Monday, October 31, 2011

Emory Wayne Barbrow Rest in Peace


Al Albanes sent over sad news that former Los Angeles Times Press Operator Wayne Barbrow has passed away today October 31, 2011. After Wayne left the Times he and his wife relocated to Kinsey, Alabama. Wayne was sixty-nine years old. I have no additional information at this time.




From his family: hello to all emorys freinds this is his stepson Carl Leon Jr. emory has passed away today 10-31-11 he lived a good life and has left many loved ones behind i will post again when the information about the service times whem they are arranged. i thank everyone who was a friend of his on facebook i know he loved u all. say a prayer for him tonite, he has gone to a better place and if he was here he would thank all who loved him.

Something to Cheer you up

Wall Street Journal Grievance Denied

The grievance regarding crew selection and seniority to produce the Wall Street Journal has been denied by the arbitrator. The complete ruling can be viewed at Save Our Trade.

Judge rejects both reorg plans for Tribune | Marketing/media | Crain's Chicago Business



(Crain's) — The federal judge overseeing the Tribune Co. bankruptcy case shot down a reorganization plan submitted by the Chicago-based media company, but also rejected a competing plan from a group of creditors.

A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 22. The decision was issued Monday by Judge Kevin Carey of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

The Chicago-based media company has attempted to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy status after nearly three years of wrangling. It's one of the longest-running cases since bankruptcy rules were revised about six years ago to give creditors more leeway to shape reorganizations.

Tribune filed for bankruptcy in December 2008 under the weight of $13 billion in debt, a year after the company was taken private in an $8.2-billion leveraged buyout led by real estate mogul Sam Zell, who became its chairman.


Complete article can be viewed by clicking link below

Judge rejects both reorg plans for Tribune | Marketing/media | Crain's Chicago Business

Judge rejects competing Tribune bankruptcy plans

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — A federal judge in Delaware has rejected Tribune Co.'s plan to emerge from bankruptcy protection and denied a rival proposal from Tribune creditors as well.

In rejecting both plans Monday, the judge said the long bankruptcy case needs to end quickly. He said he would appoint a trustee if necessary.

Complete article


Tribune Judge Says He’s Ready to Issue Bankruptcy Decision, May Act Today

By Steven Church

The judge overseeing Tribune Co.’s bankruptcy said he may issue his opinion about two competing proposals for reorganizing the newspaper publisher this afternoon.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin J. Carey in Wilmington, Delaware, told Tribune’s chief restructuring officer, Donald J. Liebentritt, at a hearing that the opinion the company and its creditors have waited months to see should be available today.

“I am hopeful something will be on the docket before you get to Washington,” Carey told Liebentritt, who said he would be taking a 4:30 p.m. train to the U.S. capital from Wilmington today. Carey didn’t say how he would rule.

Carey, who has presided over the case since it was filed in December 2008, has been asked to choose between plans to reorganize Tribune, which owes creditors about $13 billion and is now worth $6.75 billion, according to court records.

The judge made his comments at the end of a hearing in which he gave creditors permission to get the names of former Tribune shareholders that may be sued for collecting money related to the company’s 2007 leveraged buyout. Unsecured creditors say they plan to sue some of the company’s biggest former shareholders, arguing that the buyout harmed creditors by piling too much debt on the company.

Continue reading by clicking here

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Heist in Print: How Newspapers Sold Their Soul to Business Brigands

By Donald Kaul

It’s been a little more than 50 years since I first walked into the Des Moines Register newsroom to begin a career in journalism.

It was a beat-up scruffy place filled with beat-up scruffy people, almost all men. They worked in a big room lined with gray steel desks piled high with newspapers, stacks of books, notebooks, and ashtrays overflowing with cigarette stubs. They wrote on manual, black typewriters. The phones, also black, had rotary dials.

This scene right out of The Front Page was a case of love at first sight. “This is my kind of place,” I told myself. And, as it turned out, I was right.

But the most important thing about that room was something you couldn’t see: an invisible wall that protected its inhabitants from interference from the business department. It meant that, if you had the facts on your side, you could annoy the rich and powerful of the city. The wall would protect you from retaliation.

The best newspapers in those days tended to be owned by long-time newspaper families. These owners viewed their papers as profit machines, certainly, but also as a public trust. These families supported the principle that news was news and business was business, and the two should not be confused.

It wasn’t a perfect arrangement. It would have been better, for example, to have had more women and people of color reporting and editing the news. But it worked pretty well for decades.

Continue reading by clicking here

An Evening at Knott's Berry Farm Raffle

Raffle

Chance To Win This 69 Chevelle Malibu, Sammy Maloof, To Feed the Hungry in Los Angeles

Donate $20 (http://www.WinningEvent.com) for a chance to win this Frame Off, restored 1969 Chevelle Malibu, 383 Stroker engine, 540 HP, 565 foot pounds of torque, turbo transmission with Auburn positraction rearend with 4:11 gears. Valued at $75,000, this great car was built by Sammy Maloof and his Racing Engine Team. This raffle is provided my Sammy's Non-Profit Organization, "Winning at the Race of Life," to help feed the hungry in Los Angeles. Winner will be announced at Sammy's business on November 12, 2011 after 6pm. Online entries must be in by November 11, 2011. You DO NOT have to be present to WIN!!!! So donate online, leave your contact information and wait for the results. Sammy works right around the corner from our dealer at 843 Commercial Ave, San Gabriel, CA 91776. Sammy is a successful Hollywood Stuntman who will stand in for Tom Cruise in his next Mission Impossible movie sequel. Sammy is a respectable role model in our book! Be sure to support his cause. You can call our dealer (O'Donnell Chevrolet Buick) at 626-285-3600 for more information. Must be 18 to participate.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Judge OKs $32 million settlement for Tribune employees

Romenesko+ Misc.
A federal judge has granted preliminary approval of the $32 million settlement -- announced in August -- for former Los Angeles Times auto writer Dan Neil and Tribune employees. The final hearing is set for January 30. The plaintiffs contended that the leveraged buyout that resulted in creation of an employee ownership plan violated federal pension law. Tribune staffers became owners of the company when it was taken private by Sam Zell in 2007. The company filed for bankruptcy protection one year later. (more...)


Judge OKs $32 million settlement for Tribune employees

The Occupied Wall Street Journal -- news from the revolution

As some mainstream media networks continue bashing the Occupy Wall Street protests, the movement publishes its own newspaper at a secret location. RT's Anastasia Churkina take a sneak peek into what the Journal is all about.

Carwash workers celebrate union contract

For years, workers at the Bonus Car Wash in Santa Monica, like those in many of the carwashes that Southern Californians frequent, had a familiar routine. They showed up when the boss told them to — but couldn't clock in until customers arrived.

Then, the California attorney general filed a suit last year against the business, demanding $6 million in back wages for workers, as well as fines and penalties. Such exploitative practices, the authorities said, were common in an industry that often pays less than minimum wage and, in some cases, forces workers to live on tips.

And on Tuesday, the Bonus Car Wash workers celebrated a victory.

Labor leaders announced that workers at the Lincoln Boulevard carwash have become the first in Southern California to unionize.

Click on the link below to continue reading
Carwash workers celebrate union contract

Wednesday Morning in the Blogosphere

LA Weekly office Culver City


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Today in Labor History

25,000 silk dye workers strike in Paterson, NJ - 1934

In what becomes known as the Great Hawaiian Dock Strike, a six-month struggle to win wage parity with mainland dock workers, ends in victory - 1949

The Tribune Co. begins a brutal five-month-long lockout at the New York Daily News, part of an effort to bust the newspaper’s unions - 1990

John Sweeney, president of the Service Employees Intl. Union, elected president of AFL-CIO -1995

Monday, October 24, 2011

Tribune Company Bankruptcy Nears an end

As the Tribune Company prepares to exit bankruptcy the new owners have let it be known they will be replacing Eddy Hartenstein as CEO of the company. I’m curious as to the amount of severance pay he will receive once the transition is consummated? Eddy also holds the title of publisher at the Los Angeles Times; will he receive a severance for both titles I wonder? Looking back at our former CEO and former publisher’s payouts, Eddy could receive as much as $44,000,000 if his kings ransom is matched. Not a bad take for just over three years at the company! Makes me wonder why no one has started an Occupy the Los Angeles Times yet?


David Hiller was terminated as publisher of the Los Angeles Times in July, 2008 and for doing such a great job was rewarded with $15,400,000 in severance pay.













Former CEO of the Tribune Company Dennis Fitzsimmons walked away with $28,729,797 dollars after the company was purchased and he was replaced.

Wall Street Bonus Culture Destroying the Newspaper Biz - FishbowlLA

Those of you who haven’t read David Carr‘s most recent column in the New York Times on the intrusion of Wall Street bonus culture into the newspaper business need to take a look now. Carr mainly focuses on former Gannett robber baron…er CEO Craig A. Dubow–who left the company with $37.1 million in retirement benefits after guiding the company’s stock into a ditch and laying off nearly 40% of its employees. But the Tribune Company and its current multi-million dollar executive bonus plan don’t escape Carr’s notice.


Continue reading by clicking on link below
Wall Street Bonus Culture Destroying the Newspaper Biz - FishbowlLA

Friday, October 21, 2011

John Raymond Rickett Rest in Peace


Just received word that former Los Angeles Times Pressman John Rickett has passed away. I find it unbelievable, as John was maybe fifty years old, way to young. Funeral services are scheduled tomorrow.


Funeral Service

Saturday, October 22, 2011
1:00pm

Eternal Valley Memorial Park Mortuary
23287 No. Sierra Highway
Newhall, California 91321

Sign Guest Book for John

If you have not received your IBT ballot yet please call 877-317-2011


Dear Fellow Teamsters,

If you have not received your IBT ballot yet please call 877-317-2011 to be sent a duplicate ballot. It is important that you take this opportunity to make your voice heard in this election.

Once you get your ballot and vote for the Hoffa-Hall Slate, send it back as soon as you can, then text VOTED to 64336 so we know your ballot has been received. When you are finished with those easy steps, it is critical that you help in turning out the vote. Ask your fellow Teamster members to turn in their ballots too!

With your vote for the Hoffa-Hall Slate in this election we can send a strong message of unity to the country and let them know that we will not back away from a fight for workers rights. Mail back your ballot NOW to stand with the Hoffa-Hall Slate.

Be sure to stay in touch with campaign through Facebook, Twitter, and our website.

In Solidarity,

Jim Hoffa

P.S. If you haven’t received your ballot don’t put off calling to get another one. Call 877-317-2011 now!

LANG papers begin the inevitable consolidation - LA Observed

Carolina Garcia, the editor of the Daily News, will now be the executive editor for the Daily Breeze and the Press-Telegram in Long Beach as well. Breeze editor Toni Sciacqua becomes managing editor - digital for the group. Sue Schmitt, the editor & general manager of the Press-Telegram, has "decided not to remain as a full-time employee of the company as part of this transition." It's the next, big shoe to fall after yesterday's axing of the DN's features and food editors. In Northern California, the MediaNews papers have been largely merged into one product — and many expect this is the first step toward that occurring here. After the jump is the memo from Jack Klunder, named last month as publisher of all three papers:


Click below for complete memo and article
LANG papers begin the inevitable consolidation - LA Observed

Friday Afternoon in the Blogosphere



Thursday, October 20, 2011

Billboards

From: Thomson, Kathy K

Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 4:11 PM

To: All Los Angeles Times Employees

Subject: Billboards

Colleagues –

Some of you may have noticed over the last week that billboards have sprung up along freeways around Los Angeles accusing The Times of wiretapping and fraud. As you know, ethics and integrity are core values that we uphold everyday. We do not engage in wiretapping and fraud as the billboards allege. They appear to be placed by an attorney who recently filed a lawsuit against one of our columnists who has written about 1-800-Get-Thin, its principles and their Lap-Band surgery centers. Notably, the lawsuit does not allege either wiretapping or fraud, as suggested by the billboards. Related lawsuits previously filed against The Times and its employees have been thrown out of court. We are confident that this latest, equally meritless lawsuit will also be thrown out.

If you receive any inquiries, please direct them to Karlene Goller and Nancy Sullivan.

Kathy

The LA Times Sued For Wiretapping

By Pandora Young on October 20, 2011 6:10 AM

LA Times pressman Ed Padgett spotted this billboard a couple days ago, and it left us scratching our heads.

When we think of wiretapping, it’s usually in the context of nefarious governments and James Bond-type antics. Is it possible our own hometown newspaper was illicitly eavesdropping on the conversations of unsuspecting citizens?

Um, no.

What happened is that business columnist Michael Hiltzik recorded phone interviews with an on-the-record source, attorney Robert Silverman. Of course he did, it’s standard practice for journalists to record interviews, since most of us can’t type that fast.


Click on link below for complete article
The LA Times Sued For Wiretapping

WP paywall ‘doesn’t make sense’ at this time, says publisher

Politico
“We want to be around as the Washington Post for a long time and many generations to come," says Katharine Weymouth, "and at the moment, we think that the best way to do that I to have a free website that is open to everybody and attract as many people as we can to spend as much time as they can with our journalism, and assume that that will bring them back for more.” (Executive editor Marcus Brauchli made a similar statement in August.) The Post wants to see how the other papers' paywall/metered model experiments turn out before charging online readers. "We can always watch and learn and copy if it makes sense,” Weymouth tells Keach Hagey. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating about the Los Angeles Times putting up a paywall. A Times spokeswoman tells Hagey that the paper plans to follow the Baltimore Sun -- another Tribune-owned paper -- by “testing a variety of tactics with consumers and advertisers in coming months to better capitalize on our unique content.”



WP paywall ‘doesn’t make sense’ at this time, says publisher

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Bankruptcy judge 'within days' of decision in Tribune Co. case

The judge in Tribune Co.'s bankruptcy proceeding said Wednesday that he is "literally within days of issuing an opinion" in the nearly three-year-old Chapter 11 case.

Bankruptcy judge 'within days' of decision in Tribune Co. case

Dallas Morning News publisher: No plans to discontinue printing daily

Poynter.org
Earlier today I reported that Mark Medici, vice president for audience at The Dallas Morning News, said Monday during a session at the Inland Press Association conference that the newspaper won't be printed seven days a week in three years. James Moroney, publisher and CEO of the News, tells me that Medici doesn't recall saying such a thing and that it was either a "misstatement or a misunderstanding." Moroney says the newspaper's leadership has never concluded that "discontinuing seven days of print is a good business model" and that "we have no other plans than to continue seven days of the print edition."

Here's his entire statement: Click on link below

Dallas Morning News publisher: No plans to discontinue printing daily

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Dallas Morning News VP: In 3 years, we won’t print 7 days a week

Mark Medici, vice president of audience for The Dallas Morning News, said Monday during a talk at the Inland Press Association conference in Chicago that the newspaper won't print seven days a week in three years. Describing the News' paid content strategy — the site's paywall went up in March — Medici said, according to a live blog of the event, that the A.H. Belo-owned newspaper has seen a massive uptick in Sunday subscribers, "which is fine because we know in three years we won't have a seven-day paper." Sunday subscribers get full access to the website. (Thanks to Alan English, executive editor of The Augusta Chronicle, for alerting us via tweet). In March 2009, The Detroit Free Press (owned by Gannett) and The Detroit News (a MediaNews paper) started to deliver papers only three days a week — Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, when the papers have more ads and are popular with readers — although the papers are available every day on newsstands. Six months in, Poynter's Bill Mitchell reported that the newspapers were not yet making money. I've emailed Medici for more information and will update if/when I learn more.

Dallas Morning News VP: In 3 years, we won’t print 7 days a week

Wire-Tapping at the LA Times?????

Here’s an interesting billboard posted next to the 605 Freeway, just north of the 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park. I haven’t called the number yet as I’m curious as to what is going on, hopefully nothing like the scandal at the Wall Street Journal.




Friday, October 14, 2011

Read the memo: New pop music editor at the L.A. Times - LA Observed

From: Hofmeister, Sallie
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 XX:XX PM
To: yyeditall
Subject: LORRAINE ALI--POP MUSIC EDITOR

Lorraine Ali, a veteran reporter, critic and columnist on pop music and culture, is joining the Arts and Entertainment group as pop music editor, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Lorraine will succeed Randall Roberts, who was named pop music critic in June and will serve as her deputy going forward. She will oversee all breaking news, reviews and features. She will report to Craig Turner, Arts and Entertainment editor.

In a sense, Lorraine is coming full circle, as she began her career as a music writer in Calendar under Robert Hilburn in the mid-1990s. She also has worked as a senior critic for Rolling Stone and spent much of the last decade at Newsweek, both in New York and Los Angeles, covering music, pop culture and society. Her editing duties at Newsweek included overseeing teams of reporters on special projects and exclusive stories.

During her years on the beat, Lorraine has interviewed, among others, Johnny Cash, the Rolling Stones, M.I.A., Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kanye West, Eminem and Alan Jackson. She has shopped the flea markets of Mexico City with the White Stripes, taken DJ lessons from Fatboy Slim and tried on “show coats” while browsing the closets of Loretta Lynn. She has also been interviewed extensively, with significant TV and radio experience to her credit.

Her career has transcended pop culture. While at Newsweek, she wrote cover stories on “The Secret Lives of Surrogates” and on a custody battle between two moms, “Mrs. Kramer vs. Mrs. Kramer.” She has reported from Havana, Damascus and Calabria, Italy, where she dined with Mafia dons and lived to tell about it. After the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Lorraine covered the impact of the war on Arab Americans. Her book about reconnecting with the Iraqi half of her family is scheduled for publication next year.

Lorraine’s freelance work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, GQ, Entertainment Weekly, the Village Voice, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and in the books “Da Capo Best Music Writing” (2001), “The Rolling Stone Book of Women in Rock: Trouble Girls” (1997) and “Cobain” (1996).

A native Angeleno, Lorraine lives in Eagle Rock with her husband, 8-year-old son and their pit bull, Delilah.

In addition to recommending music, Lorraine also may offer colleagues auto tips. She once wrote a car column, You Are What You Drive, for an alternative bimonthly and spent a summer school break working as a “tire change technician” for Sears Automotive. Please join us in welcoming her.

Sallie Hofmeister, assistant managing editor, Arts and Entertainment
Craig Turner, Arts and Entertainment editor




Read the memo: New pop music editor at the L.A. Times - LA Observed

Friday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

We now appear to have more former colleagues at the Los Angeles Times than current employees. Here's yet another former pressman James Abel.



Randy Michaels arrested for DUI in Ohio


Former Tribune Co. Chief Executive Randy Michaels, who was forced out of the company a year ago amid a scandal in the executive suite, was arrested north of Cincinnati on drunken driving charges early Friday, police said.

Click link below for full story
Randy Michaels arrested for DUI in Ohio

*The Blogging Pressman was arrested last November for DUI, in case you wondered why I was riding the Metrolink and buses for ten months. I wonder if Randy will pick up trash as I did for my community service? Have any questions regarding what happens after your arrested for a DUI, feel free to ask me.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Pay Wall Coming to a Newspaper near you

Rumors from Times Mirror Square claim the Los Angeles Times will be erecting a pay wall shortly, now many have asked, “What is a pay wall?” Currently everything online at LATimes.com is free to computer users and mobile devices and the pay wall will require users to have a subscription to the hard copy of the newspaper or pay a fee for access to the online version of the newspaper using different mobile technologies. Many older readers have mentioned they prefer the hard copy of the paper, while record numbers are flocking to the online version which should give a clue to the direction we're heading.

With advertising showing a slight increase the past three weeks it may not be enough to fend off additional downsizing in Operations at the Olympic Facility, at least that’s what our senior vice-president of production is claiming when he asks my colleagues, “Do you have a plan B ready, if not you better”. This has infuriated many, even if it is the truth, the men and women working in Operations do not want to hear this from him!

As expected circulation took a hit after the price increase on Labor Day, how many you ask? I’m not allowed to mention any of the numbers or my Tribune Boss’ may get angry with me. The Los Angeles Times circulation is based on what ever the Audit Bureau of Circulation states, according to our senior vice-president of production, so the next audit will reflect the drop in readership.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Night owls read news on tablets, as mobile overtakes computer for at-home browsing

comScore
A new report from comScore shows nearly three out of five tablet owners (58 percent) consume news on their tablets at least occasionally. Twenty-two percent do so almost daily.

The report also breaks down the times of day people are most active on different devices. The patterns largely confirm conventional wisdom, but the illustration is helpful nonetheless. Smartphone and tablet browsing spike early, about 8 a.m., as people awaken. Computer traffic peaks slightly later, around 9 a.m. After that, however, the patterns diverge.


Night owls read news on tablets, as mobile overtakes computer for at-home browsing

We're off to Big Bear

I’m off to Big Bear for a visit with my daughter Margaret and grandson Bentley, and when I return I shall share about the paywall coming to the online version of the Los Angeles Times, the impact of the price increase on circulation, and additional layoffs in Operations according to one vice-president.

Mac Miller update

Ron Williams and John Wenzel both spoke with Mac Miller yesterday and shared that he sounded in good spirits. Mac will be released from the hospital this Friday to recuperate at home.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Occupy Wall Street and The Whale.mov

On September 24, the Occupy Wall Street movement was transformed by police action right outside the theater where The Whale movie was playing. While the movie told its story of connections between species and the nature of friendship, police sprayed the eyes of young women protestors, shocking the world and galvanizing support for the protest. Michael Parfit, The Whale's co-director, was at the theater and filmed events with his iPhone, capturing the moment the women were sprayed and their efforts to recover on the sidewalk and then inside the theater itself. He comments on what he saw and how it relates to the film's story itself.

Saturday, October 08, 2011

Mac Miller Hospitalized


Last month thirty-five year newsprint handler Mac Miller was laid off from the Los Angeles Times. I was notified late last night that Mack was rushed to the hospital after his family contacted the 911 operator because he was having trouble breathing. From the initial information it sounds as if Mack suffered a heart attack.

Say a prayer for Mac and let me know what's happening.

Friday, October 07, 2011

Stand with Occupy Wall Street

Not a single banker has gone to jail for crimes that led to the financial meltdown. But now over 1,000 protesters have been arrested in the inspiring Occupy Wall Street protest in New York City.

Tell Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly: Respect the Occupy Wall Street protesters' constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

The occupation of Wall Street has inspired a nationwide movement in the spirit of Wisconsin.

But there has been a powerful backlash against peaceful protesters who are using both their right to public assembly and tactics of nonviolent civil disobedience to call attention to the fact that our government has bailed out the wealthiest Americans but has done little to help middle and working class Americans who have lost their jobs and had their homes foreclosed on.

The protest is building momentum with solidarity marches that CREDO and Other 98% members, progressive organizations and labor have joined. However the very existence of Occupy Wall Street could be endangered by strongarm NYPD tactics aimed at intimidating protesters and ending their three week stand against the big Wall Street banks.

Tell Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly: Respect the Occupy Wall Street protesters' constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

Many of the rank and file "blue shirts" of the NYPD have shown great poise, respect, and even moments of solidarity with the protesters. After all they are members of the 99 percent of America that has been victimized by Wall Street.

However, NYPD leadership has used brutal techniques to break up the protests. In an incident last week, a police officer attacked nonviolent protesters with pepper spray. There are multiple videos of the attack on four women protesters who did nothing to provoke the officer's action. The New York Times reported that the officer in question "looked as if he were spraying cockroaches."1

The officer involved in that attack was not a rank and file cop. He was a deputy inspector with supervisory responsibilities for the police action. What's more, he has a history of violating the civil rights of protesters and is currently facing legal action for accusations of wrongful arrest and civil rights violations at the 2004 Republican National Convention demonstrations.2

Tell Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly: Respect the Occupy Wall Street protesters' constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

There have been other incidents of police abuse. But the documented attack on protesters by a high-ranking NYPD officer demonstrates that this is incident isn't simply the collateral damage of a tense and confusing situation. The police are roughing up protesters in an attempt to break up the Occupy Wall Street protest.

Tens of thousands marched in solidarity with the 99 percent and the Occupy Wall Street protesters. But we must ensure that now the march is over and the news cameras are out of sight that the police do not continue their campaign of violence and intimidation to stop the momentum building at the Wall Street protests.

Tell Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly: Respect the Occupy Wall Street protesters' constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

We have heard from our friends on the ground that the most important thing people can do who cannot come down and support the protests in person is to ensure that the Mayor and the Police Commissioner do not drive them out of the park which is serving as the base for Occupy Wall Street protests.

It's important that the Mayor and Police Commissioner know that the eyes of people across the country are on them, and that we consider it an attack on democracy and not just an individual protester when the NYPD systematically uses intimidation and violence with the intent of suppressing the ongoing protests.

1. "A Spray Like a Punch in the Face," Jim Dwyer, The New York Times, 09-27-2011.
2. "NYPD Pepper-Sprayer Hit Fellow Officer With Friendly Fire, Has Prior Protest Complaint,"Joe Coscarelli, New York Magazine, 05-12-2011


Click on title or picture to sign the online petition.

Corporate Greed Protest Rally Portland, Oregon

Former Los Angeles Times material handler Art Ponce Jr. collected photographs from the rally in Portland, Oregon, which was not reported by the newspaper I’m employed by. Appears the movement is growing by leaps and bounds daily, let’s only hope this does not escalate into violent protests down the road. To view the entire collection of Art’s photo collection click here.














Anonymous Comments have been enabled

You have been heard and anonymous comments have returned once again, which doesn’t mean it’s time to verbally attack Tribune management or colleagues at the newspaper. Your comments will be moderated by three of us here so try and stay civil and your views will be aired for all to see.

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Thursday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

David Joe estimated this photograph was taken between 1984 and 1986 at the shuttered downtown printing plant that was located at Times Mirror Square. Lauren Turner was the first African-American Journey women in the Los Angeles Times press room, she's pictured at the far right. Click on picture to enlarge.




Bankruptcy judge approves Tribune Co. bonus plan, says he's closer to a decision on reorganization

The judge in Tribune Co.'s bankruptcy proceeding said Tuesday that he hopes to issue a decision "soon" in the nearly 3-year-old case.

The prediction, though vague, represented U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Carey's first indication on the timing of a decision since he began deliberating at the beginning of July.

For Tribune Co. to emerge from bankruptcy, Carey must decide between two competing plans for reorganizing the Chicago-based media company: one proposed by the company, a group of senior creditors and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, and the other proposed by hedge fund Aurelius Capital Management and other junior creditors.

"Don't sit by your computers yet," Carey told a group of lawyers attending a hearing in Delaware. "But I hope to have something soon."

Continue reading by clicking on link below

Bankruptcy judge approves Tribune Co. bonus plan, says he's closer to a decision on reorganization

Save Our Trade: The Truth According to Malcolm X



Save Our Trade: The Truth According to X

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Stand up and Say Something

Tribune bonus plan OKd by bankruptcy judge


(Crain's) — The judge in Tribune Co.'s bankruptcy approved a management incentive plan that will pay bonuses of as much as $42.5 million to 640 employees.

“I think it's entirely reasonable to order this relief in these uncertain times,” Delaware Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Carey said during a hearing on the plan Tuesday.

There were no objections to the plan proposed by the Chicago-based media company, the judge noted.

Tribune, the publisher of newspapers that include the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times as well as TV outlets such as WGN-TV, has been in bankruptcy since December 2008. It filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors a year after real estate mogul Sam Zell led an $8.2-billion leveraged buyout of the company.

Resolution of the bankruptcy is currently waiting on a decision from Judge Carey regarding two competing reorganization plans, one proposed by the company and certain creditors and the other offered by a dissident group of creditors. The judge hasn't indicated when he will deliver that decision.



Tribune bonus plan OKd by bankruptcy judge | Marketing/media | Crain's Chicago Business

Saturday, October 01, 2011

Newspaper pricing snafu

It’s the end of an era

McALESTER — News that the McAlester News-Capital’s press would be shutting down Oct. 3 was like a kick to the gut. Several weeks later, the news still stings; ever more so for the men and women we will no longer see traipsing through the newsroom every morning, or smiling as they bring us those first copies of the daily paper, still wet with ink.

That era ends next week.

Click on link below for complete article
It’s the end of an era

Saturday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Tony Hill with Ronnie Pineda