Sen. Kerry Talks 'Future of Journalism' (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Poynter Online ^ | May 6, 2009 | Julie Moos

[abb]

Guild, Globe Reach Agreement; Guild Pres.: 'Large Layoffs' Likely

Talks that began Tuesday evening between The Boston Globe and the Boston Newspaper Guild led the two sides to an agreement that modifies -- but does not lift -- lifetime job guarantees protecting about 200 Guild members, according to a report on the Globe's Web site. The deal also reportedly includes a pay cut and unpaid furloughs. Official details will be released after Guild members hear about them Thursday.

In a letter sent to members Tuesday, Guild president Daniel Totten referenced the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act that Globe management said it was prepared to file on Monday. Totten said, "The Warn Act is used not only in cases of closure, but in instances of layoffs of more than 100 people. The Globe has intimated a large layoff can be expected regardless of the outcome of negotiations."

The two sides temporarily tabled discussions early Monday after agreements were reached with the paper's other unions, but not with the Guild.

This agreement completes the concession negotiation process that started early last month when The New York Times Company threatened to close the paper unless $20 million was saved.

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry knows firsthand how uncertain the future of newspapers may be. Kerry will hear on Wednesday from "Wire" creator David Simon, Knight Foundation president and CEO Alberto Ibargüen and others interested in "The Future of Journalism," the subject of a panel to be convened by him today as chair of the Senate's Communications, Technology & the Internet subcommittee.

When he announced the hearing, Kerry said, "The history of our Republic is inextricably linked to the narrative of our free and independent press. ... America's newspapers are struggling just to stay afloat. I called this hearing to directly address a problem that for too long has had us turning the other way. Whatever the model for the future, we must do all we can to ensure a diverse and independent news media endures."

There has been increasing discussion of the government's role in saving journalism recently. On Monday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about The Globe closing and told reporters, "I don't know what, in all honesty, government can do about it ... Obviously [President Barack Obama] believes there has to be a strong free press ... I think there's a certain concern and a certain sadness when you see cities losing their newspapers or regions of the country losing their newspapers."

In April, a House subcommittee discussed "A New Age for Newspapers." In March, Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin introduced "The Newspaper Revitalization Act," which would allow newspapers to become tax-exempt nonprofits.

Cardin will speak at Wednesday's Senate subcommittee hearing, as will:

* Marissa Mayer Vice president, search products & user experience Google Inc. * Alberto Ibargüen President and CEO The Knight Foundation * David Simon Author, TV producer and former newspaperman * Steve Coll Former managing editor The Washington Post * James Moroney Publisher and CEO The Dallas Morning News * Arianna Huffington Co-founder and editor-in-chief The Huffington Post

The hearing is scheduled to be televised live on C-SPAN 3 beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on May 6.

[Landru]

"Wouldn't you just love to get the NYT's very own Johnny Inkslinger drunk and get him to unload?"

Uhhhhh I *know* you're "N.TheKnow".
I've seen the wisdom in action, myself.
But wouldn't it be infinitely easier to get the sot sober? Aside from that though, the guy's been unloading plenty on us for a very long time. (am I mixing my metaphors?)

"Bet that guy has no fingernails or hair left."

HA!!
My bet's on his liver. :^)

"Johnny? This is Pinch. How do we pay Slim this month?"

BWWWHAAAAAA!!
Something like that, I'm sure. :o)

Kidding aside (well, moved over) Pinch boy has to be one helluva basket case. He's single handedly destroyed the family business. Precisely as I'd (you, too?) heard he'd do when his father stepped down turning the reigns of the business over to 'em.

All of us who frequent abb's threads know full well how the paper's structured insofar as common stock, stock exclusive to the family etc goes.

Sulzberger and the entire extended family have been feeding off the carcass for yearrrrrs.
But soon dinner will be over; and, they've Pinch boy to thank for that.

Now wouldn't you just love to be a fly on the wall of "family meetings" where the family business of The NYSlimes is discussed?
Wow.
Threatened Ferarris, CC memberships at Hampton clubs, being thrust unceremoniously in with the unwashed masses?
Yes make no mistake, he's panicked stoopid and the family in a state of abject terror.

They may wear poker faces, decline question(s) from any --with stones enough to ask.
But we know better.

These times are ugly & getting uglier with the passing of each & every day and THEN there's the ordinary stockholders. ;^)

[MrEdd]

Refresh my memory, who is John Kerry?

Some guy who was in Vietnam.
Or Cambodia.

I think he worked at a salvage yard.
He always rattles on about throwing metals away

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks, sounds like a loser.

[abb]

http://www.observer.com/2009/media/arthur-sulzberger-and-jeff-bezos-save-journalism-kindle
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. and Jeff Bezos To Save Journalism With $489 Kindle DX

http://www.pcworld.com/article/164425/why_kindle_dx_wont_save_newspapers.html
Why Kindle DX Won’t Save Newspapers

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2009/05/abuse_the_globe.html
Abuse, the Globe, and the ‘power of God’

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003969722
‘Boston Globe’ Guild Deal May Take Weeks to Reach Vote

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2009/05/chicago-suntimes-newsroom-union-accepts-9-percent-wage-cut.html
Chicago Sun-Times newsroom union accepts 9 percent pay cut

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05062009/business/how_time_has_changed_167808.htm?page=0
HOW TIME HAS CHANGED

http://gawker.com/5241850/time-100-gala-boozy-enemies-get-intimate-at-twitter+ized-party
Time 100 Gala: Boozy Enemies Get Intimate at Twitter-ized Party

[abb]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/may/05/maurice-levy-publicis-groupe
Advertising boss: Print will struggle to recover after recession

http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/05/journalism-awards-banquets-business-media-asme.html
The latest metric of the ad recession: Annual journalism confabs and award banquets are being canceled.

[abb]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/05/01/DI2009050102592.html
Eugene Robinson: Boston Globe and Other Papers Struggle to Survive

http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/05/city-newspapers-urban-opinions-contributors-times-post.html
So Long To The City Newspaper

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2009/05/senate-testimony-on-future-of.html
Senate testimony on the future of journalism

http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/
Kindle-ing while newspapers burn

[abb]

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/durham/durham/story/1516215.html

Published: May 06, 2009 02:18 PM
Modified: May 06, 2009 02:21 PM

2 people shot near public housing complex in Durham
From staff reports Comment on this story
DURHAM - Two men were injured in a shooting near the Cornwallis Road Public Housing complex around 1:45 p.m. today.

One person was found at the corner of Cornwallis Road and South Roxboro street. The second person was found on South Roxboro inside the public housing complex.

Both men were transported to Duke University Hospital.

[abb]

Live stream here.

http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN3_wm.aspx

[abb]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003969724
John Kerry: Newspapers Resemble Endangered Species

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2009179120_edita06columbian.html
Columbian’s not just another newspaper bankruptcy

[PhilDragoo]

They told the stories at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war, and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country.

Is this more difficult for John Kerry--who served in Vietnam--to accomplish than say getting his picture put up in the Ho Chi Minh City American War Crimes Museum or moving a fire hydrant from his parking place in Boston--

This is a national security emergency--our Ministry of Truth's print product must not be infringed in its right to place thirty-two consecutive Abu Ghraib-bashing articles on its front page--

Although we lost Christopher Reeve by failing to elect John Kerry, we can still save Pulp Fiction--

We must continue to have the Line thumping against the front doors of the stupids--

And see to the fallen ink-stained wretches in their waning years.

[abb]

This clown testifying now is a trip...

[Landru]

Yessssss!!
The clown's life meticulously itemized as only the esteemed, world-reknown cyber-hero Phil Dragoo could! ;^)

You da man, man! :^)

-BTTT-

[abb]

http://www.poynter.org/forum/view_post.asp?id=13935
Baltimore Sun staffers stage byline strike

[abb]

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid={C5E67582-2FB1-4CF1-BB44-C03A2B34B2F7}&siteid=nbih#comments
Boston Globe’s obituary already written
Commentary: Ex-staffer laments over how Boston’s newspaper lost its character

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/05/globe_guild_to.html
Globe Guild to vote on pay cut, end of job guarantees

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/82513-Die-another-day/
Die another day
The clock starts now on a potential Globe sale

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=163100
Boston Guild Members to Vote Thursday on Eliminating Globe’s Lifetime Job Guarantees

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003969907
Details on ‘Boston Globe’ Guild’s Tentative Deal

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003969892
Senate Panel Hears Argument for Newspapers as Nonprofits

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003969890
‘Portsmouth Daily Time’ Drops an Edition

[Freedom2specul8]

Sounds like a substantial reward is in the making for their consistent support, and to uphold and defend the democratic party.