Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Tuesday Night Links

Tribune Defends Its Ownership of The Times
The chairman of Tribune Co. defended his stewardship of the Los Angeles Times on Monday, telling community leaders that the Chicago-based media company had made substantial improvements at the paper over the last six years.

Dean Baquet's Alamo
The general public may shrug it shoulders, but this battle is indeed of titanic proportions for journalists and for the future of journalism. Baquet has been joined in his public defiance by none other than publisher Jeff Johnson. And by an ad hoc group of 19 L.A. luminaries who suggest that the best thing to do is for the Tribune Co. to back off and maybe to relinquish control of the Times to local entrprenuers (several local billionaires including David Geffen have already volunteered to make the buy). The letter is a noble gesture but is likely to be taken pretty much the same way as if Davey Crockett had risen above the parapets to shout out to General Santa Ana: "Go Back to Mexico!"

Serving the Public or the Pocketbook?
Since when did journalism become about making money rather than being the "watchdog" for the American people? The focus of our newspapers needs to be changed and soon. A round of applause to Los Angeles Times editor Dean P. Baquet and publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson for refusing to make the cuts. It may be an unanswered cry for change at this point, but I hear them loud and clear.

Tribune's Plan to Cut Paper's Staff Sparks Revolt
The editor and publisher of the Los Angeles Times are rejecting the demands of their bosses to make additional cuts this year. The Tribune Company also owns the Chicago Tribune, Newsday and eight other dailies, 26 television stations and the Chicago Cubs.

As Times-Tribune Co. Standoff Grows, Bloggers Take Sides
Predicting that the duo's defiance would cost them their jobs, "A top executive at a large newspaper chain" gave this choice quote: "I hope those guys have their career plans well made," he said, "because you do not tell Dennis FitzSimons and those guys at Tribune you are not going to do something. If you do, you are going to be on the beach, real soon."

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Posted date: 9/19/2006
BREAKING NEWS:
MGA to Acquire Times Chatsworth Site

By Shelly Garcia
San Fernando Valley Business Journal Staff

A deal has been struck to sell the Los Angeles Times’ Chatsworth facility to MGA Entertainment, the makers of Bratz dolls.

MGA, which emerged as the successful bidder in what was considered a prime real estate play, expects to use the 26-acre location on Prairie Street between Corbin and Winnetka avenues for a new corporate headquarters.

The move comes on the heels of an agreement MGA just signed to acquire Little Tikes, a purchase that will take the company into a new segment of the toy industry; and a joint venture with Zapf Creation AG that gives MGA exclusive rights to sell those products in North and South America.