Sam Zell’s - FishbowlLA

LAT Proves They’re Not Zell-ots

Greg — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:14:26 +0000

From our tips box:

A number of journalists have asked our editorial folks if The Times would be forced to endorse Prop. 98 because of Sam Zell’s financial stake in the outcome. As you can see from today’s lede opinion piece we did not (and in fact specifically mention that we’re going against Zell’s interests).

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Stuff We Think Is Stupid

Greg — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:01:43 +0000

This ad for Hillary Clinton.

This latest ploy by the Orange County Register to lose money, readers and self-respect.

The admonition, following Sam Zell’s visit to the L.A. Times, that colorful language and a love of pussy were the purview of the king, not the hoi polloi.

The Hilton family.

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Jessica Hahn–Too Racy for LA Times/Left out of Ron Leavitt’s Obit

Kate — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:52:34 +0000

Is there a new regime of Puritanism down on Spring Street? Besides bowdlerizing Earl Butz’s obituary and Sam Zell’s use of the vernacular, the LA Times tidies up the obit of Ron Leavitt, the recently departed creator Married with Children, the show everyone used to love to hate on FOX.

Tabloid Baby points out that Jessica Hahn, onetime playmate of televangelist Jim Bakker, had been Leavitt’s constant companion for the last 15 years.

AP/Chicago Tribune:

Leavitt died at his home in Los Angeles, said his fiancee, the model and actress Jessica Hahn.

LAT:

Leavitt died of lung cancer Sunday at his home in Sherman Oaks, said publicist Larry Winokur.

So, is a publicist more respectable, in a family paper, than a fiancee? She’s not even mentioned as a survivor.

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LAT In 90 Seconds

Greg — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:59:05 +0000

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 site.

LAT Staffers… Hopeful? It’s rare that newsroom folk greet change with anything other than grumbles, but some seem downright optimistic about Sam Zell’s takeover of Tribune. Their relative happiness is totally foreign to us and is kinda freaking us out.

No Time For Losers: First order of business, according to Sam Zell: Sell the Cubs. Or maybe he’ll just give the team to Geffen as a consolation prize.

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Zell to LAT Editors: Give Readers What They Want

Kate — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:59:27 +0000

David Hiller sent out a staff memo giving the official version of Sam Zell’s visit to the LA Times. Mickey Kaus has the more critical observations that Hiller left out, such as

He made a big point of saying the paper had to print what readers wanted to read, not what LAT editors wanted them to read

Timeslink, the internal network at Spring Street has a video of Zell’s remarks and a Q &A, but Hiller or someone must think it’s too revealing for just anyone to see. Even the Newspaper Guild guy for Tribune hasn’t seen it.

(collage by Valleywag)

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LAT In 90 Seconds

Greg — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:00:52 +0000

Helluva Lede: “If this region is known for anything, it’s coal and Allreds.” And, no, Nicholas Riccardi was not referring to Gloria.

Is It A Coincidence … that the paper runs a story about “bad bosses” the day Trib shareholder are expected to approve Sam Zell’s bid for the company?

Geeky Business: Know boys who never open their toys? Then e-mail them this story. A related question: Is Geoff Boucher on the nerd beat?

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