Sep 26, 2008 1:16 pm US/Eastern
If You Can't Beat 'Em...
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
One day you are covering the County Manager and the next you are working for the County Manager. So goes the life of Matthew Pinzur, the diminutive, well-dressed former Herald reporter who is now Special Assistant to County Manager George Burgess.
How special? Well, about $115,000 special.
That's Pinzur's new salary what is almost certainly an impressive bump from the meager salary he was earning for Miami's ever shrinking daily.
"I am pleased to announce a new addition to my immediate staff and a resource for each of you," Burgess wrote in a memo to department directors. "Matt Pinzur, formerly of The Miami Herald, is joining the County Executive Office as a Special Assistant."
"Many of you know Matt from his work at The Miami Herald. Matt has more than 11 years of journalistic experience and is an award-winning newspaper reporter with a solid understanding of government and politics and strong ties to the South Florida civic community."
"Matt's background and experience will complement the talent on our County Executive team. He will focus primarily on external affairs including local intergovernmental relations and fostering positive working relationships with decision makers in our community. Matt will also work with all of us on the strategic packaging of County Initiatives and programs."
Pinzur had been with The Herald since 2002 and has covered county government for the past two years.
The decision to hire Pinzur is raising some eyebrows at County Hall. The position didn't exist prior to Pinzur joining the manager's team and the job was never advertised.
Pinzur didn't return phone calls seeking his comment, but in a goodbye note to colleagues at The Herald, he wrote: "I love the Herald so much, and I love newspapering even more. But the uncertainty we're all struggling with ran headlong into an exciting opportunity in another field, and I just couldn't turn it down."
The Herald is in the midst of another round of buyouts and possible layoffs, with 23 positions needing to be cut from the newsroom.
Thanks to Pinzur, make that 22.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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