Scott Burgess and The Detroit News have split, again. After reconciling a much publicized spat when the paper edited one of his columns following a complaint by an advertiser, the erstwhile auto critic left to join AOL Autos as a senior editor. He can be reached at: Scott.Burgess@teamaol.com. . . Let’s hope it was money and opportunity
that lured Burgess and not the shake- up of the auto staff at the paper. Alan Derringer is the auto editor, Jaclyn Trop now covers Ford, Melissa Burden has the General Motors beat and Alisa Priddle keeps an eye on Chrysler. Christine Tierneyis in the paper’s Washington Bureau covering Michigan interests there and, apparently, auto shows in Europe.
Mark Williams (m_e_williams@sbcglobal.net) made the switch from print publishing (Four Wheeler, Truck Trend, Motor Trend) to the web, taking the reins at www.PickupTrucks.com following Mike Levine’s departure to Truck PR at Ford. . . , . . Former Detroit Free Press business and auto editor Sarah A. Webster joined the Society of Mechanical Engineers as editor-in-chief of its Manufacturing Engineering Magazine. In addition to the monthly print and digital magazine, she’ll oversee yearbooks with in-depth overviews for aerospace and defense, energy, medical and motorized vehicles manufacturing. Editorial inquiries can be sent to editorial@sme.org. . . . Greg Gardner replaced Webster a Free Press auto editor and Christopher Kirkpatrick as business editor. The paper’s staff email format is first initial,lastname@freepress.com.
John Dinkel, a man of many parts: engineer editor, consultant, writer, PR man and inveterate punster, imparts that he has departed Green Tech Automotive, which is developing a new electric vehicle. “That means, he says, “I am available for assignments, short or long, in the areas of automotive consulting and communications. The consulting side includes product planning, product development, marketing/sales, public relations, sales training, vehicle analysis, and other misc and sunday (Not a typo–it implies my availability 24/7). Communications? I divide myself into four areas: punmanship, Editorial Irritant and Carmudgeon. What’s the fourth? I plead the fifth!” . . . Another two-hatter, Marty Schorr added Editor, Car Guy Chronicles, and chief communications officer of the Sarasota Cafe Racers to his ownership responsibilities at PMPR, Inc. in Sarasota, Fla. Email: mischorr@verizon.net.
J.D. POWER Automotive Forecasting is now LMC Automotive and Jeff Schuster’s new email address is jschuster@lmc-auto.com. . . . Prolific Canada-based freelancer Mark Hacking has a new email address: Mark@markhacking.com . . . Former Detroit News auto editor Manny Lopez has joined the Mackinac Center for Public Policy as managing editor of Michigan Capitol Confidential. The publication “helps inform Michigan residents of the policy decisions that affect their lives.” . . . Josh Max is the host, associate producer and music content provider for the Discovery Channel’s new show “CARnivore,” which Max describes as “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse for gearheads.” Watch the commercial here: http://youtu.be/q6ER-wC7rd0 Max is also back at the NY Daily News, publishing 6 articles a week to do with all manner of car and truck topics, safety, items of interest and, of course, reviews. He also continues to write a blog, “I, Max” at www.Forbes.com .
C. Van Tune is now owner and executive producer at 90 in a 35 Productions, Inc. The company is currently developing a feature film and co-developing a TV documentary on the original “Route 66” television series. Van Tune can be reached at cvtune@earthlink.net . . . . Bryan Laviolette is now Information Services Coordinator at Michigan Credit Union League, associate editor, TheDetroit Bureau and founder and editor at www.FastAmphibians.com. Email him at laviolette.autoscribe@yahoo.com. . . . Davey Johnson became West Coast Sr. Online Editor for AutoWeek with the start of the year.
Paul Zangari’s new email for Drive-Thru Radio is: pzangari@copper.net and Steve Hammes’ new email at Drive Time Productions (video car reviews) in Albany, NY is: steve@drivetime.cc . . . .Harsh Luthra’s new email CarReviews and News: editor2@carreviewsandnews.com . . .Steve Trousdale replaced Drew Voros at the Contra Costa Group in Walnut, Ca. Email: strousdale@bayareanewsgroup.com . . . Aaron Robinson’s email is arobinson@htmus.com.
Veteran truck writer Bruce Smith has added the editorship of Propickup Magazine to his outlets as well as another email: for material intended for Propickup: bsmith@rambllriley.com . . .Haig Stoddard returned to Ward’s Auto as industry analyst. Email: hstoddard@wardsauto.com . . . Lawrence Papoff’s email at Canadian Autoworld is lpapoff@wheels.ca . . . Rob Merwin has replaced Kevin Loewen as an editor at Parts and People. Email: rob.merwin@partsandpeople.co
When Automotive.com became a part of Source Interlink, Joel Arellano’s email became: joel.arrellano@sorc.com . . . Kendra Hogue is auto editor for The Oregonian and John Vincent writes for and designs the paper’s weekly auto section. Emails at oregonian.com are: khogue and jvincent. . . . Bernard Simon, has left the Financial Times where he has been Canada and North America correspondent since 2004. Previously, he was Canada business correspondent for the New York Times.
