Los Angeles Times Pressmen's Breakfast

Photograph of the Los Angeles Times Pressmen 1935, note the width of the newsprint

As you probably know by now the pressmen enjoy getting together with former colleagues and current one’s as well. Tomorrow we will gather at Carrow’s Restaurant in Walnut at 9:30 AM to say hello to one another.

If you’re in the area feel free to stop in and have a cup of coffee and have your picture taken.

Date: Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Time: 9:30am

Place: Carrows Restaurant

Address: 21130 E.Golden Springs

Walnut, CA 91789-3923

Phone: 909-594-6499

RSVP: Emmett Jaime

Hal Benveniste Passes Away

From Matthew Holmberg;

Hello Retired L.A. Times Production Employees,


It deeply saddens me to tell you that my Grandpa Hal passed away earlier this week. In an effort to help Fran, we are passing along this information and please pass along this information as well. The services will be held this Monday, November 14, at 2pm at Memory Garden Memorial Park and Mortuary in Brea, California. The address for Memory Gardens is 455 W. Central Ave. Brea, CA 92821. Memory Gardens phone number is (714) 529-3961. In lieu of flowers, Hal requested that donations be given to the Kiwanis Club of La Habra. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 552, La Habra, Ca 90633. Hal did a lot of charity work with this club over the last 20+ years. From giving scholarships to taking underprivileged children back to school shopping, putting on a recognition B.U.G. (bringing up grades) program triannualy which includes a magic show and spaghetti dinner for students and family who raised their grades from F's to C's or D's to C's or C's to B's etc..., and so much more! The Kiwanis Club was one of Hal's many passions.

Hal passed away peacefully with his family by his side. In his final week, Hal was adamant about producing the final Ol' Timers Publication. Hal finished the publication and it will arrive later this week. He was really fond of his days at the L.A. Times and he had an enormous respect for all of you. He really looked forward to the yearly luncheons and seeing all of his old friends. The Ol' Timers Publication was another one of Hal's passions.












Hal 2010 Saint Patricks Day


If you would like to send any cards or would like to reach Fran, you can do so at (714) xxx-xxxx, 15413 Talbot Drive, La Mirada, CA 90638. You can also contact Hal's daughter, Kathy Arata, with any questions or anything else at (626) xxx-xxxx.

In the blog that my sister and I have, I wrote a fitting tribute to Hal, the most loving and selfless man I know. Here is a link to Hal's tribute if you would like to read it http://holmbergsmileysiblings.blogspot.com/2011/11/hal-giant-of-man.html

Sincerely,
Matthew Holmberg
mholmber@uci.edu


NOTE: Send a message if you would like their phone numbers

Group beats panhandling ban by starting 'homeless newspaper'

Group beats panhandling ban by starting 'homeless newspaper': MyFoxTAMPABAY.com

Q. & A. With a Newspaperman Who Thinks Print Is Overrated

By DAVID CARR

NYT: When you look over the hill in the newspaper industry, what do you see?

Paton: I think you’re going to see a couple things. I think you’re going to see a steady, for the next five years, a steady 5 to 7 percent decline in print advertising. After that, you’re going to see probably a flattening out and down less, about 1 or 2 percent a year, because things are happening that are making that a better proposition than the past: There’s print subscriptions now and there’s digital subscriptions, whether it’s an e-edition or iPad, so that is new revenue and could grow to be meaningful.

Click on the link below for the complete article

Q. & A. With a Newspaperman Who Thinks Print Is Overrated

Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere

The entrance to the Olympic Production Facility

• 81-year-old newspaper carrier to retire - Chicago Tribune
• Romenesko’ Now Called ‘MediaWire’ - Matthew Fleischer
• Roanoke reorganizes for digital first publishing - Julie Moos
• 66 jobs lost as three newspapers shut - Cannock Chase Post
• Ad spending on Web to overtake newspapers by 2013 - Poynter
• NY Times Gains Confidence in Digital - Newspaper Death Watch
• Former LATimes.com Manager Cranking It Up at CNN - Fishbowl LA
• Will Newspapers Use Twitter To Advertise? - Nieman Journalism Lab
• Magazine and newspaper publishers embrace mobile - Media Business
• MediaNews' boss looks toward end of print newspapers - Kevin Roderick
  

New Contract to be Reviewed by You *

Our negotiating team will meet with Tribune Company representatives later this afternoon to finalize the proposed contract. Electronic versions will be available to all pressroom employees sometime tonight, and online at Save Our Trade.

Next Monday (November 21st, 2011) the union employees will meet at the Commerce Casino to review the contract before a ratification vote is taken, the exact time to be announced shortly.




Once the electronic version of the contract arrives I will let it be known, and at that time you can request a copy to be sent your way, please send no requests at this time or I’ll forget whom to transmit it to.

Thank you

Correction below:
*Ed was incorrect in stating that an electronic version of our T/A'd agreements would be available for review here on his blog today. The negotiating committee did not make this claim and the contract will not be posted here.

New contract language will be mailed to Local 140-N members for review.

Only Members in good standing will receive the new contract and only members will be allowed to vote on the new contract.

Ronnie Pineda
President,
GCC/IBT Local 140-N

Winning at the Race of Life - Feeding the hungry

The charity event yesterday was very successful, with the 1969 Chevelle raffled off to the winner from Huntington Beach. Even as the weather looked threatening all day long well over one hundred were in attendance, with rain falling off and on.

The money collected will be used to feed the hungry and homeless on skid row in Los Angeles.

How many times have you made a donation and wondered if the money was used as stated? Later this afternoon I will be with Sammy Maloof, Janeen Ferdinard, and many others giving out food donations to the homeless at 5th Street and Crocker at 6:00 PM.

If you’re in the area today drive by and give a toot from your horn or stop by and say hello.

Detroit's Black Bottom Community Video

Black Bottom, Detroit - Wikipedia

Detroit:: The Black Bottom Community (Images of America) Amazon

h/t Artist Sandra Heading -Marchand

Korean War memorial

Description:

• Artist- Deborah Copenhaver Fellows
• Endorsing Entities- numerous veterans’ organizations including Chosin Few, private donors, state funds
• Dedication Date- July 24, 1993
• Materials- bronze (figures), stone, flags, flagpoles
• Inscriptions- "Korean War Veterans Memorial 1950-1953," "The Forgotten War," names of all Washingtonians killed, informational plaques about the war.

History & significance:

It was in 1989 that the Washington State Legislature, at the urging of numerous veterans’ organizations, business owners, and citizens, authorized the first ever state-sponsored Korean War Memorial. The project was approved for two purposes: "to express the gratitude of the citizens of this state for all who served in Korea, and to project the spirit of service, willingness to sacrifice, and dedication to freedom in remembering those Washingtonians who lost their lives in the war." Roughly 122,000 Washington soldiers served in Korea, now often referred to as "the forgotten war"—532 of these troops were killed.

Once approval was granted for the memorial, a four-year fundraising effort ensued. Veterans groups worked tirelessly to raise more than $320,000 in private donations needed for the $400,000 project, with the state contributing $70,000 in matching funds. Spearheading the fundraising effort was the veterans group Chosin Few, comprised of survivors of one of the war’s bloodiest battles at the Chosin Reservoir (November, 1950).

Montana artist Deborah Copenhaver Fellows’ idea was chosen for the memorial after a three-month design competition. Fellows, whose father is a Korean War veteran, created her piece "as a way for people to reflect on war and the price it extracts from those who participate." Her two-ton bronze statue features three weary-faced GI’s of different nationalities huddled around a pile of sticks in the rain, with one soldier attempting to light a fire. Behind the figures fly 22 flags, representing each of the nations that joined the U.S in the war effort. In front of the bronze statue are stone tablets with the names of those Washington soldiers killed in battle. On either side of the memorial are plaques designed to educate viewers about the war.

The memorial was dedicated on July 24, 1993, just days away from the 40th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. Nearly 3,500 people attended the ceremony on the east campus of the State Capitol. Before arriving in Olympia, the statue made a number of viewing stops in Eastern and Western Washington en route from Fellows’ Montana studio. The memorial originally contained the names of 523 Washington residents killed in Korea, with more names added in 1994, 1998, and 1999.

The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when the North Korean Army invaded the Republic of (South) Korea. Three days later, President Harry Truman ordered U.S. troops to help defend South Korea. Soon, for the first time in history, the United Nations created a United Nations Command to repel the attack. The war officially ended with an armistice roughly three years later, on July 27, 1953. A de facto boundary was drawn up at this time that still exists today, dividing North and South Korea. Approximately 1,500,000 American troops served in Korea during the conflict, nearly 53,000 of whom lost their lives. A total of 580,000 United Nations troops were killed, and 1.6 million communist (North Korean and Chinese) soldiers were killed or wounded.

Winning at The Race of Life Charity Event

ONLY ONE MORE DAY UNTIL OUR CHARITY EVENT!

Bring the kids! Meet Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol & Fast and Furious stuntman Sammy Maloof. He's ready to give you the ride of your life in his 640 horse powered stunt car! The very talented producer / director John (JD) Cameron and other celebrities are on the guest list so DON'T MISS IT! AND don't wait to make your $20 or more donations to our cause at http://winningevent.com/ it could WIN YOU A HOT ROD tomorrow! BTW, don't worry about the weather- it won't stop Sammy!

Saturday November 12th, 2011
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Maloof Racing
843 Commericial Avenue
San Gabriel, CA. 91776

Romenesko resigns after 12 years at Poynter

Julie Moos Nov. 10, 2011 8:15 pm

After twelve years of blogging at Poynter, Jim Romenesko has submitted his resignation and I have accepted it. Jim has decided he’s ready for a fresh start now -- seven weeks before he was scheduled to become a part-time employee and start his own blog.

Click link below to continue reading
Romenesko resigns after 12 years at Poynter

2011 Veterans Day Tribute

A tribute to the brave men and women of the United States military


In memory of our Uncle William Boyd Padgett

LA Times Wins Prestigious Travel Journalism Awards

By Pandora Young on November 10, 2011 6:00 AM

The winners of the 2011 Lowell Thomas travel journalism awards have been announced, and our hometown newspaper didn’t do too badly. The Los Angeles Times won top honors in the Newspaper Travel Section category, large circulation. Editor Catharine Hamm has been with the section for 12 years this month, and last year won 2nd place for Travel Journalist of the Year.

Continue reading by clicking link below

LA Times Wins Prestigious Travel Journalism Awards

Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere

View of the form plates as the newspaper is folded and cut

• Sam Zell Finally Catches a Break - Gawker
• Fake news written by fake people - Gary Scott
• The Oregonian Axes More Employees - Oregonian
• Los Angeles Times Reopens Globe Lobby - Fishbowl LA
• Takeover of San Diego Union-Tribune - Matthew Fleischer
• O'Shea, Zell and the 'dismantling' of the Times - Kevin Roderick
• We need to become more than a newspaper company - Poynter
• NY Daily News Layoffs Massacre Continues - New York Observer
• The Boston Globe’s unusual gain in Sunday circulation - Mass. Market
• Tribune Co. bankruptcy case could benefit Sam Zell - Chicago Tribune
  

General Union Meeting 11.07.11

On Monday November 7^th the pressmen gathered for a general union meeting to review the proposed contract, there was no vote to ratify the contract at this time. Here are a few of the photographs from the meeting; the remainder can be viewed on Flickr.

Don't forget to reset your clocks

Andy Rooney Rest in Peace

Karma - "the law of cause and effect"

General Meeting this Monday 1:00 P.M.

Union President Ronnie Pineda

Our negotiating committee consists of President Ronnie Pineda, Vice-President Keith Denson, Executive Board Member Mike Brierley, and Union Representative Mike Huggins. Our committee members did a great job against a foe (Tribune Co.) that cares nothing about the workingmen and women working in the pressroom at the Los Angeles Times.

Negotiations came to a conclusion three days ago with the signing of a memorandum of agreement containing a tentative agreement, which Tribune Company attorney Amy Foran said, “This is all they would offer”, to Mike Huggins.

Once the documents are prepared they will be made available to all members for review prior to the ratification vote.

Join us this Monday, November 7th at 1:00 p.m. at the Elephant Bar for an update from your executive board.


14303 Firestone Boulevard
La Mirada
(714) 994-1474

Los Angeles Times Employee a Hero

From the left Danny Koval, Bill Delgado, and Carl Zaby

Pressroom supervisor Bill Delgado assisted in the capture of a purse-snatching suspect, which escaped from the good Samaritans hold. Bill did the right thing in helping out the woman in need and we have to give him a pat on the back for his efforts. Unfortunately Bill was injured with either a dislocated or broken shoulder for jumping in to help.

I hope Bill recovers quickly from his injuries and returns to work soon.

The complete story can be read on the Hesperia Star.

33 to 43 LA Times Employees to get Pink Slips

The annual Christmas Purge of employees at the Los Angeles Times has kicked off the first three days of November with a vengeance. Thirty-three to forty-three employees at the newspaper have been scheduled to be let go at or around the end of the fourth quarter.

The pressroom was notified on November 1st that eighteen colleagues would be terminated, to be replaced by eight part-time employees. No word on the fate of our pressroom supervisors, but their feeling the pinch as well with uncertainty hanging over their heads.

Russ Stanton, editor of the Los Angeles Times, held a meeting on November 2nd announcing the merger of sections of the newspaper with ten to twenty employees to be let go.

Yesterday November 3rd five district managers of circulation were given their pink slips as the newspaper consolidates the delivery of the newspaper. Here in San Dimas my Los Angeles Times is delivered with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, sometimes in the same plastic bag. The Ventura Star will assume delivery of the Los Angeles Times this Sunday.

Can anyone tell me how many employees are currently working at the Los Angeles Times?

I hope we can make it through Friday with no further bad news.

Developments in the Tribune Co. Chapter 11 Process

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 9:10 AM
Subject: Message from Don Liebentritt/Developments in our Chapter 11 process

We now have the judge’s opinion on the competing plans for reorganization that were filed in our bankruptcy a year ago. While there was no winner, at least officially, there is a silver lining in what the judge had to say about our plan and the process going forward.

Though both plans were rejected, and our time in bankruptcy thus extended, the judge made a series of rulings very favorable to the major elements of the company’s plan. Most important, the judge indicated a decided preference for our plan provided we made a number of changes.

To address the problems the judge had with our plan, we will need the cooperation and agreement of our plan co-proponents, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and the Senior Lenders (JP Morgan Chase, Angelo Gordon and Oak Tree). Our goal is to have a revised plan before the court prior to the hearing scheduled for November 22, when the judge will be looking for evidence that we’ve listened to and acted on the guidance offered in his opinion. If we’re successful, as I hope we are, we will be pushing an amended plan through what should be an accelerated confirmation process that could be concluded early next year.

Aurelius Capital and the other pre-LBO creditors did not fare as well; we’re not sure how they will respond to yesterday’s opinion and how that might affect our plan.

Finally, it has been reported that the company will have to “throw some employees under the bus” in order to correct one of the problems found with our plan. Our plan did seek to protect some employees whose Tribune stock was sold or cashed out in the LBO, in their 401k plans or for up to $100,000 for current employees. The judge found our effort laudatory, but not legally supportable. We haven’t given up yet, but the bar to overcome is quite high.

All said, we see yesterday as a delay, not a defeat. We see a path to getting out of bankruptcy, and we don’t have to start from square one. We on the restructuring team will work hard to reach that goal as quickly as possible, as hard as each of you do in what you do for the company, and that’s a whole lot.

Don Liebentritt
Chief Restructuring Officer

New round of belt-tightening at L.A. Times - LA Observed

Kevin Roderick • November 3 2011 1:13 AM

According to a couple of independent newsroom sources, Los Angeles Times editor Russ Stanton called meetings on Wednesday to inform affected people that the design, news operations and web operations staffs would be combined into one department, along with at least some of the copy editors. The merging would take place by the end of January and lead to 10-20 layoffs, the sources say. One of the sources said there's also new talk of combining sections to save money.

New round of belt-tightening at L.A. Times - LA Observed

Message from Eddy Hartenstein CEO Tribune Co.

From: Tribune Communications

Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 9:25 AM

Subject: Message from Eddy Hartenstein/Our Focus on Business

Colleagues,

As you know, the judge overseeing our Chapter 11 process has delivered his opinion and set a hearing for later this month. We are optimistic that we can make the necessary changes to our restructuring plan and win confirmation.

During the course of the bankruptcy process you have remained intensely focused on serving our readers, viewers, listeners and advertisers, as well as the local communities in which we do business. You’ve maximized the value of our high-quality content across multiple platforms and developed new ways of reaching the millions of people who rely on us every day. Our digital strategies and products are rapidly evolving to meet the needs of an expanding online and mobile audience thanks to your intelligent and innovative work. All of these efforts must continue.

The fourth quarter is traditionally the busiest time of the year for our media businesses, so it is extremely important that we stay focused on serving our customers and audiences, and that we close the year strong. Many of you also are engaged on preparing budgets and operating plans for 2012; this is critical work and extremely important for our future success. I appreciate your continued dedication and effort as we move forward.

Tribune’s most valuable asset is its talented employees. Throughout the twists and turns of the Chapter 11 process you have risen to every challenge place before you – I know you will continue to do so.

Thank you.

eddy

Los Angeles Times Circulation Correction

From: Nagel, Bill
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 12:27 PM
To: AllLosAngelesTimesEmployees
Subject: RE: Circulation Update

Colleagues:

Please be aware, that while The Times circulation performance was - as noted below - our strongest September in many years, an error was made in the figures listed.

As reported by ABC Fax Fax, The Times' correct total circulation is: Daily 572, 998 and Sunday 905,920. The percentages are all correct.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I'm sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

Bill

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Nagel, Bill
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 11:46 AM
To: AllLosAngelesTimesEmployees
Subject: Circulation Update

Colleagues:

This morning, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) released its bi-yearly report on paid circulation for the six month period ending September 2011. The Times reported a 4.6% decline in total daily circulation and a 0.5% increase in Sunday circulation. Total circulation reported was 605,244 Daily and 948,889 Sunday.

These represent the strongest September daily results in four years, and the strongest September Sunday results in nine years.

Much of our performance was driven by demand for the core print newspaper. Print circulation was down 4.3% daily, and up 0.3% Sunday—including the first September year-over-year increase in Sunday home delivery (+0.5%) since 2002.

Thank you all for your collective efforts in contributing to these results.

Bill Nagel

Emory Wayne Barbrow R.I.P.

Emory Wayne Barbrow, 69, of Kinsey passed away Monday, October 31, 2011 at his residence.

Memorial services will be held at 12 noon Friday, November 4, 2011 at Harvest Church with Rev. Roy Rogers officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:30 to 12:00.

Guest Book

Wednesday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

The Los Angeles Times Globe Lobby

• Cutdown to affect newspaper size - The Almanac
• O.C. Register owner sells TV stations - O.C. Register
• Bay Area News Group Cuts 34 Editorial Jobs - Patch
• 2 'Occupy' Protests in DC Start Newspapers - ABC News
• Tribune investors could face legal trouble - New York Post
• Newspaper Circulation Decline May Not Be Over - Down East
• New approach to subscriptions to fit digital world - Star Tribune
• The Islamists Are Going After Fake Newspapers Now - Gawker
• Why Newspaper Stocks are Getting Ripped - Wall St. Cheat Sheet
• New company formed to carry Booth Newspapers into next era - Mlive
  

Greg Bauer is now known as Papa *

With so much negative news at the newspaper it’s with pleasure I share something on the positive side, about time I say.

Thirty-year pressman Greg Bauer became a grandfather thirteen days ago, and let me tell you, Greg had trouble sitting, as he was ecstatic after receiving the news while at work that his daughter Amanda gave birth to his first grandchild.

Meet John* Gregory who weighed in at eight pounds, five ounces at twenty-two inches long. Mother and baby are doing fine so be certain to give Papa Bauer a pat on the back with the arrival of his newest family member.

Los Angeles Times Circulation According to Bill Nagel

From: Nagel, Bill
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 11:46 AM
To: AllLosAngelesTimesEmployees
Subject: Circulation Update

Colleagues:

This morning, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) released its bi-yearly report on paid circulation for the six month period ending September 2011. The Times reported a 4.6% decline in total daily circulation and a 0.5% increase in Sunday circulation. Total circulation reported was 605,244 Daily and 948,889 Sunday.

These represent the strongest September daily results in four years, and the strongest September Sunday results in nine years.

Much of our performance was driven by demand for the core print newspaper. Print circulation was down 4.3% daily, and up 0.3% Sunday—including the first September year-over-year increase in Sunday home delivery (+0.5%) since 2002.

Thank you all for your collective efforts in contributing to these results.

Bill Nagel

Source Kevin Roderick

The Xmas Purge is Official at the Los Angeles Times

Our annual Christmas purge of employees at the Los Angeles Times is officially set for the end of the fourth quarter, with eighteen to be eliminated in the pressroom. If we’re downsizing in the pressroom then other departments at the newspaper will be doing likewise. Pictured below is our vice-president of the local union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters-Graphic Communication Conference Local 140-N. On the left Keith Denson with Fred Kirby at his side.

From Keith Denson:

"Well members of the local 140-N, We learned today in negotiations there will be 18 more employees laid off sometime around the first part of January. Also the company does not want to give us much of anything. Why should they have gotten everything they have wanted including a fight among ourselves. Its the unions fault for everything not the company not Russ Newton come on wake the fuck up.

Sincerely, Keith Denson"

Daily Newspaper Circulation ABC

Total Average Circulation

1. Wall Street Journal; 2,117,796
2. USA Today; 1,829,099
3. New York Times; 916,911
4. Los Angeles Times; 605,243
5. San Jose Mercury News; 577,665
6. Washington Post; 550,821
7. New York Daily News; 530,924
8. New York Post; 522,874
9. Chicago Tribune; 437,205
10. Chicago Sun-Times; 419,409
11. Dallas Morning News; 404,951
12. Houston Chronicle; 364,724
13. Philadephia Inquirer; 343,710
14. Arizona Republic; 337,170
15. Denver Post; 324,970
16. Newsday; 298,759
17. Star Tribune; 296,605
18. St. Petersburg Times; 292,441
19. Oregonian; 260,248
20. Cleveland Plain Dealer; 254,372
21. Seattle Times; 253,742
22. Detroit Free Press; 246,169
23. San Francisco Chronicle; 235,350
24. Newark Star Ledger; 229,255
25. Boston Globe; 219,214

TOP 25 U.S. SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS (with total average circulation)

1. New York Times; 1,339,462
2. Los Angeles Times; 948,889
3. Washington Post; 852,861
4. Chicago Tribune; 780,601
5. San Jose Mercury News; 636,999
6. Detroit Free Press; 614,226
7. Houston Chronicle; 587,984
8. New York Daily News; 584,658
9. Denver Post; 519,838
10. Star Tribune; 516,134
11. Arizona Republic; 511,764
12. Philadelphia Inquirer; 488,287
13. St. Petersburg Times; 429,048
14. Chicago Sun-Times; 421,453
15. Cleveland Plain Dealer; 403,001
16. Atlanta Journal-Constitution; 391,815
17. Dallas Morning News; 375,100
18. Newsday; 362,221
19. St. Louis Post-Dispatch; 360,450;
20. Boston Globe; 356,652
21. New York Post; 355,784
22. Seattle Times; 346,991
23. Baltimore Sun; 343,552
24. Newark Star-Ledger; 337,416;
25. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 333,999

Journalism: Writing and Editing Jobs for Newspapers and Magazines (1940)

Tuesday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Look who I bumped into, Gus Carrion, former pressman at the Los Angeles Times. With so many former employees I wonder, does anyone still work at the newspaper?

• LAT circulation keeps falling - Mark Lacter
• Star Tribune readies metered plan - News & Tech
• LAT is Now Fifth-Largest Newspaper - Fishbowl LA
• Judge Rejects Both Tribune Bankruptcy Plans - The Wrap
• New York Times Boss to Discuss Newspaper's Future - Patch
• Guy Crowder, chronicler of Black Los Angeles, dies - The Wave
• Newspapers Declining as Local News Source - Michael Stillman
• What does it take to Publish your Newspaper? - Gonzales Inquirer
• Stop Police Attacks On Working Journalists - Broadcast Union News
• Major Newspapers’ Total Digital Editions Rise 63 Percent - Paid Content
  

New Tribune Co. Benefits Webinar

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 2:05 PM
Subject: Message from Mike Bourgon/New Benefits Webinar

With the start of the open enrollment process a little less than two weeks away, we want to let you know of another resource that may help you understand Tribune’s 2012 Blue Cross Blue Shield medical benefit plans and how they work. This week, we are providing access to an online webinar designed to enable you to make the best choices for you and your family. The webinar is being made available in lieu of hosting employee meetings at each business unit; it’s much more efficient and cost effective.

The process for accessing the webinar is easy, and it’s available to you at work or from your home computer. You can view the webinar at your own pace, stopping at areas where you want to take notes or replaying any sections you would like to see more than once. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:

1. Go to: http://www.tribune.com/oe2012/

2. Press the play/pause button (the big round button in the middle at the bottom of the player window).

3. The slides will advance on their own, but you can use the arrows on either side of the play/pause button to advance or rewind.

4. You can also pause the presentation to move at your own pace, or download it as a PowerPoint file.

5. If you have questions about the new benefits plans after viewing the presentation, you can get an answer by contacting the

Tribune Benefits Service Center at 800/872-2222 from 8 am CT to 6 pm CT, or by email at askthebsc@tribune.com.

As we move forward, we’ll create a Q&A document that will be available on the benefits page of the HR section of Triblink and on the eBenefits website during open enrollment.

Please take advantage of this new tool as you consider your benefit choices for 2012; learn what your options are and what makes the most sense for you and your family. By doing so, you can make the best use of the benefits offered and become a better informed health care consumer.

Mike Bourgon

VP/Human Resources

New Tribune Co. Benefits Update

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 3:46 PM
Subject: Message from Mike Bourgon/New Benefits Update

We want to let you know that Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is making an important tool available to Tribune employees interested in obtaining additional information about the company’s 2012 medical benefit plans. Beginning today, you can get assistance in estimating your health care expenses for the coming year, which will help you decide which benefit plan is right for you and your family.

This new tool is called the “Health Plan Cost Estimator” and you can find it on the right-hand side of the BCBS website. You can access it by following these easy steps:

· Go to: http://bcbsil.com/getting_started/how_to_shop/costs.html

· Enter “Tribune1” as the passcode (make sure you enter a capital “T”), and click “GO”

· The next screen will be the “Health Plan Cost Estimator” tool, which will ask you to set up profiles for you and your family members and answer questions about your health, use of prescription medication, how much you might contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA),” or “Flexible Spending Account”

· Once you’ve entered all the necessary information, the tool will display and compare your relative health care expenses under both the BCBS Traditional PPO Plan and the BlueEdge^SM HSA Plan

We urge you to take advantage of this unique tool before we begin the open enrollment process on Nov. 7^th —it will ease your decision-making process and help you make the right choices for you and your family.

Mike Bourgon

VP/Human Resources

BCBS Provider Directory

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 12:43 PM
Subject: Message from Mike Bourgon/BCBS Provider Directory

Last week, we mentioned that you may want to search the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) provider directory now to see if your medical provider is in the network. Some employees at a few of our business units have found that they are being prompted for an additional code, so we thought it might be helpful to review the overall process for using the BCBS provider directory.

1. Go to the BCBS website, www.bcbsil.com and click the box labeled “Find a Doctor” or,

simply click here: http://www.bcbsil.com/providers/index.htm?WT.svl=h2.

2. Choose whether to search by your doctor’s name or by your doctor’s area of specialty.

3. Where required to select the Health Plan, click the “Group” button and then choose “PPO” from the drop-down list. Enter the rest of the information required.

4. On the next screen, if asked for your “Alpha Prefix,” enter “TRB.”

Hopefully, this will clear up any confusion, enabling you to fully utilize the provider directory and determine whether your doctor is already part of the BCBS network.

Thanks for your patience.

Mike Bourgon

VP/Human Resources

New Tribune Co. Benefits Update

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 1:45 PM
Subject: Message from Mike Bourgon/New Benefits Update

As Tribune Company heads toward open enrollment in a few weeks, we want to make you are aware of some resources that will soon be available to you with more information about the benefit plans being offered in 2012.

· Beginning Monday, October 17^th, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) will launch its customer care center dedicated to Tribune employees. The center will be staffed with personnel who can help you understand how the BCBS Traditional PPO plan and the BlueEdge^SM HSA plan will work, the relative advantages of each, and answer any questions you may have related to your medical benefits. The center will be open for your calls between 7 am CT and 7 pm CT. The direct number is: 866/874-2776. You can also reach the BCBS customer service center through the Tribune benefits center at 800/872-2222 and following the recorded prompts.

· Also beginning next week, we will start scheduling online BCBS webinars for Tribune employees. These sessions are designed to walk you through each of the medical plans being offered and answer your questions. These sessions will be recorded and available for you to playback at a time that’s convenient.

· As a reminder, you may search the BCBS provider directory now to see if your medical provider is in the network. Simply click here: http://www.bcbsil.com/providers/index.htm?WT.svl=h2. (Where required to select the Health Plan, click “Group” and then choose “PPO” from the “Select a Health Plan” drop-down list.)

Finally, a complete benefits guide will be mailed to your home and available online via Triblink in late October.

Mike Bourgon

VP/Human Resources

New Tribune Co. Benefits Update

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 12:57 PM
Subject: Message from Mike Bourgon/New Benefits Update

As you know, during next month’s open enrollment process, Tribune will offer employees a “High Deductible Health Plan” through Blue Cross Blue Shield known as the “BlueEdge^SM HSA Plan.” While these types of plans are increasing in popularity, we recognize that they may be unfamiliar to you and that you’re likely to have questions about how the plan works and whether it is right for you and your family.

Today, we want to provide you with the attached brochure, which contains answers to some basic questions we’ve gotten from employees about the BlueEdge^SM HSA Plan. The brochure also contains information about the cost of premiums under the plan, which can be as much as 40 percent lower than the premiums under the standard Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. (This is the same information on premiums that you received last week. Please remember that these rates apply to non-union employees. Rates for union-represented employees are subject to collective bargaining and may be different.)

Over the next several weeks, we’ll offer you more detailed information about the BlueEdge^SM HSA, along with specific examples of how it will work, and how you can maximize your pre-tax contributions and derive the most from your benefits under the plan. We’ll also provide you with an online tool that will allow you to estimate your annual health care expenses and help you determine whether the BlueEdge^SM HSA Plan is the right choice for you and your family.

Later this month, Blue Cross Blue Shield will establish a customer service center to take your questions by phone; in the meantime, if you have questions, please contact the Benefits Service Center at 800/872-2222.

We’ll have more information on our benefit plans to you soon.

Mike Bourgon

VP/Human Resources

New Tribune Co. Benefits Information & Update

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 8:56 AM
Subject: Message from Mike Bourgon/New Benefits Information & Update

Starting today, you’ll be getting regular updates filled with information about Tribune’s upcoming Open Enrollment Process and the company’s new medical benefit plans with Blue Cross Blue Shield. These updates are designed to help you make an informed decision about which plan is best for you and your family, so be on the look-out for online webinars, brochures, mailings to your home and, of course, additional emails. You can also follow us on twitter--@TribBenefits.

After last week’s announcement of our shift to Blue Cross Blue Shield, several of you asked about the cost of medical premiums for the PPO and the BlueEdge^SM HSA plans, and we know that’s an important factor in which plan you choose.

Some background information might be helpful here. Tribune covers approximately 70% of the cost of providing employees with medical benefits. Over the last three years, even as the cost of medical care in the U.S. rose more than 9% annually, PPO medical plan premiums for Tribune employees increased only modestly—up an average of 3% annually (in 2010, premiums didn’t increase at all). During this same timeframe, PPO medical premiums across the country increased an average of 10% annually.

As has been widely reported recently, medical costs are expected to rise again sharply in 2012 and our projected PPO plan expenditures reflect this expectation. As a result, PPO premiums for next year are increasing about 9.5%. We recognize that this is not an insignificant increase, and we continue to look for opportunities to keep our medical coverage affordable for you and to provide you with a choice of plans in 2012.

That’s part of the reason we’re introducing the BlueEdge^SM HSA plan. Benefits under the BlueEdge^SM HSA plan are similar to the standard PPO, and though the deductibles are higher, the premiums are significantly less expensive—in some cases, more than 40% lower than the PPO rates. The HSA plan also includes a Health Savings Account (partially funded by the company) to which you can contribute money on a pre-tax basis to help cover out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and meet deductibles. Over the next several weeks, we’ll provide you with more detailed information about the BlueEdge^SM HSA, along with specific examples of how it will work, and how you can maximize your pre-tax contributions and derive the most from your benefits under the plan.

So, to recap, when you enroll for your benefits for 2012, you’ll have a choice between two new Blue Cross Blue Shield medical plans:

· PPO – a traditional plan, offering participants a higher level of benefits for using network doctors and hospitals.

· BlueEdge^SM HSA – a high deductible PPO plan that includes a Health Savings Account (HSA).

Attached are the bi-weekly 2012 premiums for both medical plans, as well as rates for the dental and vision plans. Please note that these rates apply to non-union employees. Rates for union-represented employees are subject to collective bargaining and may be different.

If you have questions, please contact the Benefits Service Center at 800/872-2222, and be sure to keep looking for more information on our benefit plans in the weeks ahead.

Mike Bourgon

VP/Human Resources

Tribune Co. Medical Benefit Plans for 2012

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 11:32 AM
Subject: Message from Mike Bourgon/Medical Benefit Plans for 2012

As you know, the healthcare industry is going through a period of tremendous upheaval—costs continue to increase, healthcare reform is underway, and change is rapid and constant. So, every year Tribune reviews its medical benefit plans in order to determine how to provide you with the best insurance coverage at a price that’s affordable for you, and for the company. While the cost of providing medical benefits to employees is significant (about $80 million annually), providing you with medical coverage when you need it most remains our top priority.

In 2012 the company will implement some changes to its medical benefit plans designed to provide you with more flexibility and choice, while also helping Tribune to control expenses. (Details of the changes are included in the attached “Benefits at a Glance” summary and highlighted below.)

First, and most important, the company is changing insurance providers—effective January 1, 2012, Tribune’s medical benefits will be administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). We will no longer offer a medical plan through UnitedHealthcare. (Employees based in California will still have Kaiser available to them, but UnitedHealthcare of California (PacifiCare) will no longer be offered.)

When you enroll for your benefits for 2012, you will have a choice between two new BCBS medical plans:

· PPO – a traditional plan, offering participants a higher level of benefits for using network doctors and hospitals.

· BlueEdge^SM HSA – a high deductible PPO plan that includes a Health Savings Account (HSA).

While you are likely familiar with the PPO medical option, the concept of a Health Savings Account (HSA) may be new to you. Benefits under the BlueEdge^SM HSA plan are similar to the standard PPO, but the premiums are significantly less expensive and the deductibles are higher. The plan offers you the opportunity to contribute money to a Health Savings Account that you can use to pay for healthcare expenses and meet deductibles. The BlueEdge^SM HSA plan has several other advantages:

· Tribune will make contributions to your HSA to get you started saving: $500 – single coverage; $1000 – family coverage

· Your contributions to the HSA are made in pre-tax dollars

· The ability to carry over any unused balance in your HSA account from year to year, giving you some flexibility in how you manage your healthcare expenses

· The ability to take the HSA balance with you if you leave the company

· HSA set-up fees paid by Tribune

· Access to the same network of BCBS PPO doctors and hospitals and the ability to choose any doctor

· No claims to file when you stay in-network

· 100% covered preventive care when you use in-network doctors

· An additional limited purpose FSA to save for out-of-pocket dental and vision expenses

You can find more information about HSAs in the attached BCBS flyer, and we’ll have extensive communication on the HSA option available very soon.

BCBS also offers many resources to help you get the most from whichever medical plan you choose, including a secure member website to check claims, find doctors and estimate costs; tools to help you make informed health care decisions and achieve wellness goals; and discounts on health care products and services. ID cards and a list of network providers are even available for mobile devices. You’ll receive more information on these tools in the near future.

You may search the BCBS provider directory now to see if your medical provider is in the network. Simply click the following link: http://www.bcbsil.com/providers/index.htm?WT.svl=h2. (Select “Group/PPO Plan” as the health plan option.)

In addition to moving to BCBS, the attached benefits summary details some plan design changes for the PPO. You’ll note that the prescription drug plan is moving from co-payments to a co-insurance payment structure.

Finally, open enrollment for benefits will be held from Nov. 7 through Nov. 18. Be sure to visit eBenefits at that time to select your new medical plan, evaluate the savings opportunities offered by BlueEdge^SM HSA, and re-enroll in the flexible spending accounts. If you have questions, please contact the Tribune Benefits Service Center at 800/872-2222. Be sure to watch your email and your home mailbox for details about upcoming enrollment activities, including webinars to help you understand the two new medical plans. You can also follow us on Twitter--@TribBenefits.

Sincerely,

Mike Bourgon

Vice President/Human Resources