Business Week has an article about newspapers buying ads and otherwise working ways to get more online attention for their coverage of the Virginia Tech murders.
Here's a small note for copy editors:
Experts also employ such techniques as teaching editors how to present stories in a way that works online, with simple headlines, says Marshall Simmonds, CEO of Define. Simmonds recalls one artful turn of phrase when he first arrived. "The headline said: 'Pilgrims converge upon the Vatican, the passing of a papacy,' " says Simmonds. "It should have read 'Pope John Paul II dies' " for online purposes. Traffic from search engines now accounts for 22% of Times traffic, vs. 14% two years ago.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Off Base
Check out "Arbeit Macht Schtupid" over at Heads Up, the Blog
Fev always has some sharp-tongued commentary and analysis of bad headlines, bad writing, etc., but this one about a "death camp" lede is particularly stinging.
Fev always has some sharp-tongued commentary and analysis of bad headlines, bad writing, etc., but this one about a "death camp" lede is particularly stinging.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Another Smack
Hmm. Once again, I'm borrowing from a progressive web site's coverage of journalism gone bad but in both cases, they're right.
To follow up on the item on the CNN headline yesterday: First, everything I've ever learned or, in turn, taught, says to avoid characterizing something, particularly from one side, in a hed. So, assuming the Cnn.com headline writer didn't deliberately drop the quotes--and I'm guessing it was an accident--then, still, there's a problem. The hed depends on one side of an ugly, highly partisan debate and renders it as fact. "Defeatist" is in no way a neutral term, no matter who's saying it about whom. And quote marks don't protect the writer from having unacceptably chosen sides in the debate.
I am busy trying to track down the cnn.com headline editor who is quoted on the ACES site to see if he wants to talk about how headlines are written on television web sites. (Not trying to bash him personally, just thinking it's time to hear from someone at cnn.com, which routinely ignores e-mailed comments.) We've all noticed in the past that they need help but this one cited yesterday really brings things to a head. So to speak.
Second, there's this gem from Josh Marshall, pointing out the editing of a story in the New York Post.
Here's the original, or at least the basic story as moved by The AP. Each paper may run slight variations, of course.
It'll be interesting to what, if anything, the AP has to say about this wholesale rewrite of its story. It is, in fact, a different story, with the AP byline still attached.
It's been a long time since we saw such a blatant bit of partisanship in print.
I don't, in fact, know what the news service contracts with client papers say but certainly, David Espo and others can't be happy with this. If for some reason the NY Post link doesn't work, here's part of how the story appeared in that paper:
NB: I've trimmed the story from the bottom up only to avoid questions of fair-use issues.
To follow up on the item on the CNN headline yesterday: First, everything I've ever learned or, in turn, taught, says to avoid characterizing something, particularly from one side, in a hed. So, assuming the Cnn.com headline writer didn't deliberately drop the quotes--and I'm guessing it was an accident--then, still, there's a problem. The hed depends on one side of an ugly, highly partisan debate and renders it as fact. "Defeatist" is in no way a neutral term, no matter who's saying it about whom. And quote marks don't protect the writer from having unacceptably chosen sides in the debate.
I am busy trying to track down the cnn.com headline editor who is quoted on the ACES site to see if he wants to talk about how headlines are written on television web sites. (Not trying to bash him personally, just thinking it's time to hear from someone at cnn.com, which routinely ignores e-mailed comments.) We've all noticed in the past that they need help but this one cited yesterday really brings things to a head. So to speak.
Second, there's this gem from Josh Marshall, pointing out the editing of a story in the New York Post.
Here's the original, or at least the basic story as moved by The AP. Each paper may run slight variations, of course.
It'll be interesting to what, if anything, the AP has to say about this wholesale rewrite of its story. It is, in fact, a different story, with the AP byline still attached.
It's been a long time since we saw such a blatant bit of partisanship in print.
I don't, in fact, know what the news service contracts with client papers say but certainly, David Espo and others can't be happy with this. If for some reason the NY Post link doesn't work, here's part of how the story appeared in that paper:
'WHITE FLAG' HARRY FUROR
WHITE HOUSE: PULLOUT PLAN A DEATH SENTENCE By DAVID ESPO, AP
April 24, 2007 -- WASHINGTON - The White House warned yesterday that Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid's new legislation requiring the first U.S. troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by Oct. 1 is a "death sentence" for millions of freedom-loving Iraqis.
The stinging comments from President Bush's spokeswoman came just days after Reid declared the war is already "lost" and as negotiators for the House and Senate nailed down the details of the war bill, which also set a goal of completing the pullout by April 2008.
Dana Perino, the president's spokeswoman, charged that Reid is in denial about the vicious nature of the enemy and about the U.S.-led plan to provide more security in Iraq.
Reid (Nev.) had earlier accused Bush of being in a "state of denial" about what's happening in Iraq four years after America went to war.
Perino fumed about Reid, "He's also in denial that a surrender date - he thinks it is a good idea. It is not a good idea. It is defeat.
"It is a death sentence for the millions of Iraqis who voted for a constitution, who voted for a government, who voted for a free and democratic society," she added.
NB: I've trimmed the story from the bottom up only to avoid questions of fair-use issues.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
CNN Misses Again
Hoo, boy. I'm sure they'll fix this, no? Via Atrios.
If you can't read it, the headline says, "Cheney attacks defeatist Dem plan"
ACES Winner
OK, this is a little awkward but I'll raise it anyway. ACES has awarded Tim Lynch, one of my far-away LA Times colleagues, the Robinson Prize, the incredibly important, oh my God, stop the presses award. No. Wait. Just laying it on thick. (See? Told you it was strange.) Tim's a good man; glad to see he won it. I've inquired about my cut of the prize, but he has, alas, remained silent. :)
He's the second recipient. The first award, last year, went to Paul Soucy of USA Today. As with the Mimi Award, mentioned below, it's great to see editors who slave away in the background get some recognition.
If you're in the editing business but don't know about ACES, check it out. It's a professional journalism organization run for and by copy editors. It's well worth your time to get involved. Parental obligations have made it very difficult to participate in the organization's activities but the national conferences and regional meetings are steaming along.
Believe me, if you're sitting at the East Herald Tribune News Enquirer and feeling overwhelmed or ignored, hie thee to ACES and find kindred souls.
Speaking of ACES, Doug Fisher has issued a challenge to copy desks to create a blog.
He's the second recipient. The first award, last year, went to Paul Soucy of USA Today. As with the Mimi Award, mentioned below, it's great to see editors who slave away in the background get some recognition.
If you're in the editing business but don't know about ACES, check it out. It's a professional journalism organization run for and by copy editors. It's well worth your time to get involved. Parental obligations have made it very difficult to participate in the organization's activities but the national conferences and regional meetings are steaming along.
Believe me, if you're sitting at the East Herald Tribune News Enquirer and feeling overwhelmed or ignored, hie thee to ACES and find kindred souls.
Speaking of ACES, Doug Fisher has issued a challenge to copy desks to create a blog.
Unanswered Questions
This isn't exactly about editing and I, admittedly, have more than a passing interest in postal rate rises but a couple of things caught my eye about the AP and other stories that describe the increases scheduled to go into effect May 14:
First, the "forever stamp". Isn't that raising money now at the expense of future postal service operations? You can buy a first-class stamp now for 41 cents and it will never change, USPS says--you can use that stamp any time in the future without paying extra. The stories I've seen seem to be caught up in the amusement of this "forever" concept, not asking real questions.
The second is this bit of information appearing in USA Today, showing a huge increase, relatively speaking, in media mail rates, those used by most eBay or Amazon sellers. But the banks get a decrease. As do wedding invitations. Odd, that.
There are also changes involving the shape of packages, no longer depending on weight to govern prices.
DM News has noticed and writes this:
EBayers worried about shipping costs
Seventy-seven percent of eBay and online sellers are concerned about higher shipping costs when new U.S. Postal Service rates go into effect in May, and 26 percent are concerned that postal tools they use may not be ready when the changes go live, according to a recent AuctionBytes.com survey.
Postal rates are scheduled to increase an average of 7.6 percent on May 14....
The Media Mail category, which is used to ship CDs, DVDs and books, is scheduled to increase 17.9 percent .
Rates posted at Amazon say 1-pound media mail rate will go from $ $1.59 to $2.13.
In my neck of the woods, the nearest post office is about to cut its hours, while encouraging people to use its automated postal center, a machine that offers limited services. It's also trying to get people to use the vending machine, which is nearly always all but empty, and is cutting back on the outside machines where people can buy a stamp or two at a time. The APC requires a credit or debit card, meaning all purchases are tracked. Is this a security issue? Or is it a personnel/staffing issue?
The rates taking effect May 14 include:
• Letters, bill payments, greeting cards: 41 cents for the first ounce, up from 39 cents.
• Wedding invitation (2-ounces): 58 cents, down from 63 cents.
• Postcard: 26 cents, up from 24 cents.
• Priority mail flat-rate envelope: $4.60, up from $4.05.
• Express Mail flat-rate envelope: $16.95, up from $14.40.
• Parcel Post: 1-pound package, $4.50, up from 3.95.
• Bank statement: 2 ounces, presorted, 45.9 cents, down from 54.4 cents.
• Utility bill, barcoded: 31.2 cents, up from 29.3 cents.
Source: Associated Press
First, the "forever stamp". Isn't that raising money now at the expense of future postal service operations? You can buy a first-class stamp now for 41 cents and it will never change, USPS says--you can use that stamp any time in the future without paying extra. The stories I've seen seem to be caught up in the amusement of this "forever" concept, not asking real questions.
The second is this bit of information appearing in USA Today, showing a huge increase, relatively speaking, in media mail rates, those used by most eBay or Amazon sellers. But the banks get a decrease. As do wedding invitations. Odd, that.
There are also changes involving the shape of packages, no longer depending on weight to govern prices.
DM News has noticed and writes this:
EBayers worried about shipping costs
Seventy-seven percent of eBay and online sellers are concerned about higher shipping costs when new U.S. Postal Service rates go into effect in May, and 26 percent are concerned that postal tools they use may not be ready when the changes go live, according to a recent AuctionBytes.com survey.
Postal rates are scheduled to increase an average of 7.6 percent on May 14....
The Media Mail category, which is used to ship CDs, DVDs and books, is scheduled to increase 17.9 percent .
Rates posted at Amazon say 1-pound media mail rate will go from $ $1.59 to $2.13.
In my neck of the woods, the nearest post office is about to cut its hours, while encouraging people to use its automated postal center, a machine that offers limited services. It's also trying to get people to use the vending machine, which is nearly always all but empty, and is cutting back on the outside machines where people can buy a stamp or two at a time. The APC requires a credit or debit card, meaning all purchases are tracked. Is this a security issue? Or is it a personnel/staffing issue?
The rates taking effect May 14 include:
• Letters, bill payments, greeting cards: 41 cents for the first ounce, up from 39 cents.
• Wedding invitation (2-ounces): 58 cents, down from 63 cents.
• Postcard: 26 cents, up from 24 cents.
• Priority mail flat-rate envelope: $4.60, up from $4.05.
• Express Mail flat-rate envelope: $16.95, up from $14.40.
• Parcel Post: 1-pound package, $4.50, up from 3.95.
• Bank statement: 2 ounces, presorted, 45.9 cents, down from 54.4 cents.
• Utility bill, barcoded: 31.2 cents, up from 29.3 cents.
Source: Associated Press
Monday, April 23, 2007
A Worthy Prize
The winner of the first Mimi Award has been named. Those of you who were around in the early days of ACES may recall Mimi Burkhardt's many contributions to the group. She died unexpectedly in 2004; some of her work remains on the ACES site. Glad to see an editor who cared so much about journalism receive some recognition.
This is behind the Providence Journal's firewall but here are a couple of grafs from the award story:
PROVIDENCE — When Christian Science Monitor reporter Jill Carroll was kidnapped in Iraq by Sunni Muslim insurgents, David Clark Scott worked tirelessly with other journalists to secure her freedom.
Last night, Scott, the Monitor’s international editor, stepped out from behind the scenes to receive the first-ever Mimi Award, a prize that recognizes outstanding work by a news editor.
Oh, my, there's another,unrelated Mimi Award here.
UPDATE: Someone noticed I'd misspelled Mimi's name (with 2 D's); thanks for the fix.
This is behind the Providence Journal's firewall but here are a couple of grafs from the award story:
PROVIDENCE — When Christian Science Monitor reporter Jill Carroll was kidnapped in Iraq by Sunni Muslim insurgents, David Clark Scott worked tirelessly with other journalists to secure her freedom.
Last night, Scott, the Monitor’s international editor, stepped out from behind the scenes to receive the first-ever Mimi Award, a prize that recognizes outstanding work by a news editor.
Oh, my, there's another,unrelated Mimi Award here.
UPDATE: Someone noticed I'd misspelled Mimi's name (with 2 D's); thanks for the fix.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
No Droning Here
Don't know the history of this recording, but apparently, it is a reader's voicemail message left for Phil Bronstein at the San Francisco Chronicle; the caller is complaining about a cutline reference to a "pilotless drone." Interesting that the caller uses the word "cutline."
Correct Spelling Optional
Oh, c'mon, while waiting for the oil-burner repair guy to show up, I'm watching a Health and Human Services commercial about drug care that reads,
"ALCHOHOL and DRUG Treatment."
I wonder what this little production cost.
"ALCHOHOL and DRUG Treatment."
I wonder what this little production cost.
Simple Questions
Why do the cable news shows invite experts on to share their expertise and then talk over them with their pre-conceived little speeches? And why is Chris Matthews determined to make the Virginia Tech case a full-blown link to Columbine? Yes, Cho mentioned the Columbine murderers but it was just one element. Less chit-chat, more information, please. Please.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Mapping Baghdad
Larry Johnson over at his No Quarter blog provides a link to this informative BBC interactive map of Baghdad.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Person of Interest
I see "Person of Interest" is back in the headlines. Will someone in newspapers or TV please tell me what they understand this term to mean, how the cops define this term, and why Americans are suddenly using it?
Friday, April 13, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Web Uglies
There's something to be said for toning down some of the nastier web sites that, through anonymity, promote expressions of truly hideous comments. But the ugliness of contemporary discourse is hardly limited to the drive-by anonymous commenter on a hot political web site. We've got vicious people showing up on supposedly respectable TV programs all the time, allowed to spew their hatred and then move on as if nothing happened.
So why target the bloggers as long as cable and network TV organizations allow this?
Ann Coulter "My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building." and many other ugly comments.
Glenn Beck of CNN Headline News, on his syndicated radio show, said of Hillary Clinton, "...it's not what she says, it's how she says it," adding, "She is like the stereotypical -- excuse the expression, but this is the way to -- she's the stereotypical bitch, you know what I mean?")
Michael Savage, talking on his syndicated radio program, of Barbara Walters: "Notice what this double-talking slut just did, this mind-slut Barbara Walters. And I stick by those words. She's an empty mind-slut. She'd peddle anything for a ratings point."
Then there's Don Imus of WFAN and MSNBC who has a history of controversial and race-tinged remarks through his long career yet continues to draw presidential candidates, other politicians and,worse, in my opinion, big-name TV and print journalists who come on and laugh it up. Tim Russert's a regular; so is Evan Thomas. And plenty of others. His "nappy-headed hos" comment--and who the hell talks that way by accident?-- is just the latest in a long, long series of ugly remarks from him and his colleagues.
From today's NY Times:
Is it too late to bring civility to the Web?
The conversational free-for-all on the Internet known as the blogosphere can be a prickly and unpleasant place. Now, a few high-profile figures in high-tech are proposing a blogger code of conduct to clean up the quality of online discourse.
Last week, Tim O’Reilly, a conference promoter and book publisher who is credited with coining the term Web 2.0, began working with Jimmy Wales, creator of the communal online encyclopedia Wikipedia, to create a set of guidelines to shape online discussion and debate.
Chief among the recommendations is that bloggers consider banning anonymous comments left by visitors to their pages and be able to delete threatening or libelous comments without facing cries of censorship.
A recent outbreak of antagonism among several prominent bloggers “gives us an opportunity to change the level of expectations that people have about what’s acceptable online,” said Mr. O’Reilly, who posted the preliminary recommendations last week on his company blog (radar.oreilly.com). Mr. Wales then put the proposed guidelines on his company’s site (blogging.wikia.com), and is now soliciting comments in the hope of creating consensus around what constitutes civil behavior online.
Mr. O’Reilly and Mr. Wales talk about creating several sets of guidelines for conduct and seals of approval represented by logos. For example, anonymous writing might be acceptable in one set; in another, it would be discouraged. Under a third set of guidelines, bloggers would pledge to get a second source for any gossip or breaking news they write about.
Bloggers could then pick a set of principles and post the corresponding badge on their page, to indicate to readers what kind of behavior and dialogue they will engage in and tolerate. The whole system would be voluntary, relying on the community to police itself.
So why target the bloggers as long as cable and network TV organizations allow this?
Ann Coulter "My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building." and many other ugly comments.
Glenn Beck of CNN Headline News, on his syndicated radio show, said of Hillary Clinton, "...it's not what she says, it's how she says it," adding, "She is like the stereotypical -- excuse the expression, but this is the way to -- she's the stereotypical bitch, you know what I mean?")
Michael Savage, talking on his syndicated radio program, of Barbara Walters: "Notice what this double-talking slut just did, this mind-slut Barbara Walters. And I stick by those words. She's an empty mind-slut. She'd peddle anything for a ratings point."
Then there's Don Imus of WFAN and MSNBC who has a history of controversial and race-tinged remarks through his long career yet continues to draw presidential candidates, other politicians and,worse, in my opinion, big-name TV and print journalists who come on and laugh it up. Tim Russert's a regular; so is Evan Thomas. And plenty of others. His "nappy-headed hos" comment--and who the hell talks that way by accident?-- is just the latest in a long, long series of ugly remarks from him and his colleagues.
From today's NY Times:
Is it too late to bring civility to the Web?
The conversational free-for-all on the Internet known as the blogosphere can be a prickly and unpleasant place. Now, a few high-profile figures in high-tech are proposing a blogger code of conduct to clean up the quality of online discourse.
Last week, Tim O’Reilly, a conference promoter and book publisher who is credited with coining the term Web 2.0, began working with Jimmy Wales, creator of the communal online encyclopedia Wikipedia, to create a set of guidelines to shape online discussion and debate.
Chief among the recommendations is that bloggers consider banning anonymous comments left by visitors to their pages and be able to delete threatening or libelous comments without facing cries of censorship.
A recent outbreak of antagonism among several prominent bloggers “gives us an opportunity to change the level of expectations that people have about what’s acceptable online,” said Mr. O’Reilly, who posted the preliminary recommendations last week on his company blog (radar.oreilly.com). Mr. Wales then put the proposed guidelines on his company’s site (blogging.wikia.com), and is now soliciting comments in the hope of creating consensus around what constitutes civil behavior online.
Mr. O’Reilly and Mr. Wales talk about creating several sets of guidelines for conduct and seals of approval represented by logos. For example, anonymous writing might be acceptable in one set; in another, it would be discouraged. Under a third set of guidelines, bloggers would pledge to get a second source for any gossip or breaking news they write about.
Bloggers could then pick a set of principles and post the corresponding badge on their page, to indicate to readers what kind of behavior and dialogue they will engage in and tolerate. The whole system would be voluntary, relying on the community to police itself.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Blogs vs. Newspapers
They're talking about newspapers and blogs at the International Herald Tribune. Not exciting but a starting point for what journalism groups might be able to do and surpass in the future.
Here's another, a historical look at a newspaper strike, told from the owners' perspective--basically a labor story without unions:
Friday, April 6, 2007
About Those Headlines
My long-time reader knows that I have been complaining about Yahoo headlines for some time. They're grammatically wrong, they turn nouns into verbs in ways I never thought possible; they seize on lesser elements at the expense of the important ones, etc. They sometimes sound as if they're written by robots.
Which brings me to this: Will the McClatchy people have some control over the headlines when they start working with Yahoo? Otherwise some of that fine, fine reporting will wind up with absurd and misleading headlines.
McClatchy's Deal With Yahoo Opens Doors
By SETH SUTEL Friday, April 06, 2007
NEW YORK - Many newspaper publishers still consider major Internet companies to be a threat, but a deal announced last week to bring foreign news and commentary to Yahoo Inc. from correspondents at McClatchy Co. newspapers could open the way to even more cooperation between print and online media.
Yahoo, a major online destination for news, regularly displays foreign news from a number of outlets including Reuters Group PLC, The Associated Press and Agence-France Presse, as well as National Public Radio and the Christian Science Monitor newspaper. Yahoo also has links to stories in other outlets and lets readers pull in news from outside sites that use an online syndication tool called RSS feeds.
Which brings me to this: Will the McClatchy people have some control over the headlines when they start working with Yahoo? Otherwise some of that fine, fine reporting will wind up with absurd and misleading headlines.
McClatchy's Deal With Yahoo Opens Doors
By SETH SUTEL Friday, April 06, 2007
NEW YORK - Many newspaper publishers still consider major Internet companies to be a threat, but a deal announced last week to bring foreign news and commentary to Yahoo Inc. from correspondents at McClatchy Co. newspapers could open the way to even more cooperation between print and online media.
Yahoo, a major online destination for news, regularly displays foreign news from a number of outlets including Reuters Group PLC, The Associated Press and Agence-France Presse, as well as National Public Radio and the Christian Science Monitor newspaper. Yahoo also has links to stories in other outlets and lets readers pull in news from outside sites that use an online syndication tool called RSS feeds.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Joining Sam's Club
There's nothing like having a personal stake in a story to focus your thinking about how it is being reported.
One notable element of the story about the Sam Zell purchase of Tribune Company has been the different tones struck by the papers involved in the sale.
In Chicago, where the sale perhaps seems more personal, what was striking about the coverage was the line used a number of times (in its various manifestations of online and print) about the culture shock of having Zell, the "expletive-spewing businessman" coming over to the "buttoned down" Tribune company. (There were one hell of a lot of longsleeved oxford white or light-blue shirts in the Chicago Tribune's audience yesterday for the CEO's explanation of what was going on. Lots less color and variety of dress in that audience than the crowd I was standing in on Long Island. Who WERE those people in the crowd at Tribune?)
It was clear from some of the writing that the LA billionaires' bid was not viewed favorably in Chicago. And I really don't think the Chicago Tribune employees have ever fully comprehended the sting resulting from a takeover by an out-of-towner but the chance that it could happen was clearly making some of them uncomfortable.
From LA, we heard a lot of what sounded like quiet pleading that somehow, one of the LA billionaires might yet come up with a way to buy, if not Tribune, then at least the Los Angeles Times.
Neither of those observations is meant as criticism; rather I think they're quite honest portrayals of what matters most at two of the Tribune newspapers that are so apart, geographically and culturally.
This is the third time I've worked for a paper involved in a takeover since the late 1970s, all involving Times Mirror/Tribune --The Hartford Courant, privately held (with an ESOP, as I recall) taken over by Times Mirror, Times Mirror itself was consumed by Tribune in 2000 and now Zell has moved in.
I'll write more about this soon but meantime I have to look up the meaning of "subordinated note" and "warrants" as they apply to this deal.
Missing from virtually all coverage is the fact that these newspapers are all making money, tons of it. Non-newspaper people I know occasionally ask if I think paper Y will close because it's out of money. That's almost never the case; the issue is a. the future of the business as presently constituted b. Wall Street and its demands for even higher returns.
One notable element of the story about the Sam Zell purchase of Tribune Company has been the different tones struck by the papers involved in the sale.
In Chicago, where the sale perhaps seems more personal, what was striking about the coverage was the line used a number of times (in its various manifestations of online and print) about the culture shock of having Zell, the "expletive-spewing businessman" coming over to the "buttoned down" Tribune company. (There were one hell of a lot of longsleeved oxford white or light-blue shirts in the Chicago Tribune's audience yesterday for the CEO's explanation of what was going on. Lots less color and variety of dress in that audience than the crowd I was standing in on Long Island. Who WERE those people in the crowd at Tribune?)
It was clear from some of the writing that the LA billionaires' bid was not viewed favorably in Chicago. And I really don't think the Chicago Tribune employees have ever fully comprehended the sting resulting from a takeover by an out-of-towner but the chance that it could happen was clearly making some of them uncomfortable.
From LA, we heard a lot of what sounded like quiet pleading that somehow, one of the LA billionaires might yet come up with a way to buy, if not Tribune, then at least the Los Angeles Times.
Neither of those observations is meant as criticism; rather I think they're quite honest portrayals of what matters most at two of the Tribune newspapers that are so apart, geographically and culturally.
This is the third time I've worked for a paper involved in a takeover since the late 1970s, all involving Times Mirror/Tribune --The Hartford Courant, privately held (with an ESOP, as I recall) taken over by Times Mirror, Times Mirror itself was consumed by Tribune in 2000 and now Zell has moved in.
I'll write more about this soon but meantime I have to look up the meaning of "subordinated note" and "warrants" as they apply to this deal.
Missing from virtually all coverage is the fact that these newspapers are all making money, tons of it. Non-newspaper people I know occasionally ask if I think paper Y will close because it's out of money. That's almost never the case; the issue is a. the future of the business as presently constituted b. Wall Street and its demands for even higher returns.
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