NEWS OF THE INDUSTRY

Company stonewalls Guild proposals

The Hawaii Newspaper Guild - Hawaii Newspaper Guild - 29 Sep 2008

Hawaii Tribune-Herald negotiator L. Michael Zinser on Thursday rejected a Guild proposal that would have met one of the company’s goals and saved the company thousands of dollars a year.

Company, 'unwilling to pay,' cuts offer

The Hawaii Newspaper Guild - - 15 Jul 2008

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald again has cut its wage offer to members of the Hawaii Newspaper Guild. The company’s latest wage offer came during a day-and-a-half of negotiations between the Guild and the Company on July 2 and July 3.

Which is it, Ted?

Two letters to employees from publisher send very different messages

The Hawaii Newspaper Guild - 20 Mar 2008

On March 11, 2008, Hawaii Tribune-Herald Publisher Ted Dixon sent employees a letter about the judge's decision in the recent trial on 13 National Labor Relations Board complaints against the company based on charges filed by the Hawaii Newspaper Guild.

MediaNews Group: We're not on brink of bankruptcy

Mark Fitzgerald - Editor & Publisher - 02 Jul 2009

MediaNews Group late Wednesday denied a report in an investors newsletter that it is arranging a pre-packaged bankruptcy -- or readying any change in ownership of the Denver-based publisher controlled by William Dean Singleton and Richard B. Scudder.

Murdoch denies interest in acquiring NYT

Dan Freed - The Street - 02 Jul 2009

Murdoch, the 78-year-old News Corp. (NWSA Quote) chairman and CEO who moved television news considerably to the political right with Fox News, stunned the U.S. newspaper establishment in 2007 with his purchase of Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal.

Judge: Philly newspaper creditors must share taping info

Editor & Publisher - 02 Jul 2009

A federal judge overseeing the bankruptcy proceedings for Philadelphia Newspapers LLC ordered lawyers for the company's creditors to share details of their investigation into an alleged unauthorized recording of a meeting with the company's lenders.

Lee Enterprises changes mind on reverse stock split

Mark Fitzgerald - Editor & Publisher - 01 Jul 2009

Lee Enterprises said late Tuesday it is not going ahead with a reverse stock split that would raise its share price, which currently costs about as much as a copy of one of its dailies.

1Cast: Hitting the mobile video aggregation trifecta

Ken Doctor - Content Bridges - 01 Jul 2009

"Mobile." "Video." Usually, these are the rather dry one-world descriptions of What's Next, items on to-do lists for anyone serious about building new digital businesses. Add "Social," and you've got a trifecta.

St. Paul Pioneer Press lays off in newsroom, ad sales

Editor & Publisher - 30 Jun 2009

The St. Paul Pioneer Press laid off nine newsroom employees and two more in advertising sales and production today, according to a report by the Star Tribune of Minneapolis.

Gannett Co. to execute another round of layoffs

Editor & Publisher - 30 Jun 2009

Gannett executives told told The New York Times' Richard Perez-Pena that the McLean, Va.-based company is getting ready to issue another round of layoffs.

Indianapolis Guild votes on contract with 12% pay cut

Joe Strupp - Editor & Publisher - 30 Jun 2009

The Indianapolis News Guild is voting today on a two-year contract offer from The Indianapolis Star that includes a 12% pay cut, no pay increases for at least two years, and the elimination of arbitration on individual layoffs.

Moody's and S&P lower ratings on McClatchy

The Associated Press - 30 Jun 2009

Standard & Poor's Rating Services and Moody's Investor Services both lowered their corporate ratings of McClatchy Co. on Friday following a debt exchange deal announced by the newspaper publisher.

For the Seattle Times Co., relief is not spelled M-A-I-N-E

Estimates put the sale price at $30-40 million, about a $200 million loss from the 1998 purchase price. And the Seattle company apparently has to carry unfunded pension liabilities as part of the deal.

Bill Richards - Crosscut - 30 Jun 2009

When the Seattle Times Co. announced June 15 that it had sold its Blethen Maine subsidiary to an investment group, Maine Today Media, Carolyn Kelly, the Times president and chief operating officer, quickly noted in a staff memo that the sale, while welcome, "does not solve the financial challenges we face."

Freedom Communications, under new CEO, cuts pay 5% for all staffers

Editor & Publisher - 30 Jun 2009

Barely two weeks after being named interim CEO of Freedom Communications, Burl Osborne announced that company-wide salaries will be cut by 5%.

Why the New York Times Co. will be in business until at least 2012

Revolving Credit Facility Due Date Looms, but Sulzbergers Should Be Able to Retain Control

Nat Ives and Bradley Johnson - Ad Age - 29 Jun 2009

"The month of May came and went," the New York Times Co. told staff last Thursday, "and, contrary to the prediction of one writer, we did not stop printing."

More than 250 business journalism jobs lost

Chris Roush - Talking Biz News - 29 Jun 2009

More than 250 business journalists lost their jobs due to media closings, layoffs or newsroom buyouts in the first six months of 2009, according to an analysis of the industry.

McClatchy bond swap cuts debt by $75 million

Mark Glover - The Sacramento Bee - 28 Jun 2009

The McClatchy Co.'s offer of discounted buybacks to bondholders has expired, with the exchange reducing public bond debt by $75 million.

Times Co. may include 2nd paper in Globe sale

Richard Pérez-Peña - The New York Times - 27 Jun 2009

The New York Times Company hopes to sell a newspaper in central Massachusetts along with The Boston Globe and wants the buyer of the papers to take on $59 million in pension liabilities. It intends to make a deal quite quickly, according to a letter sent to potential bidders.

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