Winehouse obit makes page one, but not Betty Ford's

INK DRIES ON ITS OWN: The L.A. Times is taking heat from one of its readers over the decision to run the obit of Amy Winehouse on its cover, but not of Betty Ford, FishbowlLA noted. Reader Colleen Bennett wrotes: “OK, let me get this straight. The L.A. Times didn’t think the death of Betty Ford, former first lady and substance abuse treatment icon, deserved a front page obituary. But Amy Winehouse, a flash-in-the-pan singer who didn’t see the need to recover from said substance abuse, does?” Times reader rep Deirdre Edgar offered an explanation: “Winehouse’s death was reported before noon Saturday, leaving plenty of time to be considered for Sunday’s front page.” By contrast, news of Ford’s death broke late on a Friday. The item goes on to opine that “the complaint really just seems quaint at this point. Even though the writer’s point is legitimate, can you see anyone under 30 getting worked up about this? In the age of the Internet, obits are old news by the time they hit paper anyway.” (7/27a)