Friday Morning in the Blogosphere

Skid Row Los Angeles at 6th and San Julian Streets

Tribune Tower is for sale - Chicago Tribune

EU Court Decides US Unsafe for Data - Editors Weblog

Behind the scenes of the L.A. Times buyout drive - Politico

Tribune plans to 'redevelop' LA Times buildings - LAObserved

Former LA Times site to be developed in Costa Mesa - Daily Pilot

Journal Media Group to merge with the Gannett Co. - Ventura Star

Struggling Chicago Sun-Times just needs a rich benefactor - The Awl

Anniversary of the 1984 launch of the daily LAT Valley Edition - Saul Daniels

O.C. investment fund buys 5% stake in Tribune Publishing - Los Angeles Times

How 3 New Jersey newsrooms are turning to their readers for story ideas - Poynter

Monday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Introducing Times Insider - NYTCO

Why local online sites died - Poynter

Welcome to Media Layoff Season - The Awl

10 keys to newsroom transformation - WAN-IFRA

Buyout offer now official at LA Times - LAObserved

How one newspaper company can save itself - Business Insider

Media Death March: Please, Tribune Co., Don’t Do This - Wired

Los Angeles Times newsroom cuts to begin this week - CNN Money

Tim Knight named president of Northeast Ohio Media Group - Cleveland.com

Tribune Media, Tribune Publishing compensation reported for CEOs - Chicago Tribune

Final Edition - The End of a Newspaper

After 149 years and 311 days, the Rocky Mountain News published its final edition on February 27, 2009.

Film by Matthew Roberts
http://MatthewRoberts.org

Save Our Trade: Buyouts offered at the Los Angeles Times

Save Our Trade: Buyouts offered at the Los Angeles Times

Photo credit Mae Ryan KPCC

By Wendy Lee

The printing facility for The Los Angeles Times in downtown L.A.

Employees at the Los Angeles Times printing facility were offered buyouts, union officials confirmed to KPCC on Tuesday.

Ronnie Pineda, president of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 140-N, said the buyouts could impact workers at the facility from printing press operators to color specialists who make sure the colors appear correctly in the newspaper.

It is unclear exactly how many workers qualify for the buyout. Edward Padgett, the union's recording secretary, estimated 73 people would qualify in the pressroom. He said the buyout offers up to 40 weeks of pay, with one week of pay per year of service.

Times spokeswoman Nancy Sullivan said the company doesn't comment on speculation and she didn't respond to a question about possible impact on other newsroom employees.

The cuts come as the Tribune Co., parent company of the L.A. Times, has been closely examining its budget to become more efficient. Tribune Co. chief executive Peter Liguori said at a Tribune staff meeting he is "not walking around with a specific number in mind."

Tribune Co. reported a consolidated operating profit of $90 million in the second quarter compared to $125 million in the same period a year earlier, due to declining sales.

Pineda said this is the second buyout affecting L.A. Times printing facility employees in the last three years. He said the Times has been whittling away at its printing facilities staff. In 2000, there were more than 700 pressmen and women at three different print facilities, Pineda said. He estimates that number is now 125 people, with only one printing facility open.

Buyouts Coming to a Tribune Newspaper Near You

By Brett Levy

I'm not sure if the same thing is happening elsewhere at the L.A. Times, but pressmen have until 5 p.m. Nov. 8th to sign up for an employee voluntary separation plan. This plan offers one week of pay for each year worked up to 40 weeks. Pressmen who agree to the buyout will be terminated between Dec. 9 and Dec. 31.

It is unclear how many volunteers Tribune Co. is seeking, but a source tells me that employees are being pressured via a technique called "last and final notice." Essentially, employees are sent written notice, which threatens termination, of various mistakes they've been making. I suppose if I was sent such a message, I'd be able to read the handwriting on the wall, though I've been known to be a bit dense at such times.

Other details of the Voluntary Separation Plan:
1. Lump sum or continuation of pay until paid out -- eligible continuation folks will get medical, dental and vision benefits.
2. I count about 75 eligible for the buyout.
3. I count about 23 not eligible for the buyout.

If anyone has a story they want to share anonymously about the buyouts -- or anything else Times-related -- please let me know via chat or email. brettdl AT dadtalk DOT net.

Friday Morning in the Blogosphere

This is where I should be to escape the extreme heat today, Redondo Beach

Slowdown takes a toll on media houses - Live Mint

The Secret Meanings of Stars in Newspapers - Wired

What do readers of print media look like? - The Media Online

Community newspapers have a long history - Gulf Coast News Today

Brian Stelter on newspaper deals, sites he likes, and more - Romenesko

Newspapers may be dying, but the internet didn’t kill them - Paid Content

The Washington Post could do worse than emulating Woolworth - CNN Money

African American Labor Group Debuts “Workers Congress” - Frying Pan News

NYT/Guardian/ProPublica collaboration: It speaks for itself, apparently - Poynter

Why Bezos will jumpstart a new ‘golden era’ for the newspaper industry - Ventura Beat

Buyouts Coming to a Tribune Newspaper Near You

As the Tribune Company prepares to change hands employes are pondering to take the latest buyout offer or hang on to the bitter end and hope for the best. In 2011 seven-hundred employes left the company, some voluntarily and some kicking and screaming all the way out the door. Last year another nine-hundred Tribune employes were let go one way or another.

I have no exact numbers on the target numbers, but the ranks will shrink once again as advertising flees the newspaper business to seek buyers through others means, such as the Internet.

If you have any information regarding the latest round of buyouts feel free to contact me via snail mail, thank you.

Edward Padgett
P.O. Box 4184
San Dimas, CA. 91773-8184