The Blogging Pressman Meets the new LA Weekly Editor

Saturday night I attended the LA Weekly party for the new executive editor Drex Heikes, everyone from the Los Angeles Times should recognize Drex as he spent eighteen years at our newspaper. Appears I will need to visit Drex again to grab a better photograph.

Ran into Mayor Sam (Michael Higby), Valley Doll (Debbie Lopez), and former LA Weekly staffer Susan Uhrlass.

Edward meets Jill Stewart. Ms.Stewart is the Deputy Editor of News at LA Weekly

Fire Viewed from San Dimas

Snapped a few photos at sunset from San Dimas, with all the smoke we cannot see the mountains which are less than a mile away from our home. The house was filled with the scent of burning wood all night, causing a slight burning sensation to the eyes.

Very sad to hear about the two firefighters killed last night as they drove over the side of a hill, unable to see the road through all the smoke.

Monday Night in the Blogosphere

Los Angeles landmark, L.A. City Hall Building

• 'This is a very angry fire' - Kevin Roderick
• Union-Tribune bids paste-up adieu - N & T
• Monday Miscellany - Newspaper Death Watch
• Mt. Wilson Transmitters Threatened - Tina Dupuy
• Chapter 11 For Owner Of The OC Register - Pandora
• Evacuation Areas in North-East San Fernando Valley - LAFD
• Tribune Chief May Remain for the Cleanup - New York Times
• Wisconsin's 'Fitchburg Star' to Go Online-Only This Week - E & P
• No numbers yet in next round of layoffs - San Francisco Press Club
• Businessman Is Yammering Into His Phone At Starbucks - Advice Goddess

A Forward Surgical Team At Work (Forward Surgical Team)

Photos are up at:

The Kitchen Dispatch

Blogger Asks for Payment From a Newspaper

Writer Tina Dupuy requests $75 from the Media General owned Tampa Tribune for publishing her article sans her permission.

Tina blogs at Fishbowl LA and I'm supporting her effort to be paid for work that was published.

California Registered Warrants

As an avid reader of the Los Angeles Times I enjoy articles that I can relate to, and Tom Petruno’s story California to redeem IOUs on schedule after closing $1.5-billion loan hit home with myself this morning.

I’m not the type of person that files my income taxes early or even on time; I file late because I always receive a tax refund from the Federal Government and the State of California. And this year was no different than any other, so I uploaded my tax returns and the state return was approved within a few hours, the federal return took a few days but everything checked out fine.
I don’t recommend you do as I do especially if you owe taxes, because both agencies will assess you fines and interest on the money owed them.

My federal return was deposited into my checking account without a hitch, but my state refund arrived as a registered warrant payable on or after October 2nd, 2009.

My friend Nubia had a great laugh over this as I displayed my IOU to her, but come October 2nd it will be party time for the week.

Friday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

I met this beautiful blogger at the Media Bistro party last Week and thought her blog was worth a visit, so say hello to L.J. Williamson at Giga Granada Hills for me when you visit her site.

• LA Sketchbook: Ted Kennedy - LAObserved
• How the Pentagon rates reporters - Gary Scott
• Solid Ground amid Shifting Sands - Kanani Fong
• Westchester biz news staff gone - Talking Biz News
• Once Again, Southern California is Ablaze - Franklin Avenue
• Times execs. can expect a chill at Globe meeting - Boston Herald
• Move by Tribune Creditors May Be Prelude to Lawsuit - Deal Book
• Brent D Payne Interview: how Tribune sites increased visits - Sphinn
• Cal State Dominguez Hills loses its newspaper - Los Angeles Times
• Taser Death: Unidentified Man (Los Angeles, CA) - Electronic Village

Bob Valenzuela has left the Los Angeles Times

Just heard from a friend at Times Mirror Square (I still know a handful of employees at this location) that the newspaper no longer employs our second in command for Los Angeles Times Security Bob Valenzuela. My colleagues at Times Mirror Square would recognize Bob most easily as the square was his home base.

I’ll scan the Tribune directory next week and see if I can locate Mr. Valenzuela’s profile to verify his departure. If this turns out to be the case I would like to wish Mr. Valenzuela the best, and let him know he will be missed.

Evolution of Virtual Kobe Bryant

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant talks about the evolution of his virtual physique over the years in the video game as his own body (and haircuts) have changed.

Memorial Service for LeRoi Crandall

Received a nice message from Gail Crandall yesterday regarding her father LeRoi Crandall, former Los Angeles Times Press Room Supervisor that passed away a few short weeks ago. It’s nice knowing we occasionally make positive actions occur in others lives, thank you for writing Gail.





From Gail Crandall:

Hi Ed,

Just wanted to let you know that the public memorial service for my Dad LeRoi Crandall will be held Wednesday, September 30 at the Pasadena Scottish Rite. I think the time is 11:30 a.m. but you can confirm that with Herb.

Currently my cousin and I are working on a tribute site for Dad, it will be a place where folks can share their memories of Dad and read the stuff Dad wrote about his life including his years at the LA Times, fishing adventures, etc. I will be sending that info out as soon as we finish our work....hoping to have it completely up and running by the end of the weekend.

Thank you for all you are doing to keep coworkers and the 20-Year folks connected, it was great to hear from some of those guys....Harry Hutchins, Dan McQuitty, Orlando Sanchez (?). I would love to hear more memories of Dad from his years at the Times....how nice that you are Herb and Irene's neighbor. They are wonderful people!

Ok back to work for me, take care and be well!


Blessings,
Gail Crandall

Tribune Company Pension Funding Update

From: Tribune Communications [mailto:TribuneCommunications@Tribune.com]
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 7:19 AM
Subject: Message from Mike Bourgon/Pension Funding Update

Earlier this year, Tribune conducted a preliminary estimate of the funded status of the Tribune Company Cash Balance Pension Plan. At that time, Hewitt Associates, our independent valuation firm, estimated the plan may not be 100% funded. This change in the funded status was primarily due to volatility in the public equity and debt markets. The combination of the plan’s funded status and Tribune ’s Chapter 11 filing restricted the plan from offering eligible participants the option of receiving a lump sum distribution (this includes rollovers to other qualified plans).

Since then, Hewitt has completed their final valuation calculations. I’m pleased to inform you that the Tribune Company Cash Balance Pension Plan (including the Tribune and Times Mirror Pension Plans and the Sunpapers Guild Pension Plan) is now certified as fully funded as of January 1, 2009 . That means the plan can once again offer lump sum distributions to eligible plan participants after they leave the company.

We are still required to perform annual pension plan valuations and will communicate the funded status of the plan after each analysis. If a future valuation determines the funded status to be below 100% while we are under bankruptcy court protection, the plan may once again be restricted from paying benefits in a lump sum until it becomes fully funded.

If you have questions about the Tribune Company Cash Balance Pension Plan or to determine if you’re eligible for a lump sum, please contact the Hewitt Retirement Center at 800/872-2222.

Sincerely,
Mike Bourgon
Vice President/Human Resources

Reading to find sanity in turbulent times

I've been on a spiritual path since changing gears, and more specifically since my husband was deployed as a surgeon to Afghanistan. He's in harm's way, and yet despite this very real threat, I'm experiencing firsthand the importance of letting go of both fear and the urge to control. I pause, send my prayers and thoughts, and then get on with building my life. Life is good.

Read the rest at
Blog Critics

Thursday Night in the Blogosphere

Pressman Paul Bergstrom saying hello

• Katrina: Four Years Later - Electronic Village
• Midweek Mashup - Newspaper Death Watch
• Tribune Bondholders Fault Zell Takeover - Jour Mo2
• 2009 total: 13,461+ newspaper jobs lost - Erica Smith
• Zell's bondholders want to probe deal - Kevin Roderick
• Bondholders call Trib purchase a bankrupt deal - Gary Scott
• FPL asked about corporate jets and plans to grow staff - Sun Sentinel
• Newspaper slump deepens as 2Q ad sales fall 29 pct - Associated Press
• Newspaper: Like coffee, and other traditions worth preserving - Bakersfield C.
• 6 month anniversary of the final edition of the Rocky Mountain News - Temple Talk

Verdant Ground

"I like these living values. They served me well on Wednesday, after a kerfluffle in response to an article I ran first on blogcritics."

Read the rest of the article, and check out the kerfluffle (later) at:

Get Lost With Easy-Writer

Wednesday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Los Angeles Times Machinist John Martin

• Ralphs pulls ads - Gary Scott
• Setting the price of a free press - Los Angeles Times
• High-quality journalism isn't 'free' - Newspaper Project
• Los Angeles Times loses Ralphs inserts - Kevin Roderick
• 'Globe' Stops the Press for Kennedy Death - Editor & Publisher
• Creative minds can help newspapers evolve and survive - NPR News
• Miami Herald to Join with Weeklies, in Hyper-Local Project - Jour Mo2
• Newspaper Union: More Chronicle Layoffs Coming Through - SF Weekly
• Cubs Chairman on Chapter 11's Troubles for a Baseball Club - Dealbook
• WaPo's Paul Farhi resorts to generalizations about bloggers - John Temple

Senator Ted Kennedy and the Presence of Compassion

By Brian Quintana

I had the privilege of serving Senator Ted Kennedy on numerous trips to California. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Kennedy family, the Shriver family, the Townsend family, to all those who knew him personally, and to the millions of Americans who are mourning his passing.

The Irish poet John O'Donohue taught us that the most powerful type of presence that any person can bring to this world is the presence of compassion. Senator Edward Kennedy had that presence of compassion. With his passing this morning, our country has lost a great champion of progress.

Senator Kennedy believed that each of us can make a difference in this world. By carrying forward his compassionate spirit and his causes, we can honor that belief --and all he did in his own life to make a difference.

Sincerely,

Brian Quintana

SENATOR KENNEDY HAS DIED.

R.I.P. Last of a dying breed of brothers.

Former San Dimas High School Student Dies in Ontario Crash

I found out today that this baby is the grandson of an ex-coworker of mine. My sincere condolences to you and yours, Mary. My prayers are with you.

Glendora Morris Fire

My daughter Lauren Padgett snapped a few photos of the Morris Fire as she came over the Covina Hills on her way to San Dimas.

100+ acres have been burnt so far with the fire moving away from Glendora.

Last for One, world champion b-boy crew

Last for One, a b-boy dance crew from South Korea demonstrate some of their moves in a quick video sketch for The Los Angeles Times. Produced by Kathy M.Y. Pyon, Video by Myung Chun and Jeff Amlotte.

Tuesday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Press Operator Wayne Padelford in the Plate Making Department

• Hyperlocal Profits: They Really Exist - Paul Gillin
• minor arcana: On Broadway - Joseph Mailander
• Who Gets to Grow Up to Be Citizen Kane? - Ad Age
• August 24, 2009 News - Los Angeles Media Moves
• Andrew Malcolm 'Throws FBLA a Bone' - Tina Dupuy
• Layoffs and buyouts at U.S. newspapers in 2009 - Paper Cuts
• Line by line, newspapers’ businesses are falling apart - Jeff Jarvis
• LA Times Editor Admits What Everyone Already Knows - Pandora
• Online Journalism and the Future of Paper-and-Ink - Social Media World
• Bidder Would Bring Jim O'Shea Back to Chicago Media - Chicago Reader

Traitors to the profession

So I hear this morning that Michael Jackson died of a lethal dose of propofol. Like many addicts, he had a lot of doctors --none of whom could contact the other because Jackson refused to tell them how many of them he had.
Read the rest at:

Get Lost With Easy-Writer

A Writer's Journey: The Milblog Terrain

"I love milblogs. They offer a personal link and insight gained from boots-on-the-ground."
Read the rest at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Save Our Trade: SEIU Sends Thanks

This e-mail is intended for Ronnie Pineda and all members of Local 140.

Jesse, Maria and I would like to Thank You again for such a grand outpouring of hospitality that was given to us by the members of Teamsters Local 140.

The BBQ was such a success that we stayed to the end enjoying conversation with all . The Hamburgers were great and the two horse piñatas were a real tribute to the Teamsters ( Thunder and Lightning ) I'm not sure I remembered their names correctly but I'm sure your granddaughter does.

It was nice to be treated like family and to spend time with all your families and friends. The young women that won the 50/50 raffle were so cute, smart and had a lot of good conversation . I also enjoyed looking at pictures I have seen at latimespressmen 20yearclub also.

We had a Ball-------------------------
THANK YOU

TEAMSTERS SEIU IN SOLIDARITY
Donna Hernandez
Jesse Aranda
Maria Ybarra

Save Our Trade: SEIU Sends Thanks

Operation Purple: Camp Yellow Ribbon at Camp Marston

"My daughter is tanned, happy, and has come home from camp with secrets only a 13-year old girl can keep."
Read The Rest At:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Courtesy Of Combat Pay

"Some people wonder what a military family spends its combat pay on."
Read the rest on:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Ricketts Family to Acquire 95% Stake in Cubs Franchise

Ricketts Family to Acquire 95% Stake in Cubs Franchise in $845 Million Transaction

Ricketts to Take 95% Ownership of Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and
Tribune’s Interest in Comcast Sportsnet

CHICAGO, August 21, 2009 -- The Ricketts family has signed a definitive agreement with Tribune Company to acquire a 95 percent interest in the Chicago Cubs National League Baseball Club, Wrigley Field and Tribune’s approximately 25 percent interest in Comcast SportsNet (CSN) in a transaction valued at $845 million. The Ricketts family will have management control of the joint venture as its 95 percent owner. Tribune will retain a five-percent ownership interest.

"Our family is thrilled to have reached an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the Chicago Cubs, one of the most storied franchises in sports," said Joe Ricketts. "The Cubs have the greatest fans in the world, and we count our family among them. We look forward to closing the transaction so that we can begin leading the Cubs to a World Series title."

The Ricketts family reached the agreement with Tribune after a thorough bid process that began more than two years ago. Tribune intends to proceed to a final transaction close without soliciting further bids from other parties.

"This joint venture will provide dedicated, local family ownership and management for the team," commented Tribune Chairman Sam Zell. "The Ricketts family will be a great steward of the franchise. They have a strong respect for the team, for the fans and for what the Cubs mean to the City of Chicago."

Final closing of the agreement is dependent upon approval by Major League Baseball owners and bankruptcy court approvals. As part of the court's approval process, the entity holding most of the assets of the Cubs franchise will voluntarily file for Chapter 11 protection so that the franchise can emerge free and clear of Tribune Company’s financial obligations. All obligations specific to the Cubs franchise - player contracts and agreements with sponsors, broadcasters, advertisers, suppliers and ticket holders - are not expected to be impacted by the court approval process, and there should be no interruption of team operations. The court is expected to rule on approval of the transaction early in the fourth quarter of 2009.


:: :: ::

SOURCE: Tribune Company

Thursday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Al and Cheryl Clark at the Union Picnic

• Build That Pay Wall High - Newspaper Project
• Blaming the Editors - Newspaper Death Watch
• TV News Pioneer Don Hewitt Dead at 86 - Jour MO2
• Tribune Employees are Shortchanged - New York Post
• NewBizNews & Hyperpersonal news streams - Jeff Jarvis
• Associated Press responds to my blog post - John Temple
• SouthtownStar eliminates Saturday edition - Chicago Tribune
• Internet ad decline has ‘probably hit bottom’ - Cyber Journalist
• Pitfalls of Covering the Publication you work for - Chicago Reader
• (Even) more Qs & A's on the revamped latimes.com - Los Angeles Times

Message from Tribune Company Executive Randy Michaels

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 2:05 PM
Subject: RE: Message from Randy Michaels/The Restructuring Process


I'm sure you've seen the recent media speculation about the progress of our restructuring process. Some secondary publications have printed inaccurate stories about what is happening or is likely to happen, and some of those reports have been picked up by the trade press.

Here is what is going on: We are having good discussions with our creditor groups and making progress on a plan for emerging from bankruptcy. It is a slow process because we and they are trying to be very deliberate along the way.

We're guided by a few fundamental principles during the negotiations:

* We believe there is tremendous value in our current asset mix. By operating media businesses online, over the airwaves and in print, we can maximize the use of our content across all platforms, making it available to consumers and advertisers whenever and wherever they want it. That doesn't mean we won’t do deals where it makes sense (like monetizing the Cubs), but we believe the whole of Tribune is greater than its sum of parts.

* We are working to emerge from bankruptcy with a level of debt that gives us flexibility to operate our businesses and to take advantage of opportunities going forward. We want to grow our business, and we need liquidity to do that.

* We are working to ensure that we can provide market-level competitive wages and benefits for employees.

* Our entire management team is engaged and involved in executing on the vision for the company. We’ve made tremendous progress in the last 18 months. We're innovating like never before. There is a lot more to do, but we are way ahead of our competitors, who haven't acted as aggressively.

In many respects, we're finding that our creditor groups agree with these principles, but of course, there are a lot of details to be worked out. We hope to have a restructuring plan fully fleshed out in the fall.

Our business units, including all of our newspapers, are profitable. It would be absurd to think that this company will be "liquidated". While the ownership structure of the company is likely to change, current operating management is committed, and intends to remain in place during and after the restructuring.

Don't let the noise get too distracting. Many other media companies are about to go through their own process, and not all will have the positive outcome we expect. By being in and out early, we will have the opportunity to grow our company in size and value.

Finally, as I have said before, thank you for all your efforts. Our employees are easily our most valuable assets. You make this place go. Together, we are creating a company worthy of the people working here and the jobs they do day-in and day-out.

Randy

SOURCE: Jim Romenesko

Quote for Today 8-19-2009

Laughing at ourselves as well as with each other gives a surprising sense of togetherness.

(Hazel C. Lee)

Hundreds Of Women In The Kunar province

read the rest of this post at:

The Kitchen Dispatch:

Save Our Trade: Board decision to grant review

by Ronnie Pineda

Many of you have seen the notice generated by the same National Right to Work Foundation that represents Lee Carey. This publication is bias and erroneous in it's entirety for implying that the "Officers", (dramatically referred to by the NRTW's Stephan Gleason as "Union Bosses") are attempting to force Lee Carey and others to join our union and force them to pay dues.

The information the NRTW people present is FALSE for the fact that our contract does not make membership in the union a "condition of employment" to work in our shops, nor can we request termination of a bargaining unit employee for refusing to join the union, or refusing to pay dues.

Also, anyone not interested in joining the union is given an opportunity to apply for "Agency Fee Payer" status with the International and under the law, would only be required to pay dues germane to collective bargaining and representation, that amount was determined to be $48.04 or 80.06% based on members dues of $60.00.

We have not made "threats" as Lee and the NRTW people accuse our local of doing, our Secretary Treasurer mailed what we consider a standard notice of arrears similar to those sent by many institutions that is owed monies. None of the notices sent to bargaining unit employees seeking to collect dues made any reference to joining the union.

NLRB Regional Director Smalls understood the union security language in our contract and "instantly dismissed", not "bizarrely" dismissed Lee's petition for a de-authorization election based on the facts I stated. The officers of Local 140-N expect the board in Washington to reach the same conclusion.The NRTW people are tooting their own horn in this notice and is making this appear as if this story was reported by an uninterested party all the while attempting to smear the union for taking action against "free riders" that refuse to pay dues.

This decision could take some time, so we need to realistically look at the ramifications of what advantages the company would gain if Lee's attempt to de-authorize the union security language in the contract is successful and how that would effect the local's ability to take action against the company should it violate the contract in the future. Instead of trying to vilify the Union for all that is wrong currently, one needs only look where the decisions come from and the ones making those decisions.

As I said a million times before "a union is only as strong as it's members" and in order to have any chance in resolving the shortcomings of the contract, we must focus on unity.In short we must focus on what we need to accomplish in order to convince management to accept our proposals when we return to the table in April 2011, because if we don't, and the union is removed as representatives, pressroom employees must be willing to put their faith, trust and financial future back in the hands of the same people who refused to continue to pay shift differential and equal severance while asking the bankruptcy court for tens of millions of dollars to deposit into their accounts in order to empty the cookie Jar before the creditors slam it shut and Zell runs off with it!

Senior mgt. and middle mgt. have perfected the art of taking care of themselves, when will we learn to conduct ourselves in the same beneficial manner? As Keith once said, "when did we stop becoming our brothers keeper?"Don't support this effort by Lee and others that are ignorant to the concept of a brotherhood allowing them to cripple our local financially, He has his interests in mind only and needs others to help him achieve his objective in avoiding payment of dues. Lee could care less if you all paid dues as long as he doesn't have to. That takes cajones to ask the same people he steals money from in the form of overtime to rally behind his cause, but they ignorantly do. When Lee has gotten what he wants from them, he will resume screwing them over as history has proven.

Get involved and become a willing member in order to attend local meetings where your concerns can be address and resolved, as opposed to expressing anger towards the union. As a member you can vote on the direction of this local and the decisions made by it's officers. Lastly, as a member you can run for office if you feel you possess the skills and abilities to lead this local in a direction the members agree with. I recommend you don't get angry, but rather, get involved! If you must express your anger, direct it to those that are truly responsible........and ask yourself, have I done all that I could to make this union succeed? Am I willing and capable of doing more?

If you've done nothing but resist the union and complain every step of the way, never attending meetings, never asking questions, unwilling to seek and obtain the union provided information, then you've done absolutely nothing on your own behalf, and in my opinion, have no right to be angry at the Union, it's Officers or the company for that matter.

Ronnie Pineda
President
GCC/IBT Local 140-N

Save Our Trade: Board decision to grant review

John Brame R.I.P.

Mike Harnish notified us of some additional sad news with the passing of another former Los Angeles Times employee, here's Mike's message:

Ed McLaughlin called to tell me that John Brame, a former machinist in the OC shop, died at home yesterday.

Here is the information for the service:

Brown Colonial Mortuary >>> DIRECTIONS
204 W. 17th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706

Friday, 21st August

Service for John Brame

Viewing will be held between 9:00 am and 10:30 am

Service will be held at 10:30am

After chapel service we will travel to Arlington Veterans Cemetery in Riverside – 22495 Van Buren Blvd, March Air Reserve Base

Burial Service at Arlington Cemetery will be held at 12:45 pm >>>DIRECTIONS

Following the Burial we will meet at my sister-in-law’s house for food and drinks. Directions will be provided at the mortuary services.

NORTH COAST CONFIDENTIAL

Los Angeles Times travel writer Chris Reynolds motors up the coasts of Oregon and Washington in seven rainless summer days, concluding with a weird discovery at the Canadian border. Great video!

Tuesday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Los Angeles Times Pressmen David Rascon and Marcos Rodriguez at Union Picnic

• Is Sam Zell Quitting? - Tina Dupuy
• Bakersfield keeps innovating - Temple Talk
• Glendale News-Press Identity Crisis - Pandora
• Ownership Struggles - Newspaper Death Watch
• Zell Prepares to Abandon Tribune - New York Post
• PULITZERS LOST, WHAT A COST - John Temple
• Tribune creditors seek probe of Zell buyout - Sun-Times
• Exclusive: Top 30 Newspaper Sites for July - Editor & Publisher
• 30 Taser-Related Deaths in the United States - Electronic Village
• What Does the L.A. Times Do Right? - LA Downtown News (via Gary Scott)

Dull Reportage, Karzai, VOA Propaganda and Julia Child

Onto other institutions to pick on. I got a good laugh on VOA report on "tourism in Afghanistan" and the opening of the first national park. I know, Tony Wheeler can do it. But one look at his former company Lonely Planet, and even the most experienced travelers on the Afghanistan branch are advising people not to go right now.
Read the rest on:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Thought for Today 8-18-2009

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Sam Zell ready to step down soon...

Sam Zell with the Pressman Blogger

The Sam Zell/Tribune Company saga appears to be coming to an end as reports out of news agencies on the east coast claim Zell may throw the towel in as early as this afternoon. If you happen to follow the link back to NBC Chicago, be certain to vote your feelings for the article with a vote of Furious, Thrilled, Sad, Bored, Intrigued, or Laughing from the pull down menu.


by STEVE RHODES

The New York Post is reporting that Zell is "ready to walk away" from the Tribune Company, ending one of the most inglorious chapters of newspaper ownership in Chicago history.

And just to make sure Zell has gotten the message from angry creditors already reportedly organizing a putsch, those lenders have now asked a bankruptcy court for permission to investigate Zell's kinky and controversial $8.2 billion takeover of the media giant, according to the Sun-Times.

{break}

On the other hand, Zell may not exactly need a push; it's more inconceivable at this point that Zell would want to stay. He never intended to spend so much time as head Tribbie given the array of other business interests still in his portfolio. The company's massive problems forced his hand on that point, and he hasn't exactly enjoyed it.

{break}

Most likely: the company will sell its newspapers in Los Angeles, Baltimore and Hartford - each acquired in the disastrous merger with Times-Mirror in 2000 - and perhaps even all of its properties except those in Chicago.

{{{Full article}}}

Monday Night in the Blogosphere

Nubia meets Mike Brierley at Union Picnic

• Metaprinter Portfolio - Robert Ivan
• Lily Burk The Writer - Pandora Young
• Social Justice Shorts - Celeste Fremon
• LA Sketchbook: Tick..tick..tick - LAObserved
• News Wikification - Newspaper Death Watch
• 2009 total: 13,336+ newspaper jobs lost - Erica Smith
• Amish newspaper succeeds the old-fashioned way - Associated Press
• Newsroom Layoffs Continue Despite Business Improvements - Poynter
• Laid off? News-Gazette will give you 3 months for $1 - Newspaper Project
• Tribune Co. creditors seek special counsel to probe buyout - Chicago Tribune

Federal Labor Board Agrees to Review Deauthorization

Federal Labor Board Agrees to Review Deauthorization Drive to Strip Forced Dues Power from Union at LA Times

Teamster bosses threatened to sue employees for refusing to pay dues

Los Angeles, CA (August 17, 2009) – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has agreed to reconsider a controversial preliminary decision denying attempts by Los Angeles Times employees to remove a mandatory dues clause from the newspaper’s union contract. Attorneys from the National Right to Work Foundation are providing free legal assistance to workers seeking to rid themselves of any forced dues obligation.

Over the past six months, union officials from the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (GCC/IBT) Local 140-N union have repeatedly ordered Leon Carey, Jr. and similarly situated employees to pay union dues or face lawsuits in California civil court, citing a clause in the union’s contract with the Los Angeles Times.

Because California is not a Right to Work state, employees can be obligated to pay union dues related to collective bargaining as a condition of employment. However, employees cannot be legal ly compelled to join a union against their will. Employees also have the right to collect signatures for a deauthorization drive to formally revoke a union’s forced-dues privilege.

Carey collected signatures from over 30 percent of his fellow employees and filed a petition for deauthorization with the NLRB’s regional director. The regional director bizarrely refused to schedule the election to eliminate the forced union dues clause, claiming that workers can only pursue deauthorization if the union hierarchy forces them to pay dues upon penalty of losing their jobs.

In the Request for Review, Foundation attorneys noted that because union operatives have repeatedly threatened Carey with legal action if he refuses to pay, the union contract’s forced dues provisions constitute a de facto requirement for working at the Los Angeles Times.

Foundation attorneys have also filed separate unfair labor practice charges challenging the legal ity of the afore-mentioned provisions.

“We’re encouraged by the NLRB’s decision to review this unfounded preliminary ruling, but union-boss threats of lawsuits will continue as long as workers can be forced to pay dues as a condition of working at the LA Times,” said Stefan Gleason, vice president of the National Right to Work Foundation. “Ultimately, making union membership and dues-payment completely voluntary is the only way to prevent this type of abuse in the future, which is why California desperately needs a Right to Work law.”

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, is assisting thousands of employees in over 200 cases nationwide.

SOURCE: National Right to Work

Thought for Today 8-17-2009

Faith is a muscle that needs to be exercised.

The new latimes.com

The Los Angeles Times launched its redesigned website this week. Here is a promotional spot we created to show off the new look. See it here.

Union Picnic Today!

Graphic Communications Conference
International Brotherhood of Teamsters

1st Annual Picnic

SUNDAY AUGUST 16, 2009
12:00PM TIL 6:00PM
WHITTIER NARROWS REGIONAL PARK
“AKA” LEGG LAKE
SOUTH EL MONTE, CA.
PICNIC SITE D-8
FOOD, DRINKS, GAMES, PRIZES
Plus Park activities including fishing, multi passenger bike rentals, etc.(Fishing License required for Adults)

Directions:60 Freeway (Pomona Freeway) Santa Anita exit (south), free parking on right. Follow either path to Picnic site D-8. If lot is full $4.00 overflow parking available, exit lot and turn right on Santa Anita to N. Durfee Ave. and turn (R) to parking entrance on right, follow path on right side of lake to D-8.

Maps available at gccibtlocal140n.blogspot.com

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ALLOWED IN PICNIC AREA

ALCOHOL NOT PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL

gccibtlocal140n.blogspot.com

SaveOurTrade.com

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: Union Picnic on August 16th, 2009

JOUR M02 Writing and Reporting for the Media: A Textbook Bad Manager Gets Ready to Go

Los Angeles Times Union President Ronnie Pineda meets Sam Zell

From Workforce Management:

[Sam] Zell is the foul-mouthed CEO of Tribune Co., the big media company that owns not only television and radio stations but also big newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun. He was in over his head from the moment he cut the deal to take control of Tribune, and his over-the-top hubris, chronic arrogance and terribly shortsighted decision-making (by both Zell and his management minions) have helped push Tribune into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

It’s a bad management trifecta that led me to award Zell with the 2009 Workforce Management Stupidus Maximus Award, given annually to the “most ignorant, shortsighted and dumb workforce management practice of the year.”

Well, we may be starting to see the end of Sam Zell, at least as the guy controlling Tribune. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that “Sam Zell’s days as a media titan in Chicago are nearly over. … Eight months after [Tribune’s bankruptcy] filing, two sources familiar with the process said creditors are working on a reorganization plan that elbows Zell aside. The creditors, including investment banks owed $8.6 billion from Zell’s Tribune takeover, would stage a takeover of their own and sell off the company’s newspapers and broadcast stations as they see fit.”

JOUR M02 Writing and Reporting for the Media: A Textbook Bad Manager Gets Ready to Go

More on Women, Girls and Education

"In Swat about 240 (mostly girls' schools) have been destroyed."
Read more at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Services for Leroi Crandall

Funeral services for Leroi Crandall will be held privately according to my neighbor Herb. If you would be interested in sending a card to his family send an email with your request.

Michael Brown R.I.P.

Former press operator at the Los Angeles Times Michael Brown passed away on Wednesday night, according to his uncle Jim Robinson, former Los Angeles Times truck driver. Michael was 57 years old and his passing is under investigation by the Los Angeles Coroners Office.


Michael was a quiet man that was quick with a smile and friendly with everyone that crossed his path, he will be missed by his friends and family.

Michael’s cousin Steve Polee works at the Los Angeles Times Olympic Facility, our condolences to his family.

Mr. Robinson mentioned there would most likely be no funeral arrangements

Friday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Sam Zell sending a message to his detractors using the Los Angeles Times

Pressmen's secret sign language.

• Zell headed out? - Mark Lacter
• Turning ships into boats - Gary Scott
• LA Times Online Redesign - Pandora
• The Tribune's Bonus Babies - NBC Chicago
• Zell's tenure at Tribune summed up - Kevin Roderick
• Zell No: Trib Boss's Days Numbered? - Chicago Content
• Is Journalism Online Picking Up Steam? - Media Decoder Blog
• Mayor Sam Ends Silence on "New" LA Times Website - Michael Higby
• Sam Zell To Lose Control Of Tribune Under Reorganization Plan - Tech News
• Case Against Pack Journalism; More Layoffs at San Diego Union - Paul Gillin

Comment Of The Week

"...the thought of the taliban drinking Peets coffee and munching on Oreos is not a nice vision, unless they realise that cookies can be a good thing... and to make a good cookie you need to read, and to do that you need a school." -Angry Parsnip on The Kitchen Dispatch

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Thought for Today 8-13-2009

God didn’t promise days without pain,

Laughter without sorrow,

Sun without rain,

But He did promise strength for the day,

Comfort for the tears,

And light for the way.

NYC Photos

"One of the fun things about a great public church like St. Patrick's is that weddings go on, whether or not there are public coming in and out. When we arrived, there was a list of weddings that were going to be taking place. There happened to be one while we were there, so of course, after we milled about we sat in on a wedding!"

See and read the rest at:
Get Lost With Easy-Writer:

Use of Pictures: Enjoy The Goats

"A few weeks ago, they got into a huge altercation with an embedded journalist who wanted to take photos of their morning clinic where they help locals, as well as some of the trauma sent in. They said, absolutely not."
Read the rest at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Times unveils 'cleaner, crisper, more innovative site'

Here's a note of introduction to readers from Meredith Artley, managing editor, online, and Russ Stanton, editor, about changes at latimes.com:

Welcome to the new latimes.com.

We’re bringing you a site that’s easier to read and use and that better showcases the world-class journalism our newsroom produces around the clock.

Thanks to your frequent visits, latimes.com has seen unparalleled growth among top newspaper sites over the last year. We’re breaking more news than ever on latimes.com; we’ve expanded our blog network; we’re publishing more stunning visual, interactive journalism; and we have savvy readers like you contributing to conversations.

And now you can find all that and more in a cleaner, crisper, more innovative site.

Key changes include:

- Streamlined navigation at the top of every page, highlighting our main coverage areas such as local news, sports and entertainment. The idea is to make it easier to get around the site from wherever you are.

- Right below the black navigation bar, you’ll see topics “In the News.” Here, you’ll find quick access to big stories we are following, whether it’s the state budget or the Emmys or coverage of unrest in Iran.

- Our new modular approach to the homepage means you can quickly find and access multimedia packages of the news of most interest to you. Scroll down the page, and you’ll see features including the award-winning investigative coverage of “Mexico Under Siege,” excerpts from popular blog posts and columns, top headlines from well-read sections and interactive databases such as Mapping L.A.

- Our video player has improved, with faster-loading video and more sharing features.

- We’ve simplified our articles, making them easier to scroll without interruption from related content or advertising. We’ve enhanced our article-sharing features as well to include more seamless interaction with social-networking sites and the ability to send articles to instant-messaging services and mobile devices.

- Design aficionados will note that we have gone from a sans-serif font (Arial) to a serif font (Georgia). Not only did we find that this was a more readable font, but we also felt it connected to our overall brand much better.

For more details on what’s new, check out our site tour.

Our work is not done. We approached this redesign as another step in the evolution of the Los Angeles Times, as a building block for more things to come.

Thanks for supporting the work we do by visiting us and engaging and interacting with the site. As always, your feedback is welcome in the comments below or by e-mailing readers.rep@latimes.com.

-- Meredith Artley, managing editor, online, Russ Stanton, editor

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times

Packages On Hold

"As a matter of safety and prudence, I've decided to hold all packages meant for the troops until after the Afghan elections. A mail convoy bound for The Hub's FOB was attacked."
Read the rest at:
The Kitchen Dispatch

Wednesday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Note the width of the newspaper held by LAT Pressman Jack Stevenson

• Life after layoffs - Erica Smith
• July numbers for latimes.com - Meredith Artley
• More Job Cuts At San Diego Union-Tribune - Pandora
• Tribune Co. consolidates national beats - Chicago Business
• Newspapers Still Send Consumers To The Store - Media Post
• Tribune Execs Get Their $70 Million Bonus - Business Insider
• Blazing a Trail to Hyperlocal Profits - Newspaper Death Watch
• Tribune launches ChicagoNow, home of 70-plus blogs - PR Week
• Sam Zell’s Holiday Gift Comes Late…and Mute - Wall Street Journal
• Some Local Newspapers Thrive During Recession - Newspaper Project

Mathematical Logic

Here is a little something someone sent me that is indisputable
mathematical logic. It also made me Laugh Out Loud.
This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint...it goes like this:

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder
about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all
been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How
about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these
questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But ,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far ass kissing

will take you.

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty, that while Hard
Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there,
its the Bullshit and Ass Kkissing that will put you over the top.

Leroi Crandall R.I.P.

Discovered a note on my car this morning, from my neighbor Herb, that our brother Pressman Leroi Crandall passed away yesterday.

New Blogger Born This morning

Congratulations to Michael and Maria Schneider on the birth of their second child Nathan early Tuesday morning. Details of this breaking story will be published on Franklin Avenue soon.

Edward with Michael

Tuesday Night in the Blogosphere

KTLA reporters Stan Chambers and Gayle Anderson with Edward in middle.

Stan celebrated his 86th birthday today via LAObserved.

• Recession is over - David Lacter
• Four in the afternoon - Gary Scott
• Sustaining journalism - Jeff Jarvis
• Honk If You're a Honker - David Rensin
• The Daily Beast Claims Another One - Tina Dupuy
• The paper route is not what it used to be - Tampabay.com
• Judge: OK for Guild to see Tribune bonus details - Poynter Online
• LA Times reporter helps a drive-by shooting victim - Los Angeles Times
• Borrell Associates: Newspapers on road to recovery - Newspaper Project
• Trib Execs Want $70 Million Bonus For Bankrupting Company - Business Insider

A Reason For Cake!

"Here's how it usually works. I write a review of a book, I hear nothing. But good news: I heard from Dana Gioia, former National Endowment of the Arts Chairman who coordinated the project which resulted in the book Operation Homecoming, edited by Andrew Carroll."

Read the rest on my military spouse blog: The Kitchen Dispatch.

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Monday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

• Remembering Lily - Pandora
• The small c and me - Jeff Jarvis
• The Platinum treatment - Gary Scott
• The Lily's Law flaw - Celeste Fremon
• A letter from the publisher - Roanoke Times
• Seattle Surprise - Newspaper Death Watch
• Another journalist checks out - Kevin Roderick
• August 10, 2009 News - Los Angeles Media Moves
• Seattle Paper Is Resurgent as a Solo Act - New York Times
• After 40 Years, KFWB Dumps All-News Format - Franklin Ave.

Save Our Trade: Recall Number Increased By Three

by Ronnie Pineda

An additional four presspersons received recall notices from management a few day ago. One individual that was required to respond by August 3rd from the first group of six chose to relinquish his recall. This will total nine pressroom employees tenatively scheduled to return on August 24, 2009.

This latest group has until August 14, 2009 to contact Leticia in Human resources to inform management of their decision. Once an individual reliquishes their recall rights, it is final and said individual will not be considered for any future recall regardless of the nine month recall per our contract.

Save Our Trade: Recall Number Increased By Three

The Newspaper Business is in Trouble

The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and other major papers are thinking about new ways to make money, will it work?