SPJ issues call for debate

Society of Professional Journalists calls for national debate
on sale of Knight Ridder newspapers

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists and its Northern California Chapter call for an urgent national conversation about how to preserve public-service journalism in light of the likely sale of the Knight Ridder newspaper company.

Knight Ridder, the nation’s second-largest newspaper chain, put itself out to bid last November. To satisfy the demands of a few major shareholders seeking larger short-term profits, the company may be swallowed whole by another conglomerate or broken up by speculators in early 2006. To finance the multibillion-dollar deal, new owners would be under heavy pressure to slash investment in newsgathering and reporting.

News media play a vital role in ensuring a robust and transparent democracy, a role that is too important to be compromised by the quest for profits. SPJ believes that both journalists and the public need to discuss openly the societal implications of these kinds of business decisions, as several groups have done in recent weeks.

We acknowledge that newspapers cannot serve their democratic role unless they stay in business. But the increasing corporate pressure to squeeze additional returns out of already profitable newspapers, at rates exceeding the margins in most other industries, has skewed the balance between journalism and commerce. SPJ and the NorCal Chapter believe that those directing the production of news have an ethical obligation to readers every bit as significant as their fiduciary accountability to shareholders.

Much of the newspaper industry has fared poorly under financial pressures similar to those dogging Knight Ridder. Layoffs, buyouts and hiring freezes shrank the newspaper industry by at least 2,100 jobs in 2005. These same pressures are affecting alternative weekly newspapers and the ethnic press.

Though there is disagreement about what should happen to Knight Ridder -- whose 32 daily newspapers, various Web sites and weekly publications provide news to millions of readers -- there is broad consensus within the journalism community that it should not be allowed to fall into the hands of those unwilling to guarantee the continuity of public-service journalism.

Journalists in particular have an obligation to invite discussion on this topic. The SPJ Code of Ethics urges journalists to “clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.” We call on reporters, editors, columnists and editorial writers to write about the planned sale and solicit ideas from community leaders and readers, who have a significant stake in the civic-minded management at their local newspapers.

A national conversation about how Knight Ridder newspapers can maintain their journalistic integrity under escalating profit pressures should send a message to investors not to ignore the social value of their investments -- either now or in future battles over media ownership. Such a dialogue would also help journalists fulfill their ethical responsibility to be accountable to their readership. And it would help that readership participate, as we believe the Constitution envisioned, in preserving a free, vibrant and competitive press.

For further information about the proposed Knight Ridder sale, visit www.spj.org/norcal.

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. SPJ is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, and based in Indianapolis, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed public, works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists, and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

Knight Ridder plans layoffs, cutbacks

Knight Ridder Inc., the second biggest U.S. newspaper group, plans job cuts, benefit reductions and smaller editions to boost profit margins, United Press International reported Tuesday.

The company, which put itself up for sale last year under shareholder pressure, is telling private-equity investors of plans to trim costs, the Wall Street Journal said Tuesday.

KRI executives plan to increase annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to about $825 million over the next 18 months, up 20 percent from 2004.

The 32-paper company reportedly has made presentations to MediaNews and Texas Pacific Group.

Editor and Publisher noted on Wednesday that the San Jose Mercury-News had confirmed a report in the Wall Street Journal that Knight Ridder is telling prospective buyers that its profits can be sharply increased by cutting jobs and benefits and reducing the size of some of its 32 newspapers.

Pete Carey, reporting for the Knight Ridder-owned Mercury-News, writes, "All interested parties have signed confidentiality agreements. But leaks of the company's projections already have begun.

"The figures Knight Ridder is giving potential buyers are similar to those in a Morgan Stanley research report published in November. The report, by analyst Douglas Arthur, said an outside buyer could reduce costs by $150 million a year through a 5% reduction in the workforce, cutting labor costs and chopping corporate overhead."

Knight Ridder spokesman Polk Laffoon told the San Jose paper that KR's financial advisers had prepared "a wide array of information about the company, including its cost structure. ... They reflect various options reviewed with people who have expressed interest in possibly bidding on the company. These options offer a variety of approaches to operational issues,'' he said.

"Whatever actions are taken would very much depend on the individual bidder, and any savings achieved would not be achieved overnight," Laffoon told the paper.

See the UPI report

The E&P story

The San Jose report

Thrity keeps on writing

You must click on the headline above to learn what former BJ reporter Thrity Umrigar has been doing. In a word it is “writing” which is what Thrity does.

We need only list two reviews of her latest story, “The Space Between Us,” to give you a glimpse.

Umrigar is a skilled storyteller, and her memorable characters will live on for a long time. ---Washington Post

Part of what makes "The Space Between Us" so engrossing is its ability to make readers feel empathy for its subjects. ---San Francisco Chronicle

But you must visit her web site. Don’t miss the great interview of her. She gives the BJ a plug as a still great newspaper. And also see the articles–especially the one titled “Good Night, Fran.:” Her book-signing dates list Thursday, Jan 26, at Borders in the Falls.

If you have never clicked on a blog headline now is the time to start.

Discount the discount?

From the Jan. 20 Hot Type, the BJ newsletter:

Airport Fast Park extends discount

Airport Fast Park has extended its discount rate of $7 per day for Knight Ridder affiliates into 2006. To take advantage of this rate, staff members need to sign up at www.airportfastpark.com and enroll under “Frequent Parker,” listing the Beacon Journal as the company. The discount rate applies to business and personal travel.

-------------------------
That's what I paid when I parked my van at Fast Park while Paula and I flew out to California in December. Without a BJ discount. It sounds a lot like the doctor who said that the cold would last two weeks if you treated it, and 14 days if you didn't. $7 a day for BJ folks or $49 for 7 days for those of us without a discount.

Found on an old hard drive

Art work by the late Joe Grace was hanging in the library at Cuyahoga Falls some years ago and Tom Moore shot some photos. He found them recently, he says, on an old hard drive and passed them along to the BJ Retirees blog. Here are two of the best.

BJ directory from 1959

There are a lot of familiar names on this 1959 Beacon Journal Directory of Employes. In earlier times there was no telephone directory of employees printed in booklet form. This one was printed on one newspaper size broadsheet about 15 by 23 inches. This copy was revised on September 15, 1959. Our thanks to Calvin Deshong who provided the sheet to us We will try to reprint the list of employes for each department starting this month with the 144 employees listed in the composing room. The list begins with William J. Church, foreman, and then continues alphabetically to the end with Donald H. Zarle. The list is too long to post on the blog, but you can see a copy of it by clicking on the headline above.

Burbach leaving, Mizell returning

Beacon Journal managing editor Mike Burbach is leaving the Beacon at the end of next week to become the editorial page editor in St. Paul. Former assistant managing editor Mizell Stewart is coming back to the Beacon to take his place. Susan Kirkman has been named managing editor for online services. The changes were announced at a newsroom meeting Wednesday morning.

BJ becomes historic site

This article and photo reprinted from Tower Topics issue of May-June, 1982

What started out as an overcast May day soon brightened as the plaque dedicated to the memory of John Shively Knight honoring the Beacon Journal as a Historic Site was unveiled.

The National Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, recognizes people or events of outstanding significance in the history of American journalism. On May 25, two journalism greats were honored - the Beacon Journal as a great newspaper and John S. Knight, who made it great.

During the hour long ceremony attended by about 400 people, friends and co-workers paid tribute to Mr. Knight through their speeches and words of praise. But all agreed that JSK probably did more for journalism, newspapering, setting standards, and reaching goals than any other person.

"His column (Editor's Notebook) was given the accolade of the Pulitzer Prize. To those of us who've taken an active role in the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, John Knight's record has distinguished him as a giant," said Charles Novitz, national president of Sigma Delta Chi.

After the dedication of the plaque, Mayor Roy Ray hosted a luncheon for several community leaders, employees and friends who came from far and near to be a part of this historic event.

To conclude this memorable day, the John S. Knight Awards banquet was held at the Tangier. This year, instead of naming a new recipient for the award, Mr. Knight and winners during the past 15 years were honored. Past winners have included:
1974 - Ben Maidenburg, Robert Dix
1975 - Eddie Butler, Murray Powers
1976 - Frances B. Murphey
1977 - Kenneth Nichols, Loris Troyer
1978 - James L. Jackson, Clayton G. Horn
1979 - Elinor M. Taylor, Philip J. Dietrich
1980 - Albert E. Fitzpatrick, Angelo R. Sicuro
1981 - Kenneth F. Cole, Robert Lane

This was a proud day for Akron, a proud day for the Beacon Journal and a proud day for honoring the memory of the man who made it all happen, John Shively Knight.

Remember Page Dump Request?

“I thought this page dump request might be an interesting look at a piece of ancient history, John Olesky writes. "We had to fill out the page dump request, and then the APS-4 folks (Cal Deshong and others) would dump the page into film.That was long before the filming was done from the newsroom.”

Note from Craig Wilson

Dear Post Card Pals,

I've enjoyed mailing cards to all of you for many years. But right at the moment, I have an itty bitty problem. I have experienced "a shower of small strokes affecting the visual portion of the brain." The doctors hope as time passes I may regain some degree of reading comprehension. You know how much I enjoy reading the Akron Beacon Journal. "Discover" Magazine is my monthly remedial physics lesson.

I have gotten though two-thirds of David McCullough's biography of the late president, Harry Truman. A marvelous in-depth look at an average, modest American who made the monumental decision in 1945 that saved so many 18 year olds, including me, from a horrendous invasion of Japan.

I can no more make sense of printed words. I can walk carefully. Call me at any time at 330-745-3358, I love to share stories. My memory is mostly intact. I do not have Alzheimers. Despite her walking problems, my wife, Elizabeth, and I hope that after a few life style adjustments, we will be back in touch with fascinating post cards and a few fascinating photos and dubious commentary.

Love to all,

Plain Dealer publisher retiring

After nearly 46 years of service, Alex Machaskee, president, publisher and chief executive officer of The Plain Dealer, is announcing his retirement.

"I am eager to have more time to spend with my family, travel and play music, all things that I love and cannot find enough time to work into a hectic schedule," he said in a written statement.

Machaskee, 68, recognized for his commitment to civic affairs, boundless energy and religious faith, will serve as publisher until a successor is chosen.

Plain Dealer Editor Doug Clifton, who was hired at the newspaper in 1999, said, "Alex has been both a wonderful boss and a supportive friend. I've worked for him just under seven years. My only regret is that it wasn't 20."

"His absence will be sorely felt, both in the newspaper and in the community," Clifton said.

Machaskee, born in Warren, worked as a sports reporter and general assignment reporter for The Tribune Chronicle in Warren before joining The Plain Dealer in 1960.

Before becoming Plain Dealer publisher in 1990, he rose from promotions director, assistant to the publisher, director of labor relations and vice president and general manager.

Click on headline for complete story in Plain Dealer.

Frank E. Bush dies

[He was a former Maintenance Department manager at the BJ.]

NORTON -- Frank E. Bush, 82, died Jan. 13, 2006, at Sunrise at Bath.

He was born Aug. 27, 1923, in Wadsworth, to William E. and Mildred A. (Roberts) Bush. He was a resident of Norton and worked for P.C.A. and the Beacon Journal, and was the founder and owner of Accent Custom Marble. He was proud to be a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army; he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was the recipient of two Purple Hearts and a Medal of Honor. He was a member of Barberton Moose Lodge 759 and of the Doylestown American Legion Post 407.

He was preceded in death by brothers, Jake, Don, and Richard Bush; sisters, Betty Ann Naglic and Marcene Johnson. He is survived by wife, Betty Bush of Norton; son, Tim (Lesley) Bush of Norton; and the loves of his life, granddaughters, Ali and Maci; sisters, Helen Brown of Cleveland and Doris Galehouse of Arizona; sister-in-law, Hilda (Ted) Gaynor of Barberton; brother-in-law, Delbert (Connie) Rauschenberg of Sterling; numerous nieces and nephews; and special niece, Chris.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff of Sunrise at Bath for all their love and care.

Funeral services will be Monday, 10 a.m., at Zak-Monbarren Funeral Home in Doylestown, with Pastor Bill Randall officiating. Burial at Chestnut Hill Cemetery. Friends may call on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Northern Ohio Hemophilia Foundation, One Independence Place, 4807 Rockside Rd. Suite 380, Cleveland 44131; or to a charity of choice. (Zak-Monbarren, 330-658-2211.)

[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH Saturday, January 14, 2006, page B4, col. 2]

3 first-born daughters

Cathy Strong in New Zealand is a grandmother now. Her oldest daugnter, Rebecca, had a gorgeous daughter on Dec 28 --the same day Cathy’s late father was born 89 years previously.

Here’s a closeup photo of Katie-Belle, whose full name is Katalina Isabelle Mary Hewson. She had to get a passport this week, so it was difficult getting a full-front picture, with eyes open and no one else's hands in the pix.

The other photo is of the three generations of first-born daugters. Katie-Belle is first born, in the arms of her mother Rebecca, Cathys’ first born, and far right is Cathy who was the first born of six sisters. This photo was taken when Katie-Belle was about 20 minutes old.

“The family has closed in on her and (father) Dion and we all seem to own the baby” Cathy reports. “My youngest daughter tells her friends she can’t go out on a camping/drinking weekend with them 'because we have a baby now..' ”

“Oh yes…… that youngest daughter Amanda has really fallen on her feet as a journalist. She completed her studies in November, and has so many job opportunities. There is even a bidding war going on. She is very strong in economics, science, and world events, so the big media are keen for those skills. All of our students are sought after, because the newspapers just can’’t get trained journalists to apply. Pay is lousy, of course, but these new bright journalist grads can be picky about their jobs……. And select on whimsical things like where they want to live, or which newspaper is nearest the surf beach, etc.”

Craig Wilson home from hospital

Note from Elizabeth Wilson:

Craig is home. He had what the doctor calls "a shower of small strokes involving the visual portion of the brain." Craig is not able to read. There may be small improvement with time.

Eddi Parker makes page A1

Eddi Parker, formerly on the LifeStyle staff at the Beacon Journal, made Page A1 of the newspaper on Thursday, Jan 12, 2006

There was a photo of Eddi showing a photo of her late father Murray Parker and quotes from her in a story by Rick Armon on plans to raze Parker’s old complex called the Hillcrest Inn in Green Twp.

“Eddi Parker can't visit the Hillcrest Inn anymore, “ Armon wrote. “She can't even drive by. It's just too painful.”

The sprawling complex -- a labor of love that her father built in stages starting more than 60 years ago -- is vacant and in disrepair. Windows are broken or missing. Some doors are boarded over. And gaping holes exist where room air conditioners used to be.

The Hillcrest site has a colorful past that includes stints as a pastoral home, chicken farm, hotel and country western bar, and even an illegal gambling house.

The East Turkeyfoot Lake Road property, which includes 14 acres near Cottage Grove Road, was purchased at a Summit County foreclosure auction late last year for $400,000. Developers Rick Williams and John Chlebina plan to raze the buildings and literally shave down the pronounced hill for future development, according to the city.

Read all about it by clicking on the headline above.

And there are more links on Ohio.com to previous articles about the place.

The English language

The English Language. Have you ever wondered why foreigners have trouble with the English Language?. Let's face it. English is a crazy language. There is no egg in the eggplant No ham in the hamburger. And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England. French fries were not invented in France. We sometimes take English for granted But if we examine its paradoxes we find that Quicksand takes you down slowly, Boxing rings are square. And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. If writers write, how come fingers don't fing. If the plural of tooth is teeth. Shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth, If the teacher taught, Why didn't the preacher praught. If a vegetarian eats vegetables. What the does a humanitarian eat? Why do people recite at a play, Yet play at a recital? Park on driveways and Drive on parkways. You have to marvel at the unique lunacy. Of a language where a house can burn up as it burns down. And in which you fill in a form by filling it out. And a bell is only heard once it goes! English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (Which of course isn't a race at all) That is why when the stars are out they are visible, but when the lights are out they are invisible, and why it is that when I wind up my watch it starts, but when I wind up this observation, it ends.

Craig Wilson suffered strokes

Doctors at Barberton Citizens Hospital are trying to determine how and why Craig Wilson suffered a series of small strokes, his wife Elizabeth said this morning. Craig is conscious and you can call him at the hospital, she said.

Is 13 an unlucky number?

Is this any way to start out the new year 2006? These are all the mugs, most of them old and ugly, I was able to pull from 12 images sent to me of the Retirees Lunch at Papa Joe’s in the Valley on Wednesday, Jan 11. There were 13 at the lunch including those above plus Al Hunsicker, Gene McClellan and Harry Liggett.

Recovering from knee surgery

I am recovering from my knee surgery remarkably well. My meniscus was torn (it's a shim between knee parts) so Dr. Acus trimmed off the smaller portion to where it tore loose and saved the rest for my knee to use.

I'm amazed at how quickly I have recovered from the Jan. 3 surgery (I had Dr. Acus wait from August to Jan. 3 because the Mountaineers played football till the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia and I wasn't about to miss Mountaineer Field games for something like knee surgery; I finished watching the Sugar Bowl on TV & listening to the lockerroom interviews at 2 a.m. and got up at 5 a.m. to go to my surgery). I started driving 5 days after the surgery.

It doesn't feel much worse after the surgery than it did before the surgery.

Dr. Acus -- 437 Portage Trail in Cuyahoga Falls -- told me on my Jan. 11 follow-up visit that everything went so well that I will not need rehab, just be sure to flex the knee regularly. The knee is sore, but I expect to be back to normal in another week or so.

John Olesky

Craig Wilson in hospital

Craig Wilson has been admitted to Barberton Citizens Hospital. His wife,. Elizabeth, said she is not sure what is wrong, but it might have been a stroke. We are awaiting further word from her.

KR to meet potential buyers next week

Here are excerpts from a story by Pete Carey and Chris O’Brien in the San Jose Mercury News on Saturday:

Knight Ridder will begin meeting with potential buyers next week in the next step of offering itself for sale under pressure from unhappy shareholders.

The presentations for potential buyers will take two or three days each and the entire process could last two to three weeks, according to people familiar with the situation.

A Knight Ridder spokesman declined to comment Friday.

As previously reported, Gannett, the nation's largest newspaper company, and McClatchy, another large chain, have both expressed interest. The MediaNews Group of Colorado is also considering a deal, possibly teaming up with one or more private equity partners.

The Blackstone Group, Providence Equity Partners and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts have made an initial bid as a team. Other possible bidders include Spectrum Equity Partners, Thomas H. Lee Partners, the Texas Pacific Group and Madison Dearborn Partners.

A final round of bids and a decision by Knight Ridder's board is at least two months away. Legal and financial issues could add months more before the culmination of a sale, say sources knowledgeable about such deals.

The company could decline all offers if it finds them inadequate.

Knight Ridder's largest shareholder, Private Capital Management of Naples, Fla., is leading the shareholder move to force a sale of the company. PCM owns 19 percent of Knight Ridder's stock. It demanded in a letter Nov. 1 that the company put itself up for sale.

Knight Ridder's stock closed at $64.39 Friday, up 1 percent, or 64 cents a share. The stock was at $53.38 a share the day before PCM made public its demand for a sale. PCM paid an average of $65 a share for its Knight Ridder stock.

Click on the headline for the complete article.

Single-copy price for BJ to double.

There will be no change in home delivery prices for the Beacon Journal, but starting Monday the price of the Monday through Saturday newspaper will increase from 25 to 50 cents at all retail and vending locations. The price for seven days a week will go to $4.50, but the home delivery price will remain at $3.65. This will bring the single-copy price in line with other major newspapers in the area.

It also will cost more to send mail starting Sunday. The cost of sending a first-class letter will increase two cents to 39 cents and the rate for postcards will go up a penny to 24 cents.

Broas named Fort Wayne publisher

Knight Ridder announced today the appointment of Steven T. Broas as president and CEO, Fort Wayne Newspapers, and publisher of The News-Sentinel, effective an. 9. He replaces Mary Jacobus, who resigned in December.

Broas, 43, is currently director of retail development on the Knight Ridder corporate marketing staff -- a position he has held for one year. Prior to that, he served for four years as vice president/advertising for The Kansas City Star. He had come to The Star in November 1994, and worked his way up through a variety of sales positions.

Broas is a 1986 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a bachelor of science in journalism with an advertising emphasis. He is on the Sales Force Advisory Board of the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. He and his wife, Laurie, are both Midwestern natives, and they look forward to this opportunity to live in that part of the country.

[SOURCE Knight Ridder Web Site: http://www.knightridder.com]

Books by BJ staffers

The following books are available at the Beacon Journal public service counter. Staff members and retirees are eligible for a 25 percent discount as noted below.

By Terry Pluto .
Faith and You, $15.90 including tax (reg. $21.20). Please note: This latest book by Pluto may no longer be available.
Everyday Faith, $15.90 including tax (reg. $21.20).
View From Pluto: Collected Sportswriting About Northeast Ohio, $17.24 including tax (reg.$19.88)
False Start: How the Browns Were Set Up to Fail, including tax (reg. $21.20)

Bob Dyer .
Cleveland Sports Legends: The 20 Most Glorious and Gutwrenching Moments of All Time, $15.90 including tax (reg. $21.20)
Omar! My Life on and off the Field, with Omar Vizquel $17.24 including tax (reg. $19.88)

By Chip Bok
A Look Bok: The Recent History of the United States in Political Cartoons, hardcover, $19.32 including tax (reg. $25.77); softcover, $12.14 including tax (reg. $16.21)
Bok! The 911 Crisis in Political Cartoons, hardcover, $18.62 including tax (reg. $21.48); softcover, $10.33 including tax (reg. $11.92)

By David Lee Morgan Jr.
LeBron James: The Rise of a Star, $11.92 including tax (reg. $15.89)

By John Murphy, Kathleen Kochanski, Angela Schumacher
The Akron Family Album, A photographic memoir of Akron 1900-1970, $20.69 including tax (reg. $26.51)

By David Giffels and Steve Love
Wheels of Fortune: The History of Rubber in Akron, softcover,$13.48 including tax (reg. $15.55)

[From the Dec 22, 2005 issue of Hot Type]

Bloom work selected for tour

A self-portrait entitled, "Diva," by newsroom features writer Connie Bloom, who only recently discovered her gift for fabric art, has been selected to go on tour with a Quilting Arts magazine exhibit in 2006. The quilt was posted on the magazine's web site during the week of Dec 18. Quilting Arts is the only magazine devoted to nontraditional fiber art such as Bloom's. Bloom's “Diva” quilt is a tongue-in-cheek portrait of a granny type with beaded eyes and a cheap plastic in her hair. Bloom entered the piece in the magazine's Creative Self-portraits Contest, which received 500 from around the world. Only 75 were selected for year-long tour. Bloom will be teaching art quilting at A Piece in Time, Manchester Road, this winter. Stitchers who are interested can contact her at 330-996-3568.


[Published in the Dec 22, 2005 issue of Hot Type]

Perhaps there is ‘A Way Out’

The endless flood of articles about the problems of the newspaper industry have become tiring to this blogger, and I assume to you too. When we tell you to click on the headline to go to a web site where you can read the full story you just might be saying “to hell with it.”

Hopefully we can start devoting more posts to old Tower Topics and less to news biz problems.

However, here’s a paragraph that hopefully will cause you to click on the headline. It is the conclusion of a scholarly article by Douglas McCollam in the Columbia Journalism Review titled “A Way Out?”:

“What newspapers really need, above all else, is ownership that values journalism and understands that the work of gathering, writing, and publishing the news is an inherently inefficient business that is in a period of profound transition. The private press baron of the past might have been a blowhard propagandist with the ethics of a wharf rat, but at least he loved the trade. Compared with the lineup of bloodless managers and mandarins currently squeezing the life out of journalism, Charles Foster Kane looks pretty damn good. So while there is no guarantee that the private ownership of today would recognize the value of journalism, it has already been established that Wall Street does not. Maybe it’s time we took our chances.”

State of Journalism 2006

The Louisville Courier Journal on Monday published a good Q&A interview by columnist Pam Platt with Bill Kovach on the “State of Journalism, 2006.”

Kovach's 43-year journalism career as a reporter and editor began in Tennessee, first at the Johnson City Press-Chronicle and then at the Nashville Tennessean. He next worked at The New York Times, capping his 18 years there as its Washington bureau chief. He left The Times for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; that paper won two Pulitzer Prizes in the two years he was its editor. He also served as curator at Harvard University's Nieman Foundation for Journalists. Among his published works, Kovach is the co-author, with Tom Rosenstiel, of The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect.

Kovach is the chairman of the Committee of Concerned Journalists (Web site, journalism.org), a consortium of journalism practitioners and academics whose goals include "to clarify and renew journalists' faith in the core principles and function in journalism" and "to create a better understanding of those principles by the public."

Platt e-mailed the questions to Kovach, and he sent back answers.

One of his conclusions I liked was:

“What is right is that the large majority of practitioners still believe their purpose is to provide citizens the timely, independent information they need in order to make informed decisions in the economic and political marketplaces of their lives what's wrong is that MSM is still too often content to maximize profit and not invest in the research and training necessary to develop a new economic base that takes advantage of the opportunities technology has made available."

Kovach also said he likes blogs. Read all of his answers by clicking on the headline.

Pam Platt is public editor of The Courier-Journal. Call her at (502) 582-4600 or e-mail her at pplatt@courier-journal.com.

Looking back on 2005

The BJ Retirees blog (web log) has caught on with some of you. We are averaging 28 visitors a day or nearly 200 each week. There have been more than 8,350 visitors since the blog started in July, 2004. There were only 1,120 visits in 2004 (the first six months) and 7,180 visits this year alone. There have been 349 items posted on the blog since the beginning including 88 the first six months and 259 this year. Visitors have taken a look at more than 11,000 pages on the blog since July 2004.

Noteworthy posts in 2005 including many on the possible sale of Knight Ridder; the unveiling of the new BJ clock tower, launch of the freebie 77South paper and a fun reunion in Columbus. We also recalled some past BJ bloopers and old time photos. Charlie Buffum provided a bunch of old clippings of the bloopers and he and Tom Suchan provided copies of old Towers Topics which provided memories of the past. We recalled the old “God willing” addendum to the weather report by Ron Kuhne and located him in Indiana for his recollections..

We ran photos or scrapbook pages on three weddings this year: Rebecca Smith, Rebecca Strong and Roderick McBane and there were no doubt some not reported to us. Many received honors or retired, including Larry Froelich and Charlene Nevada.

Unless we missed one there were 20 deaths in 2005 including Jane Betz, Robert Boyles, Ronald Capretta, Phil Dietrich, Gordon Dix, Milan Dungjen, Charlotte Earll, Bud Fisher, Donn Gaynor,. Paul Grove, Robert Hollister, James Kittinger, Robert Leitch, Ted Milligan, Edna Morgan, Polly Paffilas, Donald Shook, Richard Sweet, Ruben Sweet, Curt Sutliff and Miriam Wise.

We hope to continue in 2006 with more reprints from old Tower Topics and have been promised an inteview with Browser, the BJ mascot. Hopefully we won’t hear much more from the Sherman who started the push to sell Knight Ridder almost like that other Sherman, William Tecumesh, who led a march to the sea during the Civil War.

And the names of more than 500 were mentioned on the blog, many more than once–inlcuding Tony Ridder who was mentioned 14 times. You can see an alphabetical list by clicking on the headline above. It will be available until the end of January. Please excuse any errors or omissions.

'Fear the roo' sells big

Mix together a newly successful athletic program, the holiday gift season and a fresh slogan and you have a marketing winner. ``Fear the Roo'' merchandise has been selling out since the women's cross-country team, the men's soccer team and the football team all won Mid-American Conference titles, the soccer team earned a national ranking and the football team went to the Motor City Bowl.

The school grossed $100,000 in athletics merchandise sales in December, according to Mike Waddell, associate athletic director in external relations at UA. Waddell estimated that half of that came solely from Fear the Roo sales. In December 2004, the gross was about $7,000.

The bookstore inside UA's Student Union has been a hot spot for Roo items, selling out its first shipment.

Prices range from $14.98 for a youth T-shirt to $34.98 for an adult hooded sweatshirt.

The fearsome kangaroo is not the same critter as the university's bouncy, friendly mascot, university officials say..

``This is not Zippy. Zippy is the guy who will go to your birthday party and kiss your baby. Around our department, we call this guy Hoppy.''

[Excerpted from a story by Dan Kadar on the Beacon Journal Business front on Thursday, December 20.]

Remembering Fran and Bud

Happy New Year everyone!

About six years ago I scored a box of Fran Murphey's post cards on eBay, and in it was this one sent to Fran by Bud Morris after he had retired to Alabama.

I'm guessing that maybe it was a tradition for Bud to send Fran a hand-drawn post card on special occasions.

Did Bud do this just for Fran, given her collection, or did he treat others to similar greetings?

Anyway, just a little memento of two ABJ icons I thought I'd share here along with my best wishes for 2006.

Senior Moment for Tom Moore

Tom Moore confesses a senior moment:

You never know who you'll run into. Yesterday my son-in-law and I were at Chapel Hill Plaza getting out of the car to go into Tops. A lady passed us and I immediately knew she looked familiar but I couldn't come up with a name right away (Guess I was having a senior moment). So I caught up with her and risking a slap or a kick said: "I think I know you."

She stopped and said: "What's the first name?"

That senior moment was still with me.I told her that she asked me too fast, but I was sure I worked with her at the Beacon Journal.

She replied: "First name Joan?"

I told her that was it.

She said "I'm her twin sister from New York!"

And she said she'd give my best to Joan.

That senior moment left me shortly thereafter and I remember Joan Rice was the name that eluded me. What, I worked with her for 20 or so years? It's hell when you get old.

New stamp for Wilsons

Here are excerpts and one of the photos from the Christmas letter of Elizabeth and Craig Wilson:

Craig's daughter, Andrea, and her husband, Dan Korow, adopted a 4-day-old June 4. He is Joshua Justus Korow, now a healthy 6 months old. He rolls over and wants to crawl. We hope to see him in spring at Cedaredge, Colorado. Our joyfulness led to a lighted stork and doll in our front yard.

Elizabeth created an official Joshua U.S. stamp from a snapshot. Neither daughter, Dawn nor Andrea, could be here for the final open house at Oakdale Grade School. They had many wonderful teachers. We loved all the school carnivals.

The letter included a photo of Dawn and her husband, Mitch Harper, tending their garden July 4. That night, their neighborhood celebrated with bright, noisy fireworks. Canada Geese on a nearby pond waddled fearfully northward. We took home the delicate fabric perpetual calendar that Dawn had cross-stitched back when she was in her teens. She re-stitched all of it. We put on Velcro so the months and days wouldn't rip the fabric. Elizabeth re-matted and re-framed it. Craig put it up near our kitchen table.

Elizabeth, busy secretary of the Magic City Kiwanis, nominated Grace Duncan, the Noon Kiwanis treasurer and past president, as the Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Grace was honored at the annual Barberton Community Foundation dinner at Anthe’s restaurant.

Our flower beds bloomed with the advice and energy of Sara Manka. The third Mensa Grace Harrington Wilson $600 scholarhip for a female in journalism went to a Leawood, Kan., girl. Craig and Tony, helped by Kiwanians John McAnlis, Gene McNair, Mendy Palumbo and Verne Scott, aided the Barberton Historical Society saving tons of historic roof tiles from a bank being leveled.

We worried when the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Craig Wilson was hit 30 times by opposing pitchers. And we smiled at Craig Wilson's column in U.S.A. Today about the other Craig Wilsons. What a whacky 2005! We hope 2006 will be just as much fun for all of you

KRI places third in Top 10 stories

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

A few kind words for 'Darth' Ridder

Joseph Menn, staff writer of the Los Angeles Times, had a few kind words for Tony (“Darth”} Ridder in a lengthy article headlined “Moment of Truth for Media Chief.”

Menn writes:

The day after Hurricane Katrina wrecked the Gulf Coast, Tony Ridder headed for Mississippi, where one of his newspapers was confronting the biggest story in its history without power, telephones or running water.

The chairman and chief executive of San Jose-based Knight Ridder Inc. reached the scene before most of the staff of the Biloxi Sun Herald had made it back to the newsroom. He brought in logistics specialists, emergency supplies and the promise to provide whatever the paper needed to tell the tale and take care of its employees and their families.

"It had a fairly electric feeling, to look up and see the chairman of your company," said Sun Herald Executive Editor Stan Tiner. "You would be amazed at the extreme goodwill that has been engendered for the company by this."

Three and a half months later, the 65-year-old Ridder is dealing with a storm of a different sort.

Pressure from unhappy shareholders has forced him to put Knight Ridder on the auction block. Depending on the buyer, the company that traces its roots back to Ridder's great-grandfather could be broken up – or at the very least lose the family-style stewardship displayed by the CEO's emergency trip to Biloxi.

The likely sale of Knight Ridder and its 32 daily papers has sent shock waves through an industry in which subscribers and advertisers are defecting to the Internet and stock prices are languishing. How Tony Ridder and his company fare in the coming weeks may show his peers what the future holds for them.

It also may serve as a referendum on Ridder himself. Perhaps more than that of any other media chieftain, his career has been marked by the tug of war between the cost of producing quality newspapers and Wall Street's demands for profit.

Menn goes on in the Christmas spirit for a bit, but also discusses criticism of Ridder’s methods. Read it all, if you choose, by clicking on the headline above.

Paula and John in California

Paula and I spent a December week in northern California. It was a homecoming for Paula, who worked and lived there for two decades. We rode a cable car in San Francisco, went to Japan Town (multi-level shopping center with only Japanese stores and restaurants), drove up some mighty steep streets (even for a West Virginia native), visited Oakland & Berkeley, the redwoods of Muir Woods and more places than I can remember. It rained regularly.

Our trip from Cleveland Hopkins Airport was an adventure. Our flight was canceled because of winds in Chicago (Isn't that why they call it The Windy City?), then combined with another canceled flight hours after the original takeoff time. That meant we missed our connection in Chicago for Oakland, so we hustled onto a flight to San Francisco, which meant a $70 drive from San Francisco to Oakland to get our rental car and our luggage (which, it turned out, remained in Chicago). Bottom line: We arrived at our Wyndham Hotel in Pleasanton 16 hours after our originally scheduled flight from Cleveland. The trip home was uneventful, on time all the way.

More KRI headlines

More headlines on the possibility of a sale of Knight Ridder:

From Editor & Publisher:

New Twist: Guild Leads Effort To Buy 8 Knight Ridder Papers

By Joe Strupp
NEW YORK Leaders of The Newspaper Guild-Communication Workers of America are seeking investors to purchase the eight Knight Ridder daily newspapers that are represented by the guild, they announced Thursday. Guild President Linda Foley told E&P the effort was aimed at allowing the guild shops under Knight Ridder control to be purchased by companies more likely to avoid severe cost-cutting that has plagued the industry.

The proposal comes as Knight Ridder, which owns 32 newspapers, is on the selling block following demands from its largest shareholders that the "undervalued" company be sold.

In a statement released this afternoon, guild leaders said they had retained two advisory firms - Duff & Phelps Securities, LLC, of Chicago and Ownership Associates, Inc. of Cambridge, MA - to "work with the union to attempt a 'worker friendly' buyout of certain properties of the Knight Ridder newspaper chain."

Click on the headline above to read the E&P story.

From Bloomberg News printed on page B1 in the Beacon Journal:

Union plan to bid on Beacon, other newspapers rebuffed
Publisher Knight Ridder says it will only consider offers for all of its assets

By Greg Baumann
Bloomberg News
Knight Ridder Inc., which put itself up for sale last month, has rebuffed an initial effort by union workers to bid on the Akron Beacon Journal and several of its sister newspapers.

Knight Ridder and its investment bank, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., told the Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America on Wednesday that the company will only consider bids for all of its assets, union President Linda Foley said Thursday.

Knight Ridder, which owns 32 daily newspapers and is the nation's second largest newspaper publisher based on circulation, is considering a joint buyout bid from other newspaper groups and private equity firms such as Blackstone Group LP, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Providence Equity Partners Inc. The newspaper chain put itself up for sale following pressure from institutional shareholders.

The union will keep trying to persuade San Jose, Calif.-based Knight Ridder to consider a ``worker friendly'' offer for some of its properties, Foley said.

``We've reached out to them on a number of levels, being aware they are just taking bids for the entire company,'' she said.

Polk Laffoon, a Knight Ridder spokesman, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

Shares of Knight Ridder fell 4 cents Thursday to $62.75. They are down 6.3 percent this year.

Click here to read the story in the Beacon Journal

Send us those Christmas photos

Christmas is a time when families get together. Don't forget your BJ family. Many would like to hear about what you and your family have been doing.

When you take those family photos at Christmas, please send one to us along with a little update on your family.

You can attach jpegs to e-mail with information to hliggett@ald.net or just mail them:

Harry Liggett
544 N. Firestone Blvd.
Akron, OH 44301-2254

A lot of people who read this blog would love to hear about you,

Greetings from Hertz family

A Christmas letter and card brings us up to date with David and Beth Hertz and their children, Alyssa and Joshua.

“We have had the busy year that many families with two little kids and two jobs know about,” they wrote.

Also gleaned from their letter:

Alyssa loves first grade. She has lost seven teeth and even is talking about boys. She started taking ballet this year and joined the Girl Scouts. Joshua, at 2 1/2, is talking up a storm. He scaled the side of his crib one day last spring, hitting the floor with a splat that his Mommy will never forget. He got a big bed quickly. He adores his sister (mostly), his weekly gymnastics and Daddy’s guitar.

David was asked to be “interim” business editor in May and then the deputy business editor quit in the fall so he’s running that department alone. Beth still works 20 hours a week in the Communications department of Cleveland Clinic and also does some freelance writing and editing. She contracted a virus similar to mononucleosis and was in bed four weeks–one of them in the hospital. One new thing for her is being a leader for Alyssa’s Girl Scout troop. She also is now president of the BG News (college newsaper) alumni society.

Burbach explains skimpy BJ

Beacon Journal Managing Editor Mike Burbach took center stage again Wednesday to explain why the newspaper is skimpier. Well, it wasn’t exactly center stage. His remarks were printed on Page A2 because the regular Commentary Page was missing. Here’s the message.


Newspaper looks different

Answers to questions about recent changes

Q: Some pages that we're used to seeing the Beacon Journal are missing this week. What's going on?

A: Most newspaper revenue comes from advertising. When the local economy slows down, there's less advertising. Less advertising means a smaller paper. That's been the case this year in Akron This year is almost over.

Q: So the "tighter" paper is the function of a tight budget?

A: Yes.

Q: Is the Beacon Journal losing money?

A: No. The Beacon is a profitable, strong business. We've hit a few bumps this year, and we'll get over them.

Q: If you have to cut expenses, why cut pages and not some other expense?

A: We have cut others, mostly in ways that are invisible to our customers. But a newspaper really has two big categones of expense: Paper and people. We opted to save on paper.

Q: Is the Beacon journal going to be thinner permanehtly?

A: No. The Commentary page, which includes opinion columnists and usually appears on Page B2, will return next week. So will the features sections, such as Health and Food, which have been inside Local sections this week.

Q: Are there more changes coming in the future?

A: Yes. The news and advertising world has become much more competitive, and newspapers have to adapt.

- Mike Burbach managing editor

On another front (actually B13): Movie reviewer George Thomas says “Watching Cheaper by the Dozen 2 is the equivalent of being locked in a car with three squabbling kids under 10 on a cross-country trip." Son Matthew, however, says it is “an outrageously funny movie” and believes it is “perfect for families.”

Ronald Capretta dies at 55

Ronald C. Capretta
Ronald C. Capretta, 55, of Canfield, Ohio, passed away Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, after a strong fight with liver cancer.

Ron was a beloved husband, proud father, and a loving son, brother, and uncle. He was born June 25 in Akron, graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School, and was a member of the Ohio National Guard. He spent all of his life in the newspaper business, most recently as the director of marketing and advertising for the Vindicator in Youngstown, Ohio. He also put in many years of service at other newspapers, including the Akron Beacon Journal, the Lorain Morning Journal, the Lansing State Journal, the Fort Myers News Press, and the Cincinnati Enquirer. Ron was an avid golfer and a member of the Salem Golf Club.

He is survived by his wife, Donna (Paulini) Capretta of Canfield, Ohio; parents, Alfred and Pauline (Jacoby) Capretta of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; daughter, Amy Capretta of Cincinnati, Ohio; sons, Ryan Capretta and Adam Capretta of Canfield, Ohio, and Michael Miller of Mogadore, Ohio. He was the brother to Laura (Charles) Marino of Stow; uncle to Matthew Marino and Allison Marino of Stow.

Friends may call on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Fox Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman, Ohio. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Christine Church, 3165 S. Schenley Ave., Youngstown.
(Fox Funeral Home, 330-788-5044.)
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH Tuesday, December 20, 200, page B5. col. 3]

BJ tackles KRI sale confusion

Managing Editor Mike Burbach with a Dear Readers: column on page A1 on Sunday and Dave Giffels in his column on page B1 tackle the confusion over possible sale of Knight-Ridder. Since he's the boss we will post Burbach out front. You can click on the headline to read Giffels who is a little more interesting--talking about getting a case of notebooks in response to rumors of hard times at the BJ. Here's Mike:

Paper's future unclear, but work goes on

By Mike Burbach, managing editor

The Beacon Journal has been thinner lately. What's going on?

Most newspaper revenue comes from advertising. When the local economy slows down, there's less advertising. Less advertising means a smaller paper. That's been the case this year in Akron.

Q: Is the Beacon Journal going to be thinner permanently?

A: No. But our business is changing, and we have to adapt. The paper will change in the months to come to emphasize the news, information and advertising that have the most value to our customers. We know that we can't be everything to everybody.

Q: Is the Beacon Journal up for sale?

A: Yes, indirectly. The Beacon Journal is owned by Knight Ridder, which is a publicly traded company.

Earlier this fall, Knight Ridder's largest shareholder, an investment company based in Naples, Fla., demanded that Knight Ridder put itself up for sale. The company has done that and is considering bids.

What's going to happen to Knight Ridder?

A: We don't know. Another media company might buy it. Some other kind of company might buy it. It might ``go private,'' meaning an investor or group of investors buys all the stock and takes the company off publicly traded exchanges. Knight Ridder might remain independent, and continue to operate. Or there could be some other result.

Q: What does this mean to the Beacon Journal?

A: Long term, we don't know. The Beacon could remain part of Knight Ridder or a company that buys Knight Ridder. The paper could be bought by one company and sold to another, or it could be bought by an individual or group of individuals.

Short term, it means more pressure to deliver the financial results that are expected of us. And that means we must keep tight control of expenses AND pursue new business and revenue.

Neither Knight Ridder nor the Beacon Journal is losing money. Both are profitable.

The big investors who own Knight Ridder say the company should be more profitable, as some other newspaper companies are.

Q: So, you're in limbo right now?

A: Yes and no. Yes, in that we don't know what will happen with Knight Ridder. No, in that every day we aim to deliver news and advertising to you to the best of our ability.

Our commitment to greater Akron and to the principles of good journalism and good business is not in limbo. It remains.

We're determined to do the best we can with the resources we have. We're determined to do everything we can to manage through this transition -- whatever it turns out to be -- constructively.

It's a difficult time in the newspaper business. We're straddling media -- print and the Internet, particularly -- and generations. Older people grew up getting much of their news from newspapers, and younger people have grown up getting much of their information on the Internet.

One of our challenges is to make sure our business is strong so we can continue to serve the community with compelling journalism. We intend to do so.

Reach Mike Burbach at 330-996-3507 or mburbach@thebeaconjournal.com.

Sorry about the broken link

A few who tried to click on the headline to read Murrary Powers Memories of 1982 have reported difficulty. The problem was with my Internet provider who had some difficulties this week. Hopefully, you can get there now.

~~The Blog Guy

Letter from Tony and Mary Jean

[Blog Guy’s Note: The letter sent to me and reprinted here did not include a signature. I hope that is not ominous. A previous post has a link to a 10-page analysis in PDF format by Morgan Stanley ] .


KNIGHT BIDDER
BENEFITS RESOURCE CENTER

Dear Knight Ridder Retiree:
The recent news that our Board of Directors has chosen to explore strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the company has - understandably - raised questions for many of you. In an effort to respond, we have anticipated some of those questions and provided answers to them right here. If you feel you need further clarification on these, or on something else entirely, please contact the Knight Ridder Benefits Resource -Center (KR>BRC) at (800-232-7272 .

General

Q: What does it mean that the Knight Ridder Board of Directors is "exploring strategic alternatives"? Does this mean the company is being sold?

A: No, that is not the only possible outcome. There is a wide range of possible outcomes, which include the sale of Knight Ridder, restructuring the company or engaging in some other form of transaction or maintaining the company in its current form.

Q: How long will this process take?

A: We can't predict an exact timetable. It depends on what decisions are made.

Q: What is the process Knight Ridder's Board of Directors will follow?

A: The company is working with Goldman Sachs, its longtime investment banker, and with Morgan Stanley, to advise it. When the Board makes a decision on a specific transaction, there will be a public announcement.

Benefits

Pension Plan Benefits under the Knight Ridder qualified plan and non-qualified plan

Q: Will I lose my qualified pension benefit and/or non-qualified pension benefit as a result of a change of control in the future?

A: No. The obligation to pay pension benefits is not affected by a change in control. That obligation will continue, whether the pension plan continues to be sponsored by Knight Ridder or will become sponsored by a new organization. The plan cannot be amended to reduce a benefit to which you are already entitled.

401k Plan Benefits

Q: Will my 401(k) Plan benefit be affected?

A: No, the money ih your 401k account remains fully funded and under your control. Please visit www.krem.com and follow the retirement links for more information on the Plan.

Q: What should I do with the Knight Ridder stock in my 401k account?

A: Knight Ridder may not provide investment advice. You should seek advice from a financial counselor if you are concerned about your Knight Ridder investment. In 2003 the Plan was amended to allow you to decrease or increase your investment in the Knight Ridder common stock fund at any time.

Q: May I transfer my 401k balance to an IRA?

A: Yes. You will need to contact Vanguard directly to start this process. (800) 523-1188.

Health Benefits

Q: Will my Knight Ridder Retiree Medical plan change?

A: No changes are planned for the 2006 plan year. However, it is important to remember that we have made changes to the Plan in the past and Knight Ridder always reserves the right (and any potential acquirer will have the right) to amend or cancel the Plan.

Note: The questions and answers above are not meant to suggest that Knight Ridder's plans will remain static in the future, any more than they have in the past. Knight Ridder always reserves the right to make changes in its plans. In the event of a discrepancy between this Q&A and the terms of an applicable plan, the terms of the applicable plan will govern. No planned design changes are currently contemplated.

Please know that we greatly regret the concerns that this news has caused. We hope that the answers given here will offer some reassurance. Many of you have written us notes and e-mails offering empathy and support in recent weeks; we appreciate them greatly, and, in return, we thank you for the many contributions each of you made to Knight Ridder during your years of active service. Clearly, one of the many things that make this company special is the loyalty it engenders among those who have spent large parts, or all, of their careers with Knight Ridder. Your communications now are testament to that bond.

Looking ahead, it is not possible to speculate on how this process of exploring strategic options will unfold. What is possible is tdo assure you that as we go forward, the values that always have defined Knight Ridder - quality journalism, fairness to our employees, service to our communities and diversity in all that we do - will continue to be uppermost in our minds. As we know they are in yours.

With best wishes for a very happy holiday season,

Tony Ridder Mary Jean Connors

Bud Fisher dies at 83

Former reporter, sports publicist `Bud' Fisher dies
Hall of Famer credited with idea for the annual Acme-Zip football game

By E.A. ``Bud'' Fisher

INDIANAPOLIS - Editor's note: Elder Ayres ``Bud'' Fisher, a former Beacon Journal reporter who served as a publicist for the Professional Bowlers Association for 30 years, died Friday in Indianapolis at age 83.

Mary Fisher, his wife of 29 years, sent the Beacon Journal an obituary that Fisher himself first wrote in 2000. Fisher had given an earlier version to the Beacon Journal that was placed in the newspaper's library.

Explaining his reasons for writing his own death notice, Fisher said: ``Hello, Guys. I was bored, so I decided to write my own obit. When you receive it from my wife, you can be sure I'm dead. You can chop it up any way you want, but I thought I would have some fun doing it. It's been a great life!

``Have a good one

``Fisher''

The following is the updated version of Fisher's obituary:

Former Beacon Journal sports and police reporter turned sports publicist and sponsor, E.A. ``Bud'' Fisher, died Friday at the age of 83 after a lengthy illness. Fisher retired in 1990 after serving as the Akron-based Professional Bowlers Association public relations director, winding up 30 years on the job.

Fisher went to work for the Beacon Journal when he was a high school senior at North in 1940. After service in World War II, he returned to Akron, where he rejoined the Beacon Journal sports department while attending Kent State University. In the next two decades, he worked on auto racing at the Rubber Bowl, horse racing at Ascot Park, Thistledown, Randall and Cranwood, hockey in Akron, publicity for the National Industrial Basketball League, hydroplane racing, and as publicist and sponsor for the Cleveland Browns' annual preseason game at the Rubber Bowl from 1946 to 1960.

He then joined the fledgling PBA being organized by the late Akron businessman Eddie Elias.

Fisher was ring announcer for Akron Boxing, for the Gold Gloves and professional boxing and wrestling, and once manned the public address system for the Akron and International Soap Box Derby events, and was wrestling commissioner.

One of Fisher's contributions was coming up with the idea for the Acme-Zip football game. He passed the idea along to the late Red Cochrane, who turned the game into an annual spectacle.

Fisher had a colorful career as a Beacon Journal police reporter. In 1951, he walked in on a holdup at the notorious Duffy's gambling club in the Portage Lakes area. Cleveland hoodlums made off with thousands of dollars but the sheriff's office never charged anyone. Fisher also engaged in a futile struggle to prevent a man from jumping off the old high-level bridge between Akron and Cuyahoga Falls. He also was shot at on East Market Street.

He was a member of the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame, the Akron Radio Hall of Fame and the PBA Hall of Fame, and received the Bowling Writers Association of America Mort Luby Lifetime Service Award. He was one of three Americans to win the World Bowling Writers' Golden Quill Award.

He is survived by wife, Mary Fisher; daughters Lise Russell of Kent and Laura Marco of Mogadore; and grandchildren, Bill Russell and Dan Russell. Also surviving is sister Betty Pivar of Akron.

Mary Fisher said Monday that her husband was cremated and interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Bowling Writers Association of America Scholarship Fund, c/o Steve James, 8501 N. Manor Lane, Fox Point, WI 53217, or St. Vincent Hospice, 8450 Payne Road, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46268.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Wednesday, December 14, 2005, page B5, col.. 3]

Our gift of Ten Wishes

MERRY CHRISTMAS


Harry and Helen Liggett
in Akron, OH





Our Christmas gift to you, from an unknown author, are these
Ten Wishes for you for the New Year:

1. Enough happiness to keep you happy.
2. Enough trials to keep you strong.
3. Enough sorrow to keep you human.
4. Enough hope to keep you thoughtful.
5. Enough failure to keep you humble.
6. Enough success to keep you eager.
7. Enough friends to give you comfort.
8. Enough faith and courage in yourself to banish depression.
9. Enough wealth to meet your daily needs.
10. Enough determination to make each day a better day than yesterday.

Murray Powers recalls Old Timers

Some retirees who read this blog consider themselves real old-timers. Below , however, is a list of real old timers. They were key personalities at the Beacon Journal before 1982. If you would like to know more about any of them them, click on the headline above and read Memories written in 1982 by the late Murray Powers who was probably the greatest manager editor who ever served the Beacon Journal.

Do you know any of these personalities who were remembered by Powers?:

Mynne Andrews , Joe Aylward Sr., the younger Joe Aylward , Ford Barker, Marie Beatty, Joe Costello, Jim Curry, Tom Haney, Russ Harris, Jack Harris , Lynne Holcomb, Betty Jaycox , Jack Knight, Ruth McKenney, Maurice McMeen , Kenneth Milburn, Bill Murty , Frankie Pullo, Jim Rosemond , Jim Schlemmer, Oscar Smith, Bob Stopher ,Tony Weitzel, Earl Wilson and Earl Woodard,

Click on the headline to read Powers Memories

Former Knight Ridder Exec Isn't Selling

This letter was written to Editor and Publisher by a former Knight Ridder executive:

I sincerely hope that the recent pressure on Knight Ridder to sell itself, restructure, or whatever it is that critics want, accomplishes nothing. Knight Ridder has a positive, if not spectacular, record as an investment, and in the current atmosphere of corporate misconduct and mistrust, it is a company with a long, proud record of integrity.

While I understand the need for profit growth, I also know that there is more to business, especially the newspaper business, than simple dollars and cents.

Those who follow the newspaper industry, and every journalist, know that in this business, there is a dual responsibility. We need to make profits which reward our shareholders, but we also have a powerful obligation to inform our readers, to be a strong influence for good in our communities, and to be the kind of watchdog for the public interest that only a good newspaper can be.

It's difficult to balance the two responsibilities. Nobody is perfect; everyone would like high profit margins and Pulitzer prizes at the same time. Despite the obstacles, I think Tony Ridder has done a first rate job of steering the company to the kind of balance that's required.

For shareholders who cannot tolerate the vagaries of the newspaper business and have maximum profit as their only goal, I say, "Sell, if you must, and invest in some cash register company without a soul."

I retired in 1995 as senior vice president, operations, Knight Ridder, so I am biased. But from experience I know what kind of company it is. Under current circumstances, I'm not interested in selling my stock.

Gus Harwell
Port Orange, Fla.

Congratulations for service

Akron Beacon Journal staff members were congratulated in the Dec 9 issue of HotType for service anniversaries.

Among those celebrating 35 years were Charles Montague and Ted Schneider, newsroom, and Chester Knight, production..

Celebrating 30 years were Doug Oplinger, newsroom, and Phillip White, advertising

Marking 25 years were Karen Lefton, human resources; Mike Bookwalter, Leroy Dilbeck, Anthony DiMauro, and Hershel Haines, production; and Dawn Bonfiglio, John Vicars and Terrance Yancer, information technology

Marking 20 years were Dennis Balogh, Gloria Irwin, Diane Leeders, Terry Pluto and Olga Reswow, newsroom

Marking 15 years were Elaine Guregian, Carol Biliczky Levandoski, and Robin Sallie, newsroom

Knight Ridder draws suitors

The world will get a glimpse of how desirable, or not, newspapers are, as preliminary bidding begins for Knight Ridder.

The Beacon Journal in a report by KRI reporters Chris O’Brien and Pete Carey on the business front on Saturday said two major newspaper companies–Gannett and McClatchy–and a handful of private equity firms have expressed interest in buying Knight Ridder “raising the chances that the Akron Beacon Journal’s corporate parent could be sold sometime next year.”

A source familiar with the bidding process for the nation's second-largest newspaper group also confirmed that MediaNews, a Denver newspaper company, was said to be interested in joining a bidding coalition, but had not yet submitted its own bid.

On the private equity side, as expected, Knight Ridder received a joint bid from a trio of prominent firms -- Blackstone, Providence Equity and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Also expected to submit preliminary bids were Texas Pacific Group, Thomas H. Lee Partners, Madison Dearborn Partners and Spectrum Equity Partners. It was unclear Friday whether each of these firms was bidding separately or as part of some coalition.

Knight Ridder is now expected to move to a second round by inviting some or all of the bidders to examine its internal finances and visit with management and its newspapers.

If the next round doesn't produce bids well above the current stock price, it could open the door for Knight Ridder Chief Executive Tony Ridder to present an alternative plan to shareholders that keeps the company intact and ends pressure for a sale.

``I think you could argue that if there is a way to keep most of the properties together under the Knight Ridder banner, that would be his preference,'' said Barry Lucas, an analyst at Gabelli & Co., whose affiliate, GAMCO, owns about 1 percent of Knight Ridder's stock. ``And if there's a lack of vigorous interest, it could play into that scenario.''

Wall Street remained skeptical that a sale would occur. Knight Ridder's stock fell 23 cents to $61.25 on Friday as only about half the number of shares that typically sell changed hands. Analysts said a company's stock usually gets a substantial boost if it's for sale. While Knight Ridder's stock rose early last month, it has hovered around $60 since.

The current bidding process was triggered Nov. 1 when Knight Ridder's largest shareholder, Private Capital Management, demanded the company put itself up for sale, citing a lagging stock price. Within a week, the second- and third-largest shareholders had made similar demands, leaving Knight Ridder facing a shareholder revolt by firms that control 37 percent of its stock.

Click on the headline to read the full story in the BJ

As investment bankers review initial expressions of interest from possible buyers, community leaders where Knight Ridder publishes are weighing what a sale could mean to their region. The Philadelphia Inquirer discusses the subject in a story you can find at:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/13364151.htm

The newspaper industry is on the defensive, with circulation stagnant, advertising dollars migrating to the Internet and newsrooms reducing their work forces to save costs.

Given all that, it may be hard to believe that newspapers are actually profitable, but they are. And Knight Ridder is among the most profitable.

You can find a 10-page analysis report in an Adobe Acrobat (pdf) file at the site of Morgan Stanley. The url is:

http://www.poynterextra.org/KR/Research.pdf

No laughing matter

It's probably a mistake, but below is a Pearl Harbor Day diatribe by Cleveland Scene. You might want to let them know that is it not a laughing matter for BJ retirees who worry not only about pensions and health benefits, but also about JSK turning over in his grave, the future look of all communications in a society that gets news by sound bites--and yes--even about the Cleveland Scene.

Save the pencils!
The Akron Beacon Journal, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning paper now operating as a 'zine for the geriatric set, is getting squeezed to comedic proportions by San Jose's Knight Ridder, its parent company.

Knight Ridder is under a dual assault by investors, who are demanding 30 percent profit margins, and the company's own leadership, namely CEO Tony Ridder, the heir-in-charge who's proved strikingly adept at running Knight Ridder into the ground.

Executives recently asked employees to share pens and notepads with other departments, since no more office supplies will be purchased this year. The problem is that some departments have already run dry, including the photo department, which ran out of batteries and paper. "They did make an exception and ordered the photographers new batteries," says reporter Paula Schleis.

"It's been a tough year," concedes managing editor Mike Burbach. "The budget has been very tight and we're saving where we can, but I don't think it's gotten to the point where reporters are without pens and notepads. At least I certainly hope not."

Plain Dealer reporters were prepared to launch an emergency relief effort by shipping office supplies to Akron, but they were told not to bother. "Frankly, with all this talk about the Knight Ridder sale, we don't want them wasting their goodwill on notebooks," Schleis says. "We'd rather they wait and use it to help the people who are going to lose their jobs."

In the meantime, if the Beacon is soon printed on piles of stolen bar napkins, you'll know why.

Wheelers thankful for fourth family member

This item and photo on Beacon Journal reporter Tracy Wheeler and his family is from the November 21 issue of HotType. It is a little late because of an e-mail glitch.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, Tracy Wheeler and his wife, Kim, came home from their second trip to Thailand with their second son, 14-month-old Max. Big brother Terry Pitak, 6, went along, too. His parents made the same trip to adopt him in February 2000, working through Holt International Children’s Services, the Oregon-based nonprofit agency that helped them find Max. The journey home with Max, who was fairly quiet on the 27-hour trip, was easier than the journey home with Terry Pitak, said Tracy Wheeler. Terry cried for two days straight in Thailand, then worried his new parents to distraction by spiking a 104-degree fever on the flight home.

Former Times Press editor, poet dies

By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer

Akron-area poet and author Miriam Wise Andrews grew up with an interest in literature.

She was a former editor at an Akron newspaper and a national magazine.

``She always had a book in her hand growing up. I remember her teaching me about poetry and literature when she was only 11,'' said sister Esther Wise Crooks of Mogadore.

``She always made it so interesting,'' said sister Ardath Wise of Mogadore. ``I think she did a lot to cause us to enjoy poetry to this day.''

Mrs. Andrews, author of two books, died Wednesday at Altercare of Hartville. She was 96.

Mrs. Andrews was born in Bath, but grew up in Mogadore. She was the oldest of eight children (five girls and three boys). She graduated from Mogadore High School and attended Oberlin College and the University of Akron.

Mrs. Andrews was the editor of a reader participation poetry column called the Silver Braid at the Akron Times Press, which was a predecessor of the Akron Beacon Journal.

During the 1970s, she was executive editor of Poet Lore, a national poetry quarterly. She also wrote her own poetry, which mostly appeared in magazines such as the Saturday Review.

She left the area in the 1940s. She first moved to New York City and, as she wrote, she also managed an Akron singer. She moved to Washington, D.C., and wrote to promote the Children's Federation. It was there that she met her husband, John Andrews, an attorney who was also a writer. The couple moved to Vermont, where they both wrote and conducted poetry seminars.

She published two books with her poetry collections: Fifty Poems and Mary Shiminski I Love You.

Her first book was dedicated to her mother; the last, to her husband. They were married 25 years. They had no children.

After his death, she moved back to the Akron area in 2000. She built a home on the family property in Mogadore, not far from the home she grew up in.

Ardath Wise said her sister was inspired to write her second book by a young man who wrote ``Mary Shiminski I Love You'' on a bridge on the highway. ``She stopped to talk to the young man as he was writing it, then wrote a poem of the man's undying love for the woman.'' The book bears the picture of the graffiti on its cover.

On the back of the book, critics termed her poetry as ``A festival of life. It is an art form that celebrates all experiences -- even the most tragic, meaningful and hopeful. It takes us into the magical.''

Crooks said her sister was multitalented. ```She was very good at playing the violin and playing chess, but people were her hobby. She was a wonderful conversationalist, and really good with people.''

[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH,Saturday, December 3, 2005, pag B6, col. 1]

Congratulations to the Zips

Congratulations to the University of Akron Zips who won the Mid-American Conference championship Thursday night at Ford Field in Detroit.

Junior quarterback Luke "Cool Hand" Getsky hit senior receiver Domenik Hixon on a 35-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left to play. Senior place-kicker Jason Swiger then made the extra point to give the Zips a 31-30 win over Northern Illinois.

Fear the Roo.

Latest talk on KRI sale

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that three private equity firms are considering purchasing Knight Ridder. The Blackstone Group, Providence Equity Partners, and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts have banded together in a possible bid for the newspaper company.

The potential deal, if it pans out at all, is still in the early stages; the trio might balk at the price tag -- Knight Ridder's market capitalization is $4 billion. However, the paper reported that some financial buyers say that Knight Ridder could be attractive under new management. Other private equity firms are sniffing around as well. The first rounds of bids are due Dec. 9, according to the Journal.

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley analyst Douglas Arthur issued a report on Tuesday that considered the implications of a possible sale of the company. Morgan Stanley, which was hired by Knight Ridder as a second advisor to Goldman Sachs, examines several different scenarios that involve potential buyers.

Or, the sale of Knight Ridder could fall through based on some of these premises:

* Knight Ridder's board rejects Private Capital Management's "aggressive approach," forcing PCM to dump its 19% of the company's shares.

* The industry slump continues and investors lose confidence.

* A potential buyer could run into regulatory issues.

* There are a limited number of interested parties to place bids.

* Knight Ridder could buy PCM's shares.

* Knight Ridder unions could fight any attempt to merge it with another company.

Click on the headline for a report in Editor & Publisher.

Date changed for Guild holiday party

Note from Paula Schleis:
Due to a date conflict at the Printer's Club, the Guild Holiday Party has been moved to Wednesday, Dec. 21. Same great food and entertainment, though, so we hope retirees will come out and join us!

Interesting

According to the story in today's Beacon Journal by Knight-Ridder Newspapers reporters Chris O'Brien and Pete Carey, the chain's worst-performing newspapers are the two Philadelphia papers, the St. Paul Pioneer Press and -- the interesting part -- the San Jose Mercury News. Maybe San Jose, KR's flagship paper after John Knight's Miami Herald was pushed aside, can't afford to absorb any more Tony Ridder yachts?

Typically, business analysts figure the way to more profits is to lay off enough people to hit the dollar increase you want. Which makes today's newspapers, unfortunately, no different than a widget-making company.

Sad. And scary. The media as another widget hardly does much to create an informed citizenry.