID
Readers have probably noticed the education feature running down the length of B2. The feature began Monday in response to the coronavirus forcing children to stay home from school.The lessons...
U-T photo of Coronado upsets some
The main front-page photo Monday outraged a few readers, with some even implying a scheme was afoot.The photo was of the Coronado beach taken last Sunday by Union-Tribune staff photographer...
‘News’ anxiety in time of coronavirus
During a news conference last Sunday, county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher mentioned the physical and mental health of residents during this time of crisis. He suggested people get some exercise, connect...
Union-Tribune adjusting to life, work during the coronavirus pandemic
Like everyone today, Union-Tribune reporters and editors are adapting to life under the coronavirus. The paper remains open. News media have been deemed an essential service.But staff are working...
Readers react to Aztecs basketball on the front page
Last week, this column dealt with the decision to publish a large photo from an Aztecs men’s basketball game on the front page Feb. 17. The picture was from a...
Sports photos on the front page
Sports photos on A1 regularly attract criticism from some readers. They feel the photos belong in the Sports section. Hard news stories should appear on the front page, they say.The...
Readers, news staff get acquainted
The Union-Tribune held the second in its series of town hall conversations with readers on Monday at the Border View Family YMCA in Otay Mesa West.As the readers’ rep, I...
Short item online still needed balance
A short story posted online last weekend, then taken down, and then reposted illustrated the journalism tenet of presenting both sides of an issue.The item was about a group, the...
Union-Tribune town hall meeting on Jan. 28; wrong word in story caused confusion
Readers will have a chance to talk to Union-Tribune editors and reporters next week and give them their thoughts on covering their community.The event is the second in a series...
Use of file photographs carries risks
This column recently told readers about how U-T staff photographers always seek to name subjects in photos. They also identify themselves to the subjects and tell them the purpose of...
Editors forecast big stories for 2020
What will be the big local stories readers should watch for in 2020? The readers’ rep asked Union-Tribune editors their forecast.Public safety Dana Littlefield: “It will be interesting to watch...
ID’s generally required for photographs
The picture of two homeless people sitting on a sidewalk in downtown San Diego ran four columns wide on the front page Dec. 17. They were clearly identifiable, but their...
U-T Watchdog team’s guidelines
After Rep. Duncan Hunter pleaded guilty Dec. 3 to one count of conspiracy to convert campaign funds to personal use, Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Halpern told reporters outside the federal...
Weather is deservedly big news in San Diego
“Weather never happens in San Diego.” We’ve all heard that. Our home might not be New England, but we do indeed get weather. The past two weeks have seen plenty...
It’s a matter of style at the Union-Tribune
A reader wrote to the Readers’ Rep recently saying the possessive punctuation on the name Susan Davis was incorrect.The story mentioned her retirement from the House of Representatives and referred...
News services report on D.C. stories
The Readers’ Rep took a call and an email last week from subscribers who commented on the writers of Thursday’s impeachment hearing story. They believed the writers were Union-Tribune staffers.The...
Readers give their thoughts on quotes
Should quotations be changed slightly to correct grammatical mistakes? Last week I asked readers their thoughts. It was in response to a quotation that had an incorrect “me.” It should...
Reporters, editors should include maps; new reporter focuses on caregiving
Where did that happen? It’s a basic question for reporters and readers. A great way to convey that information is with a map. Reader Tom Miller from Carlsbad emailed last...
How readers can publicize events
Readers who have events to publicize have a variety of places in the Union-Tribune to tell others about their happenings, such as fall festivals, large fundraising rummage sales, exhibits and...
Readers contribute cleverness to Union-Tribune cartoon caption contest
Probably one of the most popular feature for readers is the editorial cartoon caption contest by the Union-Tribune's Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Steve Breen.Breen and the editorial staff receive hundreds of...
Explain what’s unknown in a story
Journalism tells readers, viewers and listeners what is known. It can, and should, tell them what is unknown too.Reader Dale Rodebaugh of San Diego wrote in last week about a...
Misspelling leads to great story
A misspelled name is probably one of the most common errors, but in this case it led to an uncommon story of how a physical feature on La Jolla’s coast...
Meet the Union-Tribune’s interns; who and what are behind the readers’ rep post?
Union-Tribune readers started seeing some new staff bylines this month from five interns: Hafsa Fathima, Luke Garrett, Bella Ross, Katy Stegall and Celina Tebor. They will be at the U-T...
Union-Tribune drops ‘Mallard Fillmore ‘ comic strip
The Union-Tribune is dropping the comic “Mallard Fillmore.”The decision is based on the Aug. 12 strip. In that strip artist Bruce Tinsley depicted Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar. Emailers and callers...
Consent policy on pictures of minors
At the start of the academic year, one of the forms public schools give parents is a media consent one. Photographers trust that the school will screen out the children...
Some stories on the Union-Tribune website will not make print
Editor's note: Due to space constraints, this column appeared in a shortened version for print. For this web version, more insight by news services editor Mitch Weinstock is included on...
What’s the Union-Tribune Editorial Board?
Reader sensitivity to White House stories and reader perception of the news and editorial departments have been ongoing issues for the past two years during these times of deep political...