UPDATE: Statement from South Bend Tribune executive editor Tim Harmon:

At The Tribune, we are as stunned by these revelations as everyone else. Indeed, this season we reported the story of this fake girlfriend and her death as details were given to us by Te’o, members of his family and his coaches at Notre Dame. We’re still trying to put together stories that will be posted later tonight and printed in Thursday’s paper that will answer some, but not all, of the questions about today’s astonishing story.

————-

The South Bend Tribune’s Eric Hansen wrote last October: “Lennay Kekua was a Stanford student and Cardinal football fan when the two exchanged glances, handshakes and phone numbers that fateful weekend three seasons ago.”

In the Tribune comments below this afternoon’s story:

I think Eric Hansen (the author of the original article detailing how Te’o and Kekua met) needs to start answering as to where did he got the information about that meeting.

Eric Hansen

If Te’o is the one who told him that, I think the book is pretty much shut that Te’o is a liar and not some innocent and naive victim here.

If Te’o didn’t tell him that, who did?

Also very curious who was feeding these stories to the Tribune and Eric Hansen who wrote it.

UPDATE II: Hansen said at tonight’s press conference — see the seventh question — that it was Brian Te’o who told him about a face-to-face meeting.

* Manti Te’o's dead girlfriend – the most heartbreaking story of the college football season – is a hoax (deadspin.com)

* See how many people are reading the story at this moment (gawker.com/stats)

UPDATE III: @amartinmedia tweets: “You need to check out @justinrmegahan’s feed. He’s onto something.” Yes, very interesting.

* Johnny Dick and his dog rolled down a steep hill (roanoke.com) | Via Matt Chittum

UPDATE: My Facebook friends/subscribers have some band names that came out of newspapers. “‘Brown Cuts Neighbors’ was really cool avant band out of Albany NY who I think took their name from a headline of that same name,” writes Tom Gogola.

At the New York Times, Glenn Kramon goes from assistant managing editor for enterprise to technology editor. He’ll move to San Francisco and replace Damon Darlin. “No word yet on what’s next for Mr. Darlin,” writes Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke.

A just-distributed Wall Street Journal memo announces new Law bureau beats for Jacob Gershman, Joe Palazzolo, and Dan Strumpf. Bureau chief Joanna Chung‘s memo is after the jump.
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I figured at some point I would have to move on in some fashion. This was an opportunity to take time and make something happen. I work best under pressure and a deadline. Having a couple of months and knowing I have to do something will really and inspire me and make me do something, possibly in a totally different direction. But I am excited to be able to figure it out.

* Philadelphia Daily News veteran Dan Gross takes a buyout (phillymag.com)

THE BEST OF GROSS:
* NSFW! A memorable Gross column from 2012 (jimromenesko.com)
* This weather-set name-calling (“moron”) story also came from Gross (jimromenesko.com)

Letter to Romenesko

From GERHARD SCHNEIBEL: I’m a master’s student at the Deutsche Welle in Germany (and an avid reader of your blog) and am writing my thesis about newspaper coverage of the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections in the U.S.

I’m planning to do a content analysis of newspapers on specific dates along the way and then interview an editor or reporter at the newspaper. For that purpose I’m trying to find a solid local/regional daily which would be willing to send me proofs of their newspaper from a total of 18 days and grant an interview.

I was wondering if offhand you might know of a paper which would likely be willing to participate in this research project?

I told Gerhard I’d post his letter. Drop him a line if you’re interested in helping him.

Warren Buffett & Co. know it’s best to have a caffeinated newsroom

@romenesko that’s too bad, we just got coffee machine installed today that brews individual & pretty tasty cups #warrenbuffet #boss #perk

— Maggie Kiely (@mkiely24) January 15, 2013

* Here’s a photo of the new coffee-maker at Warren Buffett’s Bryan-College Station Eagle (@mkiely24)
* Earlier: GateHouse newspapers cut coffee service and office supplies (jimromenesko.com)

“Subject: Thought you might find this New York Post ripoff of my cartoon of interest.”

Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis sent an email with yesterday’s New York Post cover and his cartoon from last October. (That’s his subject line above.) He tags it “Plagiarism,” but as the Huffington Post points out, others have tweaked the name of Lance Armstrong’s foundation, including Jamie Lee Curtis.

* I guess I should be flattered, but… (chicagotribune.com)

UPDATE: Most of my Facebook friends and subscribers aren’t siding with Stantis on this.

UPDATE II: I sent Stantis a few questions and he responded: “I will give the Post the benefit of a doubt. A reader passed it onto me. It struck me that the angle, the solid black background was similar. Then again, it is a yellow bracelet and the black certainly makes it pop. I have heard nothing from the Post. Didn’t expect to. So, yes, great minds.”

Cedar Rapids (IA) Gazette managing editor Annette M. Schulte confirms a Romenesko reader’s report that the 50,000-circulation newspaper laid off 9 staffers yesterday. My tipster says: “The health reporter, a couple nightside editors, the soft columnist, and some others [were laid off]. All of it was on the print side; none from management or the TV station the company operates.” || News from Philadelphia: Dan Gross, Philly Daily News gossip columnist and local Guild president, has taken a buyout.
* Earlier: Star-Ledger lays off 18 in the newsroom (nj.com)
* Earlier: Miami Herald tells all employees to take an unpaid week off before June 30 (jimromenesko.com)
* Job opening! CNN.com is looking for a Belief Blog editor (timewarner.com via @FromCarl)