Metropolitan News Company
Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary
Metropolitan News-Enterprise, Nov.
10, 1997, Page 13
The Metropolitan News Company's 20th anniversary of
newspaper operations in the City of Los Angeles was marked Friday by
a Los Angeles City Council proclamation presented at a City Hall ceremony.
Councilman Richard Alatorre presented a scroll, signed
by all 15 council members and by Mayor Richard Riordan, to MNC President
Jo-Ann W. Grace during the regular council session.
"I cannot impress upon you how important reporting
the news is for those of us with an interest in government," Alatorre
said, adding:
"I believe your newspapers provide an invaluable
service throughout Los Angeles and the state."
The resolution recited that Oct. 3 "marked 20 years
from the date of the first issue of the Metropolitan News-Enterprise
to be published under its current ownership, Grace Communications, Inc.";
that MNC publishes three newspapers in the city of Los Angeles: the
Metropolitan News-Enterprise, the Civic Center NEWSource and the Los
Angeles Bulletin, as well as four newspapers in other counties; that
it publishes rules of court of the state and major counties; and that
it owns Capitol News Service, and two legal advertising agencies, Cal-Net
(California Network of Community Newspapers) and NNN (National Newspaper
Network).
The resolution proclaimed that "MNC covers law,
the courts and local government in a comprehensive and outstanding manner
which put them in the forefront of governmental issues in the City of
Los Angeles and the State of California," that "MNC's coverage
throughout the years has become an indispensable tool for lawmakers
and jurists statewide" and that "MNC provides in-depth governmental
coverage throughout the State of California."
It concluded:
"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor
and Council of the City of Los Angeles do hereby commend the METROPOLITAN
NEWS COMPANY for its 20 years of outstanding journalism and coverage
of local and state government, and its current ownership, Grace Communications,
Inc., for upholding the highest journalistic standards and for fostering
a better understanding of government and its role within our communities."
MNC Editor-in-Chief Roger M. Grace extended thanks to
Alatorre for the scroll. The Graces were flanked by their daughter,
Lisa Grace, General Manager S. John Babigian, and Assistant General
Manager Vahn C. Babigian.
"Reaching a 20-year anniversary in business is
certainly a feat," Grace said, but noted he had heard there was
a member of the City Council who could perform a greater feat: doing
one-arm push-ups.
With that, Councilman Nate Holden performed a series
of one-armed push-ups on the council floor to a mixture of amazement,
cheers, laughter and applause from the other council members and the
hundreds of audience members.
Later, Holden commended the company's newspapers for
their accuracy in reporting on Los Angeles.
"I'd like to thank and commend the Metropolitan
News and Roger Grace and his family for making a significant difference
in the city and the way politics is reported," he said.
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Roger
M. Grace, president of MNC's parent corporation, extends thanks to the
15 members of the City Council, all of whom signed the resolution.
Los
Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden enlivens the ceremony by demonstrating
several one-handed push-ups.
