Kurt Vonnegut, Cake, Kindness, Dogs & Big Guns

"Life is good. I'm reading Kurt Vonnegut's last published book, Armageddon In Retrospect. It's a collection of short stories based on his experiences in WWII, and what war and peace means today."
Read the rest at (and comment) on Get Lost With Easy-Writer

Tribune CEOs seek $70 Million in Bonuses as Company Sinks

by John Small

It’s not like we needed one more example of greedy corporate executives at a bankrupt company making a grab for big bonuses while axing hundreds of employees and freezing wages for many others

But that’s what Tribune Co. executives are doing as the multimedia conglomerate sinks under the weight of $13 billion in debt incurred by its corporate leaders in 2007. And they want to keep the bonuses a big secret.

The company filed for Chapter 11 protection last December and, in its most recent action, is seeking court permission to dole out nearly $70 million in executive bonuses. The company also requested the court seal much of the request. The request was denied.

The Newspaper Guild-CWA and the Teamsters, which represent employees at the Tribune-owned Baltimore Sun and WPIX-TV in New York, has asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware to block the company’s plan to pay up to $69.9 million in executive bonus this year, including $20.6 million to the 10 top managers (about $2 million each). Some 700 other managers would share in the bonus booty.

While the Tribune Co. is coddling its execs and managers with bonuses, its attitude toward employees was starkly demonstrated in late April when the Baltimore Sun laid off 61 newsroom employees, one-third of its news-gathering operation.

Some employees were fired while they were in the midst of writing and editing stories. Others were told to pack up their belongings immediately, and still others were escorted out of the main newspaper building by security guards.

Along with the Sun, the Tribune Co., owns the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and other media properties.

In its filing with the court, the Guild noted the company has laid off hundreds of employees, shrunk its products and imposed a wage freeze on most employees. (Only those under union contracts continue to get raises.)

At a time when media companies are suffering incomparable losses and struggling to survive, the Debtors have proposed spending $69.9 million to reward their top management for financial performance that, year-over-year, evidences declining fortunes. While creditors face limited recovery on their claims and most
rank-and-file employees live with frozen pay and benefits, the Debtors believe a proper exercise of business judgment results in millions of dollars distributed to management.

One of the top executives seeking the $2 million bonus said in an e-mail to employees in February that “a salary freeze enables us to share the sacrifice.” It’s not clear how a $2 million bonus enables the top managers to share the sacrifice.

The Bankruptcy Court is scheduled to review the bonus plan Aug. 11, but the unions asked the court to delay its review until the Tribune makes more information available.

SOURCE: AFL-CIO Now Blog

Broadcast Union News: Unions Outraged Over Bankrupt Tribune Company's $67 Million Dollar Executive Bonus Plan

Delaware Bankruptcy Court Judge Kevin Carey will hear arguments on August 11, 2009, in a dispute over the Tribune Co.'s request to approve executive bonuses totaling about $70 million for the company's top managers.

The Newspaper Guild unit at The Baltimore Sun has filed an objection in bankruptcy court to Tribune Company plans to award some $69.9 million in bonuses to top executives, claiming the move is unfair to rank-and-file employees.

The Guild was joined in thier objection by the Newspaper Guild of New York, which represents 29 employees at television station WPIX, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1212, representing just under 100 staff and freelance broadcast engineers at WPIX, two Baltimore-based Teamsters locals, and NABET-CWA.

While the numbed survivors of Sam Zell's ill advised Tribune take over struggle with higher health care premiums, loss of pensions, reduced pay and work hours, those overseeing this wreckage have told the bankruptcy judge that if they don't get more executive compensation, things will get really bad.

"Incentivizing employees is essential to Tribune's future success," Tribune's chief operating officer and its chief administrative officer wrote this month to a federal bankruptcy judge, seeking the court's approval of a plan to pay up to $69.9 million in management bonuses. "We must continue motivating our people to overcome obstacles, achieve our performance goals and take the company to the next level," they explained.

The objection was filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware on Tuesday, according to a copy of the motion.

It states: "the proposed bonuses to top executives are excessive and may, in fact, have a detrimental effect on motivating others who contribute to the bottom line. Indeed, the payment of disproportionate bonuses to a select group of executives may have the opposite effect on the rank-and-file employees."

Bill Salganik, president of the guild unit, said in an e-mail that the company's action is unacceptable: "If Tribune has $69.9 million available to spend, we think it would be better spent on providing more and better news and service for readers and viewers and advertisers. That would not only serve the public better, but would be better for the business in the long run."

Tribune Co. contends that the incentives are based on specific performance targets and are needed to retain key employees facing significant industry challenges while working toward a successful reorganization, and to attract top-tier management talent if needed.

Tribune Co. attorneys say that compensation report needs to be kept under wraps because disclosure of compensation information and confidential business goals it contains could provide an advantage to competitors.

"Moreover, such information likely would affect employee morale and potentially create resentment among certain employees of the debtors as they compared their compensation to that of their peers, and could adversely impair the debtors' ability to negotiate and maintain favorable employment agreements in the future," Tribune Co. attorneys wrote in seeking to keep the report under seal.

Bob Daraio, former staff video engineer at WPIX said; "Tribune's assertion that incentivizing employees is essential to Tribune's future success," apparantly only applies to their already highly compensated executives and does not take in to account the damage this action will cause to the rest of Tribune's employees."

According to Andy Zipzer, editor of the Guild Reporter; "The best employees are motivated to do their best for a variety of reasons that have less to do with money and more to do with loyalty to the employer, pride in one's work, and a sense of responsibility."

Mr. Daraio concurs; " Loyalty, sacrifice, and responsibility is what Tribune management expects from the non-executive employees, how can they expect less from the corporate leadership? Handing out bonuses to the few, while cutting the pay and benefits of the rest, serves only to erode the employee loyalty and support that is vital to saving Tribune."

Tribune, which owns the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, The Hartford Courant and other dailies, as well as 23 TV stations, sought bankruptcy protection in December because of dwindling advertising revenues and a $13 billion debt. Much of that debt was amassed when real estate mogul Sam Zell took the Tribune Co. private in late 2007


Broadcast Union News: Unions Outraged Over Bankrupt Tribune Company's $67 Million Dollar Executive Bonus Plan

Without A Map

Let's see...
2 Journalists don't realize they went across a border and got stuck in North Korea.
3 Hikers stroll into Iran not realizing they've crossed one too.
Plus the disastrous news about that mother and son in Death Valley.

Does no one travel with maps anymore?

Bryan Padgett Memorial

It was two years ago today that the Los Angeles Coroner delivered the terrible news of my son’s death. The memory of my daughter Kristine screaming “Bryan is Dead Dad” has been burnt into my thoughts forever, and brings tears to my eyes when recollecting and revisiting that day.




Bryan’s family will gather at his graveside this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. for a memorial in his memory.

11 Year Old Dies Of Dehydration In Death Valley

I just read this sad (and strange) account in the online edition about a mother and son who had set out on a camping trip to Death Valley.

"She told rescuers in San Bernardino County that her son Carlos died Wednesday, days after she fixed a flat tire and continued into Death Valley, relying on directions from a GPS device in the vehicle."

I'm so sorry this happened.
For what it's worth, I have a GPS. While it's good for things like finding restaurants, or even places to get my car fixed while on the road, it's really lousy for finding the best route from one city you've never been to another one. It also gets lost in downtown Seattle, where there too many signals for various electronic devices being sent out. It also can't be solely relied upon in a place like Death Valley, where you're really not sure what's on the road you're being sent down --or where it is in comparison to others in the large (and dangerous) region.

I was raised during the time when one used maps. So it's still natural for me to chart out the course on one with a highlighting marker. I note towns I'll pass along the way. I check elevations and weather conditions. I go online and double check the route, even trying to figure out how far it is between gasoline stops. Then I'll also punch it into the GPS as well. But usually, I turn it off. Sometimes the GPS wants me to do daffy things ...like turn off into Quartzite in my way to Tucson, or get me lost on highways where there's little signage between Savannah GA and Columbus GA. I have to have that "visual" of the expanse of distance locked into my brain.

It depresses me to think that there are people out there who can't or won't read a map. Who are so removed from nature that they don't understand the danger of the desert in the summer. It upsets me that what was supposed to be a 1 night trip turned into being lost for 5 days and the son slowly died.

Friday Night in the Blogosphere

Two of my four daughters Joanna and Margaret

• Killing the News to Save It - Time
• ESPN Responds To New Twitter Policy - Mediaite
• Platinum Equity in bidding for Globe - Boston.com
• 2009 total: 13,040+ newspaper jobs lost - Erica Smith
• Economist Ben Stein Fired at the New York Times - Gawker
• Newspapers ‘Back from Brink’ of Doom - Marketing Charts
• Journalists Entered N. Korea, Sister Says - New York Times
• I would pay for Twitter and I think You Would Too - Meta Printer
• Ken Doctor: Publishers Have a Respite - Newspaper Death Watch
• Unions Outraged Over Tribune Co Million Dollar Executive Bonus - BUN

The Surgeon's Wife: Outlook for Surgeons' Salaries by 2015

Dear Senator Boxer,
Unlike you, I've never been able to afford Brooks Brothers. Not unless it came off the clearance rack at TJ Maxx. I guess what I really hate above all else, is your willingness to dismiss my personal experience and just take your improvements to a system you clearly don't understand. And baby doll, I'm fighting your ilk with facts. If facts don't get to you, then truly we're screwed.

Read the rest at:

Get Lost With Easy-Writer

Jack Klunder Named Publisher of Los Angeles Daily News

From the Daily News:


The appointment, which takes effect Aug. 10, marks Klunder's return to the nine-paper Los Angeles Newspaper Group (LANG), where he served as vice president of circulation from 1999 to 2005.

"Jack's understanding of our market and his impressive track record make him ideally suited to run the Daily News," said Fred Hamilton, LANG's chief executive officer.

Klunder was the Times' executive vice president of circulation and distribution from 2005 until earlier this year, and was responsible for all circulation, advertising and newspaper operations while serving as Times president in 2008. He'd previously spent 20 years in various management positions at the Times, from 1976 to 1996.

Before joining LANG for the first time, Klunder was a founding partner of Equant Marketing Group, which established an inbound/outbound call center in Denver and generated $12 million in revenues within two years.

Klunder received a business management degree from Pepperdine University and a graduate degree from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.

Klunder is married to Dee Dee and has four daughters.

SOURCE: Gary Scott

Thursday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Newspapers hot off the printing press

• Opposition to Cash-for-Clunkers - Matt Welch
• Local 140-N Private Union Blog - Ronnie Pineda
• Rupert Murdoch's move to charge for content - Guardian
• Two California Papers Cutting Payroll By 10% - Pandora
• Layoffs and buyouts at U.S. newspapers in 2009 - Paper Cuts
• At Newhouse Newspapers, a Change in a No-Layoffs Policy - NYT
• One in Three Internet Users Visited a Newspaper Site in June - NP
• U.S. Trustee, unions question Tribune Co. bonus plan - Chicago Tribune
• Nielsen stats show newspapers own 1% of online audience - Nieman J-Lab
• Big-Time Journalist Finds Small-Town Satisfaction - Newspaper Death Watch

The Surgeons' Wife: The Lone Rider Of The Health Care Apocalypse

My objection to all of the "reforms" being implemented by the politicians is they have no idea how contracting in health care works.
Read the rest on:
Get Lost With Easy-Writer

Thought for Today 8-6-09

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

Leroi Crandall hospitalized *Update

Twenty minutes ago my son found a note on our front door regarding retired Chatsworth Press Room Supervisor Leroi Crandall. According to my neighbor Herb, Leroi has suffered a heart seizure with no further details available at this moment regarding his condition.

The note stated Leroi had been admitted to the Huntington Hospital, which I assume is the Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena.

I plan to call his wife in the morning and post the information as soon as possible.

In the mean time I have contacted Emmett Jaime as he contacts our former colleagues without Internet access.

*UPDATE: at 9:30 a.m.

I spoke with Leroi's wife Marceil this morning and she said he suffered from Congestive Heart Failure and was admitted to Glendale Adventist Medical Center yesterday. Currently under going testing, and as his wife put it "They are poking him with needles". You can call him at 818.409.8000 in room 1309 to say hello and wish him a speedy recovery.

Tuesday Night in the Blogosphere

LAT Pressmen Russ Harbour, Al Calderon, and Manny Rivas

• The last (or latest) newspaper buyer - TJ Sullivan
• August 3, 2009 News - Los Angeles Media Moves
• Laura Ling and Euna Lee chronology - Kevin Roderick
• The Aggregator That Newspapers Like - Cyberjournalist
• FTC May Ease Anti-Trust Laws to Save News - The Wrap
• Is San Diego California's online news incubator? - Gary Scott
• Former LA Times Staffers Launch Journalism Shop - Jour Mo2
• 'Milwaukee Journal Sentinel' Cuts 92 Jobs - Editor & Publisher
• The Death of Journalism (Gawker Edition) - Newspaper Project
• World’s Oldest Sunday Paper May Close - Newspaper Death Watch

Rummage Sale to help newly orphaned Sat 8/8

My friend Frazgo over at Los Angeles Metblogs has a sad story that you the reader can get involved with and lend a hand to a family in need.

Here's the story from Metblogs by Frazgo:

Grab your kleenex and get ready. One of the saddest, yet encouraging stories I have experienced in ages is unfolding before my eyes. I don’t know all the players personally, only through connections at my kids schools.

Single Mom Emily Taylor passed away a few hours after giving birth to her youngest son a few weeks ago. She left behind 4 children and no fathers in the picture. Her best friend “Jackie” stepped up to the plate and took in the 4 kids. She already has 6 kids of her own. She even is expecting her own newborn child in a few months.

Jackie has been awarded temporary custody of the kids who are now wards of the state. Jackie is doing all she can to make sure she can care for the kids and is working closely with Dept of Children Services to ensure she can provide for her best friends kids. Maybe even get permanent custody to keep the siblings together.

In an effort to pay for the funeral a table was set up in front of Monrovia’s Pavilion market to try and solicit help with the funeral. One anonymous Monrovian was so touched by the tale of what happened that they exited the store with a bag of diapers and groceries for the family and left a check for $5oo. Its about community. Its about stepping in to help those least fortunate. That is just the start of the community helping these unfortunate kids.

Wild Rose Elementary here in Monrovia is the location for a huge rummage sale to benefit the Taylor Children, two of which attend the school. They are collecting rummage sale items this week from 8AM-2PM at Wild Rose Elementary. When you arrive simply call Tina in the office at 471-2502 who will open up the cafeteria to stash your donations. The pic is of the things I’m running over this morning to help stock the rummage sale.

New Beginning’s Church in Monrovia is also accepting donations to help the Taylor Family. They are located at 2870 S Peck Road, Monrovia CA.

Details: Wild Rose Elementary School 232 Jasmine Avenue, Monrovia CA 91016. 626-471-2502. Rummage Sale: Saturday August 8, 8AM – Noon

Source: Los Angeles Metblogs

World War I - in Black-and-White

Because color printing was still in its infancy, a number of excellent artists observed and worked the first great World War in black-and-white for newspapers and magazines. Here are several views done by soldier and journalism artists, giving us a glimpse of the horrors experienced in the trenches, in the air, and on the sea. This was, incidentally, the war that ended the role of cavalry horses in warfare, thanks to heavily defended entrenched positions and the utter destructiveness of the modern machine gun. But the cavalry still serves us in this video, with Franz von Suppé's flamboyant "Light Cavalry Overture" acting as background music.

Message from the Publisher of the Los Angeles Times

From: Hartenstein, EddyM
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 8:28 PM
To: zzTrbAllHandsLAT; zzMediaGroups
Subject: Employee announcement

Scott McKibben will assume the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, focusing on sourcing new revenue-generating business alliances. As we look to traditional and non-traditional business opportunities that will add incremental revenue to our existing portfolio of businesses, Scott’s deep knowledge of and experience in the newspaper industry will serve us well in this critical position and complement Bill Nagel’s business services role. Scott will continue to report to me.

John O’Loughlin has been named Executive Vice President, Advertising effective immediately. John will assume responsibility for all advertising sales solutions including display, classified, niche, and digital plus will retain advertising marketing. He will continue to report directly to me and the remainder of John’s current responsibilities will be moved to Kathy Thomson, chief of staff. John has a significant, proven track record of successes both here at The Times and previously with the Chicago Tribune and I know that he will provide strong leadership in his new role.

Dawn Girocco will join Don Meek’s Tribune 365 team and lead the new Tribune Media Group, West effort devoted to cross-media and cross-platform revenue opportunities. Dawn will focus on advertising sales solutions that include print, broadcast, digital, sponsorships, events, promotions among others for Tribune business units within the
Western U.S., as well as for LATMG.

In this historic, challenging business environment, it is important that we field a top-notch sales team to effectively address the complexities of the market. These sales leadership changes will help us execute our sales and marketing strategies and allow us to best leverage our many Times and Tribune local/national resources.

Please join me in congratulating Scott, John, and Dawn.

eddy

Source: Kevin Roderick

Union Picnic on August 16th, 2009

Graphic Communications Conference
International Brotherhood of Teamsters

1st Annual Picnic

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

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

Maps available at gccibtlocal140n.blogspot.com

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ALLOWED IN PICNIC AREA

ALCOHOL NOT PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL

gccibtlocal140n.blogspot.com

SaveOurTrade.com

37 Years at the Los Angeles Times

Hard to believe yet true, the Pressman Blogger has worked at the Los Angeles Times for thirty-seven years today!

I still recall heading to the personnel department to have my photograph taken to affix to my company identification card. As I ran upstairs to the ninth floor of the Times Mirror Building I came into contact with a LA Times photographer, with several 35 MM cameras dangling from her neck, as I exclaimed “I’m here to have you take my photograph”, which she responded, “I don’t take ID photographs sir”.

Another funny but true experience was the time I witnessed a young lady hitch hiking on Spring Street at 3:00 a.m., thinking I was about to help this young girl out I pulled over and offered her a ride. She mentioned she was looking for work, which prompted me to suggest she wait until 8 or 9 in the morning when the businesses were open to find work. Little did I know at the time she was a working girl, was I ever naive thirty-seven years ago.

I have been in a state of anxiety at the Los Angeles Times since I was placed on a last and final notice on August 27th, 2008, which ends in twenty-four days.

I’m happy to report I have been scared straight by this notice, and have changed my ways!

The notice can be viewed below this post.

Edward's Last and Final Notice

DATE: August 27, 2008
FROM: John Walker
TO: Ed Padgett
SUBJECT: Last & Final Written Warning

Ed, this Last and Final Written Warning is being issued in response to your continued pattern of unacceptable performance. This document outlines recent performance issues and clarifies future job expectations.

On 08/26/08. you failed to follow procedures, left your assigned work area for an unscheduled break.

On 08/21/08, you were assigned as a Press Operator on crew #11, you were responsible for hanging the Thursday F8 & F9 plates in the “Arts & Books” sections. You failed to hang these plates in the proper position on the plate cylinder. Part of the established SOP for hanging plates is to verify that the proper page numbers, date and position on the plate cylinder are in place. You failed to follow this procedure and instead you transposed these two page positions. This action resulted in additional downtime, delaying production and increasing waste for the press.

Although we have discussed with you the level of performance that is expected of you in your position, you have continued to demonstrate unsatisfactory performance, consistently failing to meet expectations. Within the last twelve months, you have been counseled on numerous matters concerning your poor performance such as:

07/24/08 – Failed to follow procedure, unauthorized departure from the work area/property for unscheduled break
06/04/08 – Failed to follow procedure and disobeyed management’s directive regarding non-employee in the facility
05/03/08 – Written Warning – Safety Violation “Speed Washing blankets”
02/07/08 – Failed to follow procedure, failed to complete operator report
01/29/08 – Failed to follow procedure, unauthorized departure from the work area for unscheduled break.
01/24/08 – Disorderly Conduct
01/11/08 – Failed to follow procedure, improper make-ready (balloon detectors)
12/26/07 – Failed to follow procedure, clean press after run
09/05/07 – Verbal Warning – Failed to follow procedures, such as; improper make-ready (balloon detectors 9/3/07), failed to clean blankets, transposed plates, etc.
08/31/07 – Failed to follow procedure, improper make-ready (balloon detectors)

Ed, we are giving you the opportunity to improve your unsatisfactory performance. We want you to have a successful career here and assist you to improve your performance deficiencies and maintain a satisfactory level of performance.

As is our policy, this Last & Final Written Warning may disqualify you from receiving compensation increase if one is offered. Our intent is to communicate to you the company’s expectations for acceptable performance with the goal of ensuring that you improve your performance. Any further offences may result in further corrective action up to and including termination of your employment.