Longtime Chronicle columnist Ken Hoffman gone: Quit? Fired?

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by astrohip

Not sure about this. He wrote 3 columns a week, including a Sunday Zest lead. Not sure what was "shrinking". And I would guess he was their #1 columnist. I can't even name anyone else remotely close. They do have some good ones (Lisa Falkenburg comes to mind), but none with his following or name recognition.

Lisa Falkenburg, gag.

[vwgto]

Really sad to see many of the second-tier city newspapers go down-hill - - like the Chronicle. We lose the watchdog function. Have been pleasantly surprised by some of the recent in-depth articles in the Houston Press. Maybe all is not lost with local newspapers... It is a tough financial model these days.

[TXbywayof]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

Lisa Falkenburg, gag.

Her column was one factor that drove me to drop my 30 year Chronicle subscription. I remember a column where she was attending maybe a women's empowerment conference in Europe. A bus was providing transportation. She let it be known she was very hung over and didn't get out at the rest stop for a bathroom break. She changed her mind but got off too late and the bus left without her. I decided at that point that if she was on an expense report, I was not going to contribute.

I do miss reading Ken Hoffman. I enjoy his wit and his love of shelter dogs.

[detachable arm]

The Chronicle turned into toilet paper the day after SciGuy announced he was leaving.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by detachable arm

The Chronicle turned into toilet paper the day after SciGuy announced he was leaving.

Should Katy evacuate?

[bu2]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

Lisa Falkenburg, gag.

My reaction to her too.

Saw her in the Texas alumni magazine, noting several awards she had gotten.

What I remember was she was the biggest airhead in the paper. Maybe she does better with investigative stuff (her awards) than with opinion pieces.

Ken was great.

[Vicman]

Which article was it? Do you remember the year? I searched "Lisa Falkenberg women's conference Europe site:chron.com" on Google but couldn't get hits...

Originally Posted by TXbywayof

Her column was one factor that drove me to drop my 30 year Chronicle subscription. I remember a column where she was attending maybe a women's empowerment conference in Europe. A bus was providing transportation. She let it be known she was very hung over and didn't get out at the rest stop for a bathroom break. She changed her mind but got off too late and the bus left without her. I decided at that point that if she was on an expense report, I was not going to contribute.

I do miss reading Ken Hoffman. I enjoy his wit and his love of shelter dogs.

[astrohip]

I like Lisa Falkenburg. I don't always agree with her; in fact I probably disagree most of the time. But I find her articles well thought out, with a personal touch. I'm one of those rare people who try to avoid confirmation bias, and search out opposing POV.

As far as Ken goes, I saw where he wrote he was leaving on his own terms, not fired. Yet he didn't write a farewell column, which would be de rigueur for a long-time writer. Methinks they must have lo-balled a contract offer to him, so low they knew he would leave. Another way to cut overhead at the "new" Houston Chronicle.

I see now they're running "the best of" columns. Pshaw

[houston-nomad]

I saw that Hoffman left for CultureMap because his columns wouldn't be buried behind a firewall. Makes sense. More visibility.