Pinch-hitting again on Sound Off

I filled in for John Arthur in writing this week's Bakersfield Californian Sound Off reader-feedback column.

Good mix of questions that include:

• Why Sea of Galilee controversy was news.
• Why a huge accomplishment by a local Cal Ripken team didn't make our sports cover.
• Feedback on our "Cul De Sac" comic, which is ending in September, and suggested replacements.
• Why we published a police sketch on the front page.

I have a lot of stuff on my plate in my current job but I really enjoy these opportunities to engage with readers who have good questions about what we do. Sound Off is a great forum to get feedback but also shed a little light on what we do.  

Talking doping, whales and concussions on 'Californian Radio'

I co-hosted today's "Californian Radio" with Louis Amestoy, The Californian's digital convergence manager. 

Our topics included Lance Armstrong and performance-enhancing drugs, whale sightings on the Central Coast, chatting with a California Interscholastic Association representative about a new state law requiring training in concussion awareness, and new approaches The Californian is taking to cover prep sports this fall. 

It's a fast-paced show, so give it a spin. 

(The audio podcast version is here). 

Californian e-book highlights 'Unbeaten' season

The Bakersfield Californian has just released "Unbeaten," its third e-book this year, an iPad-only celebration of Bakersfield High School's unbeaten 2011 football season. 

The Drillers' 13-0 season was the latest in a long string of titles for the state's most consistently successful prep-football program. 

Louis Amestoy, The Californian's Digital Convergence Manager, used Apple's iBooks Author program to produce the 150-page book that's stuffed with multimedia by repackaging a variety of staff-produced stories and photos with video highlights recorded Game-by-game summaries include detailed stats. by BHS staff. 

All told, "Unbeaten" includes:

• 132 photos, most never-before-published.
• 41 videos of game highlights. 
• Game stories, stats and  Californian prep reporter Zach Ewing's richly reported live-blog posts.
• Features on head coach Paul Golla and Drillers legend Frank Gifford, and more.

The 41 videos feature key plays from throughout the season.And all this for only $3.99 in the iBookstore. 

Click to read more ...