This Week in the Mercury
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Mercury Au Revoir, Mon Amy J. Ruiz!
Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Usually Santa Claus giveth—today he taketh away-eth. It is with heavy heart that I announce the departure of editor Amy J. Ruiz from our news team. While I'm sure she'll regret this decision for the rest of her life, she's moving on to a pretty cool job: Amy will be joining the new Mayor Sam Adams administration as a "Strategic Planning and Sustainability Policy Advisor." I have no idea what it means either—but apparently it's a wonkalicious position where Amy will geek out over green building and neighborhood plans, and make Portland a far better place than it is now.
So congratulations to Amy! We'll miss you terribly! And as for YOU, Mayor elect Sam Adams, if you think purchasing our employees is going to stop the Mercury from dogging your every decision and step, you are horribly mistaken. In fact, our next news hire will make you wish you'd never been born—in a fair and accurate way, of course. (P.S. Hot shit reporters with excellent writing/editing skills should check out the employment ads in this Thursday's Mercury for details, and then send clips and resumes HERE.)
This is me.
1
That sucks! Does this mean that the Mercury's news reporting will go back into the crapper like it was before?
3
You are dead to me now, mercury. DEAD.
ELAJR 4 eva!
(everyone loves Amy J Ruiz)
Seriously, though. We will miss you, Amy. You rule my mother board.
ELAJR 4 eva!
(everyone loves Amy J Ruiz)
Seriously, though. We will miss you, Amy. You rule my mother board.
4
I hereby submit myself for the position!
I have written two stories for the Mercury. The are very good! I believe this qualifies me for the position. I hope you will consider me. Thanks.
I have written two stories for the Mercury. The are very good! I believe this qualifies me for the position. I hope you will consider me. Thanks.
6
I won't forget her 1899 words-per-minute typing skills during the presidential rallies. That was amazing! It was the best coverage in town by far.
In all fairness though it wasn't that hard to have the best on-line coverage during the Obama rally. Your "competition" was some Nice & Blurry (tm) cellphone photos taken from the 300 level of the Rose Garden. (thanks KGW.com!)
In all fairness though it wasn't that hard to have the best on-line coverage during the Obama rally. Your "competition" was some Nice & Blurry (tm) cellphone photos taken from the 300 level of the Rose Garden. (thanks KGW.com!)
7
I mean, congratulations and this is a fantastic opportunity and you're going to do great! Ignore the emoticon. It just slipped out.
8
I want a job at the Mercury, but I don't want to be a reporter. Can you hire me just to tell people who post stupid things on the internet that they're stupid? I'm good at that.
I'll troll LJ and digg for you.
I'll troll LJ and digg for you.
10
I am sad, but happy, since I'm also a journalist turned city bureaucrat, so welcome to the club... I'm sure your new position will give you some new perspective on The City That [Fill In Your Favorite Verb Here].
11
Sorry to see Amy leave the Merc. staff. she kicks ass. but then again, i have a feeling i'll be working with her in her new position.
good luck Amy!
good luck Amy!
13
Kick ass Amy!
I could report the fake news for The Merc.
You know, just stuff I make up about what's happening in Portland.
Because - and I don't know if I've mentioned this before - I LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO NOW.
I miss Portland. No one's funny here. Not one person.
Congrats Amy!
I could report the fake news for The Merc.
You know, just stuff I make up about what's happening in Portland.
Because - and I don't know if I've mentioned this before - I LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO NOW.
I miss Portland. No one's funny here. Not one person.
Congrats Amy!
14
First The Stranger lost her and now this. At least this time it's a step up!
Congratulations Amy.
Congratulations Amy.
17
Congrats! And thanks for all the awesome reporting, I'm sure this won't be the last we'll see of you. Unlike Scott "who?" Moore.
19
Mon Dieu!... Mein Gott im Himmel! Och! Sweet Darby O'Gill!
Amy,
congratulations. I look forward to seeing you at City Hall in the future!
Patrick
Amy,
congratulations. I look forward to seeing you at City Hall in the future!
Patrick
20
Yes congrats are in order, Amy. Sam and City Hall are lucky to have you. Just keep smiling.
And yes, can you take Matt with you?
And yes, can you take Matt with you?
21
Ahhhhhhhhhhh!
I knew it was too good to last. I told myself not to get used to it, that she'd be snaped up by NPR or someplace classy like that any day now. Well at least she's stayin' in the neighborhood.
Amy, you ROCK!
I knew it was too good to last. I told myself not to get used to it, that she'd be snaped up by NPR or someplace classy like that any day now. Well at least she's stayin' in the neighborhood.
Amy, you ROCK!
23
Congratulations! I must admit, I have always enjoyed your analysis on the Mercury, and the paper/the internets/the city itself are better for your fantastic journalism. Even if you're now officially "working for the man," please do what you can to keep a public presence and to continue to intelligently, accurately, and fairly comment on the issues of the day. If you are going to be working under Adams, maybe you can suggest he read some of your pieces on the Columbia River Crossing.
24
Amy Ruiz! your stories are the best
you kick so much more ass than the rest
with posey at your feet
your smarts can't be beat...
and... umm... you have the hottest breasts.
you kick so much more ass than the rest
with posey at your feet
your smarts can't be beat...
and... umm... you have the hottest breasts.
26
God, I didn't even consider that Matt could want that job. I know the Merc isn't a democracy, Wm., but could we possibly have a reader poll if Matt decides to try for this? We certainly know his "potential" as well as y'all do...
28
Actually, I may be wrong, but I would think Matt would be great at the job. When he was in old Blighty he was a financial writer, which involves a completely different style and substance than writing for a small "alt" paper. Amy is a great editor, but I think it would be interesting to see what Matt could do...
also, an interesting thought; four news channels, 1 daily, 1 twice weekly, 3 weekly papers counting Street Roots. the Mercury needs a different twist on its news, and to cover things that most other papers do not or will not cover. I see a lot of people complaining about Matt, but I also see a lot of people reading him. when he came here no one but Street Roots covered homelessness and poverty. Since then, grudgingly other news outlets seem to be more interested in it... given a chance, I bet he does just like he did when he came here, morph himself in to the writer/editor that is needed.
also, an interesting thought; four news channels, 1 daily, 1 twice weekly, 3 weekly papers counting Street Roots. the Mercury needs a different twist on its news, and to cover things that most other papers do not or will not cover. I see a lot of people complaining about Matt, but I also see a lot of people reading him. when he came here no one but Street Roots covered homelessness and poverty. Since then, grudgingly other news outlets seem to be more interested in it... given a chance, I bet he does just like he did when he came here, morph himself in to the writer/editor that is needed.
29
It's not what Matt reports, it's how he reports. That's what made Amy so great. She kept her ego and emotion out of it and just worked fucking hard to tell the whole story, not just her version of the truth. That's why everybody loved her. Quality work. Take note, Davis.
30
Display Name, has anyone ever gotten confirmation that Matt actually did quality work at his old paper? Matt's early work at the Merc was almost unbearably poor, despite a certain dim-witted belligerence that was sort of charming. He's come a long way, but is still not half the writer he believes himself to be. I find it hard to believe that he was terribly valued by either editors or readership at his old paper, and then magically transformed into the half-capable "journalist"/internet troll that unleashed such classics as the "Tropic Thunder=Racist" post (which I can't for the life of me find right now).
31
Congrats Amy, you will be missed. And people, if Matt wants the job, why not let him have a go... as long as he can grow the jugs, that is!
32
not to give Matt a big head, but someone once compared him to Hunter S Thompson without the drugs... it seemed accurate to me.
he has many flaws, evidently one being his lack of a beard http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/12/the-beardiest-u.html but I think he can do the job and do it well.
Matt is pure Gonzo journalism. need proof? the story is about another reporter moving to a job at city hall, yet the last half of the posts are about Matt and his (in)sanity.
he has many flaws, evidently one being his lack of a beard http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/12/the-beardiest-u.html but I think he can do the job and do it well.
Matt is pure Gonzo journalism. need proof? the story is about another reporter moving to a job at city hall, yet the last half of the posts are about Matt and his (in)sanity.
33
That post didn't actually contain an argument, Display Screen.
The thing about Matt is that the more he shakes off the results of a sheltered childhood reading too much Thompson and Bangs, the more he emerges as his own true writer. Sadly, his own true writer seems to manifest itself with emotional dishonesty, pet causes, slippery-to-non existent logic, and the inability to ascertain facts, and a self-importance that the text on the page makes a joke of.
Gonzo journalism is a pinnacle from which truly earth-changing things have been issued forth. Sadly, I can't imagine Matt making it past base camp. I like the boy, but his brains and his heart are simply not up for what his ego is trying to do.
The thing about Matt is that the more he shakes off the results of a sheltered childhood reading too much Thompson and Bangs, the more he emerges as his own true writer. Sadly, his own true writer seems to manifest itself with emotional dishonesty, pet causes, slippery-to-non existent logic, and the inability to ascertain facts, and a self-importance that the text on the page makes a joke of.
Gonzo journalism is a pinnacle from which truly earth-changing things have been issued forth. Sadly, I can't imagine Matt making it past base camp. I like the boy, but his brains and his heart are simply not up for what his ego is trying to do.
36
"Strategic Planning and Sustainability Policy Advisor." $55,000 a year.
The fact that she didn't print the story about Sam Adams and Beau Breedlove priceless.
The fact that she didn't print the story about Sam Adams and Beau Breedlove priceless.
Most Commented on Blogtown, PDX
-
Portlandia is... Wait. It's FUNNY?? by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey
-
Win Tickets to The Perfect Pickle! by Sarah Mirk
-
Mario's Gets in On the Super Bowl Sale Action by Marjorie Skinner
-
One Question Interview with Oregon's New Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici by Sarah Mirk
-
BagelWatch 2012: Kettleman's Update by Alison Hallett
-
Announcing HECKLEVISION 2.0 by Erik Henriksen
-
Today in "Donkey Semen": The Story I Refuse to Let Die by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey
-
Breast Cancer Foundation Pulls Money from Planned Parenthood by Sarah Mirk
-
Good Morning News! by Sarah Mirk
-
Recaps for Poor People: Love and Money (mostly love) on NBC Thursday by Elinor Jones
Our Friends
- UrbanHonking
- Culture Shock
- Portland Roundball Society
- Steph Cassano
- Cort and Fatboy
- Street Roots
- Powell's Books Blog
- Portland Transport
- Portland Afoot
- Bike Portland
- Eater: PDX
- Portland Food and Drink
- Mr. Movie
- Sunday Softball
- BlueOregon
- Sightline Institute
- Ultra: Arts Portland
- Bitch Magazine
- Blazer's Edge
- Reading Local: Portland
- Portland Food Carts
- Stumptown Vegans
Our Enemies
The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.
Bands Page
Housing
Jobs
Musicians
For Sale
Wheels
Services
Health
The Arts
Friends 'N' Neighbors
Bulletin Board
Personals
Adult
About Portland Mercury
RSSGoing to Seattle?
Comments (36) RSS