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NEWS OF THE CHICAGO GUILD

Local investment banker putting together bid for Sun-Times Media Group

Editor & Publisher - 05 May 2009

James Tyree, chairman of the Chicago-based investment bank Mesirow Financial Holdings, confirmed Monday he is assembling a group to bid on bankrupt Sun-Times Media Group.

Chicago Tribune admits 'breach'

Chicago Tribune halts project that let readers view unpublished story outlines

Phil Rosenthal - The Chicago Tribune - 01 May 2009

A short-lived research project in which the Chicago Tribune solicited responses from current and former subscribers to descriptions of Tribune stories before they had been published has been halted after reporters raised journalistic concerns.

IFJ condemns failure to find Politkovskaya's killers

The International Federation of Journalists - 22 Feb 2009

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has backed furious Russian journalists in their response to the failure of the Russian judicial system to prosecute the killers of Anna Politkovskaya following the acquittal of all three defendants at her trial earlier today.


NEWS OF SUN-TIMES MEDIA GROUP

Skeptical appeals court hears Conrad Black's request to toss conviction

The Associated Press - 30 Sep 2010

A lawyer for Conrad Black has asked a federal appeals court in Chicago to toss out the former media mogul's conviction.

Unions say Sun-Times parent cutting ex-workers health benefits without court O.K.

Randall Chase - The Associated Press - 20 Aug 2010

Unions representing former employees of the Sun-Times Media Group Inc. are seeking information from the company in a dispute over termination of health insurance benefits.

Judge to Conrad Black: No Canada for you

The Associated Press - 27 Jul 2010

A federal judge ordered Conrad Black to surrender his passport Friday, meaning the former media mogul can't return to his home in Canada now that he's free on $2 million bond.


NEWS OF THE INDUSTRY

MEDIANEWS MONITOR

Blood on the newsroom floor: MediaNews merger

But new CEO sounds confident of success ahead

Richard Brenneman - 07 Sep 2011

MediaNews Group, the company that produces the largest share of California’s newspapers, is merging managerial functions with the Journal Register Co., with the new operation headed by Journal Register boss John Paton. Paton, who is one of the newspaper world’s leading advocates of a transition to the digital realm, becomes the boss of most San Francisco Bay Area newspapers, now published by MediaNews’ Bay Area News Group.

PRESS RELEASE

Alden tightens grip on MediaNews, Journal Register

New CEO to push digital business model

PR Newswire - 07 Sep 2011

Alden Global Capital moved Wednesday to consolidate management of its newspaper holdings, merging senior leadership of MediaNews and Journal Register Co. John Paton of Journal Register Co. will be CEO. MediaNews, known for slashing costs, owns the San Jose Mercury News, Monterey Herald and BANG-East Bay.

East Bay papers to consolidate, cut 20% of news staff

Carolyn Said - San Francisco Chronicle - 24 Aug 2011

As newspapers nationwide struggle to evolve viable business models, Bay Area News Group said Tuesday it will consolidate 11 local newspapers in the East Bay into two regional newspapers and lay off 8 percent of the staff. (Guild Note: Although the press release didn't point this out, the layoffs eliminate about 20 percent of the East Bay editorial staff.)

What readers want to read next

Ken Doctor - Newsonomics - 24 Aug 2011

We'd all like to know what comes next. That can be a spiritual quest, a political one, or in the case of news publishers, one that would help them know what it is readers who land on their site would like to read next.

McClatchy second-quarter profits, revenue fall

Dale Kasler - The Sacramento Bee - 31 Jul 2011

The McClatchy Co. today reported lower profits and revenue in the second quarter, as The Bee's owner continues to struggle with a weak economy and structural changes in the newspaper industry.

The Newsonomics of Netflix

Ken Doctor - Newsonomics - 31 Jul 2011

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings says he is surprised that customers weren't more upset with Netflix's digital shift. After all, he expected more upset, in his role as a pioneer, early in the game of forcing the digital shift.

Times Company posts loss on write-down

Jeremy W. Peters - The New York Times - 21 Jul 2011

The New York Times Company reported on Thursday an overall loss in the second quarter as print advertising continued to struggle, dragging down growth in online advertising.

Sun-Times Media, Chicago Tribune enter into print production contract

David Roeder - The Chicago Sun-Times - 21 Jul 2011

The Chicago Tribune will begin printing the Chicago Sun-Times and seven of its suburban sister newspapers under an agreement announced Tuesday.

Schadenfreude

Ken Doctor - Newsonomics - 19 Jul 2011

Schadenfreude is the word of the day, as the Wall Street Journal's editorial page points out that "the Schadenfreude is so thick you can't cut it with a chainsaw."

New News Corp strategy

Ken Doctor - Newsonomics - 18 Jul 2011

We'd all be ready to shell out pay-per-view prices (those for boxing, not a simple movie) to peek in on the House of Commons' questioning of Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks Tuesday.


Connie Knox

Connie Knox

Guild's former international chair dies at the age of 68

Andy Zipser - The Guild Reporter - 18 Jul 2011

Connie Knox, a life-long Guild member who stepped down as the union's international chair just one week ago, has died. Her body was found at home Saturday by her daughter; further details about her death are unknown at this time.

The myths of Murdoch: Real, unreal and surreal

Ken Doctor - Newsonomics - 14 Jul 2011

Forget the tired "gate" applied to this scandal, as in the limp Phonegate. This News Corp scandal so far surpasses mere phone treachery that the name diminishes what's at stake.

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