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>They should have hired someone with more experience >and not just some kid. Seems if you have a Master's in >anything you are more employable by the PG even though >an MA doesn't show anything so far as journalistic >competence or even writing skills. Just what are Ms. >Millman's credentials for her position? I have yet to >see anything on the paper's website indicating any >qualifications at all. That's why a suspicion exists >she's somebody's friend or relative. Again, had they >gotten a real "star" dining reviewer to replace >Downer, no one would be raising the issue. > >But they didn't. > >>I agree that features duplicates much of what is >>available from national media or from colleagues >>elsewhere at the paper. Movie reviews are an obvious >>exammple. But restaurant reviews are exactly the sort >>of thing that local news sites should provide. It is a >>distinctly local service that makes sites like the PG >>valuable. Lots of people are looking for ideas for new >> places to eat; in that light, even a bad restaurant >>review can be helpful. China might not be the best >>reviewer in the world, but she's not that bad either. >>Give her a chance to grow into the job. >> >>>I think it's because the PG management shows bad >>>judgment in going from one bad dining critic, Downer, >>>to another who while younger is just lousy in a >>>different way. Trib has a bad feature section but >>>outguns PG on restaurant reviews hands down. PG >thinks >>>they need all these high-falutin' types. Why's a >paper >>>losing this money filling positions as if all's well? >>>Some dailies in less trouble than the PG are slashing >>>feature coverage even movie reviewers and so forth. >JR >>>Block is obviously in some kinda denial. I would not >>>have wasted money filling that position when Downer >>>left. As many people care about restaurant reviews as >>>care about Rawson's theater critiques. >>> >>>>I can't understand the level of vitriol directed at >>>>China Millman. She's certainly not my cup of tea, >>>>necessarily, but I don't get why her writing is so >>>>objectionable, or why she takes so much heat on this >>>>board. She's far from the worst writer at either >>>>paper, and she is writing features, for goodness >>sake, >>>>not political analysis. Lighten up. >>>>There are much more deserving targets on which to >>>>focus your irritation, to be sure. >>>>And no, I'm not China, and I've never met her or >>>>worked with her. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>It only took one and a half graphs for China >Millman >>>>>to insert herself into the story this time. >>>>> >>>>>She writes in Sunday's paper, "Still, Bourdain's >>>>>extended description of his own food television >>>>>hierarchy, combined with the timely kickoffs of new >>>>>seasons of Bravo's "Top Chef" and Fox's "Hell's >>>>>Kitchen," got me thinking." >>>>> >>>>>Oh, did it get YOU thinking, China? It made YOU >>>think, >>>>>huh? >>>>> >>>>>Can you please try to get through a few graphs (let >>>>>alone a whole piece) without using the following >>>>>words: Me, my or I? >>>>> >>>>>On top of that, when was Anthony Bourdain in town? >>>Two >>>>>weeks ago or so? Why a story now? Were you busy >>>>>regaling us on why Pittsburgh establishments will >>>>>never be as great as their counterparts in New York >>>or >>>>>San Fran? >>>>>Is that why it took weeks for a follow up on >>>Bourdain? >>>>> >>>>>For the life of me, I have no idea what anyone sees >>>in >>>>>China Millman except, of course, herself. And, oh >>>>>yeah, she'll tell you about it.

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