McClatchy Reports 1,241 in Layoffs and Staff Cuts, Far Short of Goal of 1,600

McClatchy previously announced it would trim its national workforce by 1,600. It is more than halfway to its goal, as at least 1.241 positions have been announced as recently cut by individual newspapers in the chain.

There is one daily newspaper left, the Charlotte Observer. In addition, there are about 40 weeklies that may or may not be included in these totals. That leaves a couple possibilities.

1. The Charlotte paper will lay off about 350 people. That's highly unlikely.
2. The weeklies will make up the difference. That's highly unlikely as well.
3. The executives and accountants will figure they had done enough cutting for a while and leave it alone after the Charlotte paper makes its move.
4. There will be more cuts coming.

If anyone knows of any business-side cuts that are unreported, email me.

The Miami Herald figures include those laid off at El Nuevo Herald. There hasn't been a breakdown between the papers, but one of the consequences of the cuts has been that executive editor Humberto Castelló resigned after seven years in the job, and managing editor Tony Espetia retired after 40 years in the business.

Here is a rundown:

* Miami Hearld, 205 positions, including 175 people.
* Kansas City Star said it would let go about 150 people.
* The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said it would let go 130 people.
* The Sacramento Bee said it would cut 128 people.
* The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, S.C., which has laid off 20 employees and reduced wages 9.1 percent, effective May 4. An additional 58 were lost when it moving printing operations.
* The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., 78 people.
* Fresno (Calif.) Bee, 63 people.
* Macon (Ga.) Telegraph, 58 people.
*Anchorage Daily News, 45 people.
* The Modesto (Calif.) Bee, 40 people, including the 11 announced on March 10.
* State Media Co., of South Carolina, eliminated 38 people.
*Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat, 30 people.
* The News Tribune, in Tacoma, Wash., 30 people.
*Idaho Statesman of Boise, Idaho, 25 people.
* Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer, 20 people.
* The Beaufort (S.C.) Gazette and The Island Packet in Hilton Head, S.C., let 17 people go.
* Bradenton (Fla.) Herald 15 people.
* The Olympian, in Olympia, Wash., 15 people.
* The Wichita Eagle cut 14 people.
* Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, 14 people.
* The Sun-Star, Los Banos Enterprise and Chowchilla News in California released 10 people.
* The Bellingham (Wash.) Herald let go 10 people.
* Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald, nine people.
* The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, Calif., will lay off seven people.
* The Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald will lay off six people.
* The Centre Daily Times of State College, Pa., released three people.
* The Tri-City Herald of Kennewick, Wash., released three people.

A good source for McClatchy information is cancelthebee.blogspot.com, which is on top of these layoffs and more.

Tucson Citizen on Life Support Until Friday

Tucson Newspapers Inc. has informed employees at the Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen that the sale or closure of the Arizona newspaper won't occur before next Friday.

The Associated Press reports that staffers received a letter Friday notifying them that an announced closure was postponed to allow time for discussions regarding a potential sale.

Gannett had confirmed on Tuesday that it was delaying its original March 21 closure date because of ongoing negotiations with two potential buyers. Gannett and Lee Enterprises Inc., which owns the morning Arizona Daily Star, co-own Tucson Newspapers Inc. under a joint operating agreement. Tucson Newspapers Inc. handles all non-editorial operations for both papers. The papers share costs and profits.

On the right of this web page, the 60 employees of the Citizen are still on the newspaper layoffs list and will remain their until a definitive announcement is made about the paper's future.

White House Bans Press From Award Ceremony by News Group for Obama

See if you can discover the irony here.

President Barack Obama was scheduled receive an award for "Newsmaker of the Year" from the National Newspaper Publishers Association this afternoon. He was scheduled from the federation of black community newspapers in a ceremony at the White House.

But the press is banned from covering the event.

The president's official schedule states:

"Later in the afternoon, the President and the First Lady will attend a reception with the National Newspaper Publisher Association in the State Dining Room, where they will be presented the Newsmaker of the Year award. This event is closed press."

Why would any news organization even participate in a ceremony that bars the press? So much for transparency. Maybe there is a reason?

Well, there appears to be a quid pro quo involved. FOX News is reporting that Josh Earnest, deputy White House press secretary, has told it that Obama's reception is a "special access" event that the representatives of African-American community newspapers will cover as participants, and as such is not open to daily White House reporters.

The trouble with that is the normal journalistic standard would be that participants not cover themselves in any kind of events. That's what public relations directors are for.

Stories of the event, Earnest told FOX, will be published in African-American community newspapers across the country and in that sense the event will be "covered."

Well, covered by participants, who have an interest in positive coverage. Why not skip the middle man and have Robert Gibbs write the copy?

Earnest also said the White House says the National Newspaper Publishers Association is giving the award to the president and is therefore being given its own event because of its historical focus on African-American issues.

For its part, the National Newspaper Publishers Association has not commented on its lack of knowledge of how a news organization is supposed to operate. It's bad enough when corporations and government hide behind close doors, it's worse when the very groups that are entrusted to advocate on behalf of the public for more transparency participate in such antics.

I would not, by the way, expect much concern from the usual mainstream media. Now, if President George Bush had received an award for "Newsmaker of the Year" from FOX News and closed off the ceremony from the White House Press Corps, I'm sure The New York Times and MSNBC would have had a field day. (Which, under that scenario, they would had been justified.)

This manipulation of the press is growing day by day at the White House. The Obama administration has a running feud with traditional news-gathering techniques. Yes, this is a small event of no great importance to many people. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of award ceremonies at the White House every year, few of which get any kind of notice. But the trend of this administration is to tightly control the message. See here, here, here and here. This is not change in Washington that benefits a democracy, and it's a trend that needs to be reversed.

Obama Apologizes for Special Olympics Remark on Leno

President Barack Obama called Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver last night to apologize for a tasteless remark he made on yesterday's Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" concerning the Special Olympics even before the program aired, reported Jonathan Martin of Politico today.

“He expressed his disappointment and he apologized, in a way that was very moving,” Shriver said on ABC's “Good Morning America.” “It’s important to see that words hurt, and words do matter. And these words that in some respect can be seen as humiliating or a put-down of people with special needs do cause pain, and they do result in stereotypes."

Obama told Shriver he wants to have some Special Olympics competitors over to the White House for basketball or bowling.

Shriver is the son of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, President Kennedy's sister.

The president had been making an attempt at self-deprecating humor in his appearance on Jay Leno's show by saying that a recent 129 he scored in the White House bowling alley had been "like Special Olympics, or something."

He and his staff quickly recognized the mistake and moved to limit the damage.

While Obama called Shriver, White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters flying back to Washington with Obama on Air Force One that the president had “made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics.”

“He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world,” Burton said.

Roxana Saberi's Fate in Iran Delayed for a Couple Weeks

Imprisoned American journalist Roxana Saberi will have to wait for at least a couple weeks before Iranian officials have a chance to review her status because of a holiday.

Today is the start of Iran's New Year's celebration, which lasts for a couple weeks, her father Reza Saberi told MSNBC. All government offices are closed for that time and no officials will be available to work on her case.

Roxana Saberi, 31, a native of Fargo, N.D., has been held in prison without charge since January.

"It will be very hard on her because she knows she shouldn't be there and we know she hasn't done anything wrong," her father told MSNBC. "So keeping her in the prison is quite unfair and unjust."

Earlier this month, Iranian judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi told reporters: "The arrest [of Roxana Saberi] took place on a writ issued by the revolutionary court. ... I do not know exactly what the accusations are." He also said Saberi was being held in Tehran's Evin prison.

Agence France Presse reported earlier that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Saberi had been working "illegally" in the country after her press card had been revoked in 2006. However, he neither confirmed nor denied her arrest. Media reports have said she was arrested on charges of buying alcohol, which is prohibited in Iran.

North Dakota's congressional delegation has been working with the United Nations to step in and help free Roxana. Switzerland represents the interests of the United States in Iran.

Obama Misstep on Leno: Making Light of Special Olympics

Jonathan Martin of Politico is reporting that while appearing on Jay Leno tonight President Barack Obama committed one of the cardinal sins in communication: making light of a disability.

Obama's effort to mix his serious talk with more light-hearted fare was overshadowed when in an attempt to mock his own lackluster bowling skills, he said his recent 129 score in a game in the White House bowling alley was "like the Special Olympics or something."

Ouch. Not a quote you would expect from a masterful communicator. But then again, he probably did not have a Teleprompter. Besides, 129 isn't so bad. He isn't Earl Anthony, but how often does the guy bowl?

On other matters, Martin reports:

Asked his response when he found out about the AIG bonuses, Obama said: "'Stunned' is the word."

As he has all week, the president made clear to the public that he shared their outrage and reiterated that he'd try to get the cash back.

"People just had this sense of entitlement," he observed. "We must be the best and the brightest."

For all the sober talk, Obama did join Leno in getting in some quips, including one line that was sure to momentarily scare his daughters.

"That was a campaign promise," he said about the pledge he made to his daughters to buy them a dog.

"No, I'm teasing. The dog will be there shortly."

Copley Press Inc., Platinum Equity Agree to San Diego Union-Tribune Purchase Plan

The Copley Press Inc. and Platinum Equity announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement under which an affiliate of Platinum will acquire the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter.

Asked at a staff meeting Wednesday whether the newspaper was profitable, Gene Bell, the newspaper's chief executive, said he didn't want to answer, then, after a pause, "It depends on the week." Like most newspapers in the past year, the Union-Tribune had been losing money.

Harold W. Fuson, Jr., executive vice president for Copley, said that Platinum Equity emerged from that process as the bidder best equipped to ensure that the Union-Tribune – which last changed owners in 1928 – maintains its position as one of San Diego’s leading community institutions.

“This is a vital business with a long tradition of public service and a preeminent position in one of America’s finest media markets,” Fuson said. “At this important juncture, we believe that Platinum Equity is the right partner for the Union-Tribune, its employees and the San Diego community.”

Platinum is a private equity firm that specializes in acquiring businesses facing complex operational challenges in declining or transitioning markets. Louis Samson, the Platinum Equity principal leading the acquisition, called the Union-Tribune “a good fit for Platinum” and its operations-focused approach.

“We have a long history of creating value by helping established companies navigate difficult market transitions,” Samson said. “The Union-Tribune is more than a business, it’s an institution in San Diego. But it faces enormous challenge in a period of tremendous upheaval for the newspaper industry. We will bring a strong operational focus that helps ensure the Union-Tribune not only survives in this market, but thrives.”

The Platinum team includes David H. Black, whose holdings include more than 150 newspapers and websites in the United States and Canada.

“The Union-Tribune is a premier media property in an outstanding market,” Black said. “We are extremely excited about partnering with the management team and dedicated employees of the Union-Tribune, and building this franchise for the future.”

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Gibbs Handles Tough Grilling on AIG With Grace and Wit

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs got a grilling today with AIG questions, but he stood well on the podium and took the beating with a good sense of humor and wit.

RIP for Seattle PI (1863-2009), With a Heartless Good-Bye From Management

Hal Bernton, a reporter from The Seattle Times addresses his colleagues in front of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer offices today.

Today was the last print publication for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. It will continue on as an online-only venture, but in the process it will reduce its staff from 181 to about 40. One manager, instead of thanking the service of so many professionals, gave them a swift kick out of the door as they left in her column.

Here is a slide show that chronicles the events in the newsroom.

Here, Executive Producer Michelle Nicolosi discusses some of the changes the organization will face.

We don't have reporters, editors or producers—everyone will do and be everything. Everyone will write, edit, take photos and shoot video, produce multimedia and curate the home page. That'll be a training challenge for everyone, but we're all up for the challenge and totally ready to pick up all these skills.

But, in the coldest send-off ever seen, she also notes ...

My staff and I are thrilled to have the chance to prove that an online-only news operation can make money and do a great job serving readers. Literally, I'm getting emails from staff with the subject line, "Woo!" And Tweets that read, "I'm so excited about everything...can't even describe the feeling..."

If those emails are accurate, then the P-I staff is the most callous, mind-numbing, thoughtless people on the face of the earth. How can you possibly be involved in any organization that decapitates itself and sends roughly 75 percent of its colleagues out on the streets? If those quotes are true, Nicolosi and her fellow henchmen need to take a long look in the mirror. Truly, it is one of the most heartless things to print on the day your kicking 140 or so people out the door.

Veterans Leader Angry Over Obama Plan to Force Private Insurance to Pay for Wounded Heroes' Treatment

The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Barack Obama yesterday to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs in such cases.

"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Cmdr. David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it."

The commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session, said, "This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate 'to care for him who shall have borne the battle' given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America's veterans."

Rehbein was among a group of senior officials from veterans service organizations joining the President, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of Management and Budget. The group's early afternoon conversation at the White House was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the president earlier this month. The letter, co-signed by Rehbein and the heads of 10 colleague organizations, read, in part, "There is simply no logical explanation for billing a veteran's personal insurance for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide. While we understand the fiscal difficulties this country faces right now, placing the burden of those fiscal problems on the men and women who have already sacrificed a great deal for this country is unconscionable."

Rehbein reiterated points made last week in testimony to both House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. It was stated then that the American Legion believes that the reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate that VA treat service-connected injuries and disabilities given that the U.S. government sends members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. The proposed requirement for these companies to reimburse the VA would not only be unfair, says the legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran's condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered. Additionally, the legion is concerned that private insurance premiums would be elevated to cover service-connected disabled veterans and their families, especially if the veterans are self-employed or employed in small businesses unable to negotiate more favorable across-the-board insurance policy pricing. The American Legion also believes that some employers, especially small businesses, would be reluctant to hire veterans with service-connected disabilities due to the negative impact their employment might have on obtaining and financing company health care benefits.

"I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted," said Rehbein, "is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe, would more easily meet the President's financial goal. We will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with ... Emmanuel in the near future.

"I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is imagining," concluded the commander.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Ends Print Publication March 17, Will Operate Online Only

St. Patrick's Day will be the last day you can hold a current issue of the 146-year-old Seattle Post-Intelligencer in your hand as it publishes on newsprint for the final time. After that, the Hearst Corp. says the daily publication will only be available online.

"Tonight we'll be putting the paper to bed for the last time," editor and publisher Roger Oglesby told a silent newsroom Monday morning, according to the paper's own coverage by By Dan Richman and Andrea James. "But the bloodline will live on."

Of its 181 employees, sources say that about 40 will remain.

The paper, which currently had a daily circulation of 117,600, began in 1863, when Seattle was a frontier town. The P-I lost $14 million last year, and Hearst is banking on the idea that by eliminating the production expenses, it could reverse its losing trend. It has not turned a profit since 1999.

In a news release, Hearst CEO Frank Bennack Jr. said, "Our goal now is to turn seattlepi.com into the leading news and information portal in the region."

Its competitor, the Times, will deliver a copy of its publication to every P-I subscriber on Wednesday.