STAR DOWNSIZED, EDITORS LET GO, HERALD TAKING OVER

By JERRY DEAL
MyLeaderNews

Big time media reductions and changes are here.
Rumors have been floating in the area about the Valley Morning Star, its possible changes, and its demise, including one false report it was closing down.
Set the record straight right here;
There is no question that the area newspaper is not what it used to be. Much of that has been due to less advertising due to the economy, also other advertising cutbacks. But figured in is because of corporate financial problems, with information coming from the bankers who have taken over Freedom Communications. Bankers usually have no sympathy.
Most of the VMS business office and the production already was being handled in McAllen. My concern is that the changes being made will cause even less of the coverage by the Star which already is pretty poor.
Here are the “victims” in the VMS rundown:
* VMS Editor Paul Binz, who came to the newspaper after being a longtime managing editor at the Monitor, is gone.
* Managing Editor Lucio Castillo, who rose from a young reporter into sports reporter then sports editor and later named (by this writer when editor) as managing editor, with about 35 or more years with Freedom.
* City Editor Charline Vandini — although I do not know if she was part of this purge or because other inefficiency matters and being so negative to readers.
* This follows up the demotion of former sports editor Dave Favila, who was downgraded to senior sports editor, with Wade Baker of the Monitor over all the sports departments,.
If you do not think there is a downsizing, here is the word. Brownsville Editor Marci Caltabiano will also be the editor for the VMS. There will no longer be a managing editor, I am told. As for city editor, will Assistant City Editor Ed Asher have to do both? He is a qualified newsman, Have to wait on that one in sort of the same overall matter.
At one time, the Star folks sort of looked down on the Brownsville Herald and its coverage. That has switched, I am not saying the Herald is doing a great job, just saying it is doing better than the VMS
The only good thing is there are still some VMS reporters doing their jobs well despite all this interruptions, but it would seem to me they still are under some difficult circumstances.
Freedom would be stupid (although it has not always been smart) to make any changes in the positions of reporters Fernando del Valle, who could work at any newspaper in the U.S., and solid reporter Allen Essex, who has more than 30 years experience, covering local news and also has been one or the best county reporters over the years, including the courts. Also newcomer Danielle, that very competent woman covering city of Harlingen business, happening.
Marci can be a bitch, but she is all newswoman..
In my 15 years with the VMS, I never dreamed that the Herald would be the main paper in this end of the Valley, or at least editorially.