Tuesday Morning Linkage

Tribune Board Rewards Top Execs For Performance Chicago Tribune
In the midst of a tumultuous search for ways to boost the company's stock price, Tribune Co.'s board this week gave top management a large incentive to stick around. At a regular board meeting Tuesday, directors awarded 10 top executives restricted stock worth $12.4 million, according to government filings.The biggest grant went to Chairman and Chief Executive Dennis FitzSimons, who received 135,000 restricted shares worth $4.1 million at Tuesday's close of $30.40 apiece.

Tribune Employees Brace for Deeper Cuts Wall Street Journal
Typically, if a company avoids a takeover, employees and management breathe a sigh of relief and go back to business as usual. But if this auction ends as many expect, Tribune will have to self-inflict the kinds of harsh changes that normally come from an outside buyer. That will mean even steeper cost cutting and asset sales.

A free crypt for the columnist from Cardinal Mahony? LA Times
Journalists are not allowed to accept gifts from the people they write about, but I'm thinking of making an exception in the case of Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony.Mahony recently gave a tour of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to my editor and publisher. In the mausoleum under the altar, where crypts are available for purchase, the cardinal offered my bosses a deal. He said he'd provide a final resting place, free of charge, if they promised to put me in it.

FBLA 20 Questions: Joel Stein Fishbowl LA
Joel Stein kindly answered our 20 questions. If you think he's really funny, be prepared for a disappointment. Anyone can have an off day or two. We'd blame ourselves except everyone else we asked has been funny.