Tina Kim Fundraiser This Saturday Feb. 2ND

Edward and Tina Kim

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 10:26 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Retired Pressman in Recovery after Surgery

Harold Rios, a retired Los Angeles Times Pressmen, is in recovery from surgery this morning at Verdugo Hills Hospital. According to his son Dennis, Pop’s is doing well, and should be home in five to six days. At eighty years of age Harold has never been hospitalized, so this is a rather new experience for him. Let’s hope he’s back on his feet very soon.

Harold is father to Pressmen Dennis and Michael Rios, and an active member of our club.

In the picture from left to right Harold Rios, Wally Gatrix, and David Joe standing.

Verdugo Hills Hospital
1812 Verdugo Blvd.
Glendale, CA. 91208

818.790.7100 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 3:08 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  San Francisco Peninsula Press Club: Pattern seen in killings of ethnic reporters

Since 1976, 11 of the 13 journalists slain in the United States in apparent retaliation for their reporting worked for the ethnic press, the Chron reports today, citing the Committee to Protect Journalists. Among those killed were three Bay Area Journalists:

Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey (pictured), who was gunned down last August as he was investigating infighting at Your Black Muslim Bakery. A member of the bakery is charged in his death.

Lam Trong Duong, a contributor to a Vietnamese newsletter supportive of the communist government of Vietnam, was shot in 1981 near his apartment Tenderloin apartment, and

Henry Liu, author of a Chinese-language book accusing Taiwanese officials of corruption, was killed in 1984 in his Daly City home by hit men hired by the Taiwanese government.

The common thread? "In 10 incidents, the reporters who were killed covered minority or immigrant communities for publications that tended to have an intense, intimate relationship with readers. Often they were the only ones writing about issues that the mainstream press failed to cover," writes Chron reporter Matthai Kuruvila.

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 1:29 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Thursday Morning News

• Don't Let Them Tax Your Text Messages! - Mayor Sam
• Sam Zell and the art of employee management - Info World
• N.Y. Times December Revenue Declines - Associated Press
• This Should Be Your Mantra: Be Everywhere - Editor & Publisher
• Belo Details Strategic Direction for Belo Corp. - Belo Corporation
• U.S. papers trim costs by sending work abroad - Charlotte Observer
• Are Newspapers Totally Out of Touch with their Readers? - Marc Chamot
• Irresponsible homeowners are irresponsible pet owners - Michelle Malkin
• Belo CEO expects pace of newspapers' decline to slow - Dallas Morning News
• Hudson Capital buys original Warner studio for $125 million - Los Angeles Times

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:36 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Colorful Language in the Workplace

Last Saturday I shared my experience from using colorful language describing my pressroom manager, and the consequences of my actions. Two days later I came across an article on Romenesko regarding the use of colorful language in newsrooms across the country, seems pressmen are not alone when expressing their feelings with different forms of cussing.

Here are a few examples of the letters arriving in Jim Romenesko’s mail:

They use a different f-word in Utah

From ALAN CHOATE: I spent a couple of years at the Daily Herald in Provo, Utah, where most of the news staff was raised in the Mormon church. LDS folks keep their language so clean it's even a joke to them. I did needle a fellow employee enough once that she said, "Go to hell," which just made my day. The best, though, was one evening when the newsroom was tuned into a football game. The ref made a bad call, and one of the sports reporters -- a SPORTS REPORTER, for crying out loud -- jumped up and said, "What the fruit?"I did end up toning down my language there. I just saved it for the Utah drivers.

No love for the copy boy

From VINCE CARLIN: My first job in journalism was as a copy "boy", as they were then called, at Time Magazine. The supervisor was the production manager. Shortly after starting the job, I was sick for a couple of days and I had also requested two days off to get married. The supervisor, with the unlikely name of Love, stopped me in the hall after I came back from being sick. With cigarette dangling from his lips (the good/bad old days!) He said: "Kid, this f***ing magazine is coming out every f***ing week whether you are f***ing here or not. Now you want time to get f***ing married!" He shook his head and stalked away. Other then those two days for my wedding (including what passed for a one-day honeymoon) I never missed a day after that. I subsequently developed a great deal of respect(or was it fear) for Mr. Love.

Newswomen swear, too

From MARY SWEETEN: I think it's interesting that the vast majority of the comments you're getting about the glorious no-expletive-off-limits newsroom are from guys. Not that newswomen don't swear. But I think for us, being a pottymouth carries an extra cachet -- or burden -- and that makes women more sensitive to the notion that someone, somewhere, could be taking that f-bomb all wrong. Like the mayor walking by the copy desk on his way to the Editorial Board, which happened to me.

There are many more amusing stories on foul language, and if you would like to read more click here. The photograph displays how the pressmen at the Los Angeles Times cuss in a non-verbal manner, without the fear of hurting managements ears. 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:10 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Warning about PPA All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are being recalled. Stop taking anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to increased hemorraghagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of the medication. The FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek an alternative medicine.

Read more by clicking on the title.

Hey raven...I checked first! You've trained me well:-)

Nubia 

posted by Nubia | ¶ 7:54 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Mid-Week News Sources

• Los Angeles Times to Air ‘Super Bowl’ of Presidential Debates - CNN
• JERSEY PAPER CUTS PRINTING CUSTOMERS LOOSE - NY Post
• News Outlets are Giving up on Charging for Online Content - AJR
• There are WARNing signs at The Seattle Times - Crosscut
• African American Mag Ad Spending: $600 Million - Folio
• Is Boston too snooty for the Herald? - The Phoenix
• Big Media Rule, Progressives Drool - Daily Koz
• Noose Jerks Get Fired - Electronic Village
• New LAT editor today? - Kevin Roderick
• The Fu*k Jar - Terry Heaton

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 10:57 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Tom Peters Former Pressroom Supervisor

Mark Turckel sent this photograph in of John Fountain and Tom Peters with a message from John.

"Hi you guys:

I don't remember if I ever sent you a picture of Tom Peters or not. He is paralized on his left side because of a stroke and can hardly walk or dress hisself. Being left handed he has to eat etc. with his right hand. He quit smoking and drinking of course and has lost about 40 pounds. He is doing well and gets along as well as can be expected."

Tom lives here in San Dimas, and occasionally our paths crossed as we dropped our grandchildren off at school. If you would like to contact Tom, drop me a line and I'll supply his address. Ed 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:41 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  A little good news for a change!!!

The CEO of Red Lobster and Olive Garden

Another history moment for us and our children.

The Higher Education of the Nation's Top African-American Restaurateur.

Each week tens of thousands of diners eat at an Olive Garden or Red Lobster restaurant. Few of these diners know that the CEO heading these large restaurant chains is a black man.

Clarence Otis Jr. is the CEO of Darden Restaurants Inc., the largest casual dining operator in the nation. The firm operates nearly 1,400 company-owned restaurants coast to coast serving 300 million meals annually. Darden employs 150,000 workers and has annual revenues of $6 billion.

Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Otis moved to Los Angeles when he was 6 years old. His father was a high school dropout who worked as a janitor.

The family lived in Watts at the time of the 1965 riots. In the post-Watts period, Otis recalls being stopped and questioned by police several times a year because of the color of his skin.

A high school guidance counselor recommended him for a scholarship at Williams College, The highly selective liberal arts institution in Massachusetts. Otis graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Williams and went on to earn a law degree at Stanford.

Otis landed on Wall Street as a merger and acquisitions attorney for J.P. Morgan Securities. He joined Darden Restaurants in 1995 as corporate treasurer. He became CEO in 2004.

How many of us knew this?

Submitted by Nubia 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:31 AM 4 Comments Links to this post

  Newspaper Guild members ratify five-year contract

The Lexington Newspaper Guild wishes to thank you for your support during our recent contract dispute with the Lexington Herald-Leader. Our membership voted last night to approve a new five-year agreement. More details follow.

Jan. 29, 2008

For immediate release: Guild members ratify five-year contract

Members of the Lexington Newspaper Guild, CWA Local 33229, the union that represents the Lexington Herald-Leader's 100 newsroom workers, voted unanimously tonight to ratify a tentative five-year collective bargaining agreement.

The contract is retroactive to January 1, 2007, and will expire December 31, 2011. A tentative agreement was reached on Jan. 19 after Guild and management bargaining teams met for two days with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

The major sticking points in negotiations were company proposals regarding paid time off and health insurance for part-time workers. Under the compromise agreed to by the Guild and Herald-Leader, part-time health insurance benefits will be protected for current employees until Jan. 1, 2010. After that date, the Herald-Leader may eliminate part-time health insurance so long as it provides the Guild with 90 days notice.

The Herald-Leader's current paid time off (PTO) plan will be preserved until Jan. 1, 2010. After that time, the Herald-Leader or Guild may renegotiate the PTO benefits. The company would have to reach agreement with the Guild or bargain to legal impasse to implement changes.

"While this is far from an ideal compromise, this is a compromise that we can live with," Lexington Newspaper Guild president Brandon Ortiz said. "We want to thank the Lexington community for its support, which we believe was instrumental in convincing the Herald-Leader to make significant movement from its two previous final proposals. We specifically want to thank the 30,000 members of the international Newspaper Guild, and its president, Linda K. Foley; the Communications Workers of America; CWA Local 3372 and its president, Mike Garkovich; the Bluegrass Central Labor Council; the Kentucky State AFL-CIO, and its president, Bill Londrigan; and state Rep. Kathy Stein."

The new contract contains several improvements for newsroom workers. It requires the Herald-Leader to pay half the premium for COBRA health insurance benefits for 60 days in the event of layoffs; increases the notice for layoffs to one month; raises pay for news assistants when they write stories; and increases shift differentials for night-time and supervisory work.

As part of the settlement, the Herald-Leader got several items that it said it needed for flexibility. It can now assign reporters to take pictures; will have more flexibility administering pensions and health benefits; and can create up to five salaried senior reporter positions.

-- The Lexington Newspaper Guild

Local 33229 of The Newspaper Guild (CWA-TNG, AFL-CIO, CLC)

www.lexguild.org

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:03 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Former Los Angeles Times Electronics Techs Meet

Los Angeles Times Olympic Facility Electronics Tech, Dana Custer, sent in this group photo of a gathering, last weekend, of current and former Electronics Techs from the newspaper. Isn’t it something that so many former employees still get together, shows me the bonds that are formed among colleagues at the newspaper last a lifetime.

The writers at the newspaper have the Old Farts Club, Composing Room has the 25th Century Club, the Pressroom has the Pressmen’s Twenty Year Club, and the former Times truck drivers have a club without a name that gathers for breakfast monthly and annually.

The Blogging Pressmen feels like organizing a dinner, with all the different clubs merged into one, for a yearly dinner of all current and former Los Angeles Times Employees, I’m certain it would be fun for everyone. 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 8:34 AM 3 Comments Links to this post

  Sam Zell to Visit the Los Angeles Times

We hear Sam Zell will be paying a visit to Times Mirror Square* (formerly Tribune West) on Thursday, February 7th. The purpose of his visit to the Los Angeles Times has not been revealed, so I’m assuming he will be there to rally the men and women that create the articles for the newspaper.

Many of my colleagues in Operations have expressed a desire to meet Sam, especially after seeing him tug on his ear lobe, as pressroom personal do. I was told Sam’s schedule is filled, so if we can’t meet him next Thursday, maybe the next time he comes through.

*Times Mirror Square has not been restored yet, its still called Tribune West. 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:31 PM 2 Comments Links to this post

  George Carlins Rules for 2008 GEORGE CARLIN'S NEW RULES FOR 2008

New Rule:
No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's
for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff
you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the
white people's version of looting.

New Rule:
Stop giving me that pop-up ad for classmates.com ! There's a reason you
don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't particularly like them!
Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days
--- mowing my lawn.

New Rule:
Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a
seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of
Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to
contain... Lobster?

New Rule:
Stop saying that teenage boys who have sex with their hot, blonde teachers
are permanently damaged. I have a better description for these kids: 'Lucky
bastards.'

New Rule:
If you need to shave and you still collect baseball cards, you're a dope. If
you're a kid, the cards are keepsakes of your idols. If you're a grown man,
they're pictures of men.

New Rule:
Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your
eyebrows: Do you have two of them? Good, we're done.

New Rule:
There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap
at the supermarket. Water, but, without that watery taste. Sorry, but
flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch
over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.

New Rule:
Stop screwing with old people. Target is introducing a redesigned pill
bottle that's square, with a bigger label. And the top is now the bottom. And by
the time grandpa figures out how to open it, his ass will be in the morgue.
Congratulations, Target, you just solved the Social Security crisis.

New Rule:
The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you
walk into a Starbucks and order a 'decaf grandee, half-soy, half-low fat, iced
vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one
Sweet-n'-Low, and One NutraSweet, 'Ooooh, you're a huge asshole.

New Rule:
I'm not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my card, entering My
PIN number, pressing 'Enter,' verifying the amount, deciding, no, I don't
want cash back, and pressing 'Enter' again, the kid who is supposed to be
ringing me up is standing there eating my Almond Joy.

New Rule:
Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you
Spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to 'beef with
broccoli.' The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God
you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high.

New Rule:
Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN
Recently televised the U.S Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those
athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next,
competitive farting? Oh wait, they're already doing that. It's called 'The Howard
Stern Show.'

New Rule:
When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to hear '27 months.' 'He's
two' will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the
first place.

New Rule:
If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than
minimum wage, then for God's sake don't pierce or tattoo every available
piece of flesh. If so, then plan your future around saying, 'Do you want fries
with that?

I find this quite humorous, so save your 'George Carlin didn't write this, Check out Snopes.com' for someone who really cares.

Nubia 

posted by Nubia | ¶ 4:20 PM 4 Comments Links to this post

  San Francisco Peninsula Press Club: Examiner delivery method sparks legislation
The Examiner chain, which has papers in Washington and Baltimore, has apparently been ignoring residents who have asked the company to stop delivering papers to their driveways, according to an AP story. So the residents have taken their complaints to a state legislator, who has drafted a bill that would create a "Do No Deliver" list, similar to the federal "Do Not Call" list for telemarkers. Any newspaper delivering to a home on the list could be fined $100 per day. Examiner officials didn't return the AP's calls for comment, but printed their own story on the controversy in their East Coast editions that quoted a company executive as saying, "I hate it when we annoy readers, and keeping that annoyance to a minimum is among my highest priorities." 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 1:17 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Mobile PressDisplay Demo
This is a demonstration of Mobile PressDisplay.com which runs on smart mobile devices and Blackberrys. Could this replace the hardcopy of a newspaper one day soon?

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:45 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Tuesday Morning Hyperlinks

• Have you ever been scolded for swearing in the newsroom? - Romenesko
• Robert Downey filming in Los Angeles Times Building - Kevin Roderick
• Four Top California Editors Out -- More to Come? - Editor & Publisher
• Unfair Labor Practices at the Los Angeles Times - Ronnie Pineta
• Readers owe nothing to publishers - Online Journalism Review
• L.A. Times Faces Critical Endorsement Decisions - Ken Reich
• Maybe O'Shea isn't the canary in a coal mine - Times Union
• James O’Shea: Serious Journalist - Dallas Morning News
• Custom Publishing Gets a Makeover - Advertising Age
• Writing for People that Don't Read - Basement Patter
• Target Tells a Blogger to Go Away - New York Times
• Metro Plans Paper Cuts - New York Post

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 7:39 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Joseph Mailander Published in The Times
The Blogging Pressman meets many different writers through the Blogosphere, at picnics, parties, and media events. As I finally found the time to read my Monday Los Angeles Times tonight, I headed to my favorite two pages of the Times, the opinion pages, and to my delight spotted a familiar name, Joseph Mailander.

When I had a photograph taken with Joseph, he suggested I not publish our picture together, because the Times would fire me. Well I’m happy to say, I did indeed publish our picture, and I’m still employed by the newspaper, for the time being.

Joseph’s article (The 'S' stands for sham) can be read online, regarding a proposed phone tax by the City of Los Angeles.

“Let there be no mistake. The political power elite of the city of Los Angeles is so anxious for you to pass Proposition S that they're willing to ride to victory on bad-faith efforts. Nearly every element of Proposition S, which is on the ballot for the Feb. 5 election, is engineered to baffle a negligent voter. And you can start with the name.”

Joseph Mailander blogs at Mayor Sam's Sister City

Great job Joseph

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:07 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Non Verbal Message from Sam Zell
Received a message from Sam Zell this morning that had me on the floor laughing my ass off, you have to love Sam’s sense of humor, just for acting like a normal guy. The message said nothing, but the picture said it all, as Sam used the pressmen’s new sign language for letting others know you’re not happy with them.

Thanks Sam

Pictured Sam Zell and Bill Pate

Photo Credit James Goeke

To understand what this ear pulling gesture is in regards to, click here.

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 8:59 AM 5 Comments Links to this post

  Monday Morning News

• Barack Obama Victory Speech in South Carolina - Electronic Village
• Hedge Fund Wants NYT to Sell Some Assets - New York Times
• Times-Union editor Yack leaving newspaper - Jacksonville.com
• Can Obama Win On Super Tuesday? I Think So - Ken Reich
• LA Observed reader Rick Fleishman writes: - LAObserved
• Swan Songs and Business Models - HypheNation Times
• The Written Word? It's So Totally Over - Advertising Age
• Newsroom Cuts Hurt - The Stress-Telegram
• Nanny companies - Dogtown Commons
• Falling in love with L.A - Joz Joz Joz

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 7:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Dead at 49 Christian Brando

Marlon Brando's son, Christian Brando has died from complications of pneumonia.

Read the full story at the Los Angeles Times web site.

Photo credit Nick Ut / Associated Press 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 3:08 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Flickr Navigation Made Easy

Several users have commented they are unable to locate certain pictures on my Flickr account, which has prompted my explanation on navigation within Flickr. I hope this brief walk through makes sense, if not, feel free to ask for additional help.

When you click on my Flickr account home page, the photographs on the left side, in two columns represent the latest photographs to be uploaded. The owner of the account organizes Flickr pictures, my account is divided into collections, and within my two collections are the thirteen sets. Think of the sets as folders that contain pictures that pertain to the name of each set, as an example the Pressmen Dinners set contains sixty-four pictures from our dinners. Once inside a particular set, click on a picture you enjoy to enlarge your view, and leave a comment if you so desire, or order prints as well.

To view my Flickr homepage click here. Use the back button to return here.

To view my collections, click here, and again, use the back button to return here.

To view the sets, click here.

When viewing the sets I have organized, the number of photographs within each set is displayed below the picture of the title. Some sets have as few as sixteen pictures, where others have as many as five hundred pictures in the set.

Once you locate a set you would like to view, click on the picture of that set, and a new window will open displaying the photos as thumbnails. What are thumbnails you ask? These are smaller versions of the pictures within the set, which makes scanning the many pictures much easier at a glance. Click on any of the thumbnails to enlarge the photograph, or click on slideshow to view the entire set.

Another feature I just discovered, and you may enjoy, is ordering prints of the pictures you want a hard copy of. The pictures can be retrieved within one hour at a Target Store near your home, which I found to be rather handy and cost effective.

You can also save any of the pictures from my Flickr account to your computer by moving your cursor to the picture you would like to save and clicking on the right button of your mouse. This causes a popup menu to appear, which prompts the user to select what action they would like to perform, select “Save Picture As” which saves the image to the folder you have selected as your storage area of images on your personal computer.

I hope this helps, if not, I repeat, feel free to contact me with your questions on using Flickr. 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:31 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Colorful Language in the Pressroom
As the publisher of our newspaper played snippets from the Sam Zell video, some in the audience were shocked at Sam’s use of the F-word, and others just saw Sam as another colleague we would be able to talk to over a cigarette.

I mentioned to our human resources representative that Sam was a pressman in his first career, before deciding to become a billionaire, which caused her to remark, “I didn’t know that!” I quickly told her the truth that Sam Zell was never a pressman, he just spoke like a pressman.

Last week when yet another piece of equipment failed, out of frustration I asked our shift supervisor where the pressroom manager was, using Sam Zell’s colorful language to convey my description of the pressroom manager.

My use of colorful metaphors to describe my Tribune Boss were considered insubordination by the shift supervisor, and I was told I came very close to being sent home without pay, for my outburst. The Los Angeles Times Olympic Pressroom is a powder keg ready to explode, as the press operator’s are being singled out for the problems occurring daily on all the printing presses.

As a result of the high decibels generated by the printing presses, the staff on the pressroom floor has developed our own form of sign language over the years, which anyone that has worked in our environment understands.

Yesterday my colleagues created a new sign to show our displeasure when under duress with management, that cannot be taken as insubordinate, which pressroom employees already fully understand.

Below, Bill Conover is practicing our new sign language with the afternoon shift supervisor. And as you can see, the shift supervisor is still smiling; no one is offended by this friendly gesture, that allows my colleagues and myself to vent our fustrations.

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 7:25 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  TGIF Media News

• Afrosphere Proves Potent Force in Story of Race - Electronic Village
• NY Press Sex Columnist Quits After Just One Column - Fishbowl NY
• The Atlantic is dropping its registration requirement - The Atlantic
• Newspapers See More Online Users in '07 - Associated Press
• Sun-Times stories end on the phone - Chicago Tribune
• N&O to outsource ad work Overseas - News Observer
• Bushee named SF Chronicle editor - Jim Romenesko
• Wall Street to Daily Papers: 'Drop Dead' - The Nation
• Phil Bronstein named editor-at-large - Mayrav Saar
• Double Whammy - American Journalism Review

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:22 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Take Back the Times: Hiller Firing 2 Men Of Principle, Looks For A Fool
By Ken Reich

I'm in debt to blogger Mayrav Saar for having obtained a remarkable document in which L.A. Times "publisher," David Hiller tells what he is looking for in a new editor after firing two principled editors in just 14 months. The next one, apparently, will be a man he feels he can fire just as easily.

Hiller graduated from Harvard Law School, but not every Harvard grad is another Sen. Barack Obama. There are quite a few who are unskillful, unwise and greedy. Hiller has enlisted himself in this group. Plus, he is a nut case. He has advocated making the Chicago Tribune a tabloid, supported concentration camps for Haitian and Cuban refugees and is a buddy and admirer of Ken Starr and Donald Rumsfeld.

Hiller writes, notably, in his prospectus for an editor: "We need to communicate closely, Always tell me what you think, especially if you disagree. If we always agreed, we wouldn't need both of us. Don't be public when we disagree, unless we talk about it first, or unless it's your swan song."

Saar has added the word "ouch" as a comment to this.

You know the drill, click on the link below to continue reading.

Hiller Firing 2 Men Of Principle, Looks For A Fool 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 1:41 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Janet Clayton as Editor of the Los Angeles Times

With David Hiller’s help wanted ad all over the Internet, I’m seeing three names in contention for the vacant editor’s job at the Los Angeles Times. But aren’t we doing things differently now, instead of selecting from the three men to replace the former editor, do something completely different and select a woman for the position.

Janet Clayton would make sense to this blogger, with over thirty years experience as a writer and assistant managing editor at the Los Angeles Times, she would bring a new insight to our newspaper.

When I met Ms. Clayton she impressed me as very business like, and highly intelligent, with web savvy to boot.

We have to look outside the box and do things differently if we are to survive as a newspaper in this ever increasingly competitive market.  

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 11:16 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  New Tribune Employee Handbook Available

Several colleagues have complained, to me directly, that they would like to have a copy of the new Tribune Employee Handbook, but are unable to get a hard copy in their hands.

Click on the title of this post to be taken directly to the handbook, and once there, click on the icon of a printer, and 13 pages will be downloaded to your personal printer.

If this doesn’t work for you, I have a copy I will gladly duplicate for your needs. 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 10:57 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Olympic Pressman Dennis Rios Promoted

Eighteen-year pressman Dennis Rios has been elevated to the position of Operations Trainer at the Los Angeles Times Olympic Production Facility. Dennis will aid the supervisory team in streamlining the make-ready process, as well as trouble shoot press problems, and work as an extra set of hands when the crews are struggling to produce the newspaper.

Dennis is the son of former pressman, Harold Rios, and brother to Michael Rios, a pressman at the Olympic Facility.

Its very refreshing to see a pressman, that actually has the knowledge to operate our massive printing presses, in this position.

Congratulations on your promotion Dennis. 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 7:58 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Thursday Morning News

• There Is NO Rule #6 - Right-Thinking
• Los Angeles Times Editor Forced Out - We Are SC
• A pivotal year for the Times and its unions - Crosscut
• David Hiller is Searching for a New Editor - Fishbowl L.A.
• Tierney to Unions: “We Must Cut Costs by 10%” - PhillyMag
• Sun-Times staffers get pink slips...by phone - Chicago Tribune
• Denver Post Editor Warns Staff to Stop Gossiping - Westword
• Our Tally of Time Spent at Top 30 Web Sites - Editor & Publisher
• Why would anyone take the LAT editor's job at this point? - Romenesko
• Giveaway bonanza as nationals renew circulation push - Press Gazette U.K.

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 6:50 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Death Notification
Please join us in extending our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to Jackie Taylor (Jackie worked in the San Fernando Facility in the Packaging Department) on the death of her sister, and to Myesha Pretlow )Myesha works presently in Newsprint/Packaging here at the Olympic Facility) on the death of her Aunt Carolyn Taylor.

Viewing:
Simpson’s Family Mortuary
3443 W. Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA. 90305
(323) 752-5524
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Funeral Services:
Simpson’s Family Mortuary
Thursday, January 24, 2008
10:00 a.m.

Messages of sympathy and condolence can be sent to:
Jackie Taylor and Myesha Pretlow & Family
327 East 74th Street
Los Angeles, CA. 90003 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 11:34 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  David Hiller Posts The World's Longest "Help Wanted" Ad

By Mayrav Saar

On his internal blog (remember that?), LAT publisher David Hiller enumerates the various qualities he's looking for in a replacement editor-in-chief. (Our favorite part: "With me, as Sam says, no surprises. We need to communicate closely. Always tell me what you think, especially if you disagree. If we always agreed, we wouldn't need both of us. Don't be public when we disagree unless we talk about it first, or unless it's your swan song." Ouch.)

Hey, we hear N. Christian Anderson is available.

We are in the thick of actively considering candidates to be our next editor. In recent days there has been considerable ink spilled over what it means for a publisher and editor to be aligned. I thought it might be useful to get some of my thoughts down in writing, and share it. Almost all of this applies to all of us in all parts of our business, so you if want, where you read "newsroom" just put in "the company."

Let me hear from you, what you think, what you would add, how you would change this for your areas. Consider this a "for discussion" document.

What we're looking for:

To learn what David Hiller is looking for in an editor, follow this link to the complete article on Fishbowl Los Angeles, or click on the title of this post to be redirected to the article.

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:48 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  San Francisco Peninsula Press Club: Bronstein to step down as Chronicle editor

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 7:20 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Barack Obama at the Los Angeles Times
Yesterday I got to shake Obama's hand and record this video. He was in a meeting with the editorial staff at the Los Angeles Times, and the rumor spread of his appearance. A big crowd met him downstairs on his way out of the building through the Globe Lobby. He's very charismatic and I trusted him immediately.

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 9:49 AM 2 Comments Links to this post

  BIGresearch Releases 11th Simultaneous Media Survey

• Regular simultaneous media consumption for online, newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and direct mail is up from 1% to 35%, depending on the medium.
• Channel surfing remains the #1 regular activity engaged in during TV commercials with 41.2% doing so followed by:
• 33.5% talk with others in the room or by phone
• 30.2% mentally tune out
• 5.5% regularly fully attend to commercials
• In SIMM 11, eating continues to be the #1 activity people engage in while using media followed by doing housework, doing laundry, cooking and talking on phone.
• Top simultaneous media used when reading a newspaper are: watch TV, listen to the radio and go online.
• For people listening to radio, other media simultaneously used are (top 3): engage in other activities, go online and read the newspaper.
• Web radio usage is up in all dayparts.
• Cable is where most TV viewing takes place.
• Dayparts which had highest number of media types increase usage over SIMM 10 – 1:00 am to 6:00 am, Noon to 4:30 pm, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm, 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm and 10:00 am to Noon.
• Top 3 In-Store Promotions for influence of purchasing a product: Product Samples, Shelf Coupons and Special Displays
• Top 3 Media for triggering an online search: Magazines, Reading an article on the product and TV.
• Blogging increases in all dayparts.
  

To receive a recap of the key findings, click http://info.bigresearch.com/.

About BIGresearch

BIGresearch is a consumer intelligence firm providing solution-based insights of consumer behavior, present and future, in areas of products and services, retail, financial services, automotive and media. BIGresearch conducts the Simultaneous Media Survey (SIMM) bi-annually and the Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey (CIA) monthly. More information is available at http://www.bigresearch.com.

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 7:02 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Mid-Week News Links

• SAM ZELL ORDERS ALL INTERNET FILTERS REMOVED - ERS News
• Freedom Interactive announces a redesign for Web sites - Freedom Co.
• METRO NEWSPAPERS SEND 2 PUBLISHERS PACKING - NY Post
• Fired L.A. Times Editor Rips Tribune's Priorities - Washington Post
• NY Times Stock Hits 52 Week Low, is it a buy? - Meta Printer
• Might Google Buy the New York Times? - Real Clear Markets
• LAT sort-of explains its endorsement plans - Kevin Roderick
• New publisher at Daily Breeze — again - Kevin Roderick
• Zell The Manager - Columbia Journalism Review
• Shake-up planned at Metro Boston - Boston.com

 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 5:45 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Sierra Madre Blogger Passes Away
Centinel at the FC Blog noted the passing of Jim Snider, the publisher of the Sierra Madre Cumquat.

Snider's blog is no longer working, so we're pulling it from our local blog list.

Adieu, Jim, sorry to see you go.

SOURCE: Claremont Insider

Editors Comment: Aaron Proctor called tonight and said he had never met Jim Snider in person, but they exchanged email and linked one another, as many of us bloggers do for one another, and he had a feel for Jim's personality. Aaron was saddened, as all local bloggers are, to learn of his passing and requested I post something in his memory. So be it Aaron. Read Aaron's farewell to our friend Jim Snider. 

posted by Ed Padgett | ¶ 11:28 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  San Francisco Peninsula Press Club: Papers give hints about candidates they like