Hey, Stop Suing Yourself... - Posted September 17, 2008
We were curious how a newspaper would cover itself suing itself. Jerry Hirsch wrote the piece: Tribune management declined to comment. Well that clears it up. Sam Zell took over the Tribune Company last December and he's already getting sued by his employees? That kind of arrogance and short-sightedness is normally reserved for... [FishBowlLA]

Zell Getting Sued by Staffers - Posted September 16, 2008
From Variety: Current and former Los Angeles Times staffers have sued Sam Zell and the Tribune Co. over allegedly illegal and irresponsible actions since Zell's leveraged buyout of Tribune Co. last year. The complaint, filed Tuesday in federal court in Los Angeles, alleges the structure of the buyout -- executed through an Employee... [FishBowlLA]

Radio Killing the Newspaper Star? - Posted August 28, 2008
Dawn Girocco has been hired by the L.A. Times to head the advertising department. From L.A. Observed: "Those fears within the Tribune about Sam Zell's radio-izing of the company look even more justified now. A day after the Los Angeles Times hired a top executive with roots in the Phil Anschutz empire,... [FishBowlLA]

L.A. Times: Eddy Hartenstein Named Publisher, Zell Promises Paper 'Is a Keeper' - Posted August 16, 2008
The L.A. Times has named former DirecTV exec Eddy Hartenstein publisher, according to a story in today's LAT. Hartenstein reportedly didn't seek out the position and had to give it careful consideration before accepting Sam Zell's offer: "I wanted to know that I would have the ability . . . to call the... [FishBowlLA]

L.A. Times: Eddy Hartenstein Named Publisher, Zell Promises Paper 'Is a Keeper' - Posted August 16, 2008
The L.A. Times has named former DirecTV exec Eddy Hartenstein publisher, according to a story in today's LAT. Hartenstein reportedly didn't seek out the position and had to give it careful consideration before accepting Sam Zell's offer: "I wanted to know that I would have the ability . . . to call the... [FishBowlLA]

Tales of The Tribune Co.: What a Difference a $20 Million Day Makes - Posted August 14, 2008
And we thought our credit card bills were bad. Sam Zell's Tribune company released its quarterly results yesterday. The results included $3.8 billion used "to write down the Company's publishing goodwill and newspaper masthead intangible assets." (That's more than three times what NBC has sold in Olympic ads, just... [FishBowlNY]

Morning Reading List, 08.11.08 - Posted August 11, 2008
Good morning Washington. Got a blind item, interesting link, funny note, comment, birthday, anniversary or anything of the sort for Morning Reading List? Drop us a line or let us know in the tips box below. We've got your morning mix of media Muesli after the jump...... [FishBowlDC]

Tales of the Tribune Co.: It's All Gone Straight to Zell - Posted July 31, 2008
"If current trends in advertising are permanent, we have a really serious problem." No kidding. Words to live by from Sam Zell who may have met his Waterloo in the form the Tribune deal he orchestrated last year, which he is currently referring to as "the deal from hell."... [FishBowlNY]

L.A. Times Eager for New Magazine - Posted July 29, 2008
The L.A. Times may be struggling with its new owner (Sam Zell) and its apparent infighting (with a disconcerted staff), but one thing is certain: They're loving their magazine. Or at least they think they are. The mag, slated to emerge on Sept. 7 is already pre-selling ads in the millions of... [FishBowlLA]

Zell-otry at the L.A. Times - Posted July 25, 2008
The InkStained Retch sends us this press release: Merry pranksters scaled a Los Angeles Times building Thursday to unfurl a three-story high banner protesting news cuts by the paper's owner, real estate billionaire Sam Zell. The banner was hanging from the historic Times building in downtown Los Angeles. It read: "Zell Hell: Take... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 07.24.08 - Posted July 24, 2008
Good morning Washington. Got a blind item, interesting link, funny note, comment, birthday, anniversary or anything of the sort for Morning Reading List? Drop us a line or let us know in the tips box below. We've got your morning mix of media Muesli after the jump...... [FishBowlDC]

Newspapers: It's Officially, Officially, Very, Very Bad - Posted July 23, 2008
We're just going to assume that everyone who reads FBNY is acutely aware (more than a number of you probably first-hand) that the newspaper industry is in a free fall. It's a rare day that at least one of our posts does not cover some lay-off here, or some shuttering... [FishBowlNY]

Sam Zell Press Conference Roundup - Posted July 23, 2008
Tell Zell reports that after missing the Sam Zell/Randy Michaels press conference yesterday, he caught it and was unimpressed: The entire argument collapses on a single point. No newspaper is losing money. Each paper takes in more cash than it pays out. The problem is, they don't take in enough money to... [FishBowlLA]

InkStained Retch Reports, Makes News - Posted July 21, 2008
Didn't take long for the New York media to catch on to Tell Zell, a blog by a reported LAT employee who blogs the name InkStained Retch. (OK, so it did kinda take them long, but it's nice that they're giving the Retch his/her due in today's New York Times). For the... [FishBowlLA]

Russ Stanton's Keynote Speech at OC Press Club Gala - Posted July 18, 2008
LAT editor Russ Stanton, who kind of resembles John Cleese (serious, click here) was asked by the OC Press Club in March to be the keynote speaker at this year's gala. "It feels like 4 years ago since then." Said Stanton to the sold out crowd of 80 or so... [FishBowlLA]

The Unconfirmed List of Those Laid Off at LAT - Posted July 15, 2008
InkStainedRetch at Tell Zell has a list of 80 people that are either taking a buyout or being fired. The list is here. And no - Sam Zell and Jonah Goldberg are not on it. That's the first thing we checked. ... [FishBowlLA]

LAT in 90 Seconds -- Making The News Edition - Posted July 15, 2008
Hiller High-tails It: Michael A. Hiltzik has the unenviable task of writing about David Hiller's departure, using a bit of info gleaned from his own inbox for the story: "A statement he e-mailed to Times staff suggested that he was ousted by Tribune Chairman and Chief Executive Sam Zell: 'Sam's the... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 07.15.08 - Posted July 15, 2008
Good morning Washington. What area restaurant serves the above dessert tray? Let us know. Got a blind item, interesting link, funny note, comment, birthday, anniversary or anything of the sort for Morning Reading List? Drop us a line or let us know in the tips box below. We've got your morning mix of... [FishBowlDC]

The Ticker (p.m. edition): Favre, Tan, Zell... - Posted July 14, 2008
> Retired (for now) Green Bay Packer Brett Favre goes On The Record with (Wisconsinite and ginormous Packer fan) Greta Van Susteren tonight. Favre clears up the reasons he asked to be released from his contract with the team. 10pmET (which is 9pm in Green Bay). > CNBC and CNBC Asia... [TVNewser]

The Ticker (p.m. edition): Favre, Tan, Zell... - Posted July 14, 2008
> Retired (for now) Green Bay Packer Brett Favre goes On The Record with (Wisconsinite and ginormous Packer fan) Greta Van Susteren tonight. Favre clears up the reasons he asked to be released from his contract with the team. 10pmET (which is 9pm in Green Bay). > CNBC and CNBC Asia... [TVNewser]

Chicago Tribune Editor Resigns - Posted July 14, 2008
Richard Prince is reporting (fourth item down) that Ann Marie Lipinski has resigned from her post as editor of the Chicago Tribune, where she has worked since she was a summer intern in 1978. Lipinski doesn't name Sam Zell as the reason for her departure -- in fact, she's careful not to... [FishBowlLA]

Portfolio Takes Sam Zell to Task for Boob Jokes, Being a Boob - Posted July 11, 2008
In an open letter to Sam Zell, Portfolio writer Jeff Bercovici implores Zell to hire a speech writer to punch up the "zany" press releases he puts out on the wires. "Take this latest release, announcing the hiring of Tim Dukes as vice president of promotions for broadcast and interactive: "Sean Compton, the... [FishBowlLA]

F*#k Google, Craigslist and Wall St: Treehouse Offers Self-Help For Angry Journalists - Posted July 9, 2008
So considering the state of the newspaper industry it's not hard to imagine that there might be more than a few disgruntled, dare we say bitter, journalists out there. After years of hard work and meticulous training they're being turned out of their newsrooms in droves as ad dollars disappear... [FishBowlNY]

BREAKING: Zell's in LA - Posted July 9, 2008
Word is Sam Zell is in LA today demanding more cuts. Rumor is a LOT more but no one has a decent number or whether any specific area is supposed to be slashed or not.... [FishBowlLA]

More Zell-otry: Chicago Tribune to Cut 80 Newsroom Jobs - Posted July 8, 2008
Sam Zell strikes again: the Chicago Tribune says it will "eliminate around 80 of its current 578 newsroom positions by the end of August and reduce the number of pages it publishes by 13 percent to 14 percent each week." Don't think of them as layoffs, kids. Think of them as an... [FishBowlLA]

LAT Dust Up -- The Fall of the Paper Blamed on Illegals! - Posted July 8, 2008
Today's question was: What's eating the L.A. Times? Would the paper be better off outside the Tribune Co. empire? All week, Marc Cooper and Patrick Frey discuss the future of The Times and journalism in Southern California. The 'readers' respond. Some say it's the Chandler family's fault. Some blame their paper delivery... [FishBowlLA]

LA Times Loses Two Top Reporters to ProPublica - Posted July 8, 2008
We're not sure if this is a case of following the money or just escaping the lack of it, but LA Observed is reporting that two of the LA Times' top reporters are jumping ship to join up with ProPublica the online non-profit investigative journalism website helmed by former WSJer Paul... [FishBowlNY]

More Tribune Company Lay Offs: Sun Sentinel to Cut 58 Jobs - Posted July 3, 2008
Man, that Sam Zell is a busy bee. Not only is he ordering up the heads of 150 LAT staffers, but we just got word that the supposed media mogul is bringing his sickle to Florida. From a Sun Sentinel staffer (well, staffer for now): We just got word from the editor... [FishBowlLA]

ERSNews.com: KTLA Axes 11, Hires 1 - Posted July 1, 2008
ERSNews.com is reporting that Sam Zell-owned KTLA laid off seven News Department employees and four reporters. But, ERS says, "they have hired a new features reporter for the Morning News. Her name is Allie MacKay and she arrives in the newsroom tomorrow. MacKay will be on the air in the next... [FishBowlLA]

Will Sam Zell Sell The Seats Right Out From Under Reporters? - Posted June 25, 2008
Looks as though LAT and Chicago Tribune staffers might be forced out of their homes -- or at least forced to share their space. Sam Zell's staff memo: Partners, When we started this adventure together, I made a point of saying we would challenge traditional thinking, that there would be no... [FishBowlLA]

FBLA EXCLUSIVE: The Truth About Eric Longabardi's Necktie - Posted June 24, 2008
Our post about the L.A. Press Club awards inspired a few lamentations among winners who were not listed, but no lamentations were as interesting as those of ERSNews.com's Eric Longabardi, who won a shared 1st place prize along with Suzanne Murch, Melanie Switzer and Raheem Dawson for an E! Entertainment... [FishBowlLA]

Sam Zell Is Sticking to Original Recipe Newspapering - Posted June 6, 2008
As our sister site FBNY has noted, Sam Zell's cost-cutting, paper-shrinking, job-eliminating formula for increasing revenue has been done before. By the very people who drove the Tribune Co. into the ground and then sold the bloody pulpy mess to Zell. But our favorite new/old trick is the byline count. We were... [FishBowlLA]

Russ Stanton: 'They're Not Getting Rid of Us' - Posted June 4, 2008
Mediabistro.com's own David S. Hirschman interviews Los Angeles Times EIC Russ Stanton today and learns that morale is improving, the LAT print edition has a good 35 more years of life and Sam Zell isn't planning to sell the paper any time soon: He felt like the conditions of our industry, and... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted May 9, 2008
Our Favorite LAT Headline of the Day: California tax proposals target beer-loving, pornography-watching yacht owners Joel Stein Might Be High Right Now: Stein gets his hands on some medical marijuana. Hilarity (we guess) ensues. No word if he smoked the goods, returned them or had to surrender them to Sam Zell. Kate... [FishBowlLA]

Zell Stuck Between $650 Million, $580 Million and a Hard Place - Posted May 6, 2008
Sam Zell is contemplating three similarly structured offers to buy Newsday, trying to figure out which best fits his strategic plans without pissing off Rupert Murdoch too much. Newsday as the very inside baseball story here.... [FishBowlLA]

Sam Zell: Crafty, Thrifty - Posted April 16, 2008
Per Newsday: Sam Zell, currently $12.8 billion in debt with the Tribune Co., is reportedly structuring a possible sale of Newsday in a way that could save him hundreds of millions of dollars in capital gains taxes. The idea of a non-cash asset swap has been swirling about talks with suitors for... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 04.16.08 - Posted April 16, 2008
Good morning Washington. Doug Heye celebrates a birthday today. Yesterday, the new Yahoo! election page went live in conjunction with Politico. And the first lady will soon co-host the "Today" show. Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: REVOLVING DOOR | NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | MAGAZINES | RADIO | NEWS NOTES |... [FishBowlDC]

Morning Reading List, 04.10.08 - Posted April 9, 2008
Good morning Washington. Is it bye-bye Katie?!? It's the birthday of Joseph Pulitzer (1847) and on this day in 1970, Paul McCartney announced that the Beatles were breaking up. Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: REVOLVING DOOR | NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | MAGAZINES | RADIO | NEWS NOTES | JOBS You would... [FishBowlDC]

Zell Continues To Pour More Thought Into Funny Press Releases Than, Oh, The Press He's Releasing - Posted April 8, 2008
Per E&P: The Tribune Co. named Marc Chase president of Tribune Interactive with a press release that lives up to the company's new-found sense of humor (so long as you're not making fun of Sam Zell, that is). The press release begins: "Another freaking Clear Channel Communications executive on the payroll and... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 04.08.08 - Posted April 8, 2008
Good morning Washington. It's the birthday of Kofi Annan and Chuck Todd! And, on this day in 1986, Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. And TVNewser gives us an update on Tucker Carlson's TV show. Speaking of TV, ruin your morning TV folks by finding out how your salary... [FishBowlDC]

Will Tribune Stop the Presses at LAT Plant in Orange County? - Posted April 7, 2008
Tribune's mad dash for cash might have some more repercussions here in Los Angeles. If things don't perk up, FBLA has heard that the LAT Orange county production facility will be closed in January, 2009, with 41 workers losing their jobs. But imagine the savings. Sam Zell has a payment... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 04.04.08 - Posted April 4, 2008
Good morning Washington. It's Kitty Kelley's birthday and the 40th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: REVOLVING DOOR | NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | MAGAZINES | RADIO | WEST WING REPORTAGE | JOBS Ok, so maybe you can't run, but you can do 20 push... [FishBowlDC]

Sam Zell's Idea of a Joke - Posted April 1, 2008
The Tribune Co. issued this April Fool's Day press release: TRIBUNE COMPANY ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE Zell Tells Employees of Switch in an Email; Company Announces Revenue Generating Efforts To Offset Debt CHICAGO, April 1, 2008 -- Tribune Company, the largest employee-owned media company in the nation, today announced it has changed its name to ZellCoMediaEnterprises... [FishBowlLA]

Blogging Goes to the Dogs - Posted April 1, 2008
Archie, the tabloid terrier, edits our copy. In the time-honored tradition of editors everywhere, he likes to piss all over it. There's no truth to the rumor that the LA Times has made an offer to the canine correspondent. You know what Sam Zell thinks about those who don't like... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 03.28.08 - Posted March 28, 2008
Good morning Washington. Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: REVOLVING DOOR | NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | MAGAZINES | RADIO | JOBS You think it was not out of bounds to ask Chelsea the Monica Lewinsky question. Today's "Angry Journalist" rant of the day: "I find it insulting that people with god given talents... [FishBowlDC]

Sam Zell's Asking For It - Posted March 26, 2008
Sam Zell has sent out a company-wide memo, soliciting ideas from his employees, according to L.A. Observed. Remember the last time an employee expressed an idea? ... [FishBowlLA]

Chris O'Brien: Old Media Business Model Is Dying - Posted March 14, 2008
We've been accused of being a bit morbid lately, too quick to write Old Media's obit. So, today, we'll let someone else do it. San Jose Mercury News reporter Chris O'Brien opines that, for all newspapers' "innovation," nobody is going to get anywhere until this industry changes its business model (in other... [FishBowlLA]

Troubled Times in LAT's DC Bureau - Posted March 5, 2008
The water cooler chat in the LATimes D.C. bureau has Jon Peterson, Alan Miller and (recent arrival) Joe Mathews taking the buyout (there's talk of one more, too, but no one seems to know for sure). Joe has been with the LAT for a while but is new to the D.C. bureau... [FishBowlDC]

Two Views of Sam Zell - Posted March 3, 2008
Sports Illustrated Thinks He's Stupid: ... for considering selling out the name of Wrigley Field. We Think He's Damn Smart: Sam Zell, now Tribune Co. chairman and CEO could join the board of directors of The Associated Press in April. ... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 02.28.08 - Posted February 28, 2008
Good morning Washington. On this day in 1991, the first Gulf War ended. Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | MAGAZINES | RADIO | BOOKS | JOBS You think the Obama/Muslim garb photo will have a negative affect on Obama's campaign. NEWSPAPERS In a release, The Education Writers Association (EWA) "announced... [FishBowlDC]

Sam Zell: F&*$%@#G Democrats - Posted February 27, 2008
Apparently the new Tribune Co. owner is no fan of the Democratic party. E&P notes that on CNBC's Squawk Box on Tuesday, Sam Zell "attributed much of the current economic woes to fear-mongering by Democratic foes Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. In unrelated Zell news, The journalistic curiousity drops his beloved F-bomb... [FishBowlLA]

Zell Makes A GREAT First Impression - Posted February 26, 2008
So Sam Zell is visiting the Tribune's D.C. bureau today and, guess what? He would not change meeting times with LA Times people so that they could make an 11 a.m. memorial service at the Newseum for the late Rudy Abramson, a much beloved and longtime LA Times Washington correspondent. Some... [FishBowlDC]

Sam Zell Brings Hope, Leaves Sass At Home--But What About the Moosehead Joke - Posted February 26, 2008
Tribune Co. CEO Sam Zell visited the Newport News Daily Press newsroom yesterday and didn't say anything. Sure, he offered a vision of hope and all. But Barack Obama could have given them that. We're guessing the "D-Press" staff was hoping for a "fuck" here or a "tits" there, but, as... [FishBowlLA]

Sam Zell at UCLA : "We Have Customers Out There"--Video - Posted February 22, 2008
Sam Zell spoke at UCLA last night, and provocatively suggested a newspaper should earn its way. How much more profit blood can Tribune wring from this rag, anyway?... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 02.20.08 - Posted February 20, 2008
Good morning Washington. Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | RADIO | JOBS Most of you did not have to work on Monday. NEWSPAPERS Wonkette takes a look at the latest David Brooks column calling it "the worst column in American History". Gawker reports, "Alt-weekly crusader and Washington City Paper editor Erik... [FishBowlDC]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted February 13, 2008
So Much For Change: Seems Agent of Change Sam Zell is doing exactly what stalwart media fucks would have done/have been doing since the beginning of time: laying people off. (And here we thought he was just going to be laying people.) At the L.A. Times, as many as 150 jobs... [FishBowlLA]

LAT Readers Not As Impressed By Sam Zell As We Are - Posted February 11, 2008
Responding to an LAT piece about the candid and thrillingly weird Tribune Co. honcho Sam Zell, readers have expressed a concern that for all his color, Zell is going to be yet another decisive force in the slaughtering of a once-proud industry. We think the people writing in have no idea... [FishBowlLA]

Sam Zell, Also, Killed A Kid In the Eighth Grade - Posted February 7, 2008
OK, maybe not. But there's definitely something the Tribune Co. owner and John Mayer have in common: People love writing about them. When he's not cursing at reporters or bemoaning the company for not taking a harder stance with the CW ("being fucking limp-dick," were, reportedly, his words), Sam Zell is sending... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted January 22, 2008
Big Nom Country: No Country for Old Men gets eight Oscar nominations. Get the rest of the wildly unsurprising nomination news here. Stealing From The Dead: The widow of Sammy Davis Jr. says she was hoodwinked into signing away a substantial portion of her late husband's estate and is suing two former... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 01.18.08 - Posted January 18, 2008
Good morning Washington. Today in D.C. history, Marion Barry said "bitch set me up." Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: REVOLVING DOOR | NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | MAGAZINES | BOOKS | JOBS You think Ben Bradlee could take Robert Novak in a street fight. REVOLVING DOOR The Washington Business Journal reports, "The Washington Post... [FishBowlDC]

Morning Reading List, 01.14.08 - Posted January 14, 2008
Good morning Washington. On this day in 1952, the "Today" show premiered, in 1973 the Dolphins became the only one of only two NFL teams to go undefeated during the regular season, and in 2004, President Bush announced we're going to Mars. (Hat tip: MicCheckRadio). Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: REVOLVING DOOR |... [FishBowlDC]

ERS: KTLA Gets Rose Parade Ratings Hit Post Edwards. Is Eubanks Next? - Posted January 8, 2008
ERSNews.com loves pretty flowers and old ladies. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. So it makes sense that they'd be up in arms over the ouster of Stephanie Edwards from the Rose Parade two years ago. The site suggests that since replacing the chipper host, ratings for the KTLA coverage of... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted December 21, 2007
Sam's Big Day: Billionaire Sam Zell took over control of the Los Angeles Times and the Tribune Company on Thursday in what the LAT calls, "a debt-heavy deal that creates tremendous opportunities and risks for one of America's top newspapers." Wanna hear Sam Zell talk about it? There's video on the... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 12.21.07 - Posted December 20, 2007
Good morning Washington. You don't plan on watching any college football games on New Years Day. And, this morning, Kiefer Sutherland celebrates his 41st birthday sober, and in jail. Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | MAGAZINES | RADIO | WEST WING REPORTAGE | REVOLVING DOOR | JOBS NEWSPAPERS E&P... [FishBowlDC]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted December 19, 2007
FitzSimons Resigns: Tribune Co. CEO Dennis J. FitzSimons is stepping down as soon as Sam Zell completes his deal to take the company private -- which could be Thursday or Friday. FitzSimons, who slashed budgets at the LAT to the point that two top editors resigned in protest, will likely not... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 12.10.07 - Posted December 10, 2007
Good morning Washington. For those of you wondering why we're not including the Politico, Roll Call and The Hill in our "Pictures of Morning Papers" feature -- which we'd love to do -- it's because a.) Politico and Roll Call are usually a day behind in posting theres and b.) The Hill... [FishBowlDC]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted December 7, 2007
Live Girls! Nude! Nude! The LAT is clearly smitten with Diablo Cody -- it's as though no one there has ever gotten this close to a stripper before. In what we think might be the third story about her this week, the Juno scribe appears in the lede of another one... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 11.16.07 - Posted November 16, 2007
Good morning Washington. An ABC release, "According to Nielsen Media Research for Sunday November 11, ABC News 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos' outperformed CBS' 'Face the Nation.' This is the third week in a row that 'This Week' beat 'Face the Nation' among the key Adults 25-54 demo. Among Total Viewers,... [FishBowlDC]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted November 14, 2007
Regan-omics: Former publisher Judith Regan filed a $100-million defamation lawsuit against News Corp., saying she was told to lie to the feds to protect Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid. FCC Playing By New Rules? The FCC is considering lifting a ban on media cross-ownership -- a move the Tribune Co. needs in... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 11.06.07 - Posted November 6, 2007
Good morning Washington. Eventually, you want to have kids. News University is hosting, The Electronic Election: Covering the 2008 Vote: A NewsU/Poynter Webinar on November 14. Register here. Poynter Online reports, "NewAssignment.Net, the professional-amateur (pro-am) journalism effort spearheaded by NYU prof Jay Rosen, has a new project underway -- and they need beat... [FishBowlDC]

Morning Reading List, 10.11.07 - Posted October 11, 2007
Good morning Washington. Joe Biden is your choice for POTUS. TVGuide interviews Chris Matthews. Via Wednesday's "Wake Up Call!": "But what's most noteworthy, of course, as we watched the candidates come out on stage, and Fred Thompson was standing there in the middle, is just how tall he is" -- Norah O'Donnell, on noteworthiness ("Hardball").... [FishBowlDC]

Sundown on Sunset: Missing in Action - Posted August 31, 2007
That Sam Zell video? Missing from the TimesLink page and even staffers can't view it. Makes ya think. Also lost in cyberspace: Theresa Duncan's post about art world ingenue Anna Gaskell. Scrubbing by a chum? Dooce is in town, but no sightings yet. Winkle Paw--no proof of political hanky-panky. But Dimple Paw? Whole 'nother... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 08.21.07 - Posted August 21, 2007
Good morning Washington. You think Tony Snow will say goodbye to in 1-2 months. "When the Issue Is War, Take Nothing for Granted" "The 2008 Presidential campaign—with its crowded field and accelerated timetable—emerged as the leading story in the American news media in the second quarter of 2007, supplanting the policy debate over Iraq,"... [FishBowlDC]

Zell's Little Hell - Posted July 5, 2007
Sam Zell has a few hurdles to clear before he can buy the Tribune Co., even though shareholders are set to vote on his $8.2 billion proposal in late August. According to the LAT: Washington regulators must agree to transfer the licenses of Tribune's 23 TV stations and one radio station to the... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 06.25.07 - Posted June 25, 2007
Good morning Washington. According to the PEJ Talk Show Index for June 10-15, "That marked only the second time all year that immigration was the leading talk subject." Washington Post reports, "A graduate student who drove David Halberstam when the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist was killed in a car crash will be charged with... [FishBowlDC]

Morning Reading List, 06.18.07 - Posted June 18, 2007
Good morning Washington. An NBC release announced that since "Meet the Press" did not air at its normal time last Sunday, it was labeled a special by Nielsen "and therefore this edition of 'Meet the Press' will not be included in the week or season-to-date average." Slate's John Dickerson writes, "No way Scooter... [FishBowlDC]

Morning Reading List, 06.15.07 - Posted June 15, 2007
Good morning Washington. You think there is no White House run in the future for Newt Gingrich or Al Gore. New York Post reports, "Advertising spending in 2007 is expected to be the weakest since the ad recession in 2001. Ad tracker TNS Media Intelligence predicts U.S. ad expenditures will grow just 1.7... [FishBowlDC]

Morning Reading List, 05.29.07 - Posted May 29, 2007
Good morning Washington. An ABC release announced that "World News with Charles Gibson" "won the May sweep among Total Viewers, Households and Adults 25-54, marking the broadcast's second consecutive sweeps win. The last time 'World News' won back-to-back sweeps among both Total Viewers and the demo was eleven years ago in 1996." A... [FishBowlDC]

LAT Buy-Out Memo Follow-up From O'Shea - Posted April 23, 2007
Editor Jim O'Shea asks staff not to give in to anger and hate--especially over the "unnamed (Trib )executives" who've gathered some hefty bonuses for working on the sale to Sam Zell. Scott Smith, president of Tribune Publishing got $400,000, just to name one name. To the Staff: I know this is not... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 04.09.07 - Posted April 9, 2007
Good morning Washington. The Onion is no threat to The City Paper. The PEJ Talk Show Index for March 25-30 shows, "There was a disagreement between the nation’s radio and cable talk hosts over the juiciest talk topic last week. The fired U.S. attorneys topped the cable menu while the 2008 Presidential race... [FishBowlDC]

FBLA Poll: Sam Zell--Bad News Bear or Good News Gnome? - Posted April 4, 2007
Sam Zell, the pint-sized plunderer of failing companies, is pretty much unknown to Los Angeles residents. FBLA can't help but wonder if he's got the right stuff to make the LA Times readable again. And thus, we need you, the crystal-gazers of the blogosphere, to share your views via the FBLA... [FishBowlLA]

Latest Rumors From Inside The LAT Newsroom - Posted April 3, 2007
The latest scuttlebutt: LAT Publisher David Hiller and ed Jim O'Shea heart Sam Zell and urged the Trib's board to give the grave dancer insider info. Know more? Do tell.... [FishBowlLA]

LAT in 90 Navel-Gazing Seconds - Posted April 3, 2007
Tim Rutten is an Angry, Angry Man: We're going long-form today, to print the best part of Tim Rutten's column in its entirety: Over the last five years, this paper's readers have received less and less in the way of news and features provided by fewer and fewer journalists. Tribune has installed one... [FishBowlLA]

Sam Zell--Tribune's New Owner - Posted April 2, 2007
Sam Zell, the new owner of the Chicago Tribune Company, has quite a reputation as a motorcycle-riding, cowboy booted swashbucker who came up the hard way. He's on the Board of Directors of Equity International. He likes to take risks, according to Forbes and he's #52 on the Richest list. He's the... [FishBowlLA]

Tribune Co. Sold To Zell For $8.2 Billion - Posted April 2, 2007
After months of negotiations that saw few bidders, the Chicago-based Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, announced this morning its sale to billionare Sam Zell for $8.2 billion. Zell outbid Los Angeles-based billionaires Eli Broad and Ron Burkle, upping his bid late last night. The company also plans... [FishBowlNY]

"Zell Wins Auction for Tribune" - Posted April 2, 2007
From the WSJ: Chicago investor Sam Zell has won the bidding for Tribune Co., according to a person familiar with the company's six-month old auction. Exact terms should be disclosed this morning, this person said. They include a low break-up fee, which would encourage the partnership of Eli Broad and Ron Burkle to... [FishBowlDC]

LAT in 90 Seconds - Posted April 2, 2007
Abode Issue Doesn't Bode Well: New Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell calls himself a "vulture investor" who apparently delights in raising the rents of mobile home residents. Sound Check: EMI is ending its copying constraints on songs sold on iTunes for all its artists -- except the Beatles. So if you... [FishBowlLA]

Another Suitor Tries to Woo LAT - Posted February 7, 2007
Another surprise bidder has entered the contest for the Tribune Co., owner of the Los Angeles Times and other local properties. Chicago real estate magnate Sam Zell has offered what the LAT calls "a complicated proposal." In the most telling part of the story, the LAT reports that Zell would not... [FishBowlLA]