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Marty Merzer wrote (and still writes) with a great "ear," a tremendous love of language, a respect for his reader's intelligence and a constant awareness of content and context.
In short, he has been one of the "great ones" in our business.
Even when he was called on to clean up a less talented reporter's copy, the Merzer touch was always there.
He will be missed.
Oh yes.
I still admire him for the dignity and professionalism he displayed when the Jewish lobby pressured the Herald into bringing Marty home after he dared to write about the plight of Israel's homeless Palestinians.

First Dave Barry? Now this? Sigh...

I had the privilege of working with Marty for a few years in the early '90s. He is one of the most graceful, patient and selfless writers I've ever known. And a really nice guy. The Herald has lost a gem.

I worked with Marty way back in the 1980s. I have worked at many top-notch print publications, including the Washington Post, Business Week and (now) as managing editor at U.S News & World Report. I have never worked with a better reporter than Marty. -30-

Good RIDDANCE.

Marty Merzer was the most disagreeable, egg-headed ass I ever encountered.

There was nothing this man did not know -- and he was always glad to tell you so.

He also was unyielding in his awful and inappropriate political leanings in the newsroom.

He had a $100 bet with Glenn Garvin that George Bush would lose in 2004.
His logic was that George Bush won, he would have to pay $100.

But, if he lost he would make $100.

I can't believe that this man was allowed to make news judgments and have such an influence on the newspaper with his obviously partisan beliefs.

Of course, compared to others (Shelly Acoca and especially Joan Chrissos) the jackass Merzer seemed rational. Joan took every relative to see Bill CLinton speak at a book signing and I'm sure her underwear needed changing or wringing out afterwards. She, of course, pushed this story to the front page -- although Clinton had been out of office for several years and the Sept. 11 attacks could easily be blamed on him.

Chrissos planned the media coverage of that, which consisted of no less than two reporters, two photographers and her "objective" editing.

Accoca's talk on everything liberal was simply unbelievalble. She didn't even TRY to hide it! (She was Leonard Pitts' ruthless editor on the Ronald Reagan death commentary -- which made several errors and never corrected them. What a joke those two are: Acoca and Chrissos.

This is on top of Merzer's constantly snarky comments, know it all attitude and general inability to do anything without crapping on others who were invariably labeled as "incompetent."

Good riddance to this man who was a complete JERK.

Everytime I think of how newspapers are doomed, I become a little sad, but then remember how practically everyone is digging their own graves.

My favorite part of the day -- everyday -- at the Miami Herald was the apoligies that were spouted every time someone said Bush or the Republicans were doing something that was not a disaster. This was in the form of "not that I agree" or "I don't think the guy has a clue" followed by a "but, this is the new policy or idea."

Whenever a Democrat has some new idea, concept or proposal it was stated merely as fact in the newsroom. Because no one in the newsroom would ever find fault with it or find themselves having to explain that there was no way they agreed in any way shape or form with the Republican administration.

I have dozens, dozens more of these tales after sitting in every SINGLE daily news meeting twice a day for 3 years.

It was a lesson in exactly what is wrong with all of it.

What complete jerks and total a-----les.

Oh, a corallary to the CLinton coverage was a visit by Bush a few weeks later to nearly Palm Beach County where no reporter or even a photographer was sent to cover the story. NONE.

Talk about bias. They are doomed -- and I am laughing.

Care to hear any more stories about a group of complete jerks?

What a ludicrous post.

Get some help, dude. Get back on the meds.

Also, buy a dictionary or learn how to spell before you come here pretending to be a newspaper person.

Since I'm now an "employee owner" of the Sun-Sentinel, can we buy out some deputy managing editors -- PLEASE???

Excellent cost-cutting proposal, Tuff Grrl. Perhaps the Sentinel can also buy out the person who decided that casinos giving away cars was Saturday's 1A lead (!) story: "Betcha you're gonna win a car!" (Yes, that was the headline.)
Forget those 100,000 dead in the cyclone - more free promotion for the ad clients!

OK, I am not one to post a comment on these blogs, precisely because of dumb ass, ill-informed rants like the one by this jim wilson character who starts by going off on Marty Merzer and then eviscerates Joan Chrissos and Shelley Acoca.

Since I am deputy features editor at The Herald and it was Joan and Shelley who hired me into that position, any leap that I make to their defense would seem suspect.

But with regard to Marty, I can say that I have never been his supervisor but I have worked with him for 14 years as a colleague. And if ever a characterization of someone at The Herald as a JERK that is completely wrong, it’s using that term to describe Marty, completely dismissing his three decades of sterling work.

I have watched Marty marshal feeds from dozens of Herald writers in the field on hurricane stories and do write-throughs on multi-faceted stories, and in every instance he went out of his way to give credit to reporters who made even the most minimal feeds.

In a newsroom that over the years has had its share of polarizing figures who, rightly or wrongly, engendered animosity among their co-workers, Marty has always been the sort of journalist whose skills and attitude we should all strive to meet.

Oh, by the way, Glenn Garvin never had a bet with Marty on the 2004 election. I had a $100 bet with a part-time copy editor that Bush would easily trounce Kerry, yet another fact among many that jim wilson got wrong.

Lastly, I have been involved in the daily news meetings at The Herald for years, and I’ve never met a jim wilson in any of them.

I’m putting my real name on this post, so jimbo, whoever you are, why don’t you man-up and tell us your real name instead of hiding behind the cowardice of a fake screen name.

TERRY JACKSON
DEPUTY FEATURES EDITOR
THE MIAMI HERALD

I think it's a disastrous idea to get rid of all of the talent, but keep the short-sighted management that have been unable to navigate around the giant, black train of financial ruin that's been slowly creeping toward them with horns a blastin'. I would love for anyone to respond who thinks that current management at any of the papers are going to be able to turn things around. Keep the talent and start choppin' heads from managing editors on up.

Merz was the gold standard. Will be sorely missed, tho' there is some bench strength there. Pinzur? Maybe. A few others, too. Andron? Perhaps. Casey Woods? Nesmith?

(Dorschner and Brecher are still around. That's good.)

Still lots of talent in the newsroom, despite it all. Young ones, too.

And Dave Barry may have "retired" but he still writes and is published when he does.

Merz was/is hardly a screaming liberal, as his book on the 2000 election confirms. If anything, it was a bit, well, conservative.

Who is this "Jim Wilson?" A gutless weasel, it would seem.

hilarious. none of you arrogant fools think there could EVER be an infiltator amopng you.

the Herald is the ultimate in 'groupthink' so of course it could never cross your mind that someone working there in an invisable role (because she -- there is hint -- is not chasing a Pulitzer) is taking notes on all your horrible behavior.

best story ever: dave wilson's glee as US forces faced a potential ambush/bloodbath during the open hours of the Iraq war. he was giddy as he calculated the location, attack and the amazing story that would follow.

too bad for Dave -- who has not a lick of military experience -- that the people who actually plan such things avoided it.

when the day comes that Shiria law comes to pass everyone at the Herald will be safe...

Marty, I've watched your work for many years. Excellent reporting and writing. Good job, sir. Rich Oppel

Marty Merzer was one of the Herald classics, no question about it, whether covering hurricanes, Elian, Israel or anything else. A little bit of the Herald disappeared when he left.

And Jim Wilson is a fraud. The Herald never hired anyone that stupid.

"Jim Wilson," according to Wikipedia, is a code name used by American Airlines when transporting a casket in the cargo hold of a plane, fyi.

Hmmm....

Folks in the hurricane zone know and respect the byline and the solid reporting that backed up the byline. "Marty Merzer" atop a story added authority and credibility for the reader of his stories. Journalism, the Herald, and all us are diminished by his leaving.

One of the best articles I've ever read was Merzer's piece on the hijacking of a school bus back in the 1990s.

I love how everyone totally dismisses everything I say.

Lovely.

The problem is that it is ALL true.

As usual, no one from the Herald can actually deal with truthful stories.

They pick apart the source (who she can not reveal for obvious reasons).

They pick apart even my pseudo male (hidden) name.

If you idiots are this defensive, then that just proves there is a lot of truth there.

You stupid, total fools.

Oh, and if "Jim Wilson" is stupid, what about Dan Grech? That guy was the ultimate in total fool.

Sorry, but JW is at least smarter than Dan Grech.

And, Casey Woods? If Casey Woods was not so attractive and didn't wear skimpy outfits and have such nice legs (yes, I have lesbian leanings) she would have washed out a long time ago. Work it, girl.

How about the 20 year old Catholic school girl that lived with the 58 year old Broward columnist Fred Grim, whose stories were wanna be Carl Hiassen (but, were, instead phoned in with no effort.)

I also remember how Romina Garber's near newsroom nudity (and C+ cup breasts) nearly guaranteed her a job. Everyone salavated over her and knocked themselves over to offer her a job --- too bad she told some of us (a fellow cool chick) that she hated the place... which only made Herald management (losers) want her more!!!

I could go on and on about the scandals that rocked that newsroom. Oh, and the Yahoo Stalin email that accused one of FOUR managing editors of being Stalin -- another wild goose chase that diverted thousands of manhours (and lawyers) to finding someone who simply didnt agree with the powers that be. Now, Stalin is gone working for... tada ... a private investigative firm.

As a woman I was mortified by the total double standards. Meanwhile, we had Merzer, who sat around smugly in goofy, oversized acid washed jeans while somehow scoring a parking space under the building. (Nice and so fair.) By the way, was Merzer ever wrong about anything? (Better question: did he ever ADMIT to being wrong)

And, lets not forget Dave Wilson never showing up for his party to welcome him to the Broward office management team. Nice. Classy move.

And, of course, don't get me started on the dozens of Alberto Ibarguen stories, especially the total abuse of power he wielded. And, then there was Alberto's total buddy the publisher of the Jewish Star Times (Dwight) --- wow, can you say deplorable?????? It made the hiring of FEMA director Brown under George Bush seem competent and based on merit!!!

Oh, and how could we all leave out Elissa Vanaver's shielded husband in photo, who has the people skills of Teller (or whichever one from Penn and Teller who doesn't talk.)

It's ALL a joke.

Should I tell more, of is this enough for now? Remember, I am a minority and a woman, so I can't be sued. Not to mention, none of this is made up, so it's not libel!!!

What claptrap. While trying to show off some kind of insider knowledge about the machinations of the Miami Herald, "jim wilson" exhibits the crybaby traits (and long-winded writing ability) of a sub-par journalist/disgruntled employee who flails about to find someone -- anyone but themselves -- to blame for their own shortcomings. If you can't stand the heat ... at least sign your real name. Anonymous accusations are made by cowards.

yes, anonymous TRUE accusations are made with pseudonyms....

given the noise surrounding this yet not a single denial tells this Ms. Wilson that the truth is dead on...

its never a debate about the facts -- just more nibbling around the edges...

BRING IT!!!!

"I am a minority and a woman, so I can't be sued."

Wow, sis, are you ever naive.

ok, ok, i'm just angry because i suck. sorry, guys.

To bring this conversation back to Marty, he was ever a professional to work with, whether it was downstairs, as we built pages in the composing room, or in the newsroom, as we scramble to build pages on time. I'll miss you!

Boy you Herald and ex-Herald folks are some crazy people.

So "Jim Wilson" had to suffer through all those years of listening to people who disagreed with her politics? And some of them wore acid-washed jeans and parked under the building? That's some rough shit. Those refugees in Darfur think they have it bad.

But Jimbo, I missed the point of your first rambling anecdote about Merzer: "He had a $100 bet with Glenn Garvin that George Bush would lose in 2004. His logic was that George Bush won, he would have to pay $100. But, if he lost he would make $100. "

Thanks for the detailed explanation, but isn't that how bets on winning/losing normally work? Wouldn't bets on the Dolphins or the Heat work the same way?