Dennis FitzSimons on Southern California Wildfires

From: Dennis FitzSimons
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 11:22 AM
Subject: Southern California wildfires



Dear Fellow Employee,

The devastating wildfires out West seem to be coming under control—good news as we close out the week. As the incredible work and collaboration by KSWB-TV, KTLA-TV and the Los Angeles Times continues, we’re reminded of how important the work we do is to the people and communities we serve. Tribune employees are once again going “above and beyond” to fulfill our journalistic mission.

KSWB (“ San Diego ’s CW5”) has been providing live shots and other video to KTLA, which in turn has supplied latimes.com with a steady feed of streaming video. That’s great teamwork, and our customers have responded enthusiastically to the expanded coverage. Web traffic on latimes.com has tripled thanks to around-the-clock reporting and features such as eyewitness blog accounts, stunning photography from Times staff members and readers, and information on evacuations, road conditions and air quality. Print coverage also has been comprehensive, and the Times delivered free papers to evacuation centers and went “off road” to serve subscribers in the fire zone.

While it appears the worst may be over, thousands of people have been impacted by the wildfires. Our Southern California business units are responding with Fire Relief Campaigns in partnership with the McCormick Tribune Foundation. Two fundraising campaigns are under way. In the San Diego area, KSWB is working with the North County Times, based in Escondido . In Los Angeles , KTLA and the Times are conducting a joint campaign. More information is available at mccormicktribune.org.

Finally, I’m including a link to a remarkable photograph taken on Tuesday by John Weigand, KSWB’s chief engineer (CW5 photo). It shows the station’s tower and transmitter at the summit of Mt. Miguel completely surrounded by wildfire. CW5’s dedicated staff, through hard work, preparedness and good fortune, kept the station on-air without disruption.

Thanks once again to all of our employees in Southern California for their outstanding efforts on this important story.

Sincerely,