LAT wins General Excellence Prize and the U-T does well too

From: Maharaj, Davan
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 2:25 PM
Subject: CNPA's Better Newspapers Contest

To the staff:

The Los Angeles Times has won the General Excellence prize in the California Newspaper Publishers Assn.’s annual Better Newspapers contest.

“One of America’s finest newspapers,” the judges said of The Times, and that is a tribute to all of you: to your skill, dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence.

In addition to the general excellence prize, Times journalists won first-place honors in eight categories: for arts & entertainment coverage (staff), local government coverage (Paige St. John), education coverage (Teresa Watanabe), environmental reporting (Bettina Boxall), enterprise reporting (Alan Zarembo), writing (Joe Mozingo), editorial cartooning (David Horsey) and best website.

Our sister paper, the San Diego Union-Tribune, won four first-place awards: for business coverage, feature writing, feature photography and special section.

Congratulations to the staffs of both newspapers.

--Davan and Marc

Washington Post mobile site targeted by Syrian Electronic Army

Washington Post mobile site targeted by Syrian Electronic Army

News outlets started publishing within Facebook today

News outlets started publishing within Facebook today

Today in Labor History

May 13  --  Union Communications Services, Inc.

Western Federation of Miners formed in Butte, Mont. - 1893

The Canadian government establishes the Department of Labour. It took the U.S. another four years - 1909

Some 10,000 IWW dock workers strike in Philadelphia - 1913

UAW President Douglas A. Fraser is named to the Chrysler Corp. board of directors, becoming the first union representative ever to sit on the board of a major U.S. corporation - 1980

Thousands of yellow cab drivers in New York City go on a 1-day strike in protest of proposed new regulations. “City officials were stunned by the (strike’s) success,” The New York Times reported - 1998

Report: NYT will begin publishing within Facebook tomorrow

Report: NYT will begin publishing within Facebook tomorrow

Philly.com got 555 comments on an article about changes to comments

Philly.com got 555 comments on an article about changes to comments

Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere

Vandal sets 100 newspapers on fire - KRQE News 13

Will Austin Beutner buy Southern California? - Politico

Can Newspapers Survive? Here's a Plan - Huffington Post

Digital drives LA Times chief’s U-T purchase - U-T San Diego

Verizon to Buy AOL for $4.4 Billion in Cash - New York Times

LA Times Pulitzer winner exits an unhappy camper - LAObserved

Tribune Publishing Downgraded by Zacks to “Sell” - Sleek Money

ABC circulation numbers: Sorrier tale than usual for newspapers - BizNews

Tribune Media First-Quarter Earnings Revenue Rises 6 Percent - Hollywood Reporter

San Diego leaders upbeat but cautious about U-T newspaper sale - Los Angeles Times

'Truthiness' is not a core news value - Native Intelligence

'Truthiness' is not a core news value - Native Intelligence

Stamp Out Hunger 2015 a Success

Last Saturday the volunteers from Sowing Seeds For Life moved 32,800 pounds of food that was donated by the residents of La Verne and Claremont. The mail carriers arrived with their trucks jammed packed with bags of food that were left at mail boxes around the country.

Our friends at Shepherd's Pantry in Glendora moved 22,000 pounds of food, and everyone involved is feeling the affects of moving so much food, with sore muscles.

A big thank you to the postal workers that were so helpful, and all the volunteers that made this a success.

Today in Labor History

May 12  --   Union Communications Services, Inc.

Laundry & Dry Cleaning Int’l Union granted a charter by the AFL-CIO - 1958

Int’l Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots merges with Longshoremen’s Association - 1971

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raid the Agriprocessors, Inc. slaughterhouse and meat packing plant in Postville, Iowa, arresting nearly 400 immigrant workers. Some 300 are convicted on document fraud charges. The raid was the largest ever until that date. Several employees and lower and mid-level managers were convicted on various charges, but not the owner—although he later was jailed for bank fraud and related crimes - 2008
(Mobilizing Against Inequality: Unions, Immigrant Workers, and the Crisis of Capitalism: Are immigrant workers themselves responsible for low wages and shoddy working conditions? Should unions expend valuable time and energy organizing undocumented workers? Unions in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States have taken various approaches to confront the challenges of this significant segment of the workforce. As U.S. immigration policy is debated, readers will gain insight into how all workers benefit when wages and working conditions for immigrant workers are improved.)

May 11
Nationwide railway strike begins at Pullman, Ill. Nearly 260,000 railroad workers ultimately joined the strike to protest wage cuts by the Pullman Palace Car Co. - 1894

Seventeen crewmen on the iron ore freighter Henry Steinbrenner die when the ship, carrying nearly 7,000 tons of ore, sinks during a violent storm on Lake Erie. Another 16 crewmen survived - 1953

The Formal Obituary on the Amazing Life of Michael "Mayor Sam" Higby

On this eve of the "Celebration of the Life of Michael "Mayor Sam" Higby, we share with you the Formal Obituary, as crafted by as Sister Jodie Lea Ranzinger, on an amazing Man of Character.

Michael Higby, with his Father James (to the right), during his 50th Birthday Party.

**Blogger's Note: On this Friday before many of us gather to celebrate the life ......, and say goodbye to our friend Michael "Mayor Sam" Higby, Let me briefly note that on Sunday, I will be posting the many kind thoughts and testimonials made in regards to Michael's untimely passing. The family, friends and myself, have greatly appreciated the witnessing to the Man of Character that was ....., and will always be, the friend we all shared. Below, we share the Formal (and loving testimonial) Obituary, authored by his Sister Jodie.  Lastly, for those who have inquired about the future of Michael's brilliant, bloggin creation? Simply .........., click back in on Monday (wink, wink)---Scott Johnson.

Michael Edward Higby, was born on September 29th 1964 in Burbank, California and lived his entire life in his beloved San Fernando Valley. 

*     *     *     *

He spent tremendous effort in giving his time and talent to make it a better place for all. Michael spent his school years at Pacoima Jr. High and graduated San Fernando High School in 1982. He then went to Los Angeles Valley College where he studied broadcasting, was a part of the student government and was a disc jockey at the college radio station.

*     *     *     *

He went back and earned his Associates Degree there in Theatre and Film in 1994. His career spanned several companies, beginning with a fun design job at Walt Disney Imagineering, a manager job at AVR Services, a communication manager at IMT Residential and then he found his calling at SADA in 2007 where he became their Senior Business Development Manager.

*     *     *     *

Michael had a rich life outside of his career. He joined the Jaycees in 1998, eventually becoming state president in 2004 as well as being honored as a JCI Senator, the highest international honor for the Jaycees. He founded a famous political blog in 2004, Mayor Sam's Sister City, in which he gave residents a voice on important LA City issues. He also served on the Universal City North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in 2008-2010 and worked with the Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council as well as the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council to enact change in his community.

*     *     *     *

Michael co-hosted several radio shows including Live LA Saturday Night and the Randy Economy Show. He has received numerous awards for outstanding business leadership and community service. He was instrumental in growing the Operation Santa program in North Hollywood and consistently donated his money, time and effort to many charities and community projects. 

*     *     *     *

Michael passed away on April 15th, 2015 too soon, at the age of 50. Mike is mourned by his surviving family; father James E. Higby, sister Jodie Lea Ranzinger, Grandmother Beatrice Nissen May, Aunt Donna Nichols and countless cousins and amazing friends, and was preceded in death by his Mother Judie Higby Segal and step-father Howard Segal. 

*     *     *     *

Services will be held this Saturday, May 9th 2015 at 1pm at New Hope Community Church 10438 Oro Vista Ave, Sunland California. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Michael to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles under the Helping Hands Fund and Michael’s name.

Your thoughts on the amazing life of a Dear Friend.
Scott Johnson in CD 14

Today in Labor History

May 09  --   Union Communications Services, Inc.

Japanese workers strike at Oahu, Hawaii’s Aiea Plantation, demanding the same pay as Portuguese and Puerto Rican workers. Ultimately 7,000 workers and their families remained out until August, when the strike was broken - 1909

Legendary Western Federation of Miners leader William “Big Bill” Haywood goes on trial for murder in the bombing death of former Idaho governor Frank Steunenberg, who had brutally suppressed the state’s miners. Haywood ultimately was declared innocent - 1907

Longshoremen’s strike to gain control of hiring leads to general work stoppage, San Francisco Bay area - 1934

Hollywood studio mogul Louis B. Mayer recognizes the Screen Actors Guild. SAG leaders reportedly were bluffing when they told Mayer that 99 percent of all actors would walk out the next morning unless he dealt with the union. Some 5,000 actors attended a victory gathering the following day at Hollywood Legion Stadium; a day later, SAG membership increased 400 percent - 1937
(Working Stiffs, Union Maids, Reds, and Riffraff: An Expanded Guide to Films About Labor: This wonderful book is an encyclopedic guide to 350 labor films from around the world, ranging from those you’ve heard of -- Salt of the Earth, The Grapes of Wrath, Roger & Me -- to those you’ve never heard of but will fall in love with once you see them. Zaniello describes all the films in detail, tells you whether they’re available for rental or purchase, and, if so, where. Fiction and nonfiction, the films are about unions, labor history, working-class life, political movements, and the struggle between labor and capital. Each entry includes critical commentary, production data, cast list, suggested related films, and annotated references to books and Web sites for further reading.)

United Auto Workers President Walter Reuther and his wife May die in a plane crash as they travel to oversee construction of the union’s education and training facility at Black Lake, Mich. - 1971

Four thousand garment workers, mostly Hispanic, strike for union recognition at the Farah Manufacturing Co. in El Paso, Texas - 1972

No Rain Delays In Southern California today - I hope!

I'm off to The Redlands shortly, hauling two loads of paper products to Sowing Seeds For Life, which will be given away to our less fortunate citizens.

Hopefully there will be few delays, but when it rains in Southern California, there could be accidents that slow traffic.

The second load must be offloaded in San Dimas by 3:00 P.M., so I'll be watching the clock, and if I'm running late then no breakfast or lunch till completed.

Sowing Seeds For Life
1350 Arrow Highway
La Verne, CA. 91750
(909) 392-5777





SCHEDULE:

1st and 3rd Wednesday from 11:00am till 4:00 pm

2nd Friday from noon till 3:00 pm

Last Saturday from noon till 3:00 pm

Stamp Out Hunger 2015 takes place tomorrow May 9th.

Don't forget to place your non perishable foods in the bag that was delivered in your mail at your mailbox tomorrow, the letter carriers will be picking up the food that will be distributed by food pantries in your area.

Last year we moved 27,000 pounds of food from the La Verne Post Office, this year we anticipate over 40,000 pounds as we're also covering the Claremont Post Office.

If your interested in volunteering, be at Sowing Seeds For Life by 3:00 P.M. tomorrow.
1350 Arrow Highway
La Verne, CA. 91750

Today in Labor History

May 08  --  Union Communications Services, Inc.

The constitution of the Brotherhood of the Footboard was ratified by engineers in Detroit, Mich. Later became the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers - 1863

Jerry Wurf, who was to serve as president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) from 1964 to his death in 1981, born in New York City. The union grew from about 220,000 members to more than 1 million during his presidency - 1919

About 200 construction workers in New York City attack a crowd of Vietnam war protesters four days after the Kent State killings. More than 70 people were injured, including four police officers. Peter Brennan, head of the New York building trades, was honored at the Nixon White House two weeks later, eventually named Secretary of Labor - 1970

Some 12,000 Steelworker-represented workers at Goodyear Tire & Rubber win an 18-day strike for improved wages and job security - 1997

LA Times finally gets hold of San Diego - LA Observed

LA Times finally gets hold of San Diego - LA Observed

Jack Griffin - Tribune Publishing Agrees to Acquire San Diego Union-Tribune

From: Jack Griffin
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2015 5:06 PM
Subject: Tribune Publishing Agrees to Acquire San Diego Union-Tribune

Dear Colleagues:

Our Company announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire San Diego Union-Tribune, the Pulitzer Prize-winning brand, and its collection of community print and digital properties in Southern California. This will be a transformative acquisition for our Company and for the Los Angeles Times Media Group.

When the transaction closes, Austin Beutner, Publisher & CEO of the Los Angeles Times, will oversee the newly created California News Group and serve as Publisher & CEO of San Diego Union-Tribune.

The agreement to purchase the San Diego Union-Tribune and its related properties is the latest in a series of acquisitions, including the October purchase of the 38 daily and weekly suburban-Chicago titles, which are now part of the Chicago Tribune Media Group.

This expansion in Southern California, combined with our growing footprint in Illinois and last year’s acquisitions in Maryland and Connecticut, underscores the importance of our presence in local communities and the value of our premium journalism.

Please join me in congratulating Austin and the management team at the Los Angeles Times Media Group on achieving this important milestone for our Company. The Los Angeles Times team was supported by numerous employees across Tribune Publishing and we extend our appreciation to them as well.

Please see the attached press release for more details.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the success of Tribune Publishing Company.

Best regards,

Jack Griffin

Austin Beutner to the staff at the U-T San Diego

Colleagues—

It’s my pleasure to announce that Tribune Publishing Co. has agreed to acquire The San Diego Union-Tribune. When the transaction closes, I will be the publisher of the Union-Tribune in addition to the Los Angeles Times. We will plan to welcome the Union-Tribune, our neighbors to the south, to the newly formed California News Group, for which I serve as publisher and CEO.

Today begins a new era at The San Diego Union-Tribune and a recommitment to providing independent journalism.

The Union-Tribune, which traces its roots back 146 years, has a distinguished history and long tradition of providing a great service to both its readers and advertisers, and that will not change. Over generations, talented journalists have dedicated themselves to engaging and informing this community – and won four Pulitzer Prizes in the process.

In joining efforts with your neighbors to the north, the Union-Tribune will become an integral part of the California News Group. As such, the Union-Tribune will continue to be a destination for trusted journalism, delivering essential news, analysis and commentary that engages all viewpoints. I also know the Los Angeles Times will benefit from a closer connection to its older sibling down south.

As we begin this new era, we will be trying new things. We’ll be looking for ways to benefit from our size and scale, while fiercely protecting the local, independent editorial voice. Some things will work; some won’t, but we’ll learn from all of them. The ultimate aim is to ensure that the Union-Tribune is around 146 years from now. And I hope we can also have a bit of fun along the way.

I look forward to working with you.
Austin Beutner

Publisher and CEO
California News Group

Tribune Publishing Company has agreed to acquire the San Diego Union-Tribune

From: Beutner, Austin M
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2015 4:04 PM
To: !!All_LATMG
Subject: San Diego

Colleagues—

It’s my pleasure to announce Tribune Publishing Company has agreed to acquire the San Diego Union-Tribune. When the transaction closes, I will be the Publisher of the Union-Tribune in addition to the Los Angeles Times. We will plan to welcome the Union-Tribune, our neighbors to the south, to the newly formed California News Group, for which I will serve as Publisher and CEO.

This is an important and transformative step in our mission to lead the California conversation and provide trusted independent journalism. The Union-Tribune, which traces its roots back 146 years, has a distinguished history, having won four Pulitzer Prizes between 1979 and 2009. And for those of you who aren’t familiar with “the Plymouth of the West,” San Diego is considered the birthplace of California; it is the second-largest city in the state and eighth largest in the country.

The Union-Tribune will continue to be a destination for trusted journalism delivering essential news, analysis and commentary that engages all viewpoints. I also know the Los Angeles Times will benefit with a closer connection to its older sibling down south.
Please join me in welcoming our colleagues in San Diego to our California conversation.

Austin

Inside the LA Times Valley edition in 1993 (video) - LA Observed

Inside the LA Times Valley edition in 1993 (video) - LA Observed

Jack Griffin, CEO of Tribune Publishing, announces new employee of Human Resources

From: Jack Griffin
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2015 8:10 AM
Subject: Cindy Ballard Appointed SVP of Human Resources

Dear Colleagues:

Cindy Ballard, an accomplished Human Resources executive with extensive experience in media and advertising, will join Tribune Publishing next month as Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Based in Los Angeles, Cindy will partner with the Publishers/CEOs of all of our major media groups as well as the Tribune Publishing leadership team to design HR strategies that support overarching business goals. She will be responsible for all facets of HR, including talent planning, organizational design, health and welfare, compensation and benefits and more. She also will be instrumental in helping the Company attract and retain premium talent as we accelerate our transformation.

Cindy joins Tribune Publishing from 20th Century Fox, where, as Senior Vice President of HR, she managed international and domestic activities for the company’s Worldwide Distribution Group, which employs 2,500 employees in more than 31 countries. For 20th Century Fox, Cindy was instrumental in driving the company’s transformation from a legacy media business to a dominant distributor of digital content. Earlier in her career, Cindy served as Senior Vice President of HR for Initiative Media, a global agency that is part of the Interpublic Group of companies.

Cindy joins Tribune Publishing at an exciting time and will work with our existing HR team to develop a comprehensive Human Resources strategy. She will partner closely with Sue O’Connor in compensation and benefits, Paula Markgraf in talent acquisition and development, and with Oracio Galindo, who has been serving as interim head of HR. We thank Oracio for his leadership during this transitional period.

Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University, and belongs to numerous professional organizations, including the Society of Human Resource Management, the National Human Resources Association and Professionals in Human Resources Association.

Cindy will be visiting all of our markets in the near future and is eager to meet the talent throughout our Company. Please join me in welcoming Cindy to Tribune Publishing.

Jack

Tribune Publishing books a tiny profit for first quarter despite revenue decline

Tribune Publishing books a tiny profit for first quarter despite revenue decline

Lauter to run LA Times' 2016 campaign coverage - LA Observed

Lauter to run LA Times' 2016 campaign coverage - LA Observed

Today in Labor History

May 07  --  Union Communications Services, Inc.

Four hundred black women working as tobacco stemmers walk off the job in a spontaneous revolt against poor working
conditions and a $3 weekly wage at the Vaughan Co. in Richmond, Va. - 1937

The Knights of St. Crispin union is formed at a secret meeting in Milwaukee. It grew to 50,000 members before being crushed by employers later that year - 1867

Two die, 20 are injured in “Bloody Tuesday” as strikebreakers attempt to run San Francisco streetcars during a strike by operators. The strike was declared lost in 1908 after many more deaths, including several in scab-operated streetcar accidents - 1907
(From Blackjacks to Briefcases: This is the first book to document the systematic and extensive use by American corporations of professional unionbusters, an ugly profession that surfaced after the Civil War and has grown bolder and more sophisticated with the passage of time. Since the 1980s, hundreds of firms have paid out millions of dollars to hired thugs. Some have been in uniforms and carried nightsticks and guns, others have worn three-piece suits and carried attaché cases, but all had one simple mission: to break the backs of workers struggling for decency and fair treatment on the job.)

Philadelphia’s longest transit strike ends after 44 days. A key issue in the fight was the hiring and use of part-timers - 1977

May 06 
Works Progress Administration (WPA) established at a cost of $4.8 billion—more than $80 billion in 2015 dollars—to provide work opportunities for millions during the Great Depression - 1935

Today in Media History: In 1961 reporters described the first U.S. manned space flight

Today in Media History: In 1961 reporters described the first U.S. manned space flight

Artist and writer Ed Fuentes gets ink in Las Vegas - LA Observed

Artist and writer Ed Fuentes gets ink in Las Vegas - LA Observed

Today in Labor History

May 05  --  Union Communications Services, Inc.

National Typographical Union founded, Cincinnati, Ohio. It was renamed the Int’l Typographical Union in 1869, in acknowledgment of Canadian members. When the ITU merged into CWA in 1986 it was the oldest existing union in the U.S. - 1852

On Chicago’s West Side, police attack Jewish workers as they try to march into the Loop to protest slum conditions - 1886

Some 14,000 building trades workers and laborers, demanding an 8-hour work day, gather at the Milwaukee Iron Co. rolling mill in Bay View, Wisc. When they approach the mill they are fired on by 250 National Guardsmen under orders from the governor to shoot to kill. Seven die, including a 13-year-old boy - 1886

Nineteen machinists working for the East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia Railroad gather in a locomotive pit to decide what to do about a wage cut. They vote to form a union, which later became the Int’l Association of Machinists - 1888

Italian-American anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti are arrested in Boston for murder and payroll robbery. Eventually they are executed for a crime most believe they did not commit - 1920

Heavily armed deputies and other mine owner hirelings attack striking miners in Harlan County, Ky., starting the Battle of Harlan County - 1931

John J. Sweeney, president of the Service Employees Int’l Union from 1980 to 1995, then president of the AFL-CIO from 1995 to 2009, born in the Bronx, N.Y. - 1934

Lumber strike begins in Pacific Northwest, will involve 40,000 workers by the time victory is achieved after 13 weeks: union recognition, a 50¢-per-hour minimum wage and an 8-hour day - 1937

The U.S. unemployment rate drops to a 30-year low of 3.9 percent; the rate for blacks and Hispanics is the lowest ever since the government started tracking such data - 2000

Maeil Business Newspaper Production GOSS Newsliner

Maeil Business Newspaper production in South Korea GOSS Newsliner

Obama honors journalists who have fought powerful forces

Obama honors journalists who have fought powerful forces

Today in Labor History

May 02  --   Union Communications Services, Inc.

Chicago's first Trades Assembly, formed three years earlier, sponsors a general strike by thousands of workers to enforce the state's new 8-hour-day law. The one-week strike was unsuccessful - 1867

Birth of Richard Trevellick, a ship carpenter, founder of American National Labor Union and later head of the National Labor Congress, America’s first national labor organization - 1830

First Workers’ Compensation law in U.S. enacted, in Wisconsin - 1911

President Herbert Hoover declares that the stock market crash six months earlier was just a "temporary setback" and the economy would soon bounce back. In fact, the Great Depression was to continue and worsen for several more years - 1930

German police units occupied all trade unions headquarters in the country, arresting union officials and leaders. Their treasuries were confiscated and the unions abolished. Hitler announced that the German Labour Front, headed by his appointee, would replace all unions and look after the working class - 1933

A fire at the Sunshine silver mine in Kellogg, Idaho, caused the death of 91 workers who died from carbon monoxide poisoning, likely caused by toxic fumes emitted by burning polyurethane foam, used as a fire retardant - 1972

Stamp Out Hunger food drive next Saturday May 9th, 2015

Every second Saturday in May, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America collect the goodness and compassion of their postal customers, who participate in the NALC Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive — the largest one-day food drive in the nation.

Led by letter carriers represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO), with help from rural letter carriers, other postal employees and other volunteers, the drive has delivered more than one billion pounds of food the past 22 years.

Carriers collect non-perishable food donations left by mailboxes and in post offices and deliver them to local community food banks, pantries and shelters. Nearly 1,500 NALC branches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands are involved.

The United States Postal Service, National Association of Letter Carriers, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, AFL-CIO, Feeding America, United Way, Valassis and Valpak Direct Marketing Systems are all supporting this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

To donate, just place a box or can of non-perishable food next to your mailbox before your letter carrier delivers mail on the second Saturday in May. The carrier will do the rest. The food is sorted, and delivered to an area food bank or pantry, where it is available for needy families.

With 49 million people facing hunger every day in America, including nearly 16 million children, this drive is one way you can help those in your own city or town who need help.

Kelsey from House of Wings in La Verne agreed to display the poster

Why “Louie, Louie” should be an anthem for journalists

Why “Louie, Louie” should be an anthem for journalists

Freedom News Group reintroduces Spanish-language La Prensa and Excélsior newspapers

SANTA ANA and RIVERSIDE, CALIF. – May 1, 2015 – To actively engage and better serve the 3.3 million Latinos that live and work in Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties, Freedom News Group is reintroducing its weekly Spanish-language UNIDOS newspaper as two distinctly local editions – La Prensa and Excélsior – starting today. 

La Prensa, founded in 1999, concentrates on news and information specific to Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Excelsior, founded in 1992, focuses on Orange County. The two newspapers had previously been combined and renamed as UNIDOS in March 2014.

Both newspapers also cover topics of general interest to the Latino community, and are closely integrated with Freedom News Group’s daily newspapers, The Press-Enterprise and The Orange County Register.

Additionally, the newspapers will also launch local websites on ocexcelsior.com and laprensaca.com websites this summer, leveraging a mobile-friendly platform that delivers market-specific content and location-based advertising.

Total Friday circulation for the two newspapers is 170,000. La Prensa distributes 95,000 copies in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and the eastern tip of Los Angeles County. Excélsior distributes 75,000 copies in Orange County.

The evolution is a direct result of feedback from readers and advertisers, who had developed strong affinities and recognition for the newspapers under their original names, said Orlando Ramirez, Publisher of La Prensa and Excélsior.

“Together La Prensa and Excélsior have a combined history of nearly 40 years, and have played important roles in the Latino community,” Ramirez said. “By re-launching these brands, we honor our history and renew our commitment to the growing Latino markets in the Inland Empire and Orange County.”

Ramirez, a 33-year journalism veteran in Southern California, will be hosting Meet the Publisher events with Latino leaders at the newspapers’ offices to explain how they can be more actively involved and engaged with their local newspapers.

Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties are among the most desirable in the nation for reaching Hispanics with expendable income and buying power. When combined, the three counties rank as the second largest Latino community in the nation based on population.

Section-specific, run-of-paper and insert advertising is available in both newspapers. Insert ads may be targeted to north and south zones in Orange County, or one of six geographic zones to reach Riverside or San Bernardino counties.

Both papers are distributed across nearly 3,000 rack and retail locations. Distribution is audited, and focuses on Hispanic-dominant communities and locations where multigenerational Hispanics live, work, shop and play. They include Latino grocers, family and children’s clothing stores, restaurants, coffee shops, toy stores, electronics retailers, beauty salons and entertainment venues.

Each award-winning newspaper contains the following three sections:

•Noticias: Spotlights news, business developments and newsmakers on a local, regional, national and international level – with a special focus on Latin America where readers have deep roots and family connections;

•Deportes: From the Mexican and European leagues soccer, as well as MLS soccer to upcoming boxing matches, MLB, NBA and NFL, Deportes covers the the major league teams as well as local fútbol club leagues triumphing on the neighborhood fields.

•NEXT: The section appeals to bilingual and multigenerational Hispanics who love all things entertainment – celebrity news, movie and music event listings and reviews, a gossip column, nightlife, fashion, trending topics on Twitter, top 10 lists and crossword puzzles. A robust list of events will also be included in the section, to offer suggestions on things to do and places to go throughout the weekend and coming week.

About Freedom News Group 
Freedom News Group is part of Freedom Communications, a privately owned company headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif. The Freedom News Group portfolio includes two daily newspapers: The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, Calif. and the Orange County Register in Santa Ana, Calif. Freedom News Group also publishes community newspapers that serve specific cities, audiences and geographic areas. The company's portfolio also includes highly designed glossy magazines such as Coast, OC Register Family and Southland Golf, a custom publishing unit, news and entertainment websites, and mobile applications. For media inquiries, contact Eric Morgan at 714-796-2460 or emorgan@freedom.com.

Today in Labor History

May 01  --   Union Communications Services, Inc.

Mary Harris “Mother” Jones born in County Cork, Ireland - 1830
(The Autobiography of Mother Jones: Mary Harris Jones—“Mother Jones”—was the most dynamic woman ever to grace the American labor movement. Employers and politicians around the turn of the century called her “the most dangerous woman in America” and rebellious working men and women loved her as they never loved anyone else.)

Cigar makers in Cincinnati warn there could be a strike in the fall if factory owners continue to insist that they pay 30¢ per month for gas heat provided at work during mornings and evenings - 1883

Eight-hour day demonstration in Chicago and other cities begins tradition of May Day as international labor holiday - 1886

The Cooks’ and Waiters’ Union strikes in San Francisco, demanding one day of rest per week, a 10-hour work day and a union shop for all restaurants in the city - 1901

Mother Jones’ 100th birthday celebrated at the Burgess Farm in Adelphi, Md. She died six months later - 1930

New York City’s Empire State Building officially opens. Construction involved 3,400 workers, mostly immigrants from Europe, and hundreds of Mohawk iron workers. Five workers died during construction - 1931

Congress enacts amendments to the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, extending protections to the employees of state and local governments—protections which didn’t take effect until 1985 because of court challenges and regulation-writing problems - 1974

The federal minimum wage rises to $2 per hour - 1974

Int’l Molders & Allied Workers Union merges with Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers Int’l Union - 1988

Woodworkers of America Int’l merges with Int’l Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers - 1994

Int’l Leather Goods, Plastics & Novelty Workers Union merges with Service Employees Int’l Union - 1996

Rallies in cities across the U.S. for what organizers call “A Day Without Immigrants.” An estimated 100,000 immigrants and sympathizers gathered in San Jose, Calif., 200,000 in New York, 400,000 each in Chicago and Los Angeles. In all, there were demonstrations in at least 50 cities - 2006
(Mobilizing Against Inequality: Unions, Immigrant Workers, and the Crisis of Capitalism: Are immigrant workers themselves responsible for low wages and shoddy working conditions? Should unions expend valuable time and energy organizing undocumented workers? Unions in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States have taken various approaches to confront the challenges of this significant segment of the workforce. As U.S. immigration policy is debated, readers will gain insight into how all workers benefit when wages and working conditions for immigrant workers are improved.)

Here’s how 10 news home pages showed the homicide ruling for Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore

Here’s how 10 news home pages showed the homicide ruling for Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore

Tribune Publishing Stock Struggling

With the pending financial report due next Wednesday the stock for Tribune Publishing has been inching downwards the last five days.

Tribune Media Company Announces Completion of Secondary Offering of Class A Common Stock by Selling Stockholders

NEW YORK, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Tribune Media Company (NYSE:TRCO) (the "Company") announced today the completion of the secondary offering of 9,240,073 shares of Class A common stock by stockholders affiliated with Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Angelo, Gordon & Co., L.P. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at a public offering price of $56.00 per share. The selling stockholders have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 1,386,010 additional shares of Class A common stock. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the secondary offering. The secondary offering was made only by means of a prospectus.

The offering was made through an underwriting group led by Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, who acted as joint book-running managers and as representatives of the underwriters for the offering.  Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Deutsche Bank Securities also acted as joint book-running managers, and BofA Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, Evercore ISI and Guggenheim Securities acted as co-managers.

Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from:

• Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014; and
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• J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, Attention: Prospectus Department, 1155 Long Island Ave., Edgewood, NY 11717, (866) 803-9204 FREE.
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A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these shares in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state.

Tribune Media Company (NYSE:TRCO) is home to a diverse portfolio of television and digital properties driven by quality news, entertainment and sports programming. Tribune Media is comprised of Tribune Broadcasting's 42 owned or operated local television stations reaching over 50 million households, national entertainment network WGN America, available in approximately 73 million households, Tribune Studios, and Gracenote, one of the world's leading sources of TV and music metadata powering electronic program guides in televisions, automobiles and mobile devices.  Tribune Media also includes Chicago's WGN-AM, the national multicast networks Antenna TV and THIS TV. Additionally, the Company owns and manages a significant number of real estate properties across the U.S. and holds other strategic investments in media. For more information please visit www.tribunemedia.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the secondary offering, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond our control. We caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "plan," "seek," "comfortable with," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Any forward-looking information presented herein is made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

Today in Media History: In 2011, Twitter broke the news of Osama bin Laden’s death

Today in Media History: In 2011, Twitter broke the news of Osama bin Laden’s death

Friday Morning in the Blogosphere

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