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A.H. Belo, Initially Considered Candidate To Buy Copley, Reports Big Loss, Layoffs
By Don Bauder | Posted July 28, 2008, 9:19 a.m.
When Copley Press announced last week it was putting itself up for sale, some analysts thought a logical buyer would be Dallas-based A.H. Belo. The company owns the Dallas Morning News and the Riverside Press-Enterprise, among other newspaper assets. Analysts thought a combination of San Diego and Riverside could create some savings. But today (July 28), Belo reported that it lost $3.2 million in its second quarter, compared with a profit of $12.3 million in the same quarter of the previous year. For the first half, Belo was $11.9 million in the red, compared with a profit of $2.9 million in the same period a year earlier. Advertising revenue in the Press-Enterprise plunged 25 percent in the second quarter, after having dropped 26 percent in the first quarter. The company intends to slash 500 jobs through voluntary severance offers, but if employees don't go voluntarily, there will be layoffs. That strategy is similar to Copley's recent Christmas massacre, in which it warned that if enough people didn't come forward, the company would wield the axe. Subsequently, it did. Belo has already laid off 170 this year. Significantly, Belo said in a statement that it intended to expand in the Internet business, as well as other electronic ventures.The tone of the company's statement did not suggest it is in the market for another metro daily newspaper. In February, A.H. Belo was spun off from Belo Corp., which owns TV stations. This morning, A.H. Belo stock is down 5.16 percent to $6.07.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise makes the San Diego UT look like the NY Times...... the P-E is one of the worst conservative rags of a paper I have ever read, much worse than the UT.
I have heard good things about the Dallas Morning News but have never read it.
By JohnnyVegas 11:23 a.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Well that makes it sound like they deserve each other!
By Ponzi 11:56 a.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #1: I have never been impressed with the Press-Enterprise. Keep in mind that Riverside is a smaller and much poorer market. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 12:14 p.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
The Press is the cause of its own death; they failed to protect American rights for far too long, enabling the Aristocracy to rule while placing We The People in grave jeopardy for at least the last sixteen years economically, socially and of course politically.
This morning’s U-T provides an excellent case study, on page A1 they headlined robbers of banks, and by most amazing coincidence they headlined robbers of taxpayers on page B1. The U-T Editorial Board fights hard to protect their Aristocracy while encouraging bloodsucking judges/lawyers to charge criminally greedy fees against the taxpayer to protect their out of control corruption and avarice.
But that’s life since UCAN Fleece Us has become all too easy today in a NORC society.
So once again, former Justice O’Connor’s grave warning about the overthrow of Rule of Law throughout America, allowing judge/lawyer bloodsuckers to bleed taxpayers dry to enrich and empower the Aristocracy against We The People effectively overthrows American Democracy but NORC, not even the Press.
So I ask, what good have newspapers been at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century when the overthrow of justice and democracy keeps going further out of control!?
The fact is that the Fourth Estate failed the hopes and dreams of our Founding Fathers, while We The People descended into NORC Hell.
By Anon92107 12:17 p.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #2: You provide a good laugh, but Wall Street and private sector firms have often pushed the idea that putting two losing companies together is a good idea. Instead of saying two plus two equals five, the claim is that minus-two plus minus-two equals plus-four. That's like saying that an unstable groom and an unstable bride will lead to a marriage made in heaven. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 12:18 p.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #4: Yes, newspapers are ignoring their watchdog function. But so are other media (TV, radio etc.) that are not ailing as much as newspapers. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 12:22 p.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #6:
There must be some kind of a decay sequence for Democracy going on today Don, first the education system fails to educate people to care about protecting democracy, then people stop thinking about corrupt politicians and judges that are overthrowing our democracy, so people stopped paying money for newspapers that require them to actually read and think, and converted to brain-dead "other media" entertainment phase that anesthetizes what is left of our brains.
The Reader appears to be the only print media left standing in San Diego with any significant print media readership, so the question is does The Reader care enough to use what remains of the power of the press in San Diego to champion the restoration of Democracy at least in San Diego, or do we continue to repeat the historical precedent of default back to Aristocracy that they tried to get George Washington to become King of in the first place?
By Anon92107 1:07 p.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Given news of reduced news coverage, shrinking editorial space and probably layoffs at the L.A. Times (my West Coast paper of choice), what do you think are the chances of the L.A. Times taking over the U-T? I know they had a San Diego section many years ago...
By Shadow 1:55 p.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Given news of reduced news coverage, shrinking editorial space and probably layoffs at the L.A. Times (my West Coast paper of choice), what do you think are the chances of the L.A. Times taking over the U-T?
==================================
The LA Times closed the San Diego office down in 89. Many moons ago-and they have their own problems. They would be a very unlikely buyer.
In addition Sam Zell is now trying to sell off paper assets in LA and Chicago (LA Times Building) to make the cahs flows work from the buy out.
By JohnnyVegas 5:14 p.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #7: The Reader is doing its best at the task you assign us. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 6:12 p.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #8: The LA Times belongs to Chicago's Tribune Co., which is so loaded with debt that it is expected to default by year's end. It is shedding assets. There is no chance the Times will take over the U-T while it is under the Tribune's wing. If Tribune sold the Times, it would have to spend a lot of money to re-solidify its lagging position in the L.A. market. I doubt it would be interested in San Diego for a long time, if ever. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 6:18 p.m., Jul 28, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #10: Thanks Don, I appreciate your efforts but considering all the newspaper horror stories you are exposing, it is time for extreme action if there is to be any future at all for a credible daily newspaper in San Diego.
Right now that appears not to be a possibility because most aristocrats like those who control San Diego politics and justice such as the Copleys, Manchesters, McMillans, Moores et al. have one overarching cultural value, to satisfy their own avarice regardless of the consequences to democracy.
As an extreme example and proof that history keeps repeating the scenario of aristocracy overthrowing democracy, George Bush is doing it again but with the new consequence that with this iteration George Bush is actually a leader who is selling America out to communist china by mortgaging America to a point where we are destined to default with his suicidal printing of lead certificates for money and acts of destructive greed practiced by leaders of all our other institutions.
So maybe it doesn’t matter that newspapers die while the newest media achieve Bush’s dream of making Orwell’s “1984” come true with the aid of a brain-dead congress and NORC populace while Bush proves he really is America’s “Manchurian Candidate.”
By Anon92107 2:06 a.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Anon,
The print media is being deflated because both the talent and the readership has migrated onto online platforms.
We don't have to settle for the UT anymore when we've got:
www.reason.com
www.ted.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.economist.com
www.iht.com
www.voiceofsandiego.org
www.sdreader.com
www.blogofsandiego.com
...and so on
It's great, Anon!
Instead of looking for a replacement for what has already passed into semi-obsolescence, look at the fantastic opportunities.
With such a multitude of resources at our finger tips, we've only got ourselves to blame if we're not out doing just what you recommend, and change No One Really Cares (NORC) thinking that has dominated our political discourse for too long.
Perhaps we can make NORC mean "Now One Really Can".
Best,
Fred
By Fred_Williams 7:38 a.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #12: Even after massive layoffs, newspapers have the personnel resources to serve their watchdog function while making a profit. But they have to do a better job with the Internet, where their future lies. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 8:29 a.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #13: I agree that the blogs are doing an excellent job. But they get many of their ideas from the conventional media, which have the reportorial resources. Best, Don Bauer
By dbauder 8:31 a.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
So no one in print news has to worry about losing a job. We'll just all carry around a laptop, and the jobs will shift over to the web. When I go in the men's room, I take a laptop into the stall. Doesn't everybody?
By russl 8:56 a.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Russl, was that you sitting next to me, tapping your foot, and flipping an extention cord around in your stall? :-)
By Fred_Williams 10:18 a.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
As to the veracity of online sources, I present two impecable examples from the world of science:
http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/
http://www.dhmo.org/
By Fred_Williams 10:29 a.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #16: The newspaper could come to you via laptop. We talked about something like that 20 years ago -- the paper coming in on a portable laptop-sized electronic device. What about a cellphone-sized device? It's being discussed. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 11:59 a.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #17: I doubt that Russl was tapping his foot. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder noon, Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #18: The tree octopus should definitely be saved from extinction. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 12:04 p.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #13: Thanks for the references Fred, the "Economist" is first rate and Wikipedia is an OK first approximation reference source which even they caveat that we still need to crosscheck facts presented on their site, and most everything else, along with CNN, MSNBC and networks, is pretty superficial (except Don Bauder of course).
But the most wonderful and satisfying thing by far about www is that we can Google with our minds in a relatively short period of time until we feel we really have information we need to draw most conclusions with. That's truly the best of all worlds for infonerds like myself who believe learning and understanding is a never-ending occupation.
But even with all that vast treasury of knowledge at my immediate fingertips I still cannot for the life of me comprehend why any self respecting democracy would re-elect criminally stupid bastards like our Manchurian Candidate President (with his "1984" culture) along with our S*** For Brains U.S. Congress, except that The Aristocracy has actually overthrown American Democracy already and we still fail to overcome our NORC mentality to figure it out.
By Anon92107 2:21 p.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Anon, alternatively, you could figure that Sleepy San Diego has woken up.
Our supposed friends slipped something in the punch, and now we're not only in pain, but we're worried about supporting unwanted dependents as well as catching a potentially fatal socio-economic virus.
Now we can just quietly accept the facts and keep our mouths shut, shamefaced that we were so dumb -- or we can go find the culprits, name them to the authorities, and loudly press charges.
If we have to suffer some short term pain to get rid of the various infections we've picked up from our horrific experiences, it's worth it.
Most of all, why are we being saddled with supporting the twisted offspring of our illegitimate city fathers? We didn't agree to these obligations, and they were forced on us against our will or while we were under the intoxicating influence of lies and propoganda.
We will have a civic DNA test, so we can disown the darlings of the downtown boys club, and only support the projects that bring the citizens some clear public benefit.
The test is this November 4th.
By Fred_Williams 4:54 p.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Re: #16, #17 and #20...
Don, you are correct. On review of the video-tapes, it's now clear Russl wasn't tapping his foot. He was tapping his keyboard.
Please accept my sincere apologies, as I deeply regret the error.
In the future, fumber shall be copy editing all my posts.
In all due humility,
Fred Williams
By Fred_Williams 4:59 p.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #22: The aristocracy has a lot of clout in our cashocracy form of government. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 7:40 p.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #23: The test is Nov. 4 but all the money is behind the ones on the wrong side. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 7:43 p.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #24: Everybody needs some of Fumber's prose. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 7:45 p.m., Jul 29, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #23:
Yes Fred, theoretically the next “test” is Nov. 4 but We The People keep failing tests because too few care to even bother to vote and as the re-election of Sanders proves "cashocracy" gives the advantage to S*** For Brains (SFB) puppeticians.
Thus our latest form of democracy has devolved to a people with brains need not apply state since far too many legislators and judges in Washington, Sacramento and San Diego keep proving with SFB majorities comprised of both republicans and democrats.
As Lee Iacocca said far better than I have “Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car.” That’s the state of American Democracy today.
By Anon92107 3:30 a.m., Jul 30, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #28: Agreed: Iacocca's comment was perceptive. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 6 a.m., Jul 30, 2008 > Report it
Anon,
One of the biggest dissapointments when I first started being active in politics was the astounding mediocrity of most of our elected officials.
I remember attempting to have a conversation with Brian Bilbray in 1994 (when he first ran for Congress) about the problem of "loose nukes". Since I've lived and worked overseas, I have grave concerns even today about this issue, and it's certainly something I assumed a congressional candidate would also find important.
Bilbray became distracted in moments, looking all around the room, and quickly moved away.
Cunningham at least was polite. I chatted with him at a Republican party event about walking precincts, and he took off his shoe (a Timberland as I recall) and extolled it's virtues of comfort and low weight.
I could name others...too many others.
When I studied political science I was told by a professor that voters simply don't connect with anyone they think might be "too smart". A former president of City College told me that mediocre people are the ones in politics because they are better able to self-deceive. Smart people have too many doubts and caveats to do what politics requires.
I think Bush may have changed this dynamic.
We've twice elected him with full knowledge that he's a dolt. Perhaps for the very reasons listed above, we "wanted to have a beer" with him.
Now we know the folley of voting based on beer-buddyness.
So we've got a presidential candidate this time that no one can call dumb. Look at the attacks on his too-high intelligence to begin in October, with un-stated under-currents of "he's uppity".
Bilbray will try to use similar claims against his far more intelligent opponent in November, Nick Leibham.
Anon, please do me a favor. Contact Leibham's campaign and offer to either phone bank or walk precincts for just one afternoon. You'll meet smart dedicated people who want to remove the embarrassing Bilbray from Congress. You can help a lot to raise the intelligence of our federal legislator...removing Bumbling Bilbray ought to raise their collective IQ considerably.
http://www.picknick08.com/
Again, while I agree with you that the world is pretty messed up, we cannot collapse into complacence. Maybe in the end the voters will reject our favored candidates, but if we don't get out there and help them it's guaranteed the bad guys will win.
Best,
Fred
By Fred_Williams 11:07 a.m., Jul 30, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #29:
It now seems like American Cashocracy has taken it's natural course to produce American SFBocracy.
The fact is that neither the democratic nor the republican politicians even bother to think anymore, they are products of a failed education system destroyed by Cashocracy, producing SFBocracy and a NORC electorate causing Iacocca to emphasize "Where the hell is our outrage?"
By Anon92107 11:14 a.m., Jul 30, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #30: Yes, politicians should not be too smart. Isn't it ironic that the first African-American to be a major party candidate for the presidency is considered too elitist? He grew up poor and worked in the ghetto in the south side of Chicago, for heaven's sake. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 7:14 p.m., Jul 30, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #31: In Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore, the ruler of the Queen's Navy relates in song how he grew so rich that he was sent by a pocket borough into Parliament. His song continues: "I always voted at my party's call. I never thought of thinking of myself at all. I thought so little, they rewarded me, by making me the ruler of the Queen's Navy." Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 7:17 p.m., Jul 30, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #30:
Very well stated as usual Fred, you brought back some thoughts about what I learned in PoliSci 120 and Hans J. Morgenthau's textbook, too bad we have since proven beyond all doubt to be doomed to repeating the political-economic disasters of history and becoming the source of our own extinction. Sadly, our ivory tower academicians have proven to be totally removed from the real world for far too long, they are just actors in a play about the past as we sink further into our decline and fall phases.
I met Brian when McCain came here to support him even though Brian admitted he had already sold his soul to Bush, and again during a debate he lost with Susan Davis.
Since those good old days of 2000 both Brian and Susan have proven to be worst case scenario examples of the failure of leadership in America today in both political parties.
Response to post #31:
Indeed Don, the most wonderful HMS Pinafore and other Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas could most easily be updated to apply to us today, but they are much better left as is. We never learn.
By Anon92107 2:45 a.m., Jul 31, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #34: It annoys me to hear a critic say that Gilbert & Sullivan works are "period" pieces. Their wisdom transcends time -- and that's why they will be around 200 years from now. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 6:23 a.m., Jul 31, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #35:
Wow Don, you go from Wagner to Gilbert & Sullivan and both seem to have a familiar theme about the failure modes of mankind, which has provided a terrific career for you because we never, never, ever learn.
American politicians in fact have devolved from Homo sapiens back to Neanderthal before anyone realized they turned into SFBs (S*** For Brains), but that also explains a lot of the blather on the 24/7 cable channels that have hired SFBs to interpret it all ad nauseum.
It appears that the FOWG (Fat Old White Guy) SFBs have also been joined by female FOWG (---- Gals) SFBs in congress like California’s own Pelosi, Davis, Boxer and Feinstein failing every hope anyone might have naively had that women could do a better job.
NORC enables Cashocracy by FOWG SFBs more than any other factor.
By Anon92107 11:58 a.m., Jul 31, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #36: I prefer opera to operetta, but every once in awhile my wife and I get out G&S CDs or DVDs. With G&S, it's the lyrics that are so captivating. Sullivan was a so-so composer who was lucky that he had such great lyrics carrying him. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 12:22 p.m., Jul 31, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #37: So much for my exercise in futility of expressing my outrage at our decaying democracy due to brain-dead and corrupt representatives.
NORC triumphs again and always.
By Anon92107 2:52 a.m., Aug 1, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #38: NORC is why people turn to opera as an escape. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 6:34 a.m., Aug 1, 2008 > Report it
I sat through four Operas, all of them in Prague which is renowned for it.
Except Dvorak's "Cert a Katja" (Kate and the Devil?) I fell asleep every time.
I also once got dragged to see Gilbert and Sullivan by an ex-girlfriend. When I could understand the words, I recognized they were clever, but the music was dull as dirt.
Hence, it's clear, according to the saintly and revered Don Bauder himself, that I'm not a NORC.
By Fred_Williams 8:13 a.m., Aug 1, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #40: Dvorak's "Rusalka" is one of the greatest operas ever written. (San Diego Opera has done it twice -- the second time with Rene Fleming, today's greatest soprano, in the lead.) However, Dvorak's other operas are snoozers, admittedly. I have heard two operas in Prague, and one was a wonderful performance of Rusalka. The other was Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio, which has beautiful music, but is so stupid that you have to close your eyes. A man of your sensitivity should start going to the opera: start with Mozart's Flute, Figaro, Giovanni and Cosi, then go to Wagner's Meistersinger, Tannhauser, Lohengrin, Walkyrie, Tristan and Dutchman, then get started with Handel's Alcina, Julius Caesar in Egypt, Rinaldo, Orlando, Radamisto, Rodelinda, and Acis & Galatea, along with his English oratorios done as operas Theodora, Solomon, Semele and you will be hooked. By all means see Strauss's Rosenkavalier and Ariadne auf Naxos. You might start with the war horses: Aida, Boheme, Carmen, Tosca, Traviata, Barber, Butterfly, Rigoletto. They are more accessible. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 12:16 p.m., Aug 1, 2008 > Report it
Don, that's a lot of music!
Wanna make a deal..??
I'll listen to Opera if you'll listen to:
Dead Kennedys, "Frankenchrist"
Mojo Nixon and Jello Biafra, "Prairie Home Invasion"
Butthole Surfers, "Independent Worm Salon"
Psi Vojaci, "Leitmotiv"
XTC, "Oranges and Lemons" or "Skylarking"
What's interesting is how music informs our world views. For example, no one I know who liked Punk in the 80's is now a Republican, but many of the Country Western and Heavy Metal fans somehow turned into fans of Bush.
Sanders claims to like Pink Floyd...but I wonder if he's ever listened to the lyrics. I'd recommend "Sheep" from their album Animals to describe our situation in San Diego.
What about opera lovers? How would you categorize them politically? I went to one opera here in San Diego (I forgot about it) with a former staffer for Jan Goldsmith. But he was certainly no knuckle-dragging conservative. Then again, we all know who was Wagner's biggest fan.
So, are opera fans left or right, Don? Any opinion?
Fred
By Fred_Williams 2:54 p.m., Aug 1, 2008 > Report it
Response to post #42: When our sons visit, we listen to rock. Our youngest son used to write for the Reader's Blurt section. Now both sons are techies in the Bay Area. They will visit in late September. However, I don't recognize any of the songs that you listed. Butthole Surfers doing "Independent Worm Salon" is quite foreign to me. Best, Don Bauder
By dbauder 6:43 a.m., Aug 2, 2008 > Report it