Zell Out!

So the man who created Bubba the Love Sponge and No Panties Thursday is now in charge of everything at the Tribune. Welcome, Randy Michaels, to the Terror Dome!

CHICAGO, May 7, 2008—Tribune Company today announced that Randy Michaels has been named chief operating officer, responsible for all aspects of the company’s publishing, broadcasting and interactive divisions. The appointment is effective immediately.

Randy has already made a name for himself as Zell's Good Cop (though he once allegedly grabbed a reporter's tie in the DC newsroom. Joshing? Or just plain bullying?).

What Randy hasn't done – ever – is show himself a proponent for serious journalism. By that, I mean stuff that is boring (no tequila shots involved) but important (why are all those people getting kicked out of their trailer homes?)

Randy is part of the Clear Channel crowd. So far, their big idea seems to be to integrate the Tribune's TV stations, newspaper and websites into a single mega-media orchestra all playing the same tune. That is, after all, the Clear Channel model.

But wait, that idea is so familiar! So filled with the scent of failure! So Tribune! Dennis FitzSimons was right after all!

Zell also sent out his own little mash note on internal email announcing Randy's appointment. In translation: Zell's over this media thing. Time to get back to real estate.

From the email:

ZellSpeak	TZ The Truth
"This in no way diminishes my involvement, nor will it impede my commitment to read your emails to me."	I'm off to Brazil, suckers!
"Times are tough and we have a long way to go."	"My credit rating is ruined. Ten years is too long to wait. On to Recife!"

The Rest of the Email:

Partners:

As the pace of change quickens and we work to integrate best practices and common themes, the board and I have decided to expand Randy’s role to Chief Operating Officer of the company. Consequently, all our lines of business--publishing, broadcasting and interactive--will report to him. Times are tough and we have a long way to go, and we will only get there with exciting, challenging, thoughtful and out-of-the-box leadership. I’m not sure I could come up with a better description of Randy.

Attached is the press release announcing Randy's appointment.

This in no way diminishes my involvement, nor will it impede my commitment to read your emails to me. I feel as though we are beginning to create a community with shared objectives and a desire to win. Let’s see it through.

Sam