Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Knight Ridder Spokesman Says "Alumni" Effort is Fine, but "Not Practical"
By Joe Strupp
Editor & Publisher
Published: 11/18/05
Excerpt:
James Naughton, who spent 18 years at The Philadelphia Inquirer
and served as president of the Poynter Institute, created the letter
earlier this week after engaging in e-mail discussions with a number of
fellow alum. The talk followed a string of negative news about the
company in recent weeks, which included announced newsroom cutbacks at
Knight Ridder papers in San Jose and Philadelphia as well as demands by
several large shareholders that the chain be sold, an ongoing situation.
"The genesis was various of us talking about the concern that this is a
tipping point in the life of public newspaper companies," Naughton told
E&P, referring to the recent financial problems. "We wanted to have
some way of, however naively, influencing the outcome. Sitting at my
computer at home, I just got the urge to start rounding people up."
After sending e-mails to several other Knight Ridder veterans, Naughton
received responses from several, as well as e-mail addresses of
additional people. Eventually, he penned the letter and sought
revisions from colleagues. The initial version was produced, signed by
about 60 people, and sent to media outlets.
"In the midst of all of the excitement over the e-mails, there were
stories about [Knight Ridder chairman] Tony Ridder inviting [board]
nominations," Naughton recalled. "That would be a way of demonstrating
the kind of leadership this group believes Knight Ridder would benefit
from."
Naughton added that the alumni group would likely nominate a board
slate to run at the next Knight Ridder annual meeting in April. "And it
will include journalists," he said. A former shareholder, Naughton said
he planned to buy company stock again and believes many of the
co-signers of the letter will as well.
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