Robinson’s made her assurance in the wake of NYT‘s announcement of third quarter financial declines.  Circulation revenues are down nearly 5 percent while print ad revenues dropped by close to 6 percent.  Overall, the company reported a net loss of $4.3 million from July through September.

Robinson had an easier time shedding some positive light on the company’s online efforts as digital ad revenues increased 14.6 percent last quarter.  She discussed Press Engine, the Times‘s promising new app development program set to launch in the fourth quarter.  Press Engine is reportedly fetching a licensing fee upwards of $50,o00 from publishers.  Other digital initiatives that Robinson touched on were the growth of Times‘s business news blog, DealBook, last week’s release of the “full blown Times” iPad app, and the recent partnership with Nate Silver‘s FiveThirtyEight political stats and polling page. 

As for any specifics on the NYTimes.com paywall scheduled for January, Robinson had no updates:

“We plan to release details on price and gate placement closer to the launch,” she said.  “This first click free model will preserve NYTimes.com’s significant reach and ad inventory.”

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For two years, the New York Times Co. has operated The New York Times Knowledge Network, which offers adult and continuing education programs through online courses, individual programs and Webcasts. In the past, these courses were for non-credit only, but starting with this spring’s semester, the Knowledge Network is pairing with other institutions to offer certificate programs in everything from media journalism to law and paralegal studies. The programs vary in price — from $235 per course for the media program in conjunction with Ball State University to $1,950 per course for a five-course certification in entrepreneurship offered by Rosemont College.

Inside Higher Ed reports that the Times Co. will share revenue with its university partners, meaning these programs could end up being lucrative investments for the publisher, depending on how popular they become. And what do the students get in return? Certificates stamped by both the colleges and the Times, adding a little extra cachet to the resume.

Back in August, the Times Co. expanded its Knowledge Network with classes taught by Times columnists. We offered this up as another way the publisher was looking to earn extra revenue, but commenters believed it may have been just another way the Times tries to get involved with the community. What do you think of this latest venture?

Sign of the Times –Inside Higher Ed

The New York Times Knowledge Network’s Certificate Programs

Previously: NYT Columnists Prepare To Teach Classes

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TVNewser: The Washington Post reports that George Stephanopoulos has been offered the co-anchor position on “Good Morning America” to replace Diane Sawyer as she leaves for “World News.”

WWD: In the midst of a recession that has hit the high-end advertising market pretty hard, luxury pub Town & Country has plans to make its content more “exuberant” and “provocative” (read: sexy). Sex sells, but will it help boost ad sales?

Politico: New York Times reporter Peter Baker criticized the addition of reporters from Talking Points Memo and The Huffington Post to the White House reporting pool. “This is really troubling,” Baker told Michael Calderone. “We’re blurring the line between news and punditry even further and opening ourselves to legitimate questions among readers about where the White House press corps gets its information.”

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Billionaire Jeff Greene is making a bid for New York Times Co.-owned Worcester Telegram & Gazette. He’s now bidding for the Massachusetts paper against a local group led by Polar Beverages CEO Ralph D. Crowley Jr. and Harry T. Whitin, the recently retired editor of the T&G.

Boston Globe: Members of The Boston Globe‘s biggest union have ousted their president, Dan Totten, after finding him guilty of violating union bylaws during a two-day hearing.

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Los Angeles Times: Bankrupt Tribune Co. has been granted extra time to file its plan for reorganization.

New York Observer: Hachette Filipacchi is moving offices, from 1633 Broadway to smaller digs at the Time Life Building two blocks east.

New York Post: Forbes Media is still looking to sell its Fifth Ave HQ and may be close to a $55 million deal for the property that was first put on the market for $140 million in 2007.

Romanesko: Two memos: Gawker Media chief Nick Denton boasts about Web traffic while New York Times Co. Regional Media Group head Michael Golden informs staff that pay cuts made this year will remain in effect for 2010.

Reuters: IAC chief Barry Diller says the staff at The Daily Beast are “happy as clams.”

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Now James O’Shea‘s new project has attracted another Chicago Tribune writer, famed columnist David Greising, who will be leaving Sam Zell‘s publishing nightmare for more cooperative pastures.

Greising was the Tribune‘s chief business correspondent, so it’s hard not to take his departure as a microcosm of Tribune Co.’s quickly decaying structure. Greising will be joining former Tribune managing editor James Warren and former Tribune editor Ann Marie Lipinski.

Tribune’s Greising Joins O’Shea’s Chicago News Cooperative –Crain’s Chicago Business

Earlier: Jim O’Shea Explains The Chicago News Cooperative

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What does it mean for the industry when a media company like the New York Times Co. announces that 100 people must be cut from the newsroom?

That question led today’s mediabistro.com Morning Media Menu podcast, hosted by AgencySpy editor Matt Van Hoven and TVNewser‘s Kevin Allocca, who welcomed FishbowlNY editor Amanda Ernst to discuss the New York Times‘s announcement of layoffs yesterday.

Amanda reminded listeners that the Times laid off 100 people in 2008 through the same voluntary buyout process. “When companies make layoff announcements like this, they kind of couch it,” she said. “They give you a number and you don’t know really know what’s going to happen. And you kind of just have to wait and see.”

Kevin dug up some statistics about the Times: the paper had a little over 1,300 newsroom staffers before the last round of cuts, and now they have around 1,250. But no other U.S. newspaper has more than 750 staffers. Overall, it’s been estimated that 14,000 newspaper staffers have lost their jobs this year.

Also discussed: the Yes Men’s recent hoax involving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

You can listen to all the past podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321.

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WebNewser: Meghan McCain fights back against comments about her breasts in a Twitter pic with a column on The Daily Beast.

PRNewser: Interesting poll: Which Tactic Did You Employ the Last Time You Released Big News? 48 percent say “Posted on a wire and pitched the release.”

The New York Times: Craig Dubow has returned to lead Gannett, after taking a four-month break following back surgery.

Boston Globe: New York Times Co. CEO Janet Robinson visited Boston yesterday, thanking employees of The Boston Globe for helping to improve the financial status of the paper, making it possible for the company to maintain ownership of it.

All Things Digital: NBC Universal showed some improvement over previous quarters when owner General Electric reported its third quarter results earlier today. This should make Comcast investors happy.

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The memo, which the Globe posted on its Web site Boston.com, read in part:

“The Globe has significantly improved its financial footing by following the strategic plan it set out at the beginning of this year. All along, we explicitly recognized that a careful restructuring of the Globe was one possible route and, thanks to your hard work, that is precisely what has been done.”

Robinson will be visiting Boston for a townhall meeting today at 11 a.m., the memo added. We hope she will address the Globe‘s employees’ previous concerns about layoffs and other cost-cutting measures.

Meanwhile, the Times Co. is still seeking “strategic alternatives” for its other Massachusetts paper, The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. The memo and this SEC filing both emphasize that those negotiations will be wrapped up soon.

Meanwhile, the Globe‘s largest union, which first rejected the Times Co.’s proposed contract changes earlier this year, has taken action against its president Dan Totten, accusing him of misappropriation of funds. We’re interested to see how the union’s challenges will affect the representation of employees as the paper moves forward under Times Co. management.

Either way, the Times Co.’s announcement was a cause for celebration today in Boston. Case in point: the Globe‘s story about the decision today was entitled, “Sighs of relief heard as the Globe saga subsides.”

Related: Sulzberger, Robinson Explain Why Readers Embrace Print

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The Boston paper reports that two potential buyers have offered to pay around $35 million for the Globe and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and have visited the paper in the past five days.

One group is led by Stephen Taylor, whose family used to own the Globe before selling it to The New York Times Co. The other group is private equity firm Platinum Equity, which purchased The San Diego Union-Tribune earlier this year.

Since the potential sale was revealed over the summer, another party headed by Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca and Jack Connors, chairman of Partners HealthCare, was said to be interested in the Globe. However, today the Globe reports that Pagliuca and Connors made the lowest bid for the paper and have not taken a tour of the facilities in recent days. Pagliuca and Connors could be pulling out of the bidding as Pagliuca considers running for Sen. Edward Kennedy‘s Senate seat. If he runs, owning a newspaper could be a conflict of interest, the paper said.

Final bids are due at the end of the month.

Last week, Times Co. executives Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and Janet Robinson visited the Globe in an effort to calm employees’ fears about the future of the paper.

“Our hand is not being forced,” Sulzberger told the Boston employees, adding that the decision to sell would take a number of factors into consideration, including the impact a sale would have on the paper and the Boston community.

Two bidders visit Globe; third group may drop out –Boston Globe

Earlier: Sulzberger, Robinson Try To Calm Boston Globe Employees’ Fears In Meeting Today

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Despite the fact that one reader has apparently offered to pay $70 million to access “the most important paper in the free world,” Sulzberger and Robinson assure their employees that it hasn’t quite come to that yet. However, they have been asking their readers to bear more of the cost to produce their papers. Surprisingly, readers have chipped in and circulation has actually risen at the Times, the Globe and some other regional papers.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but the news shows promise:

“We don’t mean to suggest that there have not been any cancellations or that circulation volume hasn’t declined. It has. But there have been far fewer cancellations from price increases than we expected at both The Times and the Globe. The reader retention rates for The Times and the Globe are enviable — for subscribers of two years or more, the rate is roughly 90 percent for both papers. In fact, The Times has more than 830,000 readers who have subscribed for two years or more, up from 650,000 in 2000.”

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Today, Sulzberger and Robinson told staffers that although they are in talks to sell the Boston paper, they are not being forced to sell it if offers from prospective buyers are too low, the Globe reported.

“Our hand is not being forced,” Sulzberger told the Boston employees. “We are not in a situation where we must absolutely sell the Globe or the Worcester Telegram & Gazette for the good of the company.”

Sulzberger added that the decision to sell would take a number of factors into consideration, including the impact a sale would have on the paper and the Boston community.

But the exec’s assurances did little to assuage the Globe‘s beleaguered employees’ fears or doubts in the company. One staffer, Jeanne Shimkus, even drew applause for her contentious comments to Sulzberger and Robinson, the Globe reported: “I have no respect for anything you say. And I don’t believe a word you say,” she said.

“You banged us around really good,” said Marty Callaghan, president of the Boston Newspaper Printing Pressmen’s Union. “Some new owner better not come in here and think that they are going to go, with the way things usually go, and come in and bang these unions around again.”

Whether or not a new owner will be coming in at all remains to be seen, but given the outlook of the economy, chances are the Globe‘s employees aren’t finished being banged around yet.

Times Co. executives meet with Globe employees” — The Boston Globe

Earlier: Globe Readies for NYTCo. Execs’ Visit

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Last month, Globe owner the New York Times Co. avoided the question of whether the Globe was up for sale while reporting its second quarter earnings. During a conference call, CEO Janet Robinson said the Times Co. would not comment on rumors of a sale, but noted that cost cutting measures and increased newsstand pricing had helped “put it on stronger financial footing.”

However, yesterday the Globe reported that the Times Co. had revealed the sale in a quarterly report filed with the SEC. In the filing, the company said it had hired Goldman, Sachs & Co. “to explore the potential sale of its New England Media Group,” which includes the Globe and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, as well as their Web sites, the Globe said.

Then today, the paper said that California buyout firm Platinum Equity, which recently purchased the San Diego Union-Tribune, had made a $35 million bid for the Globe to the Times Co. last week. The offer also included the assumption of $59 million in pension liabilities, the Globe added.

Platinum’s bid is the third received by the Times Co., according to the Boston paper. The other two bids came from two Boston-based groups, one led by Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca and former ad exec Jack Connors, and the other headed up by Stephen Taylor, a former executive at the Globe and a member of the family that sold the paper to the Times Co. in 1993.

Earlier: Businessmen With Boston Roots Come To Globe‘s Rescue

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In a memo to staffers from Janet Robinson, obtained by The Awl, the New York Times Co. CEO said Mathis, who has worked for the company for 12 years, “has been a source of strength to me, our leadership team and her colleagues throughout the organization.”

“She was always on duty, actively involved in managing the reputation of The Times brand, a major accomplishment, given the massive amount of coverage The Times Company generates on a daily basis,” Robinson added.

The Times Co.’s VP for speechwriting and internal communications Ethan Riegelhaupt will step in to Mathis’ role for the time being, the memo said.

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In light of yesterday’s announcement that the Times had sold classical music station WQXR as part of a $45 million deal, the memo focused on the paper’s debt situation. The money from the WQXR deal will go towards paying down the $1 billion in debt that the New York Times Co. is currently carrying, the memo said.

“Going forward, we plan to use the proceeds from divestitures, such as WQXR and the potential sale of our interest in the Boston Red Sox, to bring our debt level down even more,” Sulzberger and Robinson said. “This is what we did in 2007 when we sold our Broadcast Media Group.”

The memo also outlined the details of a recent $250 million loan from two of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim‘s banks, including Slim’s possible role in the company moving forward.

“He has not asked for nor been offered a Board seat and does not have a history of activism in the companies in which he invests,” the memo explained. “This transaction in no way changes the control of the Company since that continues to reside in the Class B shares held by the Ochs-Sulzberger Trust.”

In their first memo of this kind to staff last month, Sulzberger and Robinson talked about the Boston Globe and reminded everyone that The Atlantic‘s Michael Hirschorn had predicted that the paper would be dead by May.

A copy of the memo, obtained by TheAwl.com, is after the jump.

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As part of the deal, Univision Radio Inc. will pay $33.5 million to swap its FCC broadcast license for 105.9 FM and transmitting equipment for the New York Times Co.‘s license, equipment, and signal at 96.3 FM. Then WNYC will pay the Times Co. $11.5 million for 105.9 FM’s FCC broadcast license, transmitting equipment, WQXR’s call letters and Web site.

WNYC, the largest AM/FM radio station in the U.S., will maintain WQXR’s 73-year history of broadcasting classical music, but will move the station to 105.9 FM. Univision will be moving its WCAA station to 96.3 FM, a move that Gary Stone, president and COO of Univision Radio said would give “the Hispanic population of New York and the surrounding area…more diversity in music, entertainment and news, while classical music will continue to have a home.”

The $45 million deal, which is subject to FCC approval, is expected to close during the second half of the year and WQXR is expected to begin airing at its new spot on the dial in October.

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