Friday, June 30, 2006
Can't see the party photos?
If you cannot see the party photos, please try again tomorrow. The phone company was attacking my web space provider. I even had difficulty getting some mail. Sorry. They are great photos by Paul Tople, so please try again.
BJ wins seven awards
The Beacon Journal took home seven awards in this year's Ohio Society of Professional Journalists Awards in the 100,000-plus circulation division.
Firsts were won in the Best Public Journalism category for its Election 2005 Special Section and in the Best Web Site category, in which Linda Lyell and her staff won for their work with Ohio.com.
Elaine Guregian took first in the Best Arts Profile category and copy editor Chuck Montague nabbed a first in Best Headline Writing for his headline, ``Quail to the Chief: Fancy Lunch After Swearing In.''
Entertainment writer Malcolm X Abram was named Best Critic in Ohio, and the Beacon's This City Reads! literacy project took home top honors in the Best Defense of Literacy category. In the Best Criminal Justice Reporting category, Craig Webb and Gina Mace tied for second for their series, ``Dark Secrets of Christopher Below.''
Firsts were won in the Best Public Journalism category for its Election 2005 Special Section and in the Best Web Site category, in which Linda Lyell and her staff won for their work with Ohio.com.
Elaine Guregian took first in the Best Arts Profile category and copy editor Chuck Montague nabbed a first in Best Headline Writing for his headline, ``Quail to the Chief: Fancy Lunch After Swearing In.''
Entertainment writer Malcolm X Abram was named Best Critic in Ohio, and the Beacon's This City Reads! literacy project took home top honors in the Best Defense of Literacy category. In the Best Criminal Justice Reporting category, Craig Webb and Gina Mace tied for second for their series, ``Dark Secrets of Christopher Below.''
Thursday, June 29, 2006
End of an Era--time to 'party on'
The kid from Green Township that Bill Hershey recruited as a correspondent is carrying the torch for the flagship Akron Beacon Journal--the place where Knight newspapers started that soon will become the flagship of Black Newspapers.
Veteran reporter Doug Oplinger, as usual, stole the show with a commentary about his favorite newspaper and showed two home-made videos of some of the best of the BJ for an "E
nd of An Era" party for the BJ staff on Tuesday.
First there was the official 12-minute video made by Knight Ridder to review its 1974-2006 history. When it ended there was no applause, no comment–nothing like the uproar when Oplinger finished his presentation.
Oplinger, dressed in bib overalls ala Fran Murphey, said he remembered one of his first encounters, sitting between Pat Englehart and this woman (Fran Murphey) in overalls that the only thing he heard either say was “Go to hell.”
He told of the visit of Lyndon B. Johnson to see JSK. Bill Aylward was assigned to take LBJ in the elevator upstairs to see the man. “Wait!” LBJ said. “How should I approach him? What should I say?”
“Don’t bullshit him,”Aylward replied. Returning on the elevator after his talk, LBJ said “That was good advice ”
Oplinger’s videos covered years of Pulitzer prizes and the “good old days” which were not always perfect but often rewarding.
The party was in the distribution center across Broadway from the main BJ. There were maybe 300 or 400 attending but that’s not even a police estimate.
Everyone got a Knight Ridder key ring, a JSK poster, a Knight Ridder mug and a Knight Ridder booklet. There was ice cream, of course, and a cake with the years 1974-2006.
It was an “End of an Era” but no doubt the gang at the flagship will “party on.”
And now..click on the headline above to go to an album of party photos by BJ photograper Paul Tople. Click on photos to enlarge them and use arrow keys to move about the album
Veteran reporter Doug Oplinger, as usual, stole the show with a commentary about his favorite newspaper and showed two home-made videos of some of the best of the BJ for an "E
nd of An Era" party for the BJ staff on Tuesday.First there was the official 12-minute video made by Knight Ridder to review its 1974-2006 history. When it ended there was no applause, no comment–nothing like the uproar when Oplinger finished his presentation.
Oplinger, dressed in bib overalls ala Fran Murphey, said he remembered one of his first encounters, sitting between Pat Englehart and this woman (Fran Murphey) in overalls that the only thing he heard either say was “Go to hell.”
He told of the visit of Lyndon B. Johnson to see JSK. Bill Aylward was assigned to take LBJ in the elevator upstairs to see the man. “Wait!” LBJ said. “How should I approach him? What should I say?”
“Don’t bullshit him,”Aylward replied. Returning on the elevator after his talk, LBJ said “That was good advice ”
Oplinger’s videos covered years of Pulitzer prizes and the “good old days” which were not always perfect but often rewarding.
The party was in the distribution center across Broadway from the main BJ. There were maybe 300 or 400 attending but that’s not even a police estimate.
Everyone got a Knight Ridder key ring, a JSK poster, a Knight Ridder mug and a Knight Ridder booklet. There was ice cream, of course, and a cake with the years 1974-2006.
It was an “End of an Era” but no doubt the gang at the flagship will “party on.”
And now..click on the headline above to go to an album of party photos by BJ photograper Paul Tople. Click on photos to enlarge them and use arrow keys to move about the album
Difference: Knight and Ridder
Wow. This blog made the Columbia Journalism Review. Reprinted here is the lead on the article and the touching concluding graphs.
Jun. 28, 2006 - 2:36 PM
Blog Report
Requiem for a Heavyweight
By Edward B. Colby
Knight Ridder is no more. For too many months now, we have witnessed the slow-motion implosion of that once-mighty newspaper chain, and yesterday at 4 p.m. it evaporated in its entirety with the stroke of a pen.
With that, what was once the nation's second-largest newspaper company went out of business, its various parts split asunder and parceled out to eight different owners.
Not surprisingly, bloggers who have cared enough to weigh in with final thoughts on Knight Ridder's downfall over the past few days have mourned what has been lost.
BJ Retirees, the blog for former employees of the Akron Beacon Journal -- the flagship of the old Knight Newspapers chain -- noted this:
Missing for the first time today from the front page was the old, familiar gray stripe across the bottom which proclaimed:
>KNIGHT RIDDER> Information for Life
Knight Ridder has ceased to exist.
But, writes Colby, we will leave the last word to blogger Douglas E. Jessmer:
"The Knight name will always be synonymous with great journalism; the Ridder name, on the other hand, may unfortunately be linked with selling out to investors," remarked Jessmer. (As for "the Bruce Sherman name, let's not go there.")
"Knight Ridder, I hardly knew ye, but I admired you from afar," he eulogized. "Rest in pieces."
Click on the headline above to read Colby’s article
Jun. 28, 2006 - 2:36 PM
Blog Report
Requiem for a Heavyweight
By Edward B. Colby
Knight Ridder is no more. For too many months now, we have witnessed the slow-motion implosion of that once-mighty newspaper chain, and yesterday at 4 p.m. it evaporated in its entirety with the stroke of a pen.
With that, what was once the nation's second-largest newspaper company went out of business, its various parts split asunder and parceled out to eight different owners.
Not surprisingly, bloggers who have cared enough to weigh in with final thoughts on Knight Ridder's downfall over the past few days have mourned what has been lost.
BJ Retirees, the blog for former employees of the Akron Beacon Journal -- the flagship of the old Knight Newspapers chain -- noted this:
Missing for the first time today from the front page was the old, familiar gray stripe across the bottom which proclaimed:
>KNIGHT RIDDER> Information for Life
Knight Ridder has ceased to exist.
But, writes Colby, we will leave the last word to blogger Douglas E. Jessmer:
"The Knight name will always be synonymous with great journalism; the Ridder name, on the other hand, may unfortunately be linked with selling out to investors," remarked Jessmer. (As for "the Bruce Sherman name, let's not go there.")
"Knight Ridder, I hardly knew ye, but I admired you from afar," he eulogized. "Rest in pieces."
Click on the headline above to read Colby’s article
Latest news on changeover
KR Web Site Gone. See full story
Just one day after McClatchy's acquisition of Knight Ridder, visitors to the Knight Ridder corporate home page are already directed to McClatchy's Web site. E&P reports that McClatchy, has in turn, taken the opportunity to freshen up its rather dated online look. Perhaps taking a cue from Knight Ridder, which had a very useful, concise Web presence, visitors no longer have to squint to go through the many links on McClatchy's rail.
The new site is clean and much easier to navigate. Visitors can check on any McClatchy newspaper (including former Knight Ridder properties it has retained) with a search box that scrolls states. Choose a location and a second box appears with the corresponding newspapers. Also featured prominently: the company's stock price. Knight Ridder's Washington bureau is already branded as "McClatchy Washington Bureau.”
McClatchy shares hit five-year low
The stock price for The McClatchy Co. fell to its lowest point in nearly half a decade Wednesday, just one day after the company completed its historic takeover of Knight Ridder Inc. McClatchy shares closed Wednesday at $39.00, down more than 25 percent since the merger was first announced in March.
McClatchy has not felt its shares dip this low since mid-2001.
S&P cuts McClatchy, Knight Ridder on acquisition See full story
NEW YORK, June 28 (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's on Wednesday cut its ratings on McClatchy Co. () and Knight Ridder Inc. (KRI) , citing higher debt as a result of McClatchy's purchase of the second largest U.S. newspaper publisher.
"McClatchy's financial profile is weak for the ratings," S&P said in a statement. "However, the company's financial position is expected to improve to levels more appropriate for the rating as McClatchy focuses on debt reduction," the ratings agency said.
The company will sell newspapers as part of a plan to reduce debt taken on for the purchase. McClatchy expects to complete the sale of the two Philadelphia newspapers today and will use the $515 million in gross proceeds to repay debt of its revolving credit facility, S&P said.
The remaining six to-be-divested newspapers will result in gross proceeds of about $1.2 billion, S&P said.
S&P cut both McClatchy's corporate credit rating and Knight Ridder's senior unsecured debt one notch to "BBB," its second lowest investment grade ranking, from "BBB-plus." McClatchy's senior unsecured debt was affirmed at "BBB."
The outlook is stable, indicating an additional cut is not likely over the next two years.
Just one day after McClatchy's acquisition of Knight Ridder, visitors to the Knight Ridder corporate home page are already directed to McClatchy's Web site. E&P reports that McClatchy, has in turn, taken the opportunity to freshen up its rather dated online look. Perhaps taking a cue from Knight Ridder, which had a very useful, concise Web presence, visitors no longer have to squint to go through the many links on McClatchy's rail.
The new site is clean and much easier to navigate. Visitors can check on any McClatchy newspaper (including former Knight Ridder properties it has retained) with a search box that scrolls states. Choose a location and a second box appears with the corresponding newspapers. Also featured prominently: the company's stock price. Knight Ridder's Washington bureau is already branded as "McClatchy Washington Bureau.”
McClatchy shares hit five-year low
The stock price for The McClatchy Co. fell to its lowest point in nearly half a decade Wednesday, just one day after the company completed its historic takeover of Knight Ridder Inc. McClatchy shares closed Wednesday at $39.00, down more than 25 percent since the merger was first announced in March.
McClatchy has not felt its shares dip this low since mid-2001.
S&P cuts McClatchy, Knight Ridder on acquisition See full story
NEW YORK, June 28 (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's on Wednesday cut its ratings on McClatchy Co. () and Knight Ridder Inc. (KRI) , citing higher debt as a result of McClatchy's purchase of the second largest U.S. newspaper publisher.
"McClatchy's financial profile is weak for the ratings," S&P said in a statement. "However, the company's financial position is expected to improve to levels more appropriate for the rating as McClatchy focuses on debt reduction," the ratings agency said.
The company will sell newspapers as part of a plan to reduce debt taken on for the purchase. McClatchy expects to complete the sale of the two Philadelphia newspapers today and will use the $515 million in gross proceeds to repay debt of its revolving credit facility, S&P said.
The remaining six to-be-divested newspapers will result in gross proceeds of about $1.2 billion, S&P said.
S&P cut both McClatchy's corporate credit rating and Knight Ridder's senior unsecured debt one notch to "BBB," its second lowest investment grade ranking, from "BBB-plus." McClatchy's senior unsecured debt was affirmed at "BBB."
The outlook is stable, indicating an additional cut is not likely over the next two years.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Reaction today at 32 papers
As the historic sale of Knight Ridder to the McClatchy Co. nears completion, the 32 daily newspapers in the deal -- a dozen of them soon to be passed to third parties -- marked the occasion in a wide variety of ways, from editors' notes to readers to free ice cream for employees. A wrap-up of how they marked the occasion was published in Editor & Publisher, including comments from Doug Oplinger.
Here’s the part about the BJ:
--The Akron Beacon Journal will hold a commemorative event today for employees. The Knight Ridder video sent to all papers will be shown, along with a video produced by Beacon Journal employees. Deputy metro editor Doug Oplinger said the video focuses on the newspaper's ongoing record.
"After John S. Knight died, this newspaper went on to win two more Pulitzers,'' he said. "Those may have been great old days, but we've gone on to better things, and there's no reason why we shouldn't continue to do that.''
Click on the headline above to read about other reactions reported by E&P
In other news, McClatchy Co. said it finalized its purchase of Knight-Ridder Inc. Knight Ridder common stock will no longer be traded, and shares of Knight Ridder common stock were converted into the right to receive $40.00 in cash and a fixed fraction of .5118 of a Class A McClatchy share. McClatchy will issue approximately 34.9 million new Class A shares to previous Knight Ridder shareholders.
Here’s the part about the BJ:
--The Akron Beacon Journal will hold a commemorative event today for employees. The Knight Ridder video sent to all papers will be shown, along with a video produced by Beacon Journal employees. Deputy metro editor Doug Oplinger said the video focuses on the newspaper's ongoing record.
"After John S. Knight died, this newspaper went on to win two more Pulitzers,'' he said. "Those may have been great old days, but we've gone on to better things, and there's no reason why we shouldn't continue to do that.''
Click on the headline above to read about other reactions reported by E&P
In other news, McClatchy Co. said it finalized its purchase of Knight-Ridder Inc. Knight Ridder common stock will no longer be traded, and shares of Knight Ridder common stock were converted into the right to receive $40.00 in cash and a fixed fraction of .5118 of a Class A McClatchy share. McClatchy will issue approximately 34.9 million new Class A shares to previous Knight Ridder shareholders.
Old, familiar gray stripe is gone
Missing for the first time today from the front page was the old, familiar gray stripe across the bottom which proclaimed:
>KNIGHT RIDDER> Information for Life
Knight-Ridder has ceased to exist.
For the record, there were 40 pages in the first edition of a new era:
A news 8 pages with full ad on A8
B local 8 pages half page ad on B8 with weather on top half.
C sports 6 pages with full ad on C6
D business 4 pages
E food 6 pages
Classified 8 pages
>KNIGHT RIDDER> Information for Life
Knight-Ridder has ceased to exist.
For the record, there were 40 pages in the first edition of a new era:
A news 8 pages with full ad on A8
B local 8 pages half page ad on B8 with weather on top half.
C sports 6 pages with full ad on C6
D business 4 pages
E food 6 pages
Classified 8 pages
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Goodbye ad message from Tony
This full page advertisement was printed on page A3 of the Akron Beacon Journal on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 DEAR READER:
Today's edition of the Akron Beacon journal is the last that will be printed under the ownership of Knight kidder, the parent company that has owned this newspaper for the past 32 years. Since 1974, when the company was formed, Knight Ridder has sought to preserve a low-key, yet meaningful, profile with our readers and their communities. You may know us best by the logo and tagline at the bottom of each day's front page: > Knight Ridder > Information for Life. That is, information that you need to live your life and information that, cumulatively, shapes your understanding of trends and events over time. Giving you this information, in print and online, has been our job and we have taken it very seriously. Our goals have been to provide outstanding journalism to the Akron area, to improve its quality of life through both the involvement of our people in civic issues and financial contributions to local organizations, to bring value to our advertisers and to be a first-rate employer. As we depart, we hope that we have scored well on all counts - and that, as a legacy, we leave you with a strong and engaged Akron Beacon journal. Certainly, it has been our privilege to serve you Going forward, the same local leadership team will continue to bring-you the Akron Beacon Journal. Its commitment to editorial stewardship, value creation, community involvement and employee well-being will not change. All of which leaves us optimistic about the future We have loved the Akron Beacon journal, and we have loved the Akron area, and we want nothing more than for both to thrive.
[Signed P. Anthony Ridder, Chairman and CEO]
The news was reported with the story by AP listed below. There also was an uninspiring editorial headlined About that Knight. Click here to read the editorial.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Knight Ridder shareholders approve sale
Knight Ridder's shareholders today voted to sell the company to Sacramento-based McClatchy, ending the 32-year run of one of America's premier newspaper companies.
The votes were tallied at the company's annual meeting at San Jose's Fairmont Hotel, a few steps from the company's soon-to-be vacated headquarters. Eighty percent of shareholders needed to approve the deal, and the company said preliminary tallies have overcome that bar.
``Our heritage, our values, our collaborative culture, our talented people, our distinguished newspapers, our online innovation and our place in our community have added up to something unique,'' said Knight Ridder Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Ridder, who became emotional toward the end his speech. ``Tomorrow, as new owners assume the mantle for what we have built, we should take pride in the strength of that legacy.''
The value of the deal, originally $4.5 billion in cash and stock, has fallen about 9 percent -- roughly $400 million -- since it was announced on March 13, after a sharp drop in McClatchy's stock, which was at another 52-week low this morning.
McClatchy and Knight Ridder executives hope to sign off on final merger documents by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
At that point, Knight Ridder, which was formed in 1974 by the merger of Knight Newspapers and Ridder Publications and grew into the second-largest newspaper chain in America, will cease to exist. The company won numerous journalism awards, including 85 Pulitzer Prizes.
Shares of both closed slightly lower: KRI $60.02 from $60.85 and MNI $40.45 from $41.60
Nothing posted as of this late hour on Ohio.com. Click on the headline above to read Pete Carey's full story in the San Jose Mercury News.
Or read the AP story
The votes were tallied at the company's annual meeting at San Jose's Fairmont Hotel, a few steps from the company's soon-to-be vacated headquarters. Eighty percent of shareholders needed to approve the deal, and the company said preliminary tallies have overcome that bar.
``Our heritage, our values, our collaborative culture, our talented people, our distinguished newspapers, our online innovation and our place in our community have added up to something unique,'' said Knight Ridder Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Ridder, who became emotional toward the end his speech. ``Tomorrow, as new owners assume the mantle for what we have built, we should take pride in the strength of that legacy.''
The value of the deal, originally $4.5 billion in cash and stock, has fallen about 9 percent -- roughly $400 million -- since it was announced on March 13, after a sharp drop in McClatchy's stock, which was at another 52-week low this morning.
McClatchy and Knight Ridder executives hope to sign off on final merger documents by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
At that point, Knight Ridder, which was formed in 1974 by the merger of Knight Newspapers and Ridder Publications and grew into the second-largest newspaper chain in America, will cease to exist. The company won numerous journalism awards, including 85 Pulitzer Prizes.
Shares of both closed slightly lower: KRI $60.02 from $60.85 and MNI $40.45 from $41.60
Nothing posted as of this late hour on Ohio.com. Click on the headline above to read Pete Carey's full story in the San Jose Mercury News.
Or read the AP story
Today's the day
Today’s the day. Shareholders meeting in San Jose are expected to vote to sell Knight-Ridder to McClatchy Co. Tony Ridder will have a farewell message in a full-page color ad and a video prepared by the company will be distribute to 18,000 employees at 32 newspapers. Today’s BJ story by Gloria Irwin says the Beacon Journal will hold a commemorative event Tuesday for employees and show the video.
These details are at the end of a story headlined Knight’s daughter in-law weighs in on sale. Cynthia Knight, widow JSK grandson Lanny Knight, has a home in Miami and Bath Twp.
“I was shocked and saddened that this marvelous empire that had begun here in Akron would no longer be,” she said. And guess what, she still reads a newspaper.
“My generation is still the generation that read newspapers and just were in awe of Jack’s editorials.’
JSK’s grandson, not a chip off the block, died in March 2000 at age 75.
Today is 06/26/06 Note the 666 in the date if you’re superstitious
Click on the headline above to read Irwin’s story.
These details are at the end of a story headlined Knight’s daughter in-law weighs in on sale. Cynthia Knight, widow JSK grandson Lanny Knight, has a home in Miami and Bath Twp.
“I was shocked and saddened that this marvelous empire that had begun here in Akron would no longer be,” she said. And guess what, she still reads a newspaper.
“My generation is still the generation that read newspapers and just were in awe of Jack’s editorials.’
JSK’s grandson, not a chip off the block, died in March 2000 at age 75.
Today is 06/26/06 Note the 666 in the date if you’re superstitious
Click on the headline above to read Irwin’s story.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Grievances
Mark Ethridge, son of the late Beacon Journal Editor Mark Ethridge (1973-1976) and brother of BJ business writer Mary Ethridge, made the newspaper’s “Book Talk” column today. The younger Mark, who was managing editor of the Charlotte Observer in 1978-79, is the author of “Grievances” a novel about “nut cases” who wander into newsrooms. Narrator is Matt Harper who works
the night shift at the fictional Charlotte (NC) Times. “Grievances,” 280 pages hardcover, costs $27.95 from www.newsouthbooks.com.
Also in Sunday’s newspaper was Mike Needs farewell column as public editor. Instead we will get pieces from Editor Debra Adams Simmons and Managing Editor Mizell Stewart III who will take turns telling us about how decisions are made that shape the printed newspaper. Mizell notes in the first piece that “the position of public editor at the Beacon Journal will be no more.” He does not explain how that decision was made. Mizell says, however, you can call him at 330.996.3860 or send e-mail to mstewart@thebeaconjournal.com.
Needs, who says he has lots of sticky notes left with ideas for columns he will not write, departs with a nice quote from another editor: “What we should be about is wide open and boisterous, unleashed and rambunctious, story-telling, mirror-holding, fact-imparting, truth-telling. That’s our history, and we should embrace it with gusto.”
Are you paying attention Debra and Mizell?
Finally, in Sunday’s newspaper Michael Douglas is trying to tell us something in a column with the headline “A Knight to Remember.” He writes:
“John S. Knight made his share of errors in judgement. He opposed the purchase of the Philadelphia Inquirer.”
Is he telling us that was a mistake? Here’s part of a quote from JSK about that:
“Well, I knew they had a run-down plant, with very poor equipment You could stroll through the plant and just see the disarray that it was in. I knew it would require millions and millions of new invested capital. I knew that the paper, on the daily side, was not at a very strong position in circulation and advertising.”
That might just be why McClatchy re-sold it.
Still want to read more? Just click:
About Mark
From Mizell
From Needs
From Douglas
the night shift at the fictional Charlotte (NC) Times. “Grievances,” 280 pages hardcover, costs $27.95 from www.newsouthbooks.com.Also in Sunday’s newspaper was Mike Needs farewell column as public editor. Instead we will get pieces from Editor Debra Adams Simmons and Managing Editor Mizell Stewart III who will take turns telling us about how decisions are made that shape the printed newspaper. Mizell notes in the first piece that “the position of public editor at the Beacon Journal will be no more.” He does not explain how that decision was made. Mizell says, however, you can call him at 330.996.3860 or send e-mail to mstewart@thebeaconjournal.com.
Needs, who says he has lots of sticky notes left with ideas for columns he will not write, departs with a nice quote from another editor: “What we should be about is wide open and boisterous, unleashed and rambunctious, story-telling, mirror-holding, fact-imparting, truth-telling. That’s our history, and we should embrace it with gusto.”
Are you paying attention Debra and Mizell?
Finally, in Sunday’s newspaper Michael Douglas is trying to tell us something in a column with the headline “A Knight to Remember.” He writes:
“John S. Knight made his share of errors in judgement. He opposed the purchase of the Philadelphia Inquirer.”
Is he telling us that was a mistake? Here’s part of a quote from JSK about that:
“Well, I knew they had a run-down plant, with very poor equipment You could stroll through the plant and just see the disarray that it was in. I knew it would require millions and millions of new invested capital. I knew that the paper, on the daily side, was not at a very strong position in circulation and advertising.”
That might just be why McClatchy re-sold it.
Still want to read more? Just click:
About Mark
From Mizell
From Needs
From Douglas
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Tony to join McClatchy board
Knight Ridder Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Ridder will join McClatchy's board of directors after the sale of Knight Ridder is complete next week, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
Knight Ridder's agreement to be purchased by McClatchy allows the San Jose company two seats on McClatchy's board, but the identity of the second board member remains unknown.
Knight Ridder shareholders will vote on whether to sell the company to McClatchy on Monday in San Jose at Knight Ridder's annual meeting. If the proposal is approved as expected, final papers will be filed the following day and Knight Ridder will cease to exist.
An official announcement of Ridder's appointment to the McClatchy board will be made later that week, the sources said.
Ridder declined to comment. He will become a director at the company that decided to sell 12 Knight Ridder newspapers, including the Mercury News, after purchasing Knight Ridder for $4.5 billion. McClatchy is also assuming $2 billion in Knight Ridder debt.
He will be the second former Mercury News publisher on McClatchy's board -- the other is Larry Jinks, who was publisher from 1989-94.
McClatchy pays directors $35,000 per year plus $1,750 per day for in-person attendance at board of directors meetings, and $1,250 for attendance at committee meetings, according to the Sacramento news group's 2006 proxy statement.
Ridder will also have an option to purchase up to 3,000 shares of McClatchy stock.
Click on the headline above to read Pete Carey's story in the San Jose Mercury News
Knight Ridder's agreement to be purchased by McClatchy allows the San Jose company two seats on McClatchy's board, but the identity of the second board member remains unknown.
Knight Ridder shareholders will vote on whether to sell the company to McClatchy on Monday in San Jose at Knight Ridder's annual meeting. If the proposal is approved as expected, final papers will be filed the following day and Knight Ridder will cease to exist.
An official announcement of Ridder's appointment to the McClatchy board will be made later that week, the sources said.
Ridder declined to comment. He will become a director at the company that decided to sell 12 Knight Ridder newspapers, including the Mercury News, after purchasing Knight Ridder for $4.5 billion. McClatchy is also assuming $2 billion in Knight Ridder debt.
He will be the second former Mercury News publisher on McClatchy's board -- the other is Larry Jinks, who was publisher from 1989-94.
McClatchy pays directors $35,000 per year plus $1,750 per day for in-person attendance at board of directors meetings, and $1,250 for attendance at committee meetings, according to the Sacramento news group's 2006 proxy statement.
Ridder will also have an option to purchase up to 3,000 shares of McClatchy stock.
Click on the headline above to read Pete Carey's story in the San Jose Mercury News
KRI dropped from Media Index
© 2006 The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Knight Ridder Inc. will be removed from the Dow Jones Media Titans 30 Index following the newspaper publisher's recent acquisition by rival McClatchy Co., Dow Jones said Friday.
News Corp., the media conglomerate owned by billionaire Rupert Murdoch, will replace Knight Ridder in the index at the start of trading next Wednesday, Dow said.
Standard & Poor's on Friday said it also removed Knight Ridder from its S&P 500 index.
Knight Ridder shares fell 49 cents to at $60.94, while News Corp. added 13 cents to finish at $19.72 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Reuniting with Bob and Linda
When Bob and Linda Page left Akron in 1973 their daughter, Michelle, was 4 and her sister, Gayle, was 2. They had a son, Rob, later. The children are all grown, out of college and married. Bob is now senior pastor of the Evangelical Free Church in Crystal Lake, IL. Bob worked on the State Desk at the BJ and helped cover the May 1970 tragedy at Kent State. Here’s Bob’s e-mail on what has happe
ned to him since then:What a wonderful surprise to hear from you. It seems like worlds and lives ago since I worked at the Beacon Journal. I graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL (a northern suburb of Chicago) in 1977, but actually started pastoring my first church in Moline, IL in 1976. Since then I have served churches in Stromsburg, Nebraska (the Swede Capital of Nebraska!), Fargo, North Dakota (brrr!) and my current congregation in Crystal Lake, Illinois (a far northwest suburb of Chicago), where I have been more than 12 years. Two years ago I earned my Doctor of Ministries degree, also at Trinity. I am now 60 years old but not thinking a whole lot about retirement (which I notice most of the guys in your blog already enjoying).
My wife, Linda, and I are closing in on our 39th wedding anniversary. Our oldest daughter, Michelle, and her husband, Barry McQuarrie, both have their doctorates and are professors at the University of Minnesota-Morris (no children); my younger daughter, Gayle, and her husband, Mark Schanou, and our two grandchildren, Audrey and Reid, live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Mark serves a church as a children's and family ministries pastor; and there's a son, Rob (born 6 years after my departure from the Beacon Journal), who together with his wife, Suzanne, live in Vernon Hills, IL. They both work for Zurich Insurance Co. in Schaumburg, IL.
Every year on May 4 I especially think about my days at the Beacon Journal as I remember the Kent State shootings of 1970 and the awarding of the Pulitzer a year later. That has been a conversation piece throughout my ministry career.
Send e-mail to Bob at robtopage@sbcglobal.net
or Linda at lindapage21@sbcglobal.net
The Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake
575 E. Crystal Lake Drive
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Sprit of Innovation christened
The Spirit of Innovation was formally unveiled before at least 1,500 people at Wednesday morning's star-spangled christening at the Wingfoot Lake hangar. Despite Goodyear's efforts to keep the name a secret, it leaked Tuesday to an Akron radio station and a Cleveland TV station.
Matthew Harrelson, 35, a chemistry teacher at Hudson High School, and his wife, Kristi, 29, of Uniontown learned he won the contest a couple of weeks ago while they were vacationing in Virginia.
Goodyear had the winning name in its grasp less than five minutes after its online-only contest started at noon on April 11 -- though the company didn't know it at the time. All told, more than 21,000 unique names were entered and eventually whittled down to 10 finalists; the contest was set up in a way that prevented people from submitting duplicate names for the recently completed blimp.
As the winner, Harrelson gets to fly with the blimp for a day, while the nine other finalists get Goodyear tires. Goodyear has not released the other nine names.
Click on the headline above to read the story. There also were 18 photos at last count on the Ohio.com site.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Needs to become design editor
Starting Sunday, the duties of the public editor at the BJ will be handled by Managing Editor Mizell Stewart. You will notice his name and contact information will be contained each day on page A2. He and Editor Debra Adams Simmons will be writing regular columns in the Sunday paper that will discuss various decisions made by the newspaper.
Starting Monday, Mike Needs' title will be Design Editor.
Starting Monday, Mike Needs' title will be Design Editor.
Vincent Johnson dies at 95
Vincent H. Johnson, 95, died June 19, 2006.
Born in Ridgeway, Pa., on May 21, 1911, he was educated in the Akron Public Schools, graduating from Central High School and then the University of Akron in 1934 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. At the university, he was editor of The Buchtelite, the campus newspaper.
After
college, he worked for the Scripps-Howard Newspapers in Akron, Denver, and Indianapolis (1934-1938); was the executive secretary for the Builders Exchange of Akron (1938-1945); executive vice-president for the Akron Chamber of Commerce (1945-1948); assistant to the vice president and then president of the Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad (1948- 1969); and served as chief executive officer of the Akron National Bank. Additionally, he served as director for the AC&Y Railroad Co., Akron City Hospital, Akron National Bank and Trust Co., Akron Automobile Club, Akron City Club, Portage Country Club, and had been a trustee for the University of Akron.
An active alumnus, he was president of the University of Akron Alumni Association (1945-1946); president of the Akron U Hilltoppers (1950-1960); and was a trustee of Akron U Development Fund and Chairman of Akron University Associates.
The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. Services are private for Mr. Johnson's family.
Click on the headline to read the full obit.
Born in Ridgeway, Pa., on May 21, 1911, he was educated in the Akron Public Schools, graduating from Central High School and then the University of Akron in 1934 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. At the university, he was editor of The Buchtelite, the campus newspaper.
After
college, he worked for the Scripps-Howard Newspapers in Akron, Denver, and Indianapolis (1934-1938); was the executive secretary for the Builders Exchange of Akron (1938-1945); executive vice-president for the Akron Chamber of Commerce (1945-1948); assistant to the vice president and then president of the Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad (1948- 1969); and served as chief executive officer of the Akron National Bank. Additionally, he served as director for the AC&Y Railroad Co., Akron City Hospital, Akron National Bank and Trust Co., Akron Automobile Club, Akron City Club, Portage Country Club, and had been a trustee for the University of Akron.An active alumnus, he was president of the University of Akron Alumni Association (1945-1946); president of the Akron U Hilltoppers (1950-1960); and was a trustee of Akron U Development Fund and Chairman of Akron University Associates.
The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. Services are private for Mr. Johnson's family.
Click on the headline to read the full obit.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
It's time for video or CD on BJ
It’s time to produce a video or CD history of the Akron Beacon Journal. It could be done in a PDF format with text and photos and/or possibly include some of the mp3 (audio) clips of JSK's quotes. Good source material for the days before Sherman would certainly include Hal Fry’s 71-page book “Print It! 150 Years of the Akron Beacon Journal.” The CD like Fry’s book could possibly be underwritten by a grant from the Knight Foundation.Fry’s book incidentally is still available I believe from the Summit County Historical Society for $6.95 plus tax. Contact the society for availability.
Summit County Historical Society
550 Copley Road
Akron, OH 44320
Tel. 330.535.1120
Retired printer Bendel recuperating
Retired BJ printer Russell Bendel. was diagnosed with colon cancer and had surgery on April 10 to correct the situation and after removal of a portion of the large intestine, the doctor told him that all the cancer had been removed and the prognosis looked really good. .
Russ retired from the Akron Beacon Journal in January 1990 after 25 years' service. For the past five years he has been serv-\ing as a crossing guard at Isham School insuring that all the school children get safely across the street. He is now back on the job following his recuperation from the surgery.
He and his wife Marta, who is an employee of Buehler's, live at 133 N. Avon Ave. in Wadsworth. he is a long-time member of the Wadsworth Eagles Lodge.
[Information for the above was provided by Bob Pell]
Russ retired from the Akron Beacon Journal in January 1990 after 25 years' service. For the past five years he has been serv-\ing as a crossing guard at Isham School insuring that all the school children get safely across the street. He is now back on the job following his recuperation from the surgery.
He and his wife Marta, who is an employee of Buehler's, live at 133 N. Avon Ave. in Wadsworth. he is a long-time member of the Wadsworth Eagles Lodge.
[Information for the above was provided by Bob Pell]
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