Ironically, in the last half of the previous decade, during a climate portending the end of newspapers in print, a local newspaper in print was launched: the Newport Beach Independent. Now in its fourth year, the Indy appears to be a robust publication flush with advertising from local merchants and editorial commentary by the citizenry.

The Indy is delivered to my driveway free of charge every Friday morning. Typically, I turn through its every page and read those articles of interest to me. Because this is news about my community I am an engaged reader. Nowhere online, including the Indy’s web site, can I consume coverage of local events as comprehensively and with ads that are relevant to me. Also, I like detaching my eyeballs from the screen, so I don’t get distracted to a link that could lead me on a path that will then consume my next four hours.

I live in a tripolar world. There’s the world I observe in print. There’s the world I observe online. And there’s my vision of the world defined by both.

So what does any of this have to do with Chris Trela? Chris was recently named editor of the Indy, making him perhaps the hardest working man in Orange County. On top of this editorship Chris runs ArtsPR, a boutique PR agency, and is an adjunct professor of public relations in the Public Relations and Advertising program at Chapman University.

I have just read through the January fourth edition of the Indy and stumbled upon Chris’ month-by-month prognostications for Newport Beach in the year ahead. Who knew he was so funny? Exhibit A: Take his February entry on Brasserie Pascal’s mating of a duck and a chicken (a chuck?) to create faux foie gras and thus circumventing the new anti foie gras law. Who knew he could be so corny? Exhibit A from August: “two peas and iPod.” Exhibit B from March: “All the nudes that’s fit to sprint.” Exhibit C from December: “Know arms, no fowl.”

The Newport Beach Independent.

Print is alive.

Print is local.

Print has personality.

His name is Chris.