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Memos Sent to Romenesko

Memos of media interest.

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Star-Ledger publisher's memo to staff

12/15/2009 11:30:14 AM

December 15, 2009

Dear Star-Ledger Colleagues:

Effective at the end of the year, I will be leaving Newark to assume the publisher responsibilities at The Republican, our company's newspaper in Springfield, MA. Your new publisher will be Rich Vezza, president of Penn-Jersey Advance Newspapers.

Rich, who is well-known to many of you, has been responsible for our company's daily newspapers in Jersey City, Gloucester, Bridgeton and Salem, N.J., as well as the daily in Easton, PA. He also has headed the company's NJN weekly newspapers, which include the Hunterdon Democrat, the Somerset Reporter, the Suburban News and the Independent Press. In his new position Rich will be seeking additional ways in which those newspapers can work together with The Star-Ledger and the Times of Trenton, as well as with our affiliate website, NJ.com. Each newspaper will retain its individual identity, while seeking collaboration that will help us weather these extremely challenging times for all newspapers.

I know Rich well. He's a real Jersey guy, having spent a lifetime working in New Jersey newspapers, both in news and business operations. He's a straight-shooter with a great sense of humor who will fit in well here. I'm sure you'll give him the same full support and cooperation that I've enjoyed over the past 5 years.

I want to express my great appreciation and admiration for all of you and your work here. The Star-Ledger is a great newspaper, and I'm proud to have worked with you to help keep it strong through these very challenging times. I always will value your friendship, and treasure our accomplishments here together.

Thank you for everything, from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,

George Arwady

Gillian Reagan leaves NYO

12/14/2009 6:06:32 PM

From: Hillary Frey
Date: Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Subject: Some news!
To: [New York Observer staff]

Hi Everyone,

I am sad to report that next Monday will be Gillian Reagan's last day
at the Observer. But I am very happy to pass on the news that she's
leaving us to become a Senior Editor at The Business Insider, covering
media and the New York tech scene that she�s brought to life in our
pages so skillfully. We don't have too much time with her left, so
make sure to clink glasses with her at the holiday party on Wednesday.

I think all of the editors have had the good fortune to edit Gillian,
but I feel especially lucky to have worked with her on so many great
stories. We both started here around three years ago�she was hired
after interning�and instantly got to work producing pieces on
nightlife (remember the Trust Fund DJs?) and silly only-in-NY trends
(like the scene at The Bench in front of the American Apparel on
Houston). And who could forget the Beautiful Bicycle Girls? That was
one of many terrific Gillian/Alexandra collaborations.

I was also lucky to edit Gillian as she moved into covering the NY
tech scene�The Facebook Administration cover story was an unwieldy,
complicated piece that she handled with total control; her coverage of
transparency in government through technology has been serious,
engaging and valuable. Her objective, thoughtful and thorough
reporting has shed light on an industry in this city that before was
fairly obscured�and largely untouched in our pink pages.

As much as we'll miss her voice in the paper, let's all wish her lots of luck as she moves on. She deserves it!

Thanks,

Hillary

Departing Union-Tribune editor's note to staff

12/1/2009 3:14:48 PM

Note from San Diego Union-Tribune editor Karin Winner

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past 18 months we have been through tremendous tumult and change. We've been scarred -- there is no hiding that -- but we've also emerged as stronger and more flexible players in the new media world. Through it all, I have been awed by your resilience and professionalism. Your passion for our craft and your striving for quality are what continue to distinguish the Union-Tribune as the most valued and credible source of information in the region.

The challenges of reinventing the newspaper have been and will continue to be constant. You have embraced an entirely new production system with relative ease and patience. You have accepted the need to adapt to fewer resources, tighter news holes and new consumer patterns for accessing news. You're more productive than ever even while integrating the web into your daily routine. Some of you are actively promoting our work on social networks and soon you'll be doing stand-up broadcasts live from the newsroom on a daily basis.

Seeing you stand so strong has made it difficult, but at the same time helped me to arrive at the decision to retire on Dec. 31.

It is time for our new ownership to have their own editor. Ed Moss has told the community that he is building a new company with a new management team. That calls for new leadership in the newsroom as well. I have no doubt, however, that your opportunities to do great journalism, to continue to shape the future of this region and to make a difference in people's lives will not be diminished. On the contrary. There is much to do...and you are the staff to accomplish it.

We have lived through a lot together. A merger and a sale. We've seen generous ad revenues go into freefall. We have welcomed scores of new and diverse faces into the newsroom and said too many heart-wrenching goodbyes.

My heart swells when I think of the individual triumphs and tremendous team accomplishments journalistically. You have made people laugh. And you've given them hope. You've explained the incomprehensible and provided readers with what they need to make good decisions in their lives.

From the McDonald's mass shooting in San Ysidro to the purple shrouds of the Heaven's Gate cult in Rancho Santa Fe; from the PSA crash over North Park to the horrific wildfires of recent years, your breaking news coverage has been the best. You've dug deep and put our watchdog work on the map. We've achieved our first two Pulitzers as the Union-Tribune and earned the distinction of offering the best "General Excellence in Newspapers for 2008" from the California Newspapers Publishers Association. You have served the public well.

Building a great newspaper with you has been a gift and an honor. I thank you all for that. It has been extraordinary.

Karin

Indy Star job "set the crazy bar remarkably high"

11/23/2009 4:47:35 PM

Indianapolis Star copy messenger Ryan Checkeye's farewell message to colleagues (I'm told he's leaving to work for Half-Price Books):

Well, it's my last day here at the Star.

This has been, without question, the strangest job I've ever had. It set the crazy bar remarkably high.

Callers have threatened suicide, questioned my patriotism, reported UFOs, accused me (and Matt Tully) of stealing their thoughts, and peppered me with ethnic slurs. I once found an 80-year-old Pulitzer medal in a box of trash in the American Building (The News' for "its successful campaign to eliminate waste in city management;" true story -- Dennis [Ryerson, Editor and VP for News] has it on his desk). I've received mail from a man who tried to murder Princess Anne of England "as a joke," letters about time travel, and bizarre artwork (Bin Laden and McCain jousting, now hanging on my wall).

I once ate a duck fetus in the course of my job. You read that right. I ate a duck fetus for this company. I've now been quarantined for possible exposure to anthrax. I pretty certain (though I'm not 100%) that I�ll never have another job that runs the risk of bioterrorism.

These were, though, in many ways, the perks.

But beating out all of that were you, my coworkers. I am proud to know all of you. You made my time here well spent.

Keep in touch.

Tribune memo on bankruptcy plans

11/16/2009 7:28:41 AM

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Subject: Message from Randy Michaels and Gerry Spector/Motions Filed Today

This afternoon, we filed two motions with the court overseeing our Chapter 11 bankruptcy; these motions give us a good opportunity to update you on the restructuring process.

One motion asks the court to extend the period of exclusivity for filing our restructuring plan to March 31, 2010. In plain English, this motion seeks to extend the time during which only we can file a plan. The current period of exclusivity expires at the end of this month.

As the motion states, we have made �substantial progress toward filing a plan of reorganization� �. Our goal is to deliver a plan that our creditors can support and to do so as quickly as possible. We continue active discussions with our creditors in this regard. The other motion filed asks the court to hold a status conference on certain matters related to accomplishing this goal.

The exclusivity motion makes it clear that we�ve accomplished a lot as a company. With your help, we have stabilized and repositioned our businesses, exceeding the financial results of most of our newspaper and broadcasting peers. This year we project operating cash flow of approximately $400 million�nearly double our original operating plan.

Last week here in Chicago, we met with the leaders of all of our business units and their top sales executives to share ideas and best practices as we head into the last two months of 2009. It was a very productive meeting. There is some incredibly innovative work being done on the sales side, but we can�t let up�we have to keep pushing, keep working together across all of our properties and markets, and keep looking for new solutions for our advertisers.

Today�s motions will generate some media attention. Try to tune out the noise and focus on your job. The fourth quarter is traditionally the strongest one of the year and, with your continued hard work, we're sure this year will be no different.

Randy and Gerry

NYT union memo to members

11/13/2009 7:42:35 AM

Times to Subcontract News Service

Times management informed the Guild late this afternoon that the company intends to subcontract the work of the News Service. Management
representatives told the Guild the work will be sent to the Gainesville
Sun, a property owned by The New York Times. The subcontracting would
impact all 28 Guild staffers � one assistant to the editor, two editors,
23 staff editors, one news assistant and one news clerk.

After members had been informed by management of the subcontracting, the
Guild met with the affected employees to answer questions and inform them
of their rights under the collective bargaining agreement. Under the
contract, The Times has given the contractually required notification to
the Guild, which triggers a 60-day period that allows the Guild an
opportunity to try to avert the subcontracting. The Guild, as always, will
monitor the situation and keep members informed.

Times Freezes Nonunion Pension Plan

The Times this morning also announced it will freeze the nonunion pension
plan, effective December 31, 2009. This action will not impact the
Guild/Times Pension Plan that covers Guild employees, which was left
unclear in a communication put out by the company earlier today. Because
the Guild/Times pension is protected under our contract the Times cannot
make unilateral changes to it.

While The Times has frozen the exempt pension plan and increased the cost
of the exempt health care plan, the company cannot make these unilateral
changes for Guild covered employees, thanks to our contract.

#####

Smith returns to Philly Inquirer

11/12/2009 10:25:37 AM

From: [Philadelphia] Guild Bulletin
Sent: Thu 11/12/2009 9:56 AM
To: Guild Bulletin; Bill Ross BB; Neal Goldstein
Subject: Newspaper Guild wins arbitration, welcomes Stephen A. Smith back to work

Dear Guild member,

We are pleased to announce that today Stephen A. Smith returns to the Inquirer as a Sports Columnist.

In August, Arbitrator Richard Kasher ruled that Philadelphia Newspapers did not have good and reasonable cause to terminate Stephen and ordered that he be reinstated to his former position and receive a portion of the back pay he would have earned since being unjustly fired in January 2008.

The Guild first grieved Stephen's August 2007 demotion to general assignment reporter, then his termination and the matter was taken to arbitration. Once again, Guild counsel Neal Goldstein was successful in bringing one of our members back to work, his 10th consecutive victory against the employer.

While Stephen was eager to return to work immediately following Arbitrator Kasher's ruling in August, Philadelphia Newspapers repeatedly challenged the arbitrator's decision and later attempted to reassign Stephen, all of which led to a forceful letter from the arbitrator clearly ordering the company to reinstate Stephen to his Sports Columnist title.

If you see Stephen, please join us in welcoming him back to work.

In solidarity,

Dan Gross, President,
Bill Ross, Executive Director
Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia/CWA Local 38010

Baltimore Sun business editor dies in crash

10/5/2009 1:14:26 PM

Indianapolis Star editor Dennis Ryerson's memo to staff:

Tim Wheatley, former assistant managing editor/sports, was killed in an
automobile accident this morning in Baltimore. Tim left here in 2006 to
work at The Baltimore Sun.

He was taking a middle-school daughter to school at about 9 a.m. and was T-boned by a UPS truck. The daughter is in critical condition.

You'll remember Tim as a very strong journalist who did so much to improve our sports coverage, and for a while supervised our business coverage in addition to sports. He cared so much about his wife, Beth, and three
children.

We'll keep you posted as to funeral details.

Dennis

St. Pete Times implements 5% wage cut

9/24/2009 12:49:31 PM

Memo from St. Petersburg Times editor Paul Tash

September 24, 2009

To: All Times Publishing Company Staff

From: Paul Tash

Last week, the board of directors unanimously reached two decisions to bring our
expenses into better balance with our revenues, and help the company weather this
prolonged economic storm.

First, we will implement a 5 percent, across-the-board wage reduction for all
employees, starting November 2nd. We recognize that this will add to the strain that staffers
are bearing, and we regret that this step is necessary. But in due time, we would regret
even more a failure to recognize and respond to the worst recession in our lifetimes.

Second, for retirees on the company�s health plan, the board decided to phase out
health care coverage. Even as other companies dropped these benefits, Times Publishing
preserved them as long as possible. We will help retirees identify other choices for health
coverage, and we support efforts to expand health care options for all Americans.

We came to these decisions only when it was clear the recession would go longer
and deeper than predicted. They are part of our plan to re-structure the company on a
smaller revenue base, even while we advance our position in a competitive marketplace. I
remain confident about our ultimate success, and one reason is your understanding and
commitment in these challenging times.

Still, this announcement may leave you with questions. We have tried to anticipate
and address some of them in the following Q & A. We also encourage discussions with your
managers, and if your schedules permit, we recommend that you attend the company
forums next week.

See you then.

Gannett to hold Content Summit

9/10/2009 4:13:02 PM

From: Gannett Communications
Date: September 10, 2009 3:16:19 PM EDT
Subject: Gannett to hold internal Content Summit Sept. 15-17

What is the future of content at Gannett? And how do our First Amendment responsibilities fit into that? What are our content priorities -- and content strategies? Tune in to discussions about these and other timely issues at Gannett's cross-divisional Content Summit next week. Senior management and top news executives are meeting for three days (Sept. 15-17) at corporate headquarters in McLean, VA, to discuss the company's content strategy and the launch of ContentOne. You can watch key sessions of the meeting from your desk via livestream video by going to our corporate intranet site at http://gannett.gci. [Where possible, we encourage shared access to viewing livestreams to keep network traffic running smoothly.] We also will be hosting several blogs from the meeting that you can access from the intranet as well. There will be helpful information including a Q&A and Fact Sheet about ContentOne. You'll find all of this in a new, permanent intranet feature called "In the Spotlight," which has been created to provide you with more information about what's going on across the company. Check out the agenda beginning Monday. Hope you will join us!

Rozen joins Politico

8/24/2009 2:40:36 PM

Rozen joins Politico

From: Bill Nichols
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 2:13 PM
To: TP-Staff
Subject: Welcome Laura Rozen

Gang,

We have some great news on the staff front: Laura Rozen is joining POLITICO as a reporter covering foreign policy. She�ll maintain a reported foreign policy news blog for us but also do more long-form pieces for both the Web and the paper.

Laura comes to us from Foreign Policy magazine, where her=2 0web column, The Cable, has become a daily must-read for the Washington foreign policy community and beyond. She plans to deepen that coverage at POLITICO, honing in on foreign policy makers at the State Department, NSC and White House, the Hill, embassies and think tanks, and trying to use the resources of a daily paper to get a bit closer to key foreign policy players and policy developments. She�s also looking forward to occasionally joining forces with fellow foreign policy watcher Ben Smith and other POLITICOs on the White House and Congress teams to further expand her reach.

Among the pieces Laura has done that have had lasting resonance in Washington and in capitals abroad: an interview with Gen. Anthony Zinni in which he complained in wonderfully frank language about thinking he had been offered the Iraq ambassador job only to find it wasn't his after all; one of the first stories � �Revisiting Riyadh� -- examining in depth how President Obama�s meeting with Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh in June had gone; and a recent interview with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in whi ch Clinton rebutted chatter that she had a diminished role in the Obama administration. And that�s just a small sample.

Previously, before joining Foreign Policy, Laura has reported for The Washington Monthly, The American Prospect and Mother Jones, and her reporting has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, National Journal, Boston Globe, The Forward, the Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, Slate and Salon. She wrote the afterword to the redacted memoir of former CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson.

Before coming to Washington in 2001, Laura spent four years reporting as a freelance journalist based in the Balkans and Turkey, and earlier spent two years in Russia. A native of Kansas City, she lives in Washington with her husband and daughter.

Laura should be in the office starting after Labor Day. Please welcome her and, like us, look forward to a major POLITICO footprint in another key sector of the Washington universe.

Bill, John and Jim.

AJ-C memo explains move out of downtown

8/17/2009 2:10:54 PM

August 17, 2009

TO: All AJC Employees
FROM: Michael Joseph, Publisher
SUBJECT: Update from the Publisher

In my last memo to you I told you we were exploring the possibility of
relocating to a new, smaller site in the greater Atlanta area.

After looking at several locations including our current facility, we have
determined we can save considerable money by moving to a new location. We
have decided to relocate to 223 Perimeter Center Parkway in the Perimeter
area of metro Atlanta. We are targeting the move to be complete by the end
of the second quarter in 2010. We will maintain our bureaus in the State
Capital and in Gwinnett, and have an in-town bureau for use by our reporters
and photographers who need to be close to downtown.

This move will not impact our customers � either our readers or our
advertisers and offers many benefits. A few facts about the new location:

� The site provides ample free parking to employees and visitors
� The new location is close to interstate exchanges at GA 400 and I-285
� The new facility is conveniently located across from the Dunwoody Marta
station and discounted Marta passes will continue to be offered to
employees
� Perimeter Mall and a wide variety of other retail, service and dining
options are within walking distance
� The site is close to our parent company Cox Enterprises, Inc. and other
Cox companies. That means we will be able to more effectively
collaborate and leverage the resources and amenities available to us.
� The new facility has large windows, provides more natural light and is
better suited to meet our needs
� The new location will incorporate green initiatives and will allow us to
design the space based on our current and future needs

A significant factor in the decision to relocate is our customers and how we
continue meeting their needs today and in the future. We must rebuild and
emerge as a financially sound company. Paramount to our future is rebuilding
a sustainable and profitable business model. This move will make us a
financially stronger company.

Since 1972, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has been in the 72 Marietta St.
building. We reach and serve all of metro Atlanta through various print and
digital platforms so our headquarters location does not affect our coverage.
The AJC�s journalistic history and powerful brand means we remain the leader
in the marketplace. Our commitment to our readers, advertisers and to the
metro Atlanta community is unchanged.

As we make this journey to our new facility, let�s remember to stay focused
on our customers and uphold our commitment to be the best news source for
metro Atlanta.

I will keep you informed on our progress as we begin to make plans and
throughout the transition to our new home. I invite you to share your
questions and comments with me at http://www.surveymonkey.com/ajcrelocation.
I will share your feedback with the project team once they are assembled.

Thank you again for your continued hard work and dedication to the AJC.

Michael Joseph
Publisher
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Julia Wallace
Editor
Atlanta Journal-Constitution and ajc.com

Journal News restructuring memo

8/12/2009 7:37:17 PM

Memo to Journal News (Westchester, NY) employees

I know the waiting has been difficult and I appreciate your patience as we finalized the details of the plans. Today we�ve announced the next step in the restructuring of the organization and how it affects positions in advertising sales and the Information Center.

Your position will be affected by these changes and you will need to apply for one of the newly defined jobs.

A major part of this restructuring will require different job skills and competencies in advertising sales and the Information Center. Positions in these two departments are being restructured to support future changes in The Journal News, the digital transition of our business, and to achieve a more sustainable cost structure.

To ensure that we have the appropriate people with the right skills for us to be competitive in today�s multi-platform environment, we will begin a process where employees in these two departments will have an opportunity to apply for these newly defined positions. These changes will result in a reduction of approximately 20 positions in advertising and 50 positions in the Information Center.

Attached to this email you will find a Westchester Interview Process Guide, which will explain the process you will go through to apply for one of the new positions. You may apply for up to two of the new positions and you will be interviewed at the same time for both of them. Read this process guide carefully before you begin the application process. It will explain how to access the SharePoint site that details all the new job descriptions, organizational charts, and defines the application process you must follow.

This SharePoint site is only accessible through the Gannett email system as it is a closed network so you need to go through this process at work. We have some private rooms set up for you to do this if you are not comfortable doing it at your desk. Human Resources can provide you access to these rooms if you call them at X5265.

If you have questions about the process there are two ways to get answers. First we have set up an email address specifically for this process. It is HR@lohud.com. You can use that or call Human Resources at X5265. Human Resources will be open until 8 p.m. tonight and on Thursday evening to assist you.

Important dates:

Application: You must process your application through the SharePoint site by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 14th. Once you process your application we will schedule an interview for you the following week. Human Resources will confirm your application with a follow up email that will contain your scheduled interview time and place. All the first interviews will be conducted by recruiters from other Gannett locations. The SharePoint site will guide you through the entire process.

Interviews: All interviews will be conducted the week of August 17th, unless you are on vacation or going on vacation during the time interviews are scheduled. Senior managers in advertising and the Information Center will be contacting employees scheduled for or on vacation to set up an alternative time for an interview.

Advertising interviews will be conducted primarily on Monday the 17th, and interviews for Information Center positions on Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th. Some employees may be scheduled for more than one interview depending on the position(s) selected.

Decisions: Local senior management will be making decisions on final staffing the week of August 24th. We expect to be in a position to announce the final staffing choices late that week. Employees who are not offered jobs in the new structure will be provided a transitional pay plan and their last day at The Journal News will be August 28th.

Please read the attached Westchester Interview Process Guide very carefully before you begin the application process.

This process impacts a large number of people and we fully understand how difficult a process it will be for everyone. If you have questions you can email us at HR@lohud.com, call Human Resources at X5265, or contact me.

Michael J. Fisch
President & Publisher
The Journal News
1 Gannett Drive
White Plains, NY 10604

Kent named AP Standards editor

7/31/2009 1:37:30 PM

Memo to AP staff

Colleagues,

There is nothing more essential to our future than vigilance in maintaining our high standards and professional practices. And there is no one at the AP who has devoted more attention or passion to this quest than Deputy Managing Editor Tom Kent.

So today we bring those two thoughts together in announcing that Tom will take on new duties as the AP�s Standards Editor and Deputy Managing Editor/Standards and Production, in charge of our new Standards Center.

Tom and his team in the Standards Center will be the go-to editors for questions about standards and practices that touch the core issues of credibility to our audiences and reliability to our members and customers.

The Standards Center will be one part of the new Nerve Center that we are building here in New York to coordinate and strengthen our journalism in all formats around the world.

With regionalization now complete, there are 15 separate filing operations which, taken together, are The Associated Press. This decentralization means more authority out in the field, bringing judgment and decision-making closer to our journalism. While we are reaping the benefits in speed and stronger coverage, we have to be vigilant that 15 independent filing operations don�t produce 15 different versions of our standards and practices. Down that road lies disaster.

It will be the job of Tom and his team to work with department heads and regional editors to ensure uniform standards and practices around the clock and around the globe in all formats. He will not be checking your spelling or pronunciation. Or even your leads and lead-ins. His role will be to keep our standards high. He will stand ready to discuss sourcing, fairness, anonymity, bias, conflict-of-interest, professional practice or any other issue that either you or he thinks might affect our credibility. He won�t just be waiting for your calls, either. He will be raising issues with you both individually and across the AP. His new newsletter, Close to the News, is one example of how he will be looking to engage all of us in the task of thinking about our standards to keep them high.

Tom will continue to lead the development of our new editorial system and will also supervise production elements of the Nerve Center.

It would be hard to invent someone better prepared for this task. Tom has been at the AP 37 years. Among his many postings Tom has served as International Editor, editor of the World Service; Moscow Bureau Chief; Chief in Tehran during the Iranian revolution; and correspondent in Sydney and Brussels. He has been teaching at night at the Columbia School of Journalism since 1996 and at Columbia�s School of International and Public Affairs since 2001. Tom speaks Russian, French and Spanish, and his English isn�t bad either.

He will formally take up his new duties as soon as we have announced and launched the other elements of the Nerve Center, which we will do shortly.

Mike Oreskes

NYT editor's "joyous news"

6/20/2009 12:31:12 PM

From: Bill Keller/NYT/NYTIMES
Sent: 06/20/2009 12:16 PM AST
Subject: [NYT Newsroom] To the Staff: David Rohde

Colleagues:

Joyous news.

Last night we got word that David Rohde had escaped from the Taliban kidnappers who have been holding him for more than 7 months. He told his wife, Kristen, that he and his translator climbed over the wall of the compound where they were being held in Pakistan, and made their way to a Pakistani military unit. They were airlifted out by the U.S. military, and after a sleep and a physical at Bagram Air Base David will be reunited with his family.

There will be many people to thank -- the family members who stayed strong throughout David's ordeal, the many people at The Times who worked for his release, officials of several governments who offered information, advice and support, and many other news organizations that agreed to keep David's case quiet until it was resolved. As journalists, we all cringe at the idea of sitting on a story, but the consensus of experts we consulted -- and the judgment of the family -- was that a storm of publicity would at best prolong David's captivity by increasing his apparent value, and could well put him in imminent danger. We have withheld information in similar cases at the request of other organizations with employees at risk.

I expect we will be besieged by understandable questions about who did what to make this happen. I hope that if any of you are probed on the subject you'll keep in mind that anything we say about our efforts to get David out -- whether authoritative or speculative -- risks becoming part of the playbook for future kidnappers.

For now, the main thing is to get David to a place where he can spend time with his family, rest and recover. When the time comes, I expect he'll have a story to tell.

Best,
Bill

Politico launches "Obama Accountability" section

6/9/2009 12:43:01 PM

Memo to Politico staff

Gang,

We want to thank all of you for a terrific run of journalism, especially on the accountability front. There is no higher calling for POLITICO right now than to hold President Obama and Congress accountable as they dramatically expand government's role and size, in ways that will have consequences for years. We want this accountability mentality to be part of the POLITICO DNA.

With many newspapers cutting back and going under, and a one party-controlled Congress unlikely to aggressively police its own, it's more important than ever to think every day about how we can fact-check policymakers and cast a skeptical idea on those we cover.

We want every reporter to be thinking of accountability stories for everyone we report on: Democrats, Republicans, agency officials, lobbyists and candidates. There have been some great examples of this lately, including Vicki's pieces on the lack of transparency for Senate records; David Rogers' piece on the budget games Democrats are playing; Eamon's look at the political pattern of Obama's stimulus road show and Charlie's brilliant piece on the politics of Obama's cabinet picks.

The Hill team, with the help of some terrific work by our new interns, will soon publish two pieces that hold both parties to account for how they spend taxpayer money. We have the interns all summer, and they are hungry for research projects. So please come up with some targets they can help you hit.

Playbook has started a daily "Obama Accountablility" section to highlight probing journalism by POLITICO and others.

If you have ideas for accountability stories or projects, please send them to your editor.

Thanks,

VandeHarris & Nichols

ABC News library goes digital

6/5/2009 9:06:24 AM

From: Westin, David L.
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 1:25 PM
To: #ABCTV News ALL
Cc: Sweeney, Anne X.
Subject: News Research Library

Today, we begin the process of converting our existing research library to a digital research facility. Our library has served us well for many years, and all of us have benefitted from the hard work of its staff. But the world has changed around us. Today, many of the research tools we use are available online. Our extensive, hard copy library filled with periodicals and other materials is no longer necessary in the digital age. The time has come to re-shape that library to reflect today�s world.

From now on, what has been the News Research Library will be the Digital Research Center. You will continue to receive the same exceptional service as you have in the past. But we're developing, with an outside research consultant, a state of the art research system tailored to our particular needs. When this new system is completed, you will be able to get the information you need and conduct your own searches from your desktop.

In addition, we will have a core research staff to work with you on more in-depth reporting needs. And, we will have the capability of expanding the DRC as needed to support our coverage of special events and breaking news.

As before, all work done by the DRC will be kept entirely confidential. The DRC will move next week from the 2nd floor of 47 West to the 4th floor of 147 to be closer to some of us who use the research facility most often. These changes will lead to a reduced staff, but we will ensure an orderly transition with some of the current library staff staying with us through the transition and perhaps beyond.

Over the next few weeks, we will be sending a training team to work with each broadcast and platform to teach all of us how to get what we need from the new system. Once we get our research capabilities up to date, we anticipate keeping them that way through regular updates to the DRC and your desktop research system, with appropriate training, as new resources and technologies become available.

Once we�re through the transition, we will be donating our current hard copy periodicals to a library in need. These materials have served us well, and we hope they will do the same for a deserving community. If you have any questions about the DRC, please reach out to Bob Murphy, Renu Thomas, or Sandy Sidey.

WSJ returns to Canada

6/4/2009 4:35:51 PM

From: Deogun, Nik
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 3:21 PM
To: WSJ All News Staff
Subject: Canada

We are pleased to announce that The Wall Street Journal, after a nearly three year hiatus, is re-establishing a beachead in Canada. Starting in August, Phred Dvorak will move from San Francisco to Toronto to be the Journal�s Canada correspondent. Business, political and economic stories from Canada are obviously of importance to our global readership.

Phred began her journalism career in 1997 in Japan with Bloomberg News , after nearly a decade in Tokyo doing everything from running a textile store to translating Shiseido fat-analyzer manuals. She joined the Journal�s Tokyo bureau in 1999 as the banking reporter during Japan�s financial crisis. She moved to the technology beat in 2003 and was appointed deputy bureau chief in 2004. Since 2006, she's been covering management issues out of San Francisco.

Phred received an undergraduate degree from Yale University and a double master�s degree from UC Berkeley, where she wrote two theses on the Japanese cartoon character, Sailor Moon. Phred is fluent in Japanese, can make her way through a menu in Thai and will soon master all things Canadian. Her short piece on Canada bestowing citizenship to unsuspecting Americans remains one of the best read stories of the year on wsj.com.

Phred will report to the international desk and will work closely with our colleagues at Dow Jones Newswires in Canada.

Cheers,
Nikhil Deogun/Rebecca Blumenstein

Pay cut for Post-Dispatch non-union employees

5/11/2009 5:19:29 PM

Memo to St. Louis Post-Dispatch employees

From: STL PD Comm
Sent: Thu 5/7/2009 1:47 PM
To: STL All Local Users
Subject: Announcement

Dear Colleagues,

While we remain the leader in providing the best and most comprehensive local news, information and advertising in our region, the national recession continues to negatively impact our revenue and makes it necessary to further reduce expenses.

For that reason, all non-represented employees will take a temporary pay reduction equivalent to one week of their current annual base pay. It will be deducted over the remaining payroll periods between June and September 27. In return, each employee will be granted five additional days off to be used between June and September 27. The days may be taken off incrementally throughout these months with the approval of the employee's supervisor. Please see your immediate supervisor or Astrid Garcia in Human Resources with any questions.

I deeply regret the need to take this action and understand the burden you take as a result. I am confident that we will come out of this downturn strong.

Kevin Mowbray

More cuts at the Star-Ledger

5/8/2009 11:08:06 AM

From: "ARWADY, GEORGE"
Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 18:34:33 -0400
Conversation: Letter to employees
Subject: Letter to employees

To: All Employees

This letter will be sent to your homes, but I am sharing it electronically in case you weren�t at the meeting today or want certain clarification.

-- George Arwady

May 7, 2009

Dear Fellow Employee:

I wish I was writing to bring you good news for a change, but it probably will not surprise you to learn that our advertising revenue continues to deteriorate. If the paper is to continue to publish we have no choice but to make further significant expense reductions. Some of these reductions will reduce your income and mine.

In the first four months of this year our advertising revenue fell by $20 million compared to the first four months of last year, much worse than we budgeted. Our projections call for the rest of this year to be even worse compared to budget and last year. In addition to continued severe problems in the automotive, real estate and employment categories, many of our major retail accounts now have severely cut their spending and have told us that it won�t get better until the recession eases. The bottom line is that the paper has lost millions so far this year, and is looking at many millions more in red ink if we don�t take action now.

1. Effective July 1, you will have to start paying 25% of the cost of your medical coverage. If you are single, that amounts to $26.68 per week. If your coverage includes yourself and one other person, that will be $50.73 per week. If you have family coverage (3 or more) that will cost you $80.11 per week. If you have insurance available to you from another source, you can avoid these charges by opting out by June 20. One help for you is that we will set up a payroll deduction so you can make these payments from your pre-tax earnings.

2. Effective July 1, your end-of-year bonus will be rolled into your base income and become a permanent part of your salary. There no longer will be lump-sum December bonuses. After your bonus has been added to your current salary, however, the combined amount will be reduced. The first $40,000 of your new combined annualized income will be cut by 5%. If you make more than $40,000, your next $40,000 in income up to $80,000 will be cut by 10%. Any annualized income over $80,000 will be cut by 15%.

Also, half of the bonus that you are hoping to receive in December will be paid to you in July. This one-time July lump sum will be treated as part of your annual salary and reduced by the appropriate percentage. This extra July payment may be helpful as you adjust to these new economic realities.

In addition to these changes, there will be a series of non-personnel cost reductions and efficiencies that, annualized, will save millions of additional dollars.

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