Tribune Interactive Launches Representation Division

CHICAGO, January 6, 2010 -- Tribune Interactive (TI) today announced the formation and launch of its Representation Division, designed to streamline communications and operations in the generation and sharing of digital content among Tribune Company’s newspapers, television stations and websites. The division will also facilitate high-level training for those involved in selling TI’s suite of digital and mobile products and services.

Jeff Kapugi, who has been promoted to SVP/Representation, will oversee the new division, which is composed of several TI departments including the content team, market services, customer rewards programs, and "The Syndicate," which generates original online content for Tribune’s newspaper and television websites. Kapugi has served as VP/Content for TI’s Chicago media properties since joining the company in 2008.

"This is an efficient organizational structure for us," said Kapugi. "It enables us to more effectively communicate and educate our business units about TI’s products and services."

Julie Anderson expands her duties as VP/Content and Integration, and will now be responsible for digital content of all Tribune newspapers and TV stations. Part of her role will be to integrate interactive resources into the newsrooms of the company’s media properties and create 24/7 operations that produce content dynamically for multiple platforms.

Anderson’s team consists of Jim Richards, who was recently appointed VP/Content for Los Angeles Times; Tim Dukes, VP/Broadcasting Digital Content; and a content director for Tribune’s East Coast newspapers, who will be named at a future date. Anderson will work closely with Bill Adee at Chicago Tribune, who was recently appointed VP/Digital Content for the Chicago Tribune Media Group. She will continue working closely with Bob Gremillion, EVP/Publishing, and be based in Orlando. Anderson has overseen online content for Tribune’s East Coast newspaper markets since August 2008.

The new division of TI will also include a Sales Representation Team, led by Betsy Phillips, who has been named VP/Sales Representation. Phillips and her team will be responsible for assisting senior sales executives with training, support and the creation of incentive programs for the company’s interactive, publishing, broadcasting and national sales teams. Phillips will have a special focus on Tribune’s digital and mobile products.
Phillips joined Tribune in 2009 and most recently served as sales coach/trainer for Tribune Interactive’s retail and recruitment advertising team, TRG group.

SOURCE: Tribune Company