OK group...sorry for the delay but my computer barfed and I think it died. I'm at the library to do this.
The account has been opened and we're ready for business. A few of the people I thought would
join didn't...but we'll have to make do with what we have. Should be enough for our initial probes
as to our possibilities of action. If not, I guess I will have to pick up the slack.
The lawyer sent a letter to the BJ last week requesting an explanation of their position. He said it
might be a couple of weeks to get a reply. Actually that's faster than I expected. (if it happens...
I will, of course, keep you posted.)
The letter (I was sent a copy) also stated that possible legal action could/would be taken if they
didn't respond. The next step is to see what their official position is. He has a couple of possible
explanations they might come up with. But he seems confident that (if they indeed do throw the
expected answers at him) we have viable answers to these scenarios.
When I get in direct contact with him again I plan to bring up the fact that a lot of us were knocked
out of our "advantage" Medicare plans. Or even "supplement" plans in one case. Don't know
whether that legally can be tied into this or not.
Sidebar: My wife (who is insured through the BJ yet even got knocked out of her BJ group policy.
The BJ's human resources department said it was a mistake and would be straightened out.
In the meantime it appears she wasn't covered for her cancer treatments. How is that for a
messup!!?? I think (hope) that it will be straightened out or I will have another legal case to take
to them. Will it never end?
Let's hope we get some satisfaction from this. If not...at least we took a couple swings at them on
the way down...
later...and thanks for your support...
bob abbott
Monday, May 07, 2007
Bob Abbott Rx update
Marjorie E. Ryan, widow of Tom, dies
BARBERTON -- Marjorie E. Ryan, 85, passed away May 5, 2007 at Doylestown Health Care Center.
Born in Akron, she had been a Barberton resident most of her life and was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church where she was active with the choir, Altar Society and Holy Hour program. She also enjoyed collectibles and baby dolls.
Preceded in death by her husband, Tom; son, Bill; and daughter, Donna Gadel; Survivors include her sons, Frank "Buddy", Michael (Dana), Jim (Cheryl) and Shawn all of Barberton; grandchildren, Jeff (Desirea) Gadel, Dawn Gadel, and Michael, Kelley, Eric, Jeremy and Kalley Ryan; two great-grandchildren; brother, Dick Fahrer; and sister, Pat Eisenhut.
Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, 10 a.m. at SILVA-HOSTETLER FUNERAL HOME, 1199 Wooster Rd. W. Private Family Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Calling Hours Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
[The Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Monday, May 7, 2007, page B5, col. 3]
Marjorie was the wife of veteran Beacon Journal reporter Tom Ryan. She had been hospitalized for years.
Tom Ryan died February 9, 1985 at age 64 of cancer after a short illness. The lead on his obituary said simply “Tom Ryan was a newspaperman.” The obituary writer noted further: “Hundreds and hundreds of Akron area people knew this man. When he covered Barberton for the Beacon Journal, Tom Ryan got more news going to Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church or on a Ryan shopping trip than most reporters did in a whole week.”
Their son, John William “Bill” Ryan, died in Venice, Florida in May, 2005.
Born in Akron, she had been a Barberton resident most of her life and was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church where she was active with the choir, Altar Society and Holy Hour program. She also enjoyed collectibles and baby dolls.
Preceded in death by her husband, Tom; son, Bill; and daughter, Donna Gadel; Survivors include her sons, Frank "Buddy", Michael (Dana), Jim (Cheryl) and Shawn all of Barberton; grandchildren, Jeff (Desirea) Gadel, Dawn Gadel, and Michael, Kelley, Eric, Jeremy and Kalley Ryan; two great-grandchildren; brother, Dick Fahrer; and sister, Pat Eisenhut.
Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, 10 a.m. at SILVA-HOSTETLER FUNERAL HOME, 1199 Wooster Rd. W. Private Family Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Calling Hours Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
[The Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Monday, May 7, 2007, page B5, col. 3]
Marjorie was the wife of veteran Beacon Journal reporter Tom Ryan. She had been hospitalized for years.
Tom Ryan died February 9, 1985 at age 64 of cancer after a short illness. The lead on his obituary said simply “Tom Ryan was a newspaperman.” The obituary writer noted further: “Hundreds and hundreds of Akron area people knew this man. When he covered Barberton for the Beacon Journal, Tom Ryan got more news going to Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church or on a Ryan shopping trip than most reporters did in a whole week.”
Their son, John William “Bill” Ryan, died in Venice, Florida in May, 2005.
Lowdown on perks for some executives
Mitchell Schnurman provides the “Lowdown on perks for some executives” in a report in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. And, of course, Gary Pruitt made the list:
$1 million - Bonus to McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt for completing the acquisition of Knight Ridder, whose newspapers included the Star-Telegram. He also got $2 million in salary and a cash award.
If corporate executives get millions every year, can't they pay for their own cars and country clubs? New details about executive pay are available now, because the Securities and Exchange Commission is requiring more disclosure in proxy statements.
Check out some of the practices at local employers: What's an outrage? What's justifiable? You decide.
$209,324 - Country club bill, including a $200,000 initiation fee, for Eric Sieracki, chief financial officer of Countrywide Financial, which has 3,700 Tarrant workers.
$0 - What Countrywide will pay future execs for country-club costs.
$772 - Cost for home-security monitoring for Texas Instruments CEO Richard Templeton.
$31,250 - Incremental cost for Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson's personal use of company sports boxes and retreats. Covers catering, transportation, etc., but not the cost of the venues.
$176,415 - RadioShack's moving expenses and relocation cost for Gary Stone, who lasted 15 months as senior vice president of real estate.
$40,396 - RadioShack's moving expenses and relocation cost for James Gooch, chief financial officer, since August.
$100,000 - Maximum that RadioShack will pay for office space and an administrative assistant for former Chairman Leonard Roberts. Since retiring one year ago, Roberts has also been getting $41,667 a month as a company consultant, and his contract continues to December 2008.
$9,530 - What Hallmark Financial paid Chairman Mark Schwarz for medical coverage and a 401(k) match. Other Hallmark execs received the same two perks -- and no more.
$400,000 - One-time bonus to Idearc CEO Katherine Harless "for extraordinary efforts in connection with the company's spin-off from Verizon." She also got $1 million in salary and a cash award.
$10 million - Pay package for Catherine West, who lasted six months as J.C. Penney's chief operating officer.
Click on the headline to read about others in Schnumran’s report.
$1 million - Bonus to McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt for completing the acquisition of Knight Ridder, whose newspapers included the Star-Telegram. He also got $2 million in salary and a cash award.
If corporate executives get millions every year, can't they pay for their own cars and country clubs? New details about executive pay are available now, because the Securities and Exchange Commission is requiring more disclosure in proxy statements.
Check out some of the practices at local employers: What's an outrage? What's justifiable? You decide.
$209,324 - Country club bill, including a $200,000 initiation fee, for Eric Sieracki, chief financial officer of Countrywide Financial, which has 3,700 Tarrant workers.
$0 - What Countrywide will pay future execs for country-club costs.
$772 - Cost for home-security monitoring for Texas Instruments CEO Richard Templeton.
$31,250 - Incremental cost for Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson's personal use of company sports boxes and retreats. Covers catering, transportation, etc., but not the cost of the venues.
$176,415 - RadioShack's moving expenses and relocation cost for Gary Stone, who lasted 15 months as senior vice president of real estate.
$40,396 - RadioShack's moving expenses and relocation cost for James Gooch, chief financial officer, since August.
$100,000 - Maximum that RadioShack will pay for office space and an administrative assistant for former Chairman Leonard Roberts. Since retiring one year ago, Roberts has also been getting $41,667 a month as a company consultant, and his contract continues to December 2008.
$9,530 - What Hallmark Financial paid Chairman Mark Schwarz for medical coverage and a 401(k) match. Other Hallmark execs received the same two perks -- and no more.
$400,000 - One-time bonus to Idearc CEO Katherine Harless "for extraordinary efforts in connection with the company's spin-off from Verizon." She also got $1 million in salary and a cash award.
$10 million - Pay package for Catherine West, who lasted six months as J.C. Penney's chief operating officer.
Click on the headline to read about others in Schnumran’s report.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Clark Hoyt named NY Times public editor
Clark Hoyt, the 64-year-old veteran newsman who headed Knight Ridder's Washington bureau before leaving after it was bought by McClatchy, was named public editor of the New York Times today. He said he was attracted by the idea of working for the Times, which he d
ubbed "a powerful institution. ... It's a tremendous honor to be asked to take on a role to help the Times live up to its own extremely high standards," Hoyt said.
Hoyt becomes the third Public Editor at the paper, which created the post in the wake of the 2003 Jayson Blair scandal. Daniel Okrent was the first, serving an 18-month tenure, while Byron Calame followed with a two-year contract that ends next week. Calame's last column will be this Sunday.
When asked about the obvious friction that can result between the public editor and those who lead the Times, Hoyt said he felt confident through conversations with Executive Editor Bill Keller that he would be able to act independently. "He and I had a very good conversation about this. We are both in agreement that there will be times when I have judgments that differ from his," Hoyt explained. "I think we are both committed to doing this with a highly professional tone."
[Source: Editor & Publisher. Click on the headline to read the full story by Joe Strupp.]
ubbed "a powerful institution. ... It's a tremendous honor to be asked to take on a role to help the Times live up to its own extremely high standards," Hoyt said.Hoyt becomes the third Public Editor at the paper, which created the post in the wake of the 2003 Jayson Blair scandal. Daniel Okrent was the first, serving an 18-month tenure, while Byron Calame followed with a two-year contract that ends next week. Calame's last column will be this Sunday.
When asked about the obvious friction that can result between the public editor and those who lead the Times, Hoyt said he felt confident through conversations with Executive Editor Bill Keller that he would be able to act independently. "He and I had a very good conversation about this. We are both in agreement that there will be times when I have judgments that differ from his," Hoyt explained. "I think we are both committed to doing this with a highly professional tone."
[Source: Editor & Publisher. Click on the headline to read the full story by Joe Strupp.]
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Toledo Blade planning to lay off 20
The Toledo Blade is planning to lay off some 20 Newspaper Guild employees ral departments, according to Assistant Managing Editor Luann Sharp.
"We notified the Guild on Monday officially that we would, for economic reasons, need to layoff members of the Guild," Sharp told E&P Tuesday. "We are looking for a reduction of 20 full-time equivalents, which could be 25 to 30 positions with part-time workers."
The layoffs, which will likely affect newsroom, advertising, circulation, finance and information technology employees, will occur as some 200 non-Guild union members remain locked out for the past eight months. Those workers, who are members of five of the paper's eight unions, were locked out in late August.
The Guild, which represents about 300 of the paper's 500 employees, has been without a contract for more than a year. Guild members, who are expected to resume negotiations that broke off in November later this month, voted in the fall to increase their medical benefits contribution at the request of management.
Sharp said the layoffs will be the first such forced cuts since 2003 when about 40 jobs were targeted across several unions. She said no specific numbers for each department have been revealed, saying such details will be discussed at a Friday Guild meeting first. "The layoffs are determined by the least-senior person in each job classification," she said. "It will probably be pretty evenly spread between the news department and other departments in the building."
Sharp said the layoffs were needed as the paper faces ongoing losses that have already forced it to close a Washington, D.C. bureau last year and seek other givebacks from the unions. "We are still in the red," she said. "Our first quarter finances are not good. We have tried to put this off as long as we can."
[Source: Editor & Publisher. Click on headline to read full story by Joe Strupp]
Remembering May 4, 1970
Even after 37 years, the shootings on May 4, 1970 at Kent State IUniversity are still making news.
There are several items of interest in the Commentary Section of the BJ Retirees web site:
+ A reprint of a "We Were There" feature by BJ photographer Paul Tople from the May, 1944 Sidebar.
+ An editorial from today's Beacon Journal which comments on a claim by Al Canfora that an old audiotape proves that a command was given to the Guardsmen to fire on students. The BJ and others who have listened to the tape say it was too fuzzy to prove anything.
+ The unveiling of a new memorial summarizing what happened. Unfortunately, we could not find a newspaper that reprinted the words from the memorial.
+ And finally a listing of online sources that provide many resources and photos including those from Tople and Chuck Ayers.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
From David Letterman show:
Top 10 signs your newspaper is in trouble.
10. Covers all news that happens within one block of the office
9. Today's exclusive -- "Nixon Dead!"
8 Reporter sent to jail for refusing to divulge a source... Oh, and he also killed a dude
7. All horoscopes: "Now would be a good time to get out of the newspaper business"
6. Paper's motto: "Suck it"
5. Every "hot" gossip item is about Jack Klugman
4. Managing editor and guy who wheels around breakfast? Same guy
3. Under "Weather," it just reads "Yes"
2. Instead of "Garfield," has a comic strip called "Garfunkel"
1. You endorsed Dennis Kucinich
[Source: CBS.com]
12 awarded Knight fellowships
Twelve U.S. journalists have been awarded John S. Knight Fellowships to study at Stanford during the 2007-08 academic year.
During their stay at the university, the fellows will pursue independent courses of study and participate in special seminars. The 2007-08 program marks the 42nd year that Stanford has offered fellowships for professional journalists.
The 12 U.S. fellows will join eight international fellows who were announced in March. Financial support for the U.S. fellows comes primarily from an endowment provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Financial support for the international fellows comes from sources that include the Knight Foundation, the Lyle and Corrine Nelson International Journalism Fund and Yahoo! Inc.
Following are the 2007-08 U.S. fellows and their principal areas of study:
Rick Attig, associate editor, the Oregonian: environmental, economic and political issues of climate change.
John Daley, reporter, KSL-TV, Salt Lake City: leadership in the age of global warming.
Elizabeth Dalziel, staff photographer/Beijing, Associated Press: intersection of art and news photography.
Steven Dudley, Andean bureau chief, Miami Herald, Bogotá, Colombia: Latin America's shift to the left and its implications for U.S. foreign policy.
Paul Kvinta, freelance writer, Atlanta: the deteriorating health of our planet.
Andrea Lewis, co-host/producer, "The Morning Show," KPFA Radio/Pacifica Radio Network, Berkeley, California: the role of alternative journalism in contemporary American culture and democracy.
Eric Pape, contributing writer, Newsweek and Newsweek International: the arts of war: how traumatic inspiration can inspire art and healing.
Daniel Sinker, publisher, Independents' Day Media, Chicago: new publishing models for independent media.
Matthew Stannard, reporter, San Francisco Chronicle: Islam and the West: dueling narratives in religion, politics, history and war.
Ruth Teichroeb, investigative reporter, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: social change and the role journalism plays in fostering reforms in public institutions.
Helen Ubiñas, columnist, Hartford Courant: the disparate effects of poverty, race and family dynamics on individual outcomes.
Rick Young, producer, Frontline, Washington: globalization and the restructuring of American capitalism.
The program received 83 applications for the U.S. fellowships and 132 applications for the international fellowships.
U.S. fellows were chosen by the Knight Fellowships Program Committee: Eavan Boland, Stanford professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program; Luis Fraga, Stanford associate professor of political science; Theodore Glasser, Stanford professor of communication; William B. Gould IV, Stanford professor emeritus of law; George Haj, deputy managing editor, Houston Chronicle; Ardith Hilliard, executive editor, The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.); James Mallory, senior managing editor/vice president-news, Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Norman Naimark, Stanford professor of history; and Rita Williams, reporter, KTVU-TV, Oakland.
International fellowsFollowing is a list of the 2007-08 international Knight fellows, who were announced in March, and their principal areas of study:
Denis Burgierman, editor in chief, Superinteressante magazine, São Paulo, Brazil: freedom of the press and democratization of information.
Violet Gonda, producer and presenter, SW Radio Africa (London), Zimbabwe (Yahoo! International Fellow): development of media in emerging democracies.
Ezequiel Lopez Blanco, investigation and special coverage editor, Clave magazine, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Knight Foundation Latin American Fellow): economic power and a free press in Latin America.
Janine Perrett, editor/writer, The Business Network—a sponsored supplement to the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (Melbourne)—Sydney, Australia: U.S. business trends and their impact globally, in particular on the media industry.
Robert Rakipllari, editor in chief, Panorama newspaper, Tirana, Albania (Lyle and Corrine Nelson International Fellow): sociopolitical trends in emerging Eastern European democracies, and their relation to the European Union and international organizations.
Susanna Schultz, infographic editor and news columnist, Svenska Dagbladet, Stockholm, Sweden: the state of environmental journalism in developing countries, and the history and current state of applied leadership.
Gabor Vajda, technology reporter, Index.hu, Budapest, Hungary: citizen participation, virtual universes and community sites—new challenges and new tools in online journalism.
Wang Wei, producer and anchor, Shanghai Media Group, Shanghai, China: freedom of expression, and comparison of American and Chinese media-ethics codes.
13 named Knight-Wallace Fellows
The University of Michigan Knight-Wallace Fellows program has named 13 American journalists for the academic year 2007-2008. Additional international fellows will be designated in June.
While on leave from regular duties, Knight-Wallace Fellows pursue custom-designed sabbatical studies and attend special, twice-weekly seminars at Wallace House, a gift from newsman Mike Wallace and his wife Mary. The group named for the coming academic year is the 35th to be offered fellowships by the University of Michigan.
Each Knight-Wallace Fellow receives all academic fees and a stipend of $55,000, supported by gifts from foundations, news organizations and individuals committed to improving the quality of information reaching the public.
Professor Charles R. Eisendrath, who directs the program, is a former foreign correspondent for Time Magazine with broad experience in print, broadcast and online journalism.
U.S. fellows and their study projects are:
| Jamaal Abdul-Alim, education reporter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Impact of Incentives on Student Achievement. |
| Carol Ann Alaimo, military writer, Arizona Daily Star, Challenges Facing the U.S. Military. |
| Kevin Clemens, editor at large and columnist, European Car Magazine, Solving America’s Automobile Related Transportation Energy Needs. |
| Tracy Davis, reporter, The Ann Arbor News, Globalization and World Ecology. |
| Steve Edwards, host, WBEZ (Chicago Public Radio), How Latino Immigrants Reshape American Politics, Economics and Culture. |
| Miles Harvey, freelance, The Missing Link between Men and Apes. |
| Colleen Kenney, reporter, Lincoln Journal Star, Applying Poetry Techniques to Narrative Writing. |
| Kate Linebaugh, reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Asia’s Wealth Gap: Capital, Consumption and Inequality. |
Matthew Moyer, freelance photographer, Documentary Films and Building a Photo Agency. |
Ronald Pereira Parsons, assistant managing editor and director of production, Yahoo! News, The Role of Automation and Technology in the Next Generation of Online Journalism. |
| Rochelle Riley, columnist, Detroit Free Press, How Multimedia Empires are Built. |
| Brad Schrade, reporter, The Tennessean, The Intersection of Money and Politics. |
| Sam Skolnik, reporter, Las Vegas Sun, The Rise of Problem Gambling in America. |
Monday, April 30, 2007
Newspaper circulation falls 2.1 percent
The Audit Bureau of Circulations, for the fifth consecutive reporting period, today listed steep losses and a few gains in circulation. The Newspaper Association of America reported daily circulation down 2.1 per cent and Sunday down 3.1 percent. Overall daily circulation for the spring period declined 2.1% to 44,961,066 and Sunday decreased 3.1% to 48,102,437..
The New York Times was down 1.9 percent to 1,120,420. Circulation was up two-tenths of one percent to 2,798,877 at USA Today and 7.6 percent to 7,624,728 at the New York Post. The Wall Street Journal also was up six-tenths of a percent to 2,082,420.
Some of the largest declines occurred at metro papers. The Dallas Morning News hemorrhaged 14.2% of daily circ to 411,919. Sunday fell 13.3% to 563,079. Daily and Sunday circulation at The San Diego Union-Tribune slipped 6.5% to 296,331 and 7.2% to 378696 respectively. At the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, daily circ declined 4.9% to 230,870 and Sunday decreased 4.4% to 251,666.
The Miami Herald lost 5.5% of its daily circulation to 272,299 copies and 10.1% of its Sunday circ 342,432 copies. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale was down 8.6% to 226,591 while Sunday fell 6% to 319,103. The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J., which recently revised its September 2006 publisher's statement, said daily circ fell 6% to 372,629. Sunday dropped 4.3% to 570,523.
Daily circulation at The Orange County (Calif.) Register slipped 5% to 284,613 while Sunday was down 7% to 329,549. The Austin American-Statesman reported daily circ dropped 5.6% to 173,579 and Sunday declined 215,894.
The Los Angeles Times lost 4.2% of its weekday circ to 815,723. Sunday was down 4.7% to 1,173,096. Daily Circulation at the Chicago Tribune slipped 2.1% to 566,827. Sunday fell 1.7% to 940,620. At The Sun in Baltimore, weekday circulation 1.7% to 232,138 and Sunday dropped 6% to 377,561. Daily and Sunday circulation at Newsday plummeted 6.9% to 398,231 and 5% to 464,169.
The Washington Post lost 3.4% of its weekday circ to 699,130 copies. Sunday fell 3.2% to 929,921.
[Source Editor & Publisher, AP, Forbes and NAA. Click on headline to go to the E&P report]
The New York Times was down 1.9 percent to 1,120,420. Circulation was up two-tenths of one percent to 2,798,877 at USA Today and 7.6 percent to 7,624,728 at the New York Post. The Wall Street Journal also was up six-tenths of a percent to 2,082,420.
Some of the largest declines occurred at metro papers. The Dallas Morning News hemorrhaged 14.2% of daily circ to 411,919. Sunday fell 13.3% to 563,079. Daily and Sunday circulation at The San Diego Union-Tribune slipped 6.5% to 296,331 and 7.2% to 378696 respectively. At the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, daily circ declined 4.9% to 230,870 and Sunday decreased 4.4% to 251,666.
The Miami Herald lost 5.5% of its daily circulation to 272,299 copies and 10.1% of its Sunday circ 342,432 copies. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale was down 8.6% to 226,591 while Sunday fell 6% to 319,103. The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J., which recently revised its September 2006 publisher's statement, said daily circ fell 6% to 372,629. Sunday dropped 4.3% to 570,523.
Daily circulation at The Orange County (Calif.) Register slipped 5% to 284,613 while Sunday was down 7% to 329,549. The Austin American-Statesman reported daily circ dropped 5.6% to 173,579 and Sunday declined 215,894.
The Los Angeles Times lost 4.2% of its weekday circ to 815,723. Sunday was down 4.7% to 1,173,096. Daily Circulation at the Chicago Tribune slipped 2.1% to 566,827. Sunday fell 1.7% to 940,620. At The Sun in Baltimore, weekday circulation 1.7% to 232,138 and Sunday dropped 6% to 377,561. Daily and Sunday circulation at Newsday plummeted 6.9% to 398,231 and 5% to 464,169.
The Washington Post lost 3.4% of its weekday circ to 699,130 copies. Sunday fell 3.2% to 929,921.
[Source Editor & Publisher, AP, Forbes and NAA. Click on headline to go to the E&P report]
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Pioneer Press says Par stole secrets
His password was "Mocha." But other data on Par Ridder's laptop computer would have been even tastier to his new bosses.
Last month, Ridder left the publisher's job at the St. Paul Pioneer Press - the newspaper his great-grandfather bought in 1927 - to become publisher of the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. The defection to the larger, more stable rival across the Mississippi River was a shock, given their intense competition for readers and advertisers.
Now the Pioneer Press claims in a lawsuit that Ridder handed over spreadsheet after spreadsheet of sensitive data to the Star Tribune - budgets, monthly profits, employee wage data, and perhaps most important, how much advertisers were paying. It claims that Ridder stole a file folder with his own non-compete agreement and that of other Pioneer Press executives, and the Star Tribune failed to return copies of the data he took.
The advertiser information alone would allow the Star Tribune to launch "an extraordinarily damaging" pricing campaign aimed at stealing advertisers, the lawsuit said.
When Ridder announced his resignation, Dean Singleton - chief executive of MediaNews Group Inc., which runs the Pioneer Press - said he wasn't worried about trade secrets. Singleton felt much differently last week.
"I didn't know at that time the magnitude of the heist," Singleton said Friday. "I thought at the time that Par would make a gracious exit, and would be honorable, and I didn't know he had stolen everything we had."
The lawsuit filed in state court names Ridder, the Star Tribune, its parent company and two other executives Ridder recruited from the Pioneer Press and alleges fraud by Ridder and violation of state trade secret laws. Besides unspecified compensation, it seeks to have Ridder removed as publisher of the Star Tribune for a year because of a non-compete agreement.
The Star Tribune issued a statement by Chairman Chris Harte saying: "There are facts in dispute relative to the recent move of Par Ridder from the St. Paul Pioneer Press to the Star Tribune. We will address these matters point by point in our legal response to the complaint and look forward to a full resolution."
Click on the headline to read the full Associated Press story by Joshua Freed
Art Beck and family still at work
Art Beck has been retired for 20 years in July from the Beacon Journal circulation
department, but family members are still at work and so is Art. Here is an update via email as
requested.
My daughter, Shirley Letta, works for Ohio.Com My son Carl Beck workes as a mechanic in
the mail room, My Grandaughter Stephanie Crace works in Editorial on
Saturday and Sunday answering the phone.I work 4 part time jobs (like to keep busy).
I am a sub in falls high parking lot(guard)-work in the falls school system as an attendent with handicaped children-work at leisure time
golf course and swimming pool-and also am an usher at Akron Aeros baseball.
Art Beck
His email address is beckybeck3@juno.com
Saturday, April 28, 2007
S&P Lowers Ratings on McClatchy to Junk
Stock hits 52-week low
NEW YORK (AP) -- Standard & Poor's Ratings Services on Friday lowered its corporate credit and bank loan ratings on newspaper publisher McClatchy Co. to junk status of "BB+" from "BBB."
The ratings were also taken off CreditWatch, where they were placed with negative implications on March 8.
The rating outlook is stable.
"The lower ratings follow our review of operating conditions in the newspaper sector, and consider McClatchy's ability to improve credit measures over the next few years through management's focus on debt reduction," credit analyst Peggy Hebard said in a statement.
Shares of McClatchy fell 68 cents to $29.18 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock hit a 52-week low of $28.80 earlier in the session. It had previously traded in a range of $29.16 to $47.73.
10 get Knight-Bagehot grants
Ten Knight-Bagehot Fellows in economics and business journalism have been named by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism for the 2007-2008 academic year.
The mid-career fellowships provide full tuition and a living stipend of $50,000 for experienced journalists to take graduate courses at Columbia’s schools of business, law, and international and public affairs. Fellows also attend special seminars at the journalism school led by scholars and business experts during the nine-month program, which begins in August. The program is open to journalists with at least four years experience.
This year’s fellows are: Jeremy Caplan of Time Magazine, Jose Eduardo Teixeira Costa of VOCÊ S/A, Dimitra DeFotis of Barron’s, Jim Edwards of Brandweek, Allison Fass of Forbes, Liza Featherstone of The Nation, Paul Glader of The Wall Street Journal, Greg Griffin of The Denver Post, Leoneda Inge of North Carolina public radio station, WUNC, and Bryan Myers of the PBS newsmagazine program, “NOW.”
Founded in 1975, the fellowships are named for John S. and James L. Knight, brothers who established the Knight Foundation, and Walter Bagehot, the 19th-century British economist and editor of The Economist. They are administered by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and directed by Terri Thompson, a former associate editor of U.S. News & World Report and former reporter for Business Week.
[Source: Jim Romensko in Poynter Forums.]
Click on the headline to see brief biogs on winners.
The mid-career fellowships provide full tuition and a living stipend of $50,000 for experienced journalists to take graduate courses at Columbia’s schools of business, law, and international and public affairs. Fellows also attend special seminars at the journalism school led by scholars and business experts during the nine-month program, which begins in August. The program is open to journalists with at least four years experience.
This year’s fellows are: Jeremy Caplan of Time Magazine, Jose Eduardo Teixeira Costa of VOCÊ S/A, Dimitra DeFotis of Barron’s, Jim Edwards of Brandweek, Allison Fass of Forbes, Liza Featherstone of The Nation, Paul Glader of The Wall Street Journal, Greg Griffin of The Denver Post, Leoneda Inge of North Carolina public radio station, WUNC, and Bryan Myers of the PBS newsmagazine program, “NOW.”
Founded in 1975, the fellowships are named for John S. and James L. Knight, brothers who established the Knight Foundation, and Walter Bagehot, the 19th-century British economist and editor of The Economist. They are administered by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and directed by Terri Thompson, a former associate editor of U.S. News & World Report and former reporter for Business Week.
[Source: Jim Romensko in Poynter Forums.]
Click on the headline to see brief biogs on winners.
Knight News Challenge winners due May 23
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will announce the first-year winners of the Knight News Challenge on May 23 at the Interactive Media Conference & Tradeshow in Miami, hosted by Editor & Publisher and Mediaweek.
The Knight News Challenge – a contest open to anyone, anywhere – offers $25 million over five years in awards for news experiments that use digital media to build communities in specific geographic areas. The first year’s winners range from individuals to corporations and were chosen from among 1,650 applicants after recommendations by a panel of experts in digital media. They will receive a total of $12 million, including several multi-year awards. Applications for the 2007 round can be submitted at www.newschallenge.org starting July 1.
A press release about the winners will be released on May 23, the day of the announcement.
Knight Foundation is a sponsor of the Interactive Media Conference & Tradeshow 2007, an annual forum for new media issues attended by media representatives from the business and editorial side. More information is available at www.interactivemediaconference.com.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes journalism excellence worldwide and invests in the vitality of 26 communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation supports ideas and projects that create transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfdn.org.
The Knight News Challenge – a contest open to anyone, anywhere – offers $25 million over five years in awards for news experiments that use digital media to build communities in specific geographic areas. The first year’s winners range from individuals to corporations and were chosen from among 1,650 applicants after recommendations by a panel of experts in digital media. They will receive a total of $12 million, including several multi-year awards. Applications for the 2007 round can be submitted at www.newschallenge.org starting July 1.
A press release about the winners will be released on May 23, the day of the announcement.
Knight Foundation is a sponsor of the Interactive Media Conference & Tradeshow 2007, an annual forum for new media issues attended by media representatives from the business and editorial side. More information is available at www.interactivemediaconference.com.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes journalism excellence worldwide and invests in the vitality of 26 communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation supports ideas and projects that create transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfdn.org.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
PD among those showing circulation gains
Newspapers that will show daily circulation declines of 5 percent or more in next week's ABC report include the San Jose Mercury News, Miami Herald, Dallas Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune, Star Ledger, Orange County Register, Austin American-Statesmen, and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Gaining circulation are the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Indianapolis Star, Charlotte Observer, Denver Post, San Antonio Express-News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Poynter's St. Petersburg Times,and the Oklahoman.
Gary Pruitt, CEO of McClatchy, explained during a Q1 earnings call on Tuesday (reported in an earlier blog post) that his company will continue to experience declines in circulation. (It was not too long ago that McClatchy could boast of constant circ gains). To give a taste of what is to come, during Q1, McClatchy executives said daily circulation fell 3.6% and Sunday dropped 3.9%.
The Indianapolis Star should be one of the biggest metro gainers. Daily circulation (Monday-Friday) rose 2.4% to 261,405 copies and Sunday was up 2% to 354,312 copies, according to Bryan Sturgeon, vice president of circulation at the Indy Star. The paper benefited when the Colts made (and won) the Super Bowl and by adding Thursday editions to Sunday-only subscriptions.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press grew its daily circulation (Monday-Friday) 0.3% to 191,736. Sunday is virtually flat up 0.1% to 251,865. Also encouraging: the paper attributed the increases to gains made in home-delivered copies.
Click on the headline to read the full report in Editor & Publisher.
Gaining circulation are the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Indianapolis Star, Charlotte Observer, Denver Post, San Antonio Express-News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Poynter's St. Petersburg Times,and the Oklahoman.
Gary Pruitt, CEO of McClatchy, explained during a Q1 earnings call on Tuesday (reported in an earlier blog post) that his company will continue to experience declines in circulation. (It was not too long ago that McClatchy could boast of constant circ gains). To give a taste of what is to come, during Q1, McClatchy executives said daily circulation fell 3.6% and Sunday dropped 3.9%.
The Indianapolis Star should be one of the biggest metro gainers. Daily circulation (Monday-Friday) rose 2.4% to 261,405 copies and Sunday was up 2% to 354,312 copies, according to Bryan Sturgeon, vice president of circulation at the Indy Star. The paper benefited when the Colts made (and won) the Super Bowl and by adding Thursday editions to Sunday-only subscriptions.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press grew its daily circulation (Monday-Friday) 0.3% to 191,736. Sunday is virtually flat up 0.1% to 251,865. Also encouraging: the paper attributed the increases to gains made in home-delivered copies.
Click on the headline to read the full report in Editor & Publisher.
Email update from Bill Kezziah
Here's an email just received from former BJ reporter Bill Kezziah
I'm living in SC for the time being as I aid my 93-year-old mother in her move from her home of 38 plus years into a retirement center.
I've kept in touch with some BJ staffers (Joan Rice), but just through Christmas cards.
I'm retired now after 20 years in CO publishing a weekly and teaching for 5 years in Nebraska. Been
searching for former staffers to get their take on the BJ sale and its impact on paper, community, etc. Ran
into an Akron artist who told me the paper has changed "radically."
Give my regards to any other staffers you run across.
His email address is billkezz@yahoo.com
Gary's on the phone
Well at least you can read a transcript of the McClatchy Co. Q1 Earnings Call.
With a little bit of color added by the blogger, here’s how CEO Gary Pruitt started the conversation:
Thanks, Pat. We reported first quarter earnings from continuing operations of $14.5 million or $0.18 per share compared to earnings from continuing operations of $21.8 million or $0.46 per share in the first quarter of 2006. Our results exclude the operations of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which was sold on March 5th and is reported as a discontinued operation.
In this challenging revenue environment, we are delivering on the cost side. We reduced cash operating expenses by 6.3% in the quarter on a pro forma basis. In fact, our operating cash flow grew slightly on a pro forma basis, despite the decline in revenues. Few newspaper operations can make that claim.
Our revenues from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2007 were $566.6 million compared to revenues from continuing operations of $194.5 million in 2006. The increase, of course, in revenues reflects the addition of 20 newspapers acquired in the Knight Ridder acquisition on June 27, 2006. On a pro forma basis -- that is including all newspapers as if they had been owned since the beginning of 2006 -- revenues from continuing operations were down 5.0%. Advertising revenues were down 5.3%, and circulation revenues were down 3.6% on a pro forma basis.
Let's look at revenues by category, starting with retail.
You can look if you like. Just click on the headline above.
Pat, by the way, is Patrick Talamantes - CFO
With a little bit of color added by the blogger, here’s how CEO Gary Pruitt started the conversation:
Thanks, Pat. We reported first quarter earnings from continuing operations of $14.5 million or $0.18 per share compared to earnings from continuing operations of $21.8 million or $0.46 per share in the first quarter of 2006. Our results exclude the operations of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which was sold on March 5th and is reported as a discontinued operation.
In this challenging revenue environment, we are delivering on the cost side. We reduced cash operating expenses by 6.3% in the quarter on a pro forma basis. In fact, our operating cash flow grew slightly on a pro forma basis, despite the decline in revenues. Few newspaper operations can make that claim.
Our revenues from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2007 were $566.6 million compared to revenues from continuing operations of $194.5 million in 2006. The increase, of course, in revenues reflects the addition of 20 newspapers acquired in the Knight Ridder acquisition on June 27, 2006. On a pro forma basis -- that is including all newspapers as if they had been owned since the beginning of 2006 -- revenues from continuing operations were down 5.0%. Advertising revenues were down 5.3%, and circulation revenues were down 3.6% on a pro forma basis.
Let's look at revenues by category, starting with retail.
You can look if you like. Just click on the headline above.
Pat, by the way, is Patrick Talamantes - CFO
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
A picture from when I worked with Chuck Lally on the Beacon Magazine
Click on the picture to see full size.
It has also some notables from days of yore. I am standing on the left behind Chuck.
...Ott
Tributes to Chuck Lally on our website
Some tributes to Charles J. Lally and an earlier photo of him are now on the BJ Retirees website.
Click on the headline to go there.
While we sweat how much more we'll pay in RX costs....
While we're seeing this iceberg of increased medical costs heading toward us under the Canadian's switch to Aetna, folks like Aetna and major GOP contributors are making out like bandits. For them, Medicare Advantage is to their advantage in a humongous way.
To read it for yourself, go to
http://www.acorn.net/bjretirees/medicare.htm
on the BJ Retirees website.
Samples:
1. The government is giving money to the Aetnas of this country, but a lot of the money isn't reaching the Medicare patients the way it did under the previous system when there were no Aetnas middlemen.
2. Medicare Advantage plans cost the taxpayers 12% more then the previous Medicare setup. About $10 billion per year more.
3. Congress refused to let Medicare negotiate drug prices the way it did other health care costs. You've seen your Medicare statements where a procedure charge was $900 but Medicare approved only $550 and then paid 80% of that with you or your secondary coverage paying the rest. Doesn't happen with prescription prices.
I guess if it gets bad enough, the common folks among us who once opposed universal health care might have second thoughts.
To read it for yourself, go to
http://www.acorn.net/bjretirees/medicare.htm
on the BJ Retirees website.
Samples:
1. The government is giving money to the Aetnas of this country, but a lot of the money isn't reaching the Medicare patients the way it did under the previous system when there were no Aetnas middlemen.
2. Medicare Advantage plans cost the taxpayers 12% more then the previous Medicare setup. About $10 billion per year more.
3. Congress refused to let Medicare negotiate drug prices the way it did other health care costs. You've seen your Medicare statements where a procedure charge was $900 but Medicare approved only $550 and then paid 80% of that with you or your secondary coverage paying the rest. Doesn't happen with prescription prices.
I guess if it gets bad enough, the common folks among us who once opposed universal health care might have second thoughts.
Rx heading fast into dark hole
In less than four months I have reached $1,589.96 in the initial coverage that stops at $2,400. Once I do, it looks like I will have to pay ALL of the next $1,450 in prescription costs, till I reach the $3,850 limit. But that's misleading. To get to $2,400, Aetna counts the costs of the prescriptions. To get to $3,850, Aetna counts ONLY your out-of-pocket prescription costs, not the total costs of the prescriptions. My "true out of pocket limit" is only $455 so far, which means I'll have to spend $3,395 more of my money before I hit the $3,850 limit. At least, that's the way I understand it.
That will more than wipe out the $1,750 advantage of Aetna over United Health Care in overall health care coverage. Remember, the United Health Care annual out-of-pocket limit was $2,000 but the Aetna limit is $250, which means we're $1,750 better off with Aetna than with UHC in that case.
As I said before, we're going to have some better and some worse financial situations with the forced switch to Aetna by the Canadian. I'm guessing we'll be worse off or the Canadian wouldn't have made the switch. He pays our health care premiums (plus Aetna gets our Medicare premiums and a government subsidy on top of that), but that has to cost him less than under UHC or he wouldn't have made the switch.
Our increased health care costs are a back-door cut in our pensions because we have less money for everything else.
If you want to find out how you stand with your Aetna prescriptions, or your overall health care, your running totals are available for your account at Aetna.com
If you know your actual Rx costs in 2007, click on Comments and let us know. If you opted for Summa or another plan rather than Aetna, also let us know. Then we can all compare and see which way we want to go for 2008.
Stay tuned.
That will more than wipe out the $1,750 advantage of Aetna over United Health Care in overall health care coverage. Remember, the United Health Care annual out-of-pocket limit was $2,000 but the Aetna limit is $250, which means we're $1,750 better off with Aetna than with UHC in that case.
As I said before, we're going to have some better and some worse financial situations with the forced switch to Aetna by the Canadian. I'm guessing we'll be worse off or the Canadian wouldn't have made the switch. He pays our health care premiums (plus Aetna gets our Medicare premiums and a government subsidy on top of that), but that has to cost him less than under UHC or he wouldn't have made the switch.
Our increased health care costs are a back-door cut in our pensions because we have less money for everything else.
If you want to find out how you stand with your Aetna prescriptions, or your overall health care, your running totals are available for your account at Aetna.com
If you know your actual Rx costs in 2007, click on Comments and let us know. If you opted for Summa or another plan rather than Aetna, also let us know. Then we can all compare and see which way we want to go for 2008.
Stay tuned.
Charles J. Lally obituary in BJ
Charles J. Lally, 61, an attorney and prize-winning journalist, died in his sleep early Tuesday morning, April 17, 2007, while on a bicycle tour in Texas.
He was born in Cleveland and traveled extensively all his life throughout the United States and Europe. After ten years of private practice, Mr. Lally was named the Conference Attorney for the eighth District Court of Appeals, a position he had held. He was a tireless mediator and negotiator advocating the resolution of civil appeals before the case was sent to the appellate panel of three judges. His purpose was to obtain fair compromise for the parties in and appeal, thereby lightening the heavy docket of the appellate court. He excelled in and enjoyed his work. Prior to attending law school at The University of Akron School of Law, Mr. Lally was a prizewining journalist.
He was the beloved husband of Marlene N. (nee Nemer); dear father of Charles N. (wife Kristin), Thomas M. (wife Brande), and Daniel R.; grandfather of Gwyneth, Kate, and Emma; brother of John P. and William Lally and Patricia Bystrom.
Funeral Mass at Gesu Church, 2490 Miramar Blvd., University Heights, Wednesday at 10 a.m. (please meet at church). Interment private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to The Cleveland Hiking Club, P.O. Box 24508, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124 or Crown Point Ecology Center, P.O. Box 484, 3220 Ira Rd., Bath, Ohio 44210. Arrangements by Maher-Melbourne Funeral Home, 216-382-4500. Condolences at www.mahermelbourne.com[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, April 24, 2007, page B6, col. 6]
Monday, April 23, 2007
Ex-BJ reporter Lally dies at 61
Charles J. Lally, a former Beacon Journal reporter who has been a conference attorney for the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals since 1991, died suddenly at the age of 61.
Lally, an avid cyclist, was on a bike tour to Austin, Texas and apparently died quietly in his
sleep. His wife, Marlene, said Lally has been taking bike tours all over the country for the last four or five years. The tours often cover up to 100 miles a day, she said. Lally had left a week ago for Austin and she had talked to him regularly by phone. She got a call from the Ohio Supreme Court stating that the tour director was trying to get in touch with her and then she was told he died in his sleep.
There was a brief obituary, reprinted below, in the Beacon Journal, today.
Lally left the Beacon Journal in March, 1982. He received a B.A. from Kent State University and his J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law. He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School Negotiation Program and had specialized training in negotiations nd mediation through the University of New Mexico and Capital University. He was engaged in private practice before joining the Appeals Court. Court. Conference Attorneys, who have offices on the first floor of the Cuyahoga County Court House, conduct the Appellate Court's Prehearing Conference Program established in 1991. The program is designed to settle civil cases before the parties in pending appeals.
Funeral mass for Lally will be at Gesu Church, 2490 Miramar Blvd., University Hiehgts, at 10 .m. Wednesday. A son, Charles, mentioned in the obituaray below is opening a drugstore in Tallmadge. Son Thomas is an accountant in Marion, OH, and son Daniel is a chemistry major studying medicine at Cleveland State University.
Here is the obituary:
Charles J. Lally, age 61, beloved husband, of Mariene N. (nee Nemer); dear father, of Charles N. (wife Kristin), Thomas M. (wife Brande), and Daniel R.; grandfather, of Gwyneth, Kate, and Emma; brother, of John P. and William Lally and Patricia Bystrom.
Funeral Mass at Gesu Church, 2490 Miramar Blvd., University Heights Wednesday 10 a.m., (please meet at church) Interment private. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial gifts to The Cleveland Hiking Club, P.O. Box 24508, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124 or Crown Point Ecology Center, P.O. Box 484, 3220 Ira Rd., Bath, Ohio 44210. Arrangements by (Maher-Melbourne Funeral Home 216-382-4500.) Condolences at www.mahermelbourne.com.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Monday, April 23, 2007, page B4, col. 1]
Lally, an avid cyclist, was on a bike tour to Austin, Texas and apparently died quietly in his
sleep. His wife, Marlene, said Lally has been taking bike tours all over the country for the last four or five years. The tours often cover up to 100 miles a day, she said. Lally had left a week ago for Austin and she had talked to him regularly by phone. She got a call from the Ohio Supreme Court stating that the tour director was trying to get in touch with her and then she was told he died in his sleep.There was a brief obituary, reprinted below, in the Beacon Journal, today.
Lally left the Beacon Journal in March, 1982. He received a B.A. from Kent State University and his J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law. He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School Negotiation Program and had specialized training in negotiations nd mediation through the University of New Mexico and Capital University. He was engaged in private practice before joining the Appeals Court. Court. Conference Attorneys, who have offices on the first floor of the Cuyahoga County Court House, conduct the Appellate Court's Prehearing Conference Program established in 1991. The program is designed to settle civil cases before the parties in pending appeals.
Funeral mass for Lally will be at Gesu Church, 2490 Miramar Blvd., University Hiehgts, at 10 .m. Wednesday. A son, Charles, mentioned in the obituaray below is opening a drugstore in Tallmadge. Son Thomas is an accountant in Marion, OH, and son Daniel is a chemistry major studying medicine at Cleveland State University.
Here is the obituary:
Charles J. Lally, age 61, beloved husband, of Mariene N. (nee Nemer); dear father, of Charles N. (wife Kristin), Thomas M. (wife Brande), and Daniel R.; grandfather, of Gwyneth, Kate, and Emma; brother, of John P. and William Lally and Patricia Bystrom.
Funeral Mass at Gesu Church, 2490 Miramar Blvd., University Heights Wednesday 10 a.m., (please meet at church) Interment private. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial gifts to The Cleveland Hiking Club, P.O. Box 24508, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124 or Crown Point Ecology Center, P.O. Box 484, 3220 Ira Rd., Bath, Ohio 44210. Arrangements by (Maher-Melbourne Funeral Home 216-382-4500.) Condolences at www.mahermelbourne.com.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Monday, April 23, 2007, page B4, col. 1]
Saturday, April 21, 2007
6 awarded scholarships
Six area college students have been selected for scholarships in memory of John S. Knight and public relations professional Ludel Sauvageot.
This year's Knight scholars are Stephanie Blackstone, Tim Magaw, Stephanie Park and David Yochum, all of Kent State University, and Vincent Dorsey of the University of Akron. The Sauvageot scholar is Alexia Harris of Kent State. Each receives $3,000.
The Knight scholarships are awarded by the John S. Knight Memorial Journalism Fund Corp. and the Sauvageot scholarship is awarded by the Akron Press Club.
The scholars will be recognized at a luncheon at noon April 27 at the Martin University Center, 105 Fir Hill, at the University of Akron.
Doug Clifton, editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, will speak..
The lunch, sponsored by the Press Club, is $15.
For reservations, contact Ron Syroid at 330-607-6811 or rlsyroid@neo.rr.com.
For information about the press club, visit www.akronpressclub.org.
This year's Knight scholars are Stephanie Blackstone, Tim Magaw, Stephanie Park and David Yochum, all of Kent State University, and Vincent Dorsey of the University of Akron. The Sauvageot scholar is Alexia Harris of Kent State. Each receives $3,000.
The Knight scholarships are awarded by the John S. Knight Memorial Journalism Fund Corp. and the Sauvageot scholarship is awarded by the Akron Press Club.
The scholars will be recognized at a luncheon at noon April 27 at the Martin University Center, 105 Fir Hill, at the University of Akron.
Doug Clifton, editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, will speak..
The lunch, sponsored by the Press Club, is $15.
For reservations, contact Ron Syroid at 330-607-6811 or rlsyroid@neo.rr.com.
For information about the press club, visit www.akronpressclub.org.
LA Times to cut 70 in newsroom
The Los Angeles Times is expected to announce Monday a plan to cut about 5% of its workforce, or approximately 150 jobs, as profits at the newspaper and its Chicago-based parent company continue to slide.
Times executives said they expected most of the cuts, including nearly 70 newsroom positions, to come through voluntary buyouts. After the reductions, the newspaper would have about 2,625 employees. The news staff would shrink to about 850 people from 920.
Job reductions have been widely anticipated since last fall, when Publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson and Editor Dean Baquet resisted editorial-staff cuts demanded by Tribune Co., The Times' Chicago-based parent. Both executives left the paper in the highly publicized dispute.
Nothing in Tribune's financial results this week alleviated concerns about the decline in revenue. The company's operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2007 was down 12% to $238 million from $271 million in the same period last year, while operating profit declined 16% to $181 million from $217 million.
Click on the headline to read the full story by James Rainey in the LA Times
Times executives said they expected most of the cuts, including nearly 70 newsroom positions, to come through voluntary buyouts. After the reductions, the newspaper would have about 2,625 employees. The news staff would shrink to about 850 people from 920.
Job reductions have been widely anticipated since last fall, when Publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson and Editor Dean Baquet resisted editorial-staff cuts demanded by Tribune Co., The Times' Chicago-based parent. Both executives left the paper in the highly publicized dispute.
Nothing in Tribune's financial results this week alleviated concerns about the decline in revenue. The company's operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2007 was down 12% to $238 million from $271 million in the same period last year, while operating profit declined 16% to $181 million from $217 million.
Click on the headline to read the full story by James Rainey in the LA Times
Friday, April 20, 2007
Pioneer Press can search StarTrib computers
Pioneer Press wins first round in lawsuit against Star Tribune.
A Ramsey County District Court judge has granted a request from the Saint Paul Pioneer Press that they be allowed to search at least a dozen computers owned or used by Minneapolis Star Tribune employees over concerns that the Minneapolis paper obtained its main competitor's confidential advertising information.
The judge also granted a request from the St. Paul paper that the Star Tribune's director of niche publications, Jennifer Parratt, be temporarily suspended from her job. Parratt, who was hired away from the Pioneer Press, started with the Star Tribune on Tuesday.
The St. Paul paper has alleged that Parratt broke a noncompete agreement when she took the new post at the Star Tribune and now poses an unfair threat to their advertising business.
The Star Tribune has maintained that since March 29, the day that Par Ridder received a letter from Pioneer Press attorney Dominic Cecere accusing him of carrying St. Paul's confidential information to Minneapolis on his Pioneer Press laptop computer, the paper has taken steps to identify and sequester or remove that information from the Star Tribune.
"We understand the judge's decision to preserve the status quo until all the evidence can be gathered and heard, and we will fully comply with the order," Star Tribune spokesman Ben Taylor said in a statement. "We're anxious to get a full hearing on the merits and look forward to presenting our case as soon as possible."
The Star Tribune has 48 hours to turn over the computers, which will be searched for any Pioneer Press information. Parratt, who was at work Friday morning, left the building when the order was issued.
The order also asks the Star Tribune to turn over all Pioneer Press paper files, including the noncompete agreements for Ridder and Parratt. The lawsuit accuses Ridder of taking the agreements with him when he left St. Paul.
[Source: Matt McKinney in the Star Tribune]
Read the court order in pdf file
A Ramsey County District Court judge has granted a request from the Saint Paul Pioneer Press that they be allowed to search at least a dozen computers owned or used by Minneapolis Star Tribune employees over concerns that the Minneapolis paper obtained its main competitor's confidential advertising information.
The judge also granted a request from the St. Paul paper that the Star Tribune's director of niche publications, Jennifer Parratt, be temporarily suspended from her job. Parratt, who was hired away from the Pioneer Press, started with the Star Tribune on Tuesday.
The St. Paul paper has alleged that Parratt broke a noncompete agreement when she took the new post at the Star Tribune and now poses an unfair threat to their advertising business.
The Star Tribune has maintained that since March 29, the day that Par Ridder received a letter from Pioneer Press attorney Dominic Cecere accusing him of carrying St. Paul's confidential information to Minneapolis on his Pioneer Press laptop computer, the paper has taken steps to identify and sequester or remove that information from the Star Tribune.
"We understand the judge's decision to preserve the status quo until all the evidence can be gathered and heard, and we will fully comply with the order," Star Tribune spokesman Ben Taylor said in a statement. "We're anxious to get a full hearing on the merits and look forward to presenting our case as soon as possible."
The Star Tribune has 48 hours to turn over the computers, which will be searched for any Pioneer Press information. Parratt, who was at work Friday morning, left the building when the order was issued.
The order also asks the Star Tribune to turn over all Pioneer Press paper files, including the noncompete agreements for Ridder and Parratt. The lawsuit accuses Ridder of taking the agreements with him when he left St. Paul.
[Source: Matt McKinney in the Star Tribune]
Read the court order in pdf file
Post for Bob Abbott on Rx issue
OK Group:
I have enough people committing that we're on our way!
I'm getting in touch with counsel today to start the process. Realize this will take time and we won't probably have any info as to the
progress for at least a month. Remember the wheels of justice grind very slow but hopefully very fine also.
So, if you haven't already sent a check for $50 please do so at your first convenience. Make it out to me (no, I'm afraid there won't be
enough money there for a grand vacation for me.) and send it to my home address:
Robert Abbott
1461 Deermont Ave. SW
Massillon, OH 44647
rabbott@mindspring.com
330 830-4984
Probably late next week I will take those checks..adding my own of course...and open our legal "slush" fund. If any of you don't want your
name known to others please contact me and when I give out the info about the status of the fund I will honor your wishes and use a "bogus" name
while still accounting for your participation in the project.
It's not too late, at any time, for others to join...so keep rattling the bushes and help us all defray the costs of this initial effort.
Any questions...contact me either by e-mail or phone.
thanx
bob abbott
Still angry about health care changes?
Time to put your money where your mouth is.
Bob Abbott is heading up our attempt to abort the Canadian's illegal changing of our health care coverage, even though many of us had union contracts that prohibited any change during our retirement years.
If you're willing to contribute to the legal fund, contact
Robert Abbott
1461 Deermont Ave. SW
Massillon, OH 44647
rabbott@mindspring.com
330 830-4984
He will be happy to give you the details. We're starting with $50 contributions apiece.
Bob Abbott is heading up our attempt to abort the Canadian's illegal changing of our health care coverage, even though many of us had union contracts that prohibited any change during our retirement years.
If you're willing to contribute to the legal fund, contact
Robert Abbott
1461 Deermont Ave. SW
Massillon, OH 44647
rabbott@mindspring.com
330 830-4984
He will be happy to give you the details. We're starting with $50 contributions apiece.
We have passed the 1,000 mark
Wow, the blog guy missed the really big news.
Sometime, about April 15, we passed the 1,000 mark on the number of posts on this blog since it opened in July, 2004. This is post number 1,
013.
And as of today, we have had 42,285 visitors. That includes 708 in the last seven days at an average of 101 visits per day.
Incidentally, today we were switched to a new blogger interface--same old address--which should make things a little easier.
Thanks to all of our viewers. It could not have been done without you keeping us posted on what you have been up to lately. Please drop us a line. . . or leave a comment.
Sometime, about April 15, we passed the 1,000 mark on the number of posts on this blog since it opened in July, 2004. This is post number 1,
013.And as of today, we have had 42,285 visitors. That includes 708 in the last seven days at an average of 101 visits per day.
Incidentally, today we were switched to a new blogger interface--same old address--which should make things a little easier.
Thanks to all of our viewers. It could not have been done without you keeping us posted on what you have been up to lately. Please drop us a line. . . or leave a comment.
Meeting about the news
Time-Warner Cable 23 aired the first of the Akron Press Club series called "Trading Places With the Media." It was the Beacon Journal's slot on Thursday evening (April 19) which was dubbed "Be the Editor" or a public viewing of the Beacon Journal's morning news meeting.
It did not sound like the old news meetings I used to know which were a little more raucous with hard questions and not very clear answers, but in today's politically correct world it is probably much tamer. It probably did give viewers some insight into how editors meet to decide what will go into the newspaper--until news happens and changes it all.
Actors for the meeting were Bruce Winges, assistant managing editor; Ann Sheldon Mezger, metro editor; Mitch McKinney, features editor; Kimberly Barth, photo and graphics editor; Larry Pantages, business editor, and Rich Desrosiers, sports editor.
Managing Editor Mizell Stewart introduced them and explained that there are meetings at 9:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. He talked about placing content on Ohio.com which has more space and allows photographers, for instance, to show more of their work. He pointed out that getting space on servers is a whole lot cheaper than newsprint.
Behind the Microphone for TV and radio types will air at 7 pm. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday, and 7 p.m. April 26
News of the Week, on reahing local communities, will air at 7 p.m. April 28, 4 p.m. , April 29 and 7 p.m. May 2.
The Media Online Future will air at 7 p.m. May 5, 4 p.m. May 6 and 7 p.m. May 10.
It did not sound like the old news meetings I used to know which were a little more raucous with hard questions and not very clear answers, but in today's politically correct world it is probably much tamer. It probably did give viewers some insight into how editors meet to decide what will go into the newspaper--until news happens and changes it all.
Actors for the meeting were Bruce Winges, assistant managing editor; Ann Sheldon Mezger, metro editor; Mitch McKinney, features editor; Kimberly Barth, photo and graphics editor; Larry Pantages, business editor, and Rich Desrosiers, sports editor.
Managing Editor Mizell Stewart introduced them and explained that there are meetings at 9:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. He talked about placing content on Ohio.com which has more space and allows photographers, for instance, to show more of their work. He pointed out that getting space on servers is a whole lot cheaper than newsprint.
Behind the Microphone for TV and radio types will air at 7 pm. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday, and 7 p.m. April 26
News of the Week, on reahing local communities, will air at 7 p.m. April 28, 4 p.m. , April 29 and 7 p.m. May 2.
The Media Online Future will air at 7 p.m. May 5, 4 p.m. May 6 and 7 p.m. May 10.
Classified salesman William ‘Beep’ Menhorn dies
WOOSTER -- William "Beep" McClelland Menhorn Jr., 77, of Wooster, passed away Monday, April 9, 2007, at Wooster Community Hospital.
Born December 14, 1929 in Akron, he was the son of William McClelland Sr. and GeraldineChapin Menhorn.
He was a classified ad salesman for the Akron Beacon Journal for 20 years and then moved to Venic
e, Florida, and he worked for the Shopping Guide.
He is survived by wife, Mary Moudy Menhorn; his children, Karen (Jim) Pitt of Florida, Melanie (Keith) Miller of Wooster, Jerilynn (Joe) King of Sarasota, Fla., and Melissa Menhorn of Wooster; and grandchildren, James Pitt, Kellie Pitt, Joshua Conn, Lane Green, Samantha and Steve Balogac, Adam Russell, Joey King, Danielle King, Angala Chagnon, Kim Miller, Kasey Miller, George, Jamie, Hunter and Corey Topovski.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster, OH 44691.
[The Beacon Journal,, Akron, OH, Friday, April 20, 2007, page B7, col. 1]
Born December 14, 1929 in Akron, he was the son of William McClelland Sr. and GeraldineChapin Menhorn.
He was a classified ad salesman for the Akron Beacon Journal for 20 years and then moved to Venic
e, Florida, and he worked for the Shopping Guide.He is survived by wife, Mary Moudy Menhorn; his children, Karen (Jim) Pitt of Florida, Melanie (Keith) Miller of Wooster, Jerilynn (Joe) King of Sarasota, Fla., and Melissa Menhorn of Wooster; and grandchildren, James Pitt, Kellie Pitt, Joshua Conn, Lane Green, Samantha and Steve Balogac, Adam Russell, Joey King, Danielle King, Angala Chagnon, Kim Miller, Kasey Miller, George, Jamie, Hunter and Corey Topovski.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster, OH 44691.
[The Beacon Journal,, Akron, OH, Friday, April 20, 2007, page B7, col. 1]
Thursday, April 19, 2007
McClatchy joins with Yahoo
The publishers of more than 260 U.S. newspapers, including McClatchy Co., are hitching their online aspirations to Internet powerhouse Yahoo Inc.
The alliance announced Monday builds upon a consortium announced nearly five months ago. Since then, the alliance has recruited five more companies, including McClatchy C
o., the nation's third-largest newspaper publisher. With the latest additions, the group now spans 264 newspapers in 44 states.,
The newspapers also will funnel more of their stories through Yahoo's heavily trafficked news, finance and sports sections in an effort to lure more readers to their Web sites.
The financial terms and the length of the newspaper consortium's contract with Yahoo weren't disclosed. In a Monday conference call, newspaper executives predicted Yahoo will help their companies recoup some of their recent losses to the Internet. Without providing specifics, the newspaper executives indicated the anticipated revenue gains from the Yahoo partnership would become evident next year.
The amount spent on the Internet by local advertisers, a major source of newspaper revenue, is expected to total $12.4 billion in 2010, up from $3.4 billion last year.
Meanwhile, advertisers aren't spending as much on print. That trend became even more apparent last year when overall print advertising at newspapers fell 1.7 percent while online advertising increased 31.5 percent, according to the Newspaper Association of America, an industry group. Total newspaper revenue dipped by 0.3 percent.
[Source: Associated Press]
The alliance announced Monday builds upon a consortium announced nearly five months ago. Since then, the alliance has recruited five more companies, including McClatchy C
o., the nation's third-largest newspaper publisher. With the latest additions, the group now spans 264 newspapers in 44 states.,The newspapers also will funnel more of their stories through Yahoo's heavily trafficked news, finance and sports sections in an effort to lure more readers to their Web sites.
The financial terms and the length of the newspaper consortium's contract with Yahoo weren't disclosed. In a Monday conference call, newspaper executives predicted Yahoo will help their companies recoup some of their recent losses to the Internet. Without providing specifics, the newspaper executives indicated the anticipated revenue gains from the Yahoo partnership would become evident next year.
The amount spent on the Internet by local advertisers, a major source of newspaper revenue, is expected to total $12.4 billion in 2010, up from $3.4 billion last year.
Meanwhile, advertisers aren't spending as much on print. That trend became even more apparent last year when overall print advertising at newspapers fell 1.7 percent while online advertising increased 31.5 percent, according to the Newspaper Association of America, an industry group. Total newspaper revenue dipped by 0.3 percent.
[Source: Associated Press]
Credibility at stake, judge warns
A public spat between the two largest newspapers in Minnesota could see its first judicial ruling within days after a Ramsey County district judge said Wednesday that he will consider the St. Paul Pioneer Press' request to examine at least a dozen Minneapolis Star Tribune computers.
The St. Paul paper wants to see whether some of its confidential advertising information has been shared among top Star Tribune executives.
Also expected soon is a ruling on whether Jennifer Parratt, a former Pioneer Press employee who on Tuesday became the Star Tribune's director of niche publications, may continue working. The suit says she had a non-complete clause in her contact . The Pioneer Press has asked that she be temporarily suspended to prevent her from using information she gathered in St. Paul against her former employer.
Judge David Higgs issued an order to both newspapers at the conclusion of an hourlong hearing on Wednesday prohibiting the destruction of any information pertinent to the case, framing his comments against the newspaper's public squabble.
"I think you are all aware that the credibility of the media is in question here, and that doesn't bode well for either of you," Higgs said.
Separately, Chris Harte, the Star Tribune's chairman [and former BJ publisher] , rejected a request from the paper's main union to conduct an independent inquiry. "The allegations are just that -- allegations -- which are going to be dealt with in the course of this lawsuit," he wrote in an e-mail to the union's top officers. "I hope you all will agree with me that our efforts are better spent by focusing on serving readers and advertisers and letting this lawsuit work its way through the courts."
Click on the headline to read Matt McKinney’s full story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune
You may need to search on the words "judge credibility"
The St. Paul paper wants to see whether some of its confidential advertising information has been shared among top Star Tribune executives.
Also expected soon is a ruling on whether Jennifer Parratt, a former Pioneer Press employee who on Tuesday became the Star Tribune's director of niche publications, may continue working. The suit says she had a non-complete clause in her contact . The Pioneer Press has asked that she be temporarily suspended to prevent her from using information she gathered in St. Paul against her former employer.
Judge David Higgs issued an order to both newspapers at the conclusion of an hourlong hearing on Wednesday prohibiting the destruction of any information pertinent to the case, framing his comments against the newspaper's public squabble.
"I think you are all aware that the credibility of the media is in question here, and that doesn't bode well for either of you," Higgs said.
Separately, Chris Harte, the Star Tribune's chairman [and former BJ publisher] , rejected a request from the paper's main union to conduct an independent inquiry. "The allegations are just that -- allegations -- which are going to be dealt with in the course of this lawsuit," he wrote in an e-mail to the union's top officers. "I hope you all will agree with me that our efforts are better spent by focusing on serving readers and advertisers and letting this lawsuit work its way through the courts."
Click on the headline to read Matt McKinney’s full story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune
You may need to search on the words "judge credibility"
Maple Syrup season is about over
Geoff Gevalt writes about the season's end of his maple syup making in Vermont in his editor's blog he writes for his Young Writers Project.. You can click on the headline to read his post, but here are a couple of graphs snipped out.
On Sunday, when it was snowing and raining and hailing and blowing, I was outside under our “sugar
roof” boiling sap. I love making maple syrup. It slows me down, makes me think and forces me to look around. This year, the season has been weird; the sap ran in late December but not again until late March. It came in spits and starts and then, finally, unleashed.
So I was standing out under the roof, the wind howling in, snow almost landing in the evaporator pan before the steam would melt it, at the last moment.
[snip] [snip] [snip]
Season’s pretty well over. I’ve got a couple of gallons in pots to filter out and bottle. But many of the taps have dried up, a few others have been attacked by ants and the others are producing yellowish sap that is too far gone. I was hoping to squeeze one more run out of the trees, but it looks like it’s just too late in the year and it gets too hot too quickly. By hot I mean 45 or 50. And we haven’t had cold enough nights — barely freezing and a lot of days where it was above freezing.
So on Saturday I’ll take them down.
On Sunday, when it was snowing and raining and hailing and blowing, I was outside under our “sugar
roof” boiling sap. I love making maple syrup. It slows me down, makes me think and forces me to look around. This year, the season has been weird; the sap ran in late December but not again until late March. It came in spits and starts and then, finally, unleashed.So I was standing out under the roof, the wind howling in, snow almost landing in the evaporator pan before the steam would melt it, at the last moment.
[snip] [snip] [snip]
So on Saturday I’ll take them down.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Tax credit for retirement income
A post from John Olesky on tax credit for retirement income.
The Ohio $250 tax credit is for retirement income credit ($200 maximum) and senior citizen credit ($50). Because the BJ pays our Aetna medical premium, we cannot deduct the part we pay, if any, on a separate line but must include it along with other excess medical expenses as a deduction, NOT a credit, on our Ohio income tax form. It includes our out-of-pocket expenses. Only the part that's over the 7.5% of your Ajusted Gross Income can be deducted. I use TaxACT, an online tax service where you just answer questions, and it automatically calculates the amount. In my case, the deduction was $1,566. It should be more for the 1040 I file for 2007 because we'll be paying four-figures more in prescription costs alone through Aetna, compared to United Health Care.
In any case, it's a hefty amount so all BJ retirees should be sure to include it on their Ohio tax forms. In my case, it reduced my Ohio taxes by $230, so it's worth doing.
The Ohio $250 tax credit is for retirement income credit ($200 maximum) and senior citizen credit ($50). Because the BJ pays our Aetna medical premium, we cannot deduct the part we pay, if any, on a separate line but must include it along with other excess medical expenses as a deduction, NOT a credit, on our Ohio income tax form. It includes our out-of-pocket expenses. Only the part that's over the 7.5% of your Ajusted Gross Income can be deducted. I use TaxACT, an online tax service where you just answer questions, and it automatically calculates the amount. In my case, the deduction was $1,566. It should be more for the 1040 I file for 2007 because we'll be paying four-figures more in prescription costs alone through Aetna, compared to United Health Care.
In any case, it's a hefty amount so all BJ retirees should be sure to include it on their Ohio tax forms. In my case, it reduced my Ohio taxes by $230, so it's worth doing.
Bruce Sherman: Paper Shredder
The Paper Shredder, an article in the May, 2007 issue of Portfolio, tells a great story:
Knight Ridder sacked,
the New York Times Co. under pressure,
layoffs pummeling newsrooms:
How enigmatic asset manager Bruce Sherman became the scariest guy in journalism.
Author of the article is Gabriel Sherman who has the unfortunate honor of bearing the same last name.
Here are the salient graphs:
On a balmy evening in late January, Bruce Sherman, C.E.O. of Private Capital Management, hosted a dinner for 36 guests at his 12,050-square-foot penthouse overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in Naples, Florida. It was a party with a title—“Essential Indulgence”—held on the eve of th
e Naples Winter Wine Festival, an annual charity-auction-cum-fete that draws the elite to the city’s Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Indulged, indeed, were the attendees, including Martha Stewart, wine critic Robert Parker, and Judith Sheindlin, Sherman’s cousin, better known as television personality Judge Judy. Master chef Daniel Boulud flew to Naples to prepare an elaborate menu that featured foie gras tartlets with quince.
The 58-year-old Sherman was in good spirits. Surrounded by friends and family, he exuded the confident contentment of someone who had ascended to rarefied heights of money and power—a middle-class public school kid from Queens, New York, now managing $24 billion, with deepening roots in the Naples philanthropic scene. But the evening’s festivities belied a more turbulent reality: Sherman’s billion-dollar-plus newspaper investments in a landscape shifting toward digital media had cost his clients plenty. Long accustomed to betting correctly, Sherman was moving to rectify this uncharacteristic state of affairs with actions that have cast him uncomfortably as a central figure in the drama now upending American journalism.
Sherman (no relation to this writer) is the mysterious investor who forced Knight Ridder to sell itself last year to the McClatchy Co. in a $6.5 billion deal. Journalism has since suffered what might best be described as a collective panic attack. After all, Knight Ridder, owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Miami Herald, and 30 other daily papers, had been the second-largest newspaper publisher in the country, with 2005 revenues of $3 billion, and it was bought by a company half its size. Moreover, it was the first time that an activist shareholder had successfully engineered the breakup of a publicly traded newspaper company, and it left Knight Ridder C.E.O. Anthony Ridder reeling from the rope-a-dope tactics Sherman used to oust him. Sherman, it turns out, is a guy who doesn’t like surprises but who is adept at springing them.
As part of the deal, McClatchy promptly put 12 of Knight Ridder’s papers up for sale, roiling their newsrooms with uncertainty. Other large publicly traded newspaper chains that were cobbled together in the 1970s and 1980s may soon face similar pressures. Not even the most vaunted press institutions are immune.
Sherman has since joined with other large shareholders, such as Hassan Elmasry of Morgan Stanley’s $11.5 billion Global Franchise Fund, to wage a proxy campaign against chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr.'s dynastic control of the New York Times Co.
Since Sherman felled Knight Ridder, the press has labeled him as reclusive. Actually, he has always operated outside the power orbits of the Ivy League, Wall Street, and the media, and he relishes the freedom that doing business in Naples affords. There, Sherman has carved out his social and financial fiefdom. And it’s some life.
Twice divorced, Sherman finally met a woman of his disposition: Cynthia Kahn, a flaxen-haired media lawyer. They wed in 1999 at the Pierre, in New York City, seven and a half months after Sherman’s second divorce. Kahn, now 51, quit practicing law, and the two wove themselves tightly into Naples’ moneyed fabric of real estate, philanthropy, and politics.. In 2003, they bought their $9.5 million penthouse at the Regent, a 37-unit high-rise on Gulfshore Boulevard, and commissioned a multimillion-dollar renovation.
Click on the headline to read the full story.
Knight Ridder sacked,
the New York Times Co. under pressure,
layoffs pummeling newsrooms:
How enigmatic asset manager Bruce Sherman became the scariest guy in journalism.
Author of the article is Gabriel Sherman who has the unfortunate honor of bearing the same last name.
Here are the salient graphs:
On a balmy evening in late January, Bruce Sherman, C.E.O. of Private Capital Management, hosted a dinner for 36 guests at his 12,050-square-foot penthouse overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in Naples, Florida. It was a party with a title—“Essential Indulgence”—held on the eve of th
e Naples Winter Wine Festival, an annual charity-auction-cum-fete that draws the elite to the city’s Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Indulged, indeed, were the attendees, including Martha Stewart, wine critic Robert Parker, and Judith Sheindlin, Sherman’s cousin, better known as television personality Judge Judy. Master chef Daniel Boulud flew to Naples to prepare an elaborate menu that featured foie gras tartlets with quince.The 58-year-old Sherman was in good spirits. Surrounded by friends and family, he exuded the confident contentment of someone who had ascended to rarefied heights of money and power—a middle-class public school kid from Queens, New York, now managing $24 billion, with deepening roots in the Naples philanthropic scene. But the evening’s festivities belied a more turbulent reality: Sherman’s billion-dollar-plus newspaper investments in a landscape shifting toward digital media had cost his clients plenty. Long accustomed to betting correctly, Sherman was moving to rectify this uncharacteristic state of affairs with actions that have cast him uncomfortably as a central figure in the drama now upending American journalism.
Sherman (no relation to this writer) is the mysterious investor who forced Knight Ridder to sell itself last year to the McClatchy Co. in a $6.5 billion deal. Journalism has since suffered what might best be described as a collective panic attack. After all, Knight Ridder, owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Miami Herald, and 30 other daily papers, had been the second-largest newspaper publisher in the country, with 2005 revenues of $3 billion, and it was bought by a company half its size. Moreover, it was the first time that an activist shareholder had successfully engineered the breakup of a publicly traded newspaper company, and it left Knight Ridder C.E.O. Anthony Ridder reeling from the rope-a-dope tactics Sherman used to oust him. Sherman, it turns out, is a guy who doesn’t like surprises but who is adept at springing them.
As part of the deal, McClatchy promptly put 12 of Knight Ridder’s papers up for sale, roiling their newsrooms with uncertainty. Other large publicly traded newspaper chains that were cobbled together in the 1970s and 1980s may soon face similar pressures. Not even the most vaunted press institutions are immune.
Sherman has since joined with other large shareholders, such as Hassan Elmasry of Morgan Stanley’s $11.5 billion Global Franchise Fund, to wage a proxy campaign against chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr.'s dynastic control of the New York Times Co.
Since Sherman felled Knight Ridder, the press has labeled him as reclusive. Actually, he has always operated outside the power orbits of the Ivy League, Wall Street, and the media, and he relishes the freedom that doing business in Naples affords. There, Sherman has carved out his social and financial fiefdom. And it’s some life.
Twice divorced, Sherman finally met a woman of his disposition: Cynthia Kahn, a flaxen-haired media lawyer. They wed in 1999 at the Pierre, in New York City, seven and a half months after Sherman’s second divorce. Kahn, now 51, quit practicing law, and the two wove themselves tightly into Naples’ moneyed fabric of real estate, philanthropy, and politics.. In 2003, they bought their $9.5 million penthouse at the Regent, a 37-unit high-rise on Gulfshore Boulevard, and commissioned a multimillion-dollar renovation.
Click on the headline to read the full story.
Wall Street Journal wins 2 Pulitzer Prizes
The Wall Street Journal won two Pulitzer Prizes on Monday for exposing excesses of capitalism –in America and China.
The prizes, awarded by Columbia University, included honors for coverage of the stock options scandal that rattled corporate America in 2006 and what judges called “sharply edged reports on the adverse impact of China’s booming capitalism on conditions ranging from inequality to pollution.”
Gene Roberts, who helped his reporters win Pulitzer Prizes, including 19 while at the Philadelphia Inquirer, won one of his own this year as co-author with Hank Klibanoff for their book "The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation.”
"It's never too late," said Roberts, who at 74 still teaches journalism at the University of Maryland in College Park.
Click on the headline to see a complete list of winners or to download a file of the winners.
The prizes, awarded by Columbia University, included honors for coverage of the stock options scandal that rattled corporate America in 2006 and what judges called “sharply edged reports on the adverse impact of China’s booming capitalism on conditions ranging from inequality to pollution.”
Gene Roberts, who helped his reporters win Pulitzer Prizes, including 19 while at the Philadelphia Inquirer, won one of his own this year as co-author with Hank Klibanoff for their book "The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation.”
"It's never too late," said Roberts, who at 74 still teaches journalism at the University of Maryland in College Park.
Click on the headline to see a complete list of winners or to download a file of the winners.
Abbott pushing Rx fight
Retired printer Bob Abbott is spearheading an effort to fight the loss of benefits by BJ retirees. Here is his latest report:
This is In regards to the way the BJ is trying (and succeeding) to not honor their separation agreement with so many of us. While some of you might not be directly affected yet by this...when you reach the age of 65 I guarantee you will be at that time.
While the BJ waffling on the Rx card is worrisome, .I'm more concerned by their statement that since "your retiree medical benefits were not vested for life and can be changed." I think their intent is obvious. They will drop all the retirement benefits at their pleasure. With the exception of the pension which is protected (to a point) by Federal laws. So if something doesn't get done you can kiss the Rx cards goodbye.
Counsel has a two-step trial balloon he wants to pursue. One can be accomplished at a reasonable cost.–-probably $300-$500. If all goes well I'm hoping we can get more people on board to really take this to the courts, because it will get more expensive at that time.
Right now...I'm hoping to get each of you to give $50 to a "slush fund" to get started. That's one tank of gasoline to see if we can proceed. I don't want any money right now...but if you can, contact me if you will be willing to help out.
rabbott@mindspring.com Tel: 330 830-4984
For this step I plan to open a separate checking account and will keep everyone provided with paper work to know how the account and monies are being used. If there is any left over it will be split up and sent back to you. If the case moves past the two steps, .it will be necessary to have someone to handle the cash to make sure everything is above board and transparent.
Right now my name is the only name on the action so you are not affected yet by this do not need to worry it will affect your present situation. The theory here is that if we breach the dam...the water will flow and at that point everybody will benefit.
But if we do nothing...nothing gets done. My personal thought is...that even if I go down at least I'll get a couple pokes at them on the way down. We all know that what they are doing is not right. They obviously don't care and unfortunately being right is sometimes not good enough. We are going to have to fight to get what we signed up for. Unfortunate but true.
Think about this, and if you can get in touch with me by Friday (4/20/07) if you are with me. Then I will get in touch with you in a week or so to get things really rolling.
bob abbott
Added note on your income tax:
Do you know that the cost of your BJ health insurance (non-reimbursed) can be deducted on your
Ohio return...I think up to a $200 credit on schedule B. If you did not claim this, you can always file an amended return to perhaps get some money back from your Ohio taxes. This would be a retirement income credit.
This is In regards to the way the BJ is trying (and succeeding) to not honor their separation agreement with so many of us. While some of you might not be directly affected yet by this...when you reach the age of 65 I guarantee you will be at that time.
While the BJ waffling on the Rx card is worrisome, .I'm more concerned by their statement that since "your retiree medical benefits were not vested for life and can be changed." I think their intent is obvious. They will drop all the retirement benefits at their pleasure. With the exception of the pension which is protected (to a point) by Federal laws. So if something doesn't get done you can kiss the Rx cards goodbye.
Counsel has a two-step trial balloon he wants to pursue. One can be accomplished at a reasonable cost.–-probably $300-$500. If all goes well I'm hoping we can get more people on board to really take this to the courts, because it will get more expensive at that time.
Right now...I'm hoping to get each of you to give $50 to a "slush fund" to get started. That's one tank of gasoline to see if we can proceed. I don't want any money right now...but if you can, contact me if you will be willing to help out.
rabbott@mindspring.com Tel: 330 830-4984
For this step I plan to open a separate checking account and will keep everyone provided with paper work to know how the account and monies are being used. If there is any left over it will be split up and sent back to you. If the case moves past the two steps, .it will be necessary to have someone to handle the cash to make sure everything is above board and transparent.
Right now my name is the only name on the action so you are not affected yet by this do not need to worry it will affect your present situation. The theory here is that if we breach the dam...the water will flow and at that point everybody will benefit.
But if we do nothing...nothing gets done. My personal thought is...that even if I go down at least I'll get a couple pokes at them on the way down. We all know that what they are doing is not right. They obviously don't care and unfortunately being right is sometimes not good enough. We are going to have to fight to get what we signed up for. Unfortunate but true.
Think about this, and if you can get in touch with me by Friday (4/20/07) if you are with me. Then I will get in touch with you in a week or so to get things really rolling.
bob abbott
Added note on your income tax:
Do you know that the cost of your BJ health insurance (non-reimbursed) can be deducted on your
Ohio return...I think up to a $200 credit on schedule B. If you did not claim this, you can always file an amended return to perhaps get some money back from your Ohio taxes. This would be a retirement income credit.
Monday, April 16, 2007
See the Toledo Blade doctored photos
Photographer Allan Detrich, who resigned from The Toledo Blade earlier this month after admitting he had altered a photo that appeared in the paper, had submitted at least 79 photos for publication since the beginning of the year that were digitally altered, with 58 of those either appearing in the paper or on the Blade Web site.
In a “report to readers” Sunday, Blade Editor Ron Royhab revealed the findings of a review that began after it was discovered that a Detrich photo published March 31 had been altered. Detrich resigned April 7 after admitting the change to a photo of the Bluffton University baseball team, but claimed it had been mistakenly submitted for publication.
Royhab’s report Sunday said that the paper had reviewed all of Detrich’s photos since the beginning of 2007, some 947 images. The review found that Detrich had submitted 79 such altered images, with 27 of those appearing in the paper and online. Additionally, 31 doctored photos appeared only on the Blade Web site.
“The changes Mr. Detrich made included erasing people, tree limbs, utility poles, electrical wires, electrical outlets, and other background elements from photographs. In other cases, he added elements such as tree branches and shrubbery,” Royhab explained. “Mr. Detrich also submitted two sports photographs in which items were inserted. In one he added a hockey puck and in the other he added a basketball, each hanging in mid-air. Neither was published.”
The Blade also posted three examples on its Web site Sunday of how Detrich altered photos, including the original version of the Bluffton image.
See the Toledo Blade Editor Ron Royhab's report and three examples of how Detrich altered photos.
See the Editor & Publisher report by Joe Strupp.
In a “report to readers” Sunday, Blade Editor Ron Royhab revealed the findings of a review that began after it was discovered that a Detrich photo published March 31 had been altered. Detrich resigned April 7 after admitting the change to a photo of the Bluffton University baseball team, but claimed it had been mistakenly submitted for publication.
Royhab’s report Sunday said that the paper had reviewed all of Detrich’s photos since the beginning of 2007, some 947 images. The review found that Detrich had submitted 79 such altered images, with 27 of those appearing in the paper and online. Additionally, 31 doctored photos appeared only on the Blade Web site.
“The changes Mr. Detrich made included erasing people, tree limbs, utility poles, electrical wires, electrical outlets, and other background elements from photographs. In other cases, he added elements such as tree branches and shrubbery,” Royhab explained. “Mr. Detrich also submitted two sports photographs in which items were inserted. In one he added a hockey puck and in the other he added a basketball, each hanging in mid-air. Neither was published.”
The Blade also posted three examples on its Web site Sunday of how Detrich altered photos, including the original version of the Bluffton image.
See the Toledo Blade Editor Ron Royhab's report and three examples of how Detrich altered photos.
See the Editor & Publisher report by Joe Strupp.
Inquirer to run ads on front page
Beginning this week, readers of the Philadelphia Inquirer will see ads in the bottom right corner of the front page. And, beginning April 30, a new advertising format purchased by Citizens Bank will debut on the front of the weekday Business sections. It will include a Citizens Bank ad across the bottom of the page and another smaller ad in the top corner.
In a more unusual arrangement, a Citizens Bank label will run with a new column produced by Inquirer writers and editors. Some of the revenue from the ads will be used to hire an editor for the column, which will focus on short news items about local, publicly traded companies. The new feature will be boxed in green, Citizens Bank's color.
Media experts the branded column could be confusing to readers.
While there's nothing inherently wrong with sponsorship of editorial content, it can create the perception of advertiser influence, or the real thing, said Jill Geisler, who teaches ethics at the Poynter Institute, a St. Petersburg, Fla., school for journalists. Editorial independence is a core journalistic value.
Allowing such sponsorship is "a road that needs good guardrails," she said, "or you can drive yourself off a credibility cliff."
Click on the headline to read the full story by Stacey Burling in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In a more unusual arrangement, a Citizens Bank label will run with a new column produced by Inquirer writers and editors. Some of the revenue from the ads will be used to hire an editor for the column, which will focus on short news items about local, publicly traded companies. The new feature will be boxed in green, Citizens Bank's color.
Media experts the branded column could be confusing to readers.
While there's nothing inherently wrong with sponsorship of editorial content, it can create the perception of advertiser influence, or the real thing, said Jill Geisler, who teaches ethics at the Poynter Institute, a St. Petersburg, Fla., school for journalists. Editorial independence is a core journalistic value.
Allowing such sponsorship is "a road that needs good guardrails," she said, "or you can drive yourself off a credibility cliff."
Click on the headline to read the full story by Stacey Burling in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Stewart gets honor at Bowling Green
Mizell Stewart III, managing editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, was inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism Hall of Fame at Bowling Green State University. He joined the Beacon Journal as managing editor in February 2006, supervising day-to-day newsroom operations. Previously, he helped lead Knight Ridder journalists in coordinating coverage of Hurricane Katrina at the Biloxi Sun-Herald. That effort earned the 2006 Pulitzer Gold Medal for Public Service.
Guten Morgen from Gloria in Germany
I have been reading all the updates on the retiree blog, so I thought I would join in.
I arrived here on Friday morning, relatively on time despite several delays along the way. My luggage, however, remained in Amsterdam. Fortunately, the airline knew where it was and got it to my hotel that evening. Dealing with jet lag was much more challenging. My aging body needs its sleep and does not appreciate monkeying with its internal clock.
This is my first time in Europe. Don't know why I brought only one electrical adapter with me. I packed an extra battery for my laptop, but have to choose between recharging my cell phone and drying my hair. Online access is spotty, especially with 80 Timken people in the same hotel trying to connect to the server in Canton. Such is life.
Timken's international atmosphere can be challenging, but I find it fascinating. There are some headaches involved in this job -- as with any -- and I long for an MBA, an engineering degree and fluency in a foreign language. When I read the postings about the Beacon Journal, I do not regret leaving.
I have about two hours of free time so I think I'll go play tourist for a bit. It is unseasonably warm here. I propped the window open with my briefcase because I have not learned how to operate the air conditioning. I hear it's still chilly back there in Northeast Ohio. I return on April 21, and I'm hoping to see full spring when I land.
Gloria Irwin
I am in Hannover, Germany, for a large industrial fair. This is my first trip abroad for Timken. We have five press interviews scheduled during the fair, and then I'm going on to Frankfurt with our public relations agency there.
I arrived here on Friday morning, relatively on time despite several delays along the way. My luggage, however, remained in Amsterdam. Fortunately, the airline knew where it was and got it to my hotel that evening. Dealing with jet lag was much more challenging. My aging body needs its sleep and does not appreciate monkeying with its internal clock.
This is my first time in Europe. Don't know why I brought only one electrical adapter with me. I packed an extra battery for my laptop, but have to choose between recharging my cell phone and drying my hair. Online access is spotty, especially with 80 Timken people in the same hotel trying to connect to the server in Canton. Such is life.
I had breakfast this morning with a communications team member from China and another from Poland. My "hosts" are three team members from Colmar, France. They all, of course, speak English -- and well, I might add. There are many other Timken Europeans here and even a few associates from Japan and New Zealand.
Timken's international atmosphere can be challenging, but I find it fascinating. There are some headaches involved in this job -- as with any -- and I long for an MBA, an engineering degree and fluency in a foreign language. When I read the postings about the Beacon Journal, I do not regret leaving.
I have about two hours of free time so I think I'll go play tourist for a bit. It is unseasonably warm here. I propped the window open with my briefcase because I have not learned how to operate the air conditioning. I hear it's still chilly back there in Northeast Ohio. I return on April 21, and I'm hoping to see full spring when I land.
Gloria Irwin
The Timken Company
Manager, Trade Media Relations
1835 Dueber Ave. SW
Mail code: GNW-37
Canton, Ohio 44706
ph. 330-471-7948
f. 330-471-4118
Saturday, April 14, 2007
BJ community relations is out the door
Impressions are important. The impression is that the Beacon Journal no longer cares about community relations.
At the beginning of this week, two stalwart, well-known Beacon Journal community relations expefts were laid off. The layoff of Michael Ayers and John Fullerton means the end oxf the community relations and marketing department. Ayers is the brother of retired BJ cartoonis Chuck Ayers.
The blog has been unable to reach them, but we hear that Syvilla Jacoby and William Koszehi of advertising and Michele Meeds in production also got layoff notices and there are rumors that 40 outside the newsroom will be gone.
Managing editor Mizell Stewart told newsroom manager, "I don't know what the future holds for the newsroom."
A veteran newsroom staffer said, "There is so much empty space in this building you could get lost. When the doors to the elevator open on the sedond floor, it looks like we are in the process of moving.. piles here and there... nothing to project a business look."
At the beginning of this week, two stalwart, well-known Beacon Journal community relations expefts were laid off. The layoff of Michael Ayers and John Fullerton means the end oxf the community relations and marketing department. Ayers is the brother of retired BJ cartoonis Chuck Ayers.
The blog has been unable to reach them, but we hear that Syvilla Jacoby and William Koszehi of advertising and Michele Meeds in production also got layoff notices and there are rumors that 40 outside the newsroom will be gone.
Managing editor Mizell Stewart told newsroom manager, "I don't know what the future holds for the newsroom."
A veteran newsroom staffer said, "There is so much empty space in this building you could get lost. When the doors to the elevator open on the sedond floor, it looks like we are in the process of moving.. piles here and there... nothing to project a business look."
Radio veteran G. Edwin (Ed) Boss dies
G. Edwin (Ed) Boss, 74, husband of Betty J. Boss for 42 years, died April 11, 2007 in Akron after a full and diverse life.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Saturday, April 14, 2007, poage B6, col. 6]
Born June 19, 1932 to George and Nora (Furbay) Boss, he grew up in the Akron area and was extremely active in the community. As a young boy he earned the honor of Eagle Scouts with
Order of the Arrow distinction and was a Counselor at Camp Y-Noah. He pursued an interest in magic and was a magician and hypnotist in his teenage years and early adulthood. Ed was a graduate of Buchtel High School and Akron University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. He also attended classes at Purdue University and various sales schools. Ed was a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Throughout a 30 year span, Ed was highly involved in local community theater, performing and directing over 75 plays at various playhouses including Weathervane, Bath, Coach House, University Club, Goodyear, Bear Creek and Western Reserve. Ed worked in radio for almost 40 years and was inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame for being one of the first in the country to accumulate one million dollars in FM sales. He was employed by WNIR, WKNT, WDBN and WCUE. He developed the "Goldfish Bowl Santa" raising 100 pounds of money for the Salvation Army. After retirement, Ed volunteered for Meals on Wheels and at the Metroparks NatureRealm.
Ed and Betty enjoyed life and traveled the world over his lifetime with trips to Ireland, England and Italy. He especially enjoyed cruises and casino excursions. Ed had vivid memories of a trip he took to Africa with his son Bill.
Ed will be deeply missed by his wife, Betty; his son, Bill of Trinidad, Calif.; daughter, Kim Keane and her husband Tom, of Bay Village, son Gary and his wife Katrina, of Akron; his sister, Nancy Wells of Bath; and brother, Bill of Tullahoma, Tenn. He adored his grandsons, Connor, Max, Ryan and Trevor.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Akron Zoo, where he enjoyed outings with the grandchildren, Akron Zoo c/o Ed Boss Memorial Fund, 500 Edgewood Avenue, Akron, OH 44307 or call 330-375-2550 x7220. An Open House in celebration and remembrance of Ed's life will be held Saturday, April 14th at The Merriman, 209 Merriman Road from 2 to 4 p.m.[Akron Beacon Journal, Saturday, April 14, 2007, poage B6, col. 6]
Friday, April 13, 2007
Tim Smith: Still having fun
Here's an update provided by former BJ managing editor Tim Smith to go with a Paul Tople photo of him in his office at Kent State University School of Journalism and Mass Communications where he is a news professor:Our second grandson, Dashiell Nelli, son of Rachel (middle child) and James, born in Coumbus, Jan. 12. I think I may now be the oldest member of the JMC faculty. Toss-up with Fred Endres for the title. Still teaching journalism, still practicing criminal law, still having fun. BJ alum Jane is still teaching at Litchfield. Grandson Zeb, now three and a half, continues to grow and continues to be a marvel. Being a grandparent is great. Son Bryan is business development manager for the PARTA, the Portage County bus company, and a first-year law student at Akron U. Rachel, when not having a baby, teaches gifted middle-schoolers in Hilliard schools. Rocket scientist Randy, my eldest, works for NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Life continues to be good.
Pioneer Press accuses Par of fraud
Pioneer Press accuses ex-publisher of fraud, theft
Newspaper sues Ridder, alleging he took secrets to rival Star Tribune
The St. Paul Pioneer Press sued its former publisher Thursday, accusing Par Ridder and others of stealing sensitive information as they left for new jobs at the rival Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis.
The sweeping 46-page lawsuit takes aim at the Star Tribune and its new owner, Avista Capital Partners, as well as Ridder and two other former Pioneer Press employees who
left the paper with him. It claims, among other things, Ridder committed fraud and civil theft, and disclosed trade secrets.
The suit details a tawdry end to the Ridder family's nearly 80-year involvement with the Pioneer Press.
Ridder plotted his move to the Star Tribune nearly six months before his departure in early March and took with him computer files loaded with confidential data about Pioneer Press advertisers, company budgets and business plans, the lawsuit alleges. The information was stored on his Pioneer Press laptop, which he returned only after downloading its contents, according to the lawsuit.
"Those misdeeds have inflicted and will continue to inflict substantial harm on the business of the Pioneer Press, and that harm will have a devastating impact on the company if left unabated," the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit, filed in Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul:
+ Asks that Ridder and the two other former Pioneer Press employees not be allowed to work at the Star Tribune for a year.
+ Claims all three are violating non-compete clauses that they had at the Pioneer Press.
Click on the headline to read the full story in the Pioneer Press.
Newspaper sues Ridder, alleging he took secrets to rival Star Tribune
The St. Paul Pioneer Press sued its former publisher Thursday, accusing Par Ridder and others of stealing sensitive information as they left for new jobs at the rival Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis.
The sweeping 46-page lawsuit takes aim at the Star Tribune and its new owner, Avista Capital Partners, as well as Ridder and two other former Pioneer Press employees who
left the paper with him. It claims, among other things, Ridder committed fraud and civil theft, and disclosed trade secrets.The suit details a tawdry end to the Ridder family's nearly 80-year involvement with the Pioneer Press.
Ridder plotted his move to the Star Tribune nearly six months before his departure in early March and took with him computer files loaded with confidential data about Pioneer Press advertisers, company budgets and business plans, the lawsuit alleges. The information was stored on his Pioneer Press laptop, which he returned only after downloading its contents, according to the lawsuit.
"Those misdeeds have inflicted and will continue to inflict substantial harm on the business of the Pioneer Press, and that harm will have a devastating impact on the company if left unabated," the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit, filed in Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul:
+ Asks that Ridder and the two other former Pioneer Press employees not be allowed to work at the Star Tribune for a year.
+ Claims all three are violating non-compete clauses that they had at the Pioneer Press.
Click on the headline to read the full story in the Pioneer Press.
Update from Gevalt on syrup making in VT
Here’s an update on maple syrup making in Vermont by former BJ staffer Geff Gevalt posted on his Editor’s Blog for his Young Writers Project:
It snowed again.
Great run of sap on Wednesday. Temperatures near 40, late afternoon sun. The buckets on the west side of the trees were pretty full, the eastern ones much less so. We hauled 120 gallons out of the 42 taps. Jake helped, stressed as he was with homework. So did Lily, who each year develops a unique way of carrying the 5-gallon Home Depot paint buckets we use to collect the sap. She fills it to 3 gallons, uses both hands, straddles the bucket, lifts and then walks, rather waddles, to the storage area. It’s funny. And she gets laughing so hard she has to keep putting the bucket down. This is in stark contrast to her method of strapping it to the tobaggon and zipping down the hill spilling nary a drop — in defiance of gravity and all other known laws of physics. But there was no snow Wednesday night; so it was the walking method she used.
Wednesday night we boiled out about half a gallon.
Tonight was gorgeous. Four or five inches of heavy snow; tree branches coated looking almost lighted from the reflections of the sugarhouse lights; owl loose in the woods calling out to a mate far away. Tasty sugar-on-snow night. Boiled another half gallon. About 80 gallons left in storage. Time for bed.
It snowed again.
Great run of sap on Wednesday. Temperatures near 40, late afternoon sun. The buckets on the west side of the trees were pretty full, the eastern ones much less so. We hauled 120 gallons out of the 42 taps. Jake helped, stressed as he was with homework. So did Lily, who each year develops a unique way of carrying the 5-gallon Home Depot paint buckets we use to collect the sap. She fills it to 3 gallons, uses both hands, straddles the bucket, lifts and then walks, rather waddles, to the storage area. It’s funny. And she gets laughing so hard she has to keep putting the bucket down. This is in stark contrast to her method of strapping it to the tobaggon and zipping down the hill spilling nary a drop — in defiance of gravity and all other known laws of physics. But there was no snow Wednesday night; so it was the walking method she used.
Wednesday night we boiled out about half a gallon.
Tonight was gorgeous. Four or five inches of heavy snow; tree branches coated looking almost lighted from the reflections of the sugarhouse lights; owl loose in the woods calling out to a mate far away. Tasty sugar-on-snow night. Boiled another half gallon. About 80 gallons left in storage. Time for bed.
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