Claremont Insider: High Praise from Son to Father

Saturday, December 20, 2008

High Praise from Son to Father

Wednesday's Claremont Courier had a "My Side of the Line" column by Courier publisher Peter Weinberger. The column was about Weinberger's trip to San Francisco to collect an award for his father, Martin Weinberger, who was honored for his work in his profession and his community.

Peter Weinberger had a number of observations about the world of journalism, and he certainly is right that small newspapers might be doing better than larger ones in navigating changing readership in the Internet Age. The humble Courier has at least not had to file for bankruptcy like the LA Times' parent Tribune Co.

Weinberger the Younger wrote of his father:

I saw this as a lifetime achievement award, or Hall of Fame induction from his colleagues in The California Press Association. In a fast paced world, where it’s only harder to connect with people, Martin Weinberger made a difference. What’s incredible is how the COURIER has not only survived, but flourished during his tenure at the helm.

Sure there have been tough times, but somehow the newspaper continued to be an important part of Claremont. While I was growing up, Martin would talk about how the dailies, whatever size, would compete for readers’ attention in our city. At one point even cable TV was going to take over news. They had more resources and a confident attitude, but didn’t last the test of time.

It's great to see the business staying in the family. We wish Peter, his father, and his mother Janis all the best and hope the niche they've carved out for the Courier will last long into the future.