Valparaiso, Portage lucky to have good news sites

Before I begin this piece I want to make sure it is clearly understood that I have no official, or unofficial, position or role with ValpoLife, or PortageLife.

I have been accused by some of writing for ValpoLife. I do not. I have my own blog site -- www.donaldasher.blogspot.com -- where my thoughts and musings first appear.

ValpoLife Chief Chris Mahlmann, my good friend, asked permission to re-post my blogs on his site. I said yes. Sometime he and I may work together. Presently we do not.

That said, here goes.

As a journalist for more than four decades it was always a struggle to reach deep into a community to REALLY share with readers all of the good happenings taking place in a neighborhood, or down the block, or even next door.

It wasn't the newspaper's fault. No one realizes the labor intensiveness -- translate cost - of gathering news in the first place. Add to that bad news generally trumped good news mainly because -- sorry folks -- it has a higher readership.

Make no mistake. I have the greatest amount of respect for quality journalism. It is foundational for democracy. If it goes away, our liberties are likely to follow.

But that doesn't address what Chris Mahlmann is trying to do with his "good news only, please" internet site. He'll be the first to admit it's not true journalism.

What it is is a reflection -- a mirror -- of our community from a perspective newspapers haven't been able to accomplish. Maybe they will sometime, but not yet.

Sure, pick-up the newspaper and more often that not it's news about this crime, that accident, a burglary, etc. You get the point. And it's good reading. But how many of us find that other perspective to the degree Chris has been able to compile on his site?

It's refreshing to watch that video of Stu McMillan from Task Force Tips. Or see tons of photos of the small children running in the Popcorn festival race. Those people are usually our neighbors. Probably not the guy who was arrested for battery, or DUI.

And yes, the Times of Northwest Indiana does its share of fostering journalism efforts for the betterment of Northwest Indiana and its communities. As I've said over and over during my 40+ years in the business, a newspaper has a responsibility to be a catalyst for positive change. To its credit The Times has done that many, many times. I've been fortunate to have been a part of a lot of those projects.

What's missing is the depth of community news coverage, which is the foundation of Mahlmann's vision. Not competing with the newspapers.

And really, ValpoLife doesn't not have the vitally important role in society that journalism does. It is not big competition to journalism, as some in the newspaper business believe.

Sure it needs money to survive. What business doesn't? But it also needs the help of people in our community. Help in the context of contributing information and photos you'd like to see published on ValpoLife.com. Send it also to the local newspapers.

As a member of this community, I for one am proud that we have ValpoLife. And I hope that the people of Portage will embrace the newly launched PortageLife. I suspect they will.

And for the flack I'm going to get for daring to write this piece, having spent four decades as a journalist I can't help but write the truth, at least as I see it.

Recently I was told the newspaper business made me. To that I say, I believe it's the other way around. I helped make the newspaper business through quality journalism and by always practicing these simple principles --honesty, integrity and always tell the truth. I apologize if this sounds arrogant. I don't mean it to be.

One bright spot: The check is coming

So at my Screen Actors Guild orientation a couple of years ago SAG staff  made a huge point of telling us that 95 percent of its membership is unemployed...at least in the entertainment business.

At the time I thought, oh please they must be the dregs. How hard can it be to once in a while get a commercial, or a print photo job? Now two years later here I am, a one role wonder.

Of course the one role in Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" was very significant and prestigious by industry standards, although my friends would dispute that. Right Fred (McNulty), Fred (Cicco), Jim (Fitzer) and others?

Now how many people have a chance to work with Johnny Depp, face to face? I rest my case.

And while it's difficult to get a talent agent to represent you (they only get paid if they find you work), I'm fortunate enough to have two Chicago agents.

Periodically I'll get a call asking if I can come to Chicago for an audition for this or that commercial, or photo shoot. Generally I say okay. One was for Coors beer, another Lipitor, one for a secret cancer drug, U.S. Cellular. You get the point.

And while they are fairly sparse, I haven't landed a single role. Every time I show up to an audition, or photo shoot, the place is packed. I guess it represents those 95 percent unemployed.

So on a lark recently I decided to branch out. I sent p-hotos and a resume to three of the largest talent agencies in Los Angeles -- Creative Artists Agency, William Morris, and United Talent Agency. United represents Johnny Depp.

I'd love to say they have all responded. None have.

However, on my iMDB.com listing -- Donald G. Asher -- I noticed my popularity rating last week went up 36 percent. That's almost unheard of and the only thing I can relate that to is maybe -- just maybe -- one of those agencies was checking me out.

This week I dropped 10 percent.

So we'll see. The odds are overwhelmingly against me, or anyone for that matter. Generally they grab only  big names.

In the meantime, it's been nearly four months since the release of the "Public Enemies" DVD. That's important to me because I get residuals (royalties) on revenue generated from PE once it leaves the theater and is released to DVD, cable TV, etc. And I -- or my heirs -- get them forever, as long as the film makes money.

Don't start lining up for loans just yet. I tell friends I'd be surprised if I'll be able to buy a premium six pack of beer with the checks. However, I'm anxious to see the first one because the movie has made another almost $30 million in DVD sales since it's release. And supposedly the check should arrive in April, maybe May.

I'll keep you posted.

Advocates for safety deserve praise

Safety should always come first in the workplace.

But yet day in and day out we read or hear about workers being severely injured or killed while working.

Today was another unfortunate example of workplace dangers. This time it was on the Borman Expressway ( I-80/94 ) when a construction worker for Walsh Construction from Gary was hit and killed in a construction zone by a car at 1:30 in the morning.

The driver of the vehicle fled, and police are searching for him this morning.

Unfortunately most of us will forget about this in a day or so. We’ll feel sad for the victim’s family for a minute or two.

It won’t be long before we’ll read or hear about another worker killed in a tragic workplace accident. It could be a highway worker, such as this morning, or a steelworker, or a carpenter, or electrician, or just about anyone who has a job doing anything.

The only ones not at risk of workplace injury are people who are unemployed. Even office workers face some risk, albeit probably minimal.

And yet we also read or hear about jury verdicts to some poor soul who was somehow severely and permanently injured, or killed, in a workplace accident. Often these verdicts are in the millions of dollars. Often the public is outraged at the amounts of damages jury award to victims and/or their families. Unless of course it’s you, or your family member.

More often than not that perception spills over into negative perceptions of personal injury attorneys. They’re called ambulance chasers by some.

The connection people fail to make is that without personal injury attorneys, large penalties in the form of jury verdicts in the millions, companies would have no incentive to make a safer workplace.

For example, why should a company spend $5,000 or $10,000 for a railing around a catwalk? Sure, it would make it safer but they have a good safety record and no OSHA violations.

Boom! Next thing you know your husband, or father, or son just slipped and fell 30 feet and broken several bones. Or worse. Maybe paralyzed, or even killed.

What now?

One thing I’ve learned since my time working with Kenneth J. Allen is that a personal injury law practice is not about how much money can an attorney make, but rather incentivizing employers to routinely scrutinize its practices and equipment from a safety standpoint.

Without those PI attorneys out there to advocate for workers and safer workplaces, that poor soul who just fell 30 feet has little, if any recourse short of worker’s compensation.

So the next time you read or hear about a $10 million or $20 million injury verdict, think about the company that may have been negligent about workers’ safety, and not about that PI attorney, who rightfully should be commended not dissimilar to a physician who just saved the life of someone.

Reporter #1 to Sister-in-Law

Shortly before the Academy Awards show I wrote about what I considered an injustice that "Public Enemies" was not acknowledged by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for anything.

Not that PE was the best of the year. It wasn't. But it certainly was better than others in some categories. How about costumes, actor, cinematography, music?

So I mentioned this at dinner with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law Saturday night at Maggiano's Little Italy in Schaumburg, Illinois.

My sister-in-law curtly says "Don, it was a flop," and continues with dinner. Frankly, I was a little taken aback but reminded her that it made more than $200 million worldwide since its release last summer, hardly a flop.

I'd be less than honest if the comment didn't bother me. However, we were being treated to dinner so I kept quiet.

The IMDB.com message board has ripped "Public Enemies" to shreds. Almost like a hobby for some folks. Yet the IMDb.com rating is 7.2 on a scale of 1-10 with over 60,000 votes. Fairly good, I'd say.

It's surprising the response this film has received. You either love it, or hate it. No in-between. Honestly, I was luke-warm the first time I saw it at the Chicago premiere. The second time was much, much better.

It wasn't a smashing hit, I think in part because it wasn't your typical film and at points lacked continuity. While its run time was 2:20+, long for a feature film, given another 15 minutes I think Michael Mann would have produced and directed a classic. 

Probably people would have complained it was too long. 

But as a retired journalist, a good read is a good read no matter its length. I doubt it's any different in the film industry. 

Still, "Public Enemies" has more than doubled the investment it took to make it. I'll take that ROI (return on investment) any time, especially in this tough economy.

The film which took home the Oscar for Best Film  -- The Hurt Locker -- has made a tad over $18 million worldwide as of March 5.*  "Public Enemies" earnings is over $210 million. Both were released about the same time.

So to my sister-in-law -- her initials are SS -- take that!

And I would encourage anyone who wants to chime in on this to feel free. I promise to forward any comments -- pro or con -- to SS.

And I still think Johnny Depp should have been nominated for Best Actor.

*www.the-numbers.com/movies/2009/HURTL.php

Today is my anniversary with law firm

Today is my one-year anniversary with Kenneth J. Allen & Associates in Northwest Indiana and Chicago.

Having spent more than 40 years as a journalist/editor in the newspaper business, I was somewhat acquainted with the legal profession having served on the Illinois State Bar Association media law committee, and the Indiana Judicial Center media sub-committee of its Community Relations Committee.

I was also named by Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard to an advisory position of the state’s “Fire Brigade” charged with mediating potentially explosive disputes between the courts and the press.

And of course during my somewhat lengthy career I was involved in numerous First Amendment legal cases, and Freedom of Information issues and was chairman of the Illinois Associated Press Editors FOI committee.

That aside, now working with unquestionably Indiana’s premier injury attorney Kenneth J. Allen, I am getting the flavor of the driving force behind those words that KJAA firm uses: Passion, Commitment, Excellence.

Until I began working at Kenneth J. Allen & Associates, I didn’t realize the parallels between journalism and this law firm. Both subscribe to, and practice, those basic tenants with exuberance.

While this firm is quite selective in the cases it takes – only one in about 10 – once it says yes Mr. Allen and his firm’s talented attorneys tackle each case as a group, meeting twice each week to review, strategize and decide a course of action. Mr. Allen welcomes spirited debate during these early morning – very early – regular meetings.

I’ve had the honor of attending on more than one occasion to present information on particular cases. Watching six or seven attorneys kick around specifics on a case is very impressive.

Obviously, the model works. Anyone who doubts it only has to check out his website at kenallenlaw.com and review news clips, press conference videos, or other volumes of information about the firm.

So, not surprisingly I suppose, I feel right at home working on those fundamental issues that journalism and law have in common – righting wrongs. The ordinary man – or woman – sometimes needs an advocate to fight for justice. So the mission for the press, and KJAA is the same.

I am at home working for the best, just as I was as a journalist. Being second best just doesn’t cut it.

Maybe that should be Kenneth J. Allen & Associates new motto.

Good people, good friends

I woke up this morning reflecting on how lucky I am to have so many good friends.

I don't mean to belabor the point about friendship because I've written about it a few times. but this morning for some reason it took on a special importance. Nothing in particular.

For the point I want to try and make I will exclude family, for often family members have completely different sets of dynamics. Friendship has its own.

As I age friendship takes on a much more prominent role in my life.

At the end of the day, it's not about how much money one has, how many toys, how much power or authority, but rather how your treat your fellow man.

I am really fortunate to be blessed with a number of people whom I consider close friends. Like Fred McNulty, Fred Cicco, Jim Fitzer, Ric Frataccia, Dave Rose, Chris Mahlmann, and I could go on and on. The Saturday morning breakfast club in Valparaiso is a good example of friendship at its most basic level.

Fred Cicco wrote about this group in a blog a few weeks ago. Each week the boys get together, have some laughs, talk about serious issues, and when it adjourns I personally feel much better going into the weekend having spent this time with my friends.

But my friendships transcend that group. My neighbors, Al and Jannice Naramore are like family. I don't care what the request, Al or Jannice is there. Or Kenneth Allen, who gave me a job.

And then there's Renata and Artur Pniak. Both physical therapists. They immigrated here from Poland some years ago. I was lucky enough to find Renata at Accelerated Rehabilitation following knee replacement surgery. While she is an outstanding PT, both she and her husband Art are now, I'm proud to say, good friends.

They are quality, decent, people without an agenda other than to be kind, compassionate and folks who appreciate life, friends and family.

Everything happens for a reason. I am attracted to these kind of people...for that I and thankful. And all the above mentioned, and many, many more of my friends fall into that category. One in particular is in Lake County.

And while I see these people fairly often as we all live in Valparaiso, Indiana, there are lots of others who are my friends because they are good, decent people. Like Jack and Andrea Palmer.

I speak to Jack maybe twice year, yet he's like a brother to me. For those who know Jack from his days in Valpo, they know he has been blessed. But he's the same, good, decent person.

Or my one and only high school friend from our days at Proviso West High School near Chicago. Mart Loveall who lives in Terre Haute, Indiana, who is a retired electrician. I talk to him a couple of times a month.

Or David Stamps, who I wrote about recently. Or Jim Jackson, the best man at my wedding nearly 17 years ago. He lives in St. Charles, Illinois.

I probably have as many female friends. Deb Butterfield, Pat Puffer, Reba Kennedy in San Antonio, and more. My only requirement is that they are good, decent, compassionate people. I have no tolerance for others.

Part of my reflection this morning is the importance of nurturing friendships. Therapists use this analogy when talking about marriage, but the same can be said of friendships - they need nurturing. Maybe not daily, or even monthly, but some periodic connection is a must, like water and fertilizer in a garden.

Without it, those friendships can wither and die.

So I look forward to this Saturday morning. I won't get all mushy, but in my mind I will be thinking how fortunate I am. I hope they feel the same.

Fast forward through the Oscars

A couple of people asked me this week if I have any special plans for the Oscars on Sunday.

Well, if fact yes I do. I'm going to do the same thing to the Oscars that they did to "Public Enemies," ignore it.

I'm sure this sounds like sour grapes, and maybe it is. But I've got to be honest, I put the Academy Awards in the same category as American Idol. Not always the best win, or are even nominated.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying PE was the best movie of the year, or maybe even close to it. It had stiff competition, for sure. 

"Avatar" is excellent, although it should have a category of its own. "Inglorious Basterds" was also excellent. As were several others.

But compare "Up In the Air" with "Public Enemies" and PE wins hands down. "Up In the Air" is medicore, at best. It's just an average film. Nothing special. 

And I have nothing against George Clooney, in fact I'm told his aunt Rosemary Clooney, frequented my father's -- Benny Asher -- cocktail lounge "Tin Pan Alley" on Oak Street in Chicago during the 1940s, along with numerous other celebrities.

However, there is no way Clooney's performance in "Up In the Air" can compare to that of Johnny Depp in PE. Sorry. I may be biased, but this is my blog so I'm entitled.

Okay, exclude Depp's PE performance, Hell, he should have won an Oscar a long time ago. His range of acting skills transcends anyone on the big screen today. I can hardly wait to see him as the Mad Hatter in "Alice and Wonderland," which opens today.

No, my vision of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences members who vote on the Oscars are a bunch of old cronies -- or maybe even young cronies -- paying off political debts for votes, just like Illinois politics.

It's obvious the fact that "Public Enemies" was selected as the centerpiece film for the Los Angeles film festival, or that Johnny Depp was voted best actor by the People Choice Awards for his role in PE, makes no difference to the cronies. 

Clearly the highlight of the evening will be Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. Maybe I'll DVR it and fast forward everything but those two.

In the meantime, Michael Mann should at least be acknowledged for his penchant for authenticity and creativity. To his credit, Mann marches to his own beat. That probably doesn't sit well with the LA/NY pack.

And somewhere along the line I'm confident Depp will be recognized by the Academy for his amazing versatility and acting skills.

A difficult decision

Today I had to finally make a tough decision. As those of you who know me, I've had a lot of tough decisions to make this past year. In fact, in some respects they are all connected.

My good friend of more than 40 years -- David M. Stamps -- will be inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in April. He and I grew up together in the world of journalism.

Back in 1969 he and I worked at this twice weekly newspaper chain in Elmhurst, Illinois. Both fresh of out the military, we didn't know what we didn't know. Life can be cruel in its lessons, but  it wasn't long before we learned. It was either that, or not survive.

Both of us spent a fairly short time with that newspaper chain. He left to become a bureau chief of a daily newspaper. That was huge for us in the minor leagues. It wasn't long before he was promoted. My phone rang. "Don, it's David." I waited. "This is the greatest place in the world to work and I want you to come here with me."

I did. It was 1970. Between 1970 and the time I left journalism, which was last Fall, he and I were connected professionally and personally, as close as two friends could be. As we both moved around in the newspaper business, somehow we were always close geographically and personally.

When he and I get together we share stories no one would believe. But they are true. Like the time he got a call from the White House asking him, as president of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association, to host a press conference for President Gerald Ford. He did. And I was lucky enough to tag along.

Or the Red Grange stories -- the Galloping Ghost as oldtimers will remember. Dave has memories of sharing a bottle of whiskey with good, old Red. In fact, the bottle itself was a commemorative special edition in honor of him. Grange could give a crap. As Dave tells it, when the bottle was empty Grange tossed it like nothing into the trash can.

There are other stories aplenty that we can share during our years growing up in journalism. And we really did grow up, thankfully.  And his wonderful wife, Sandy, was so kind and tolerant of our antics -- although she stills winches when David's 30th birthday party come up for discussion. Hmmmm.

Anyway, I digress.

David followed me to Indiana not long after I arrived. Although he went further South -- to Indianapolis -- where he spent the next 14 years as the Executive Director of the Hoosier State Press Association.

We worked together on a number of major projects in Indiana, some of which changed state law.

I was the Editor in Waukegan, Illinois. He was the Publisher in Aurora, Illinois.  I came to Indiana from Illinois in late 1995.

When I received a call from Julie Inskeep last Fall, Publisher of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette asking me to write a nomination letter to include David into the Indiana Hall of Fame, I was truly honored and jumped on the opportunity.

I wrote from my heart, as friends do. In my world friendship ALWAYS trumps business, or it isn't friendship.
He ended up having nearly 20 letters of nomination from associates and colleagues in the business.

And to my point. Having been voted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, I was honored and humbled to receive a call from David asking me to give his introduction at the induction ceremonies. That was late last year. It's weighed on me ever since.

Today I decided I would not do it. Not because of anything to do with David. Our friendship is solid as a rock. But rather other factors that would put us -- more me than him -- into an awkward position. Like Grange, he could give a crap. Friendship trumps business.

It was gut-wrenching to say no. I'm still not sure it was the correct decision, but what I do know is his induction will be spared any possible awkwardness,  and that's the most important. Like he said today when I told him, "Hell what's five minutes, we've had 40 years."  And we're still going. He understood.

Yes David, I will be there in spirit. I am proud to be your friend. Congratulations friend.