Comments on Tell Zell: Randy Michaels: International Man of Mystery

Curious why no additional comments have posted sin...

2008-08-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

Curious why no additional comments have posted since Aug 7? I stumbled across this after Googling Randy Michaels - great reading! I haven't been following the story line long but am curious what did Trib staff think would happen to an unprofitable company? Wouldn't all the firings have happened anyway? When costs exceed income "rightsizing" happens.

"She really didn't offer anything but petty critic...

2008-08-07T04:23:00.000-08:00

"She really didn't offer anything but petty criticism..."

Yeah, it's REALLY petty to suggest that they guy who's firing your friends and co-workers shouldn't be prancing around the newsroom--on deadline--cracking jokes.

So um...She's still working there...He took the ti...

2008-08-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

So um...

She's still working there...

He took the time to respond...

She really didn't offer anything but petty criticism...

It's particularly ironic you insist you're for free speech but moderate your comments. Do people who disagree with you get posted?

This dude is a major tool. Never once do you hear ...

2008-07-31T16:30:00.000-08:00

This dude is a major tool. Never once do you hear the word `quality' or `journalism' out of his or Zell's pompous yaps. That's the real tragedy here. They discount immediately the concept that an enhanced, better product offering more might draw in more readers. They immediately go the crap culture route. Yes, yes how elitist - fuck you. Don't they know a huge segment of society desperately wants a respite from the crass People-magazine culture we're drowning in. Newspapers should be that but now they are like everything else - ie. not special so why bother reading them or advertising in them?

'"The fact is that if it weren't for movie adverti...

2008-07-31T14:27:00.000-08:00

'"The fact is that if it weren't for movie advertising, the LA Times would be unprofitable today." Isn't that like saying, if it weren't for drivers, the automobile industry would be bankrupt? The point is, we are profitable.'

Um. The point was there will be fewer new movies released this year thanks to the various movie industry strikes. This translates to further declines in ad revenues for the LA Times in the near future.

The copy editor is a legend here. EVERYONE is shak...

2008-07-31T13:47:00.000-08:00

The copy editor is a legend here. EVERYONE is shaking her hand, hugging her, telling her how much they appreciate what she said. It's amazing. It really gives you a sense of hope.

As we say here in Layoff Land: Fucking pig.That is...

2008-07-31T10:56:00.000-08:00

As we say here in Layoff Land: Fucking pig.

That is all.

anyone out there know a lawyer who can give an opi...

2008-07-31T07:53:00.000-08:00

anyone out there know a lawyer who can give an opinion on whether Tribune employees ("partners") have any recourse in questioning how this whole deal was set up? using our pension plan to help finance the purchase?

So is Randy Michaels the Joker, saying "Why so ser...

2008-07-31T07:35:00.000-08:00

So is Randy Michaels the Joker, saying "Why so serious?" in the Trib newsroom?

tribune two-step has a write-up of this as well:ht...

2008-07-31T06:38:00.000-08:00

tribune two-step has a write-up of this as well:

http://tribunetwostep.blogspot.com/

Randy reveals a very common motif in corporate man...

2008-07-31T06:06:00.000-08:00

Randy reveals a very common motif in corporate management: those who complain are bad employees. Attacking complainers is not just a tool for subjugating employees, management fervently believes that complainers, or anyone who has an opinion for that manner, are the enemy.

That Trib management feels this way already is very dangerous for employees because now staff is fighting an established bunker mentality. Translation: be very, very careful out there, folks.

So THIS is what our COO does with his free time? I...

2008-07-31T06:02:00.000-08:00

So THIS is what our COO does with his free time? Instead of saving the company, he's engaged in running conversations with people who send him email?? Ah geez, we're more screwed than I thought.

Does anyone know if Benny Homel's secret business ...

2008-07-31T05:18:00.000-08:00

Does anyone know if Benny Homel's secret business strategy involves running around the office with a dildo strapped around your neck?

http://articles.latimes.com/2003/nov/03/business/fi-clear3

Jen, could you ask Benny?

Benjamin Homel is as phony as his DJ name. Newspa...

2008-07-31T01:01:00.000-08:00

Benjamin Homel is as phony as his DJ name. Newspapering is not spinning stacks of wax. It is not fun like WKRP in Cincinnati. It is serious work. News folks are not, as he cracks wise, "just making up the news." He doesn't have a clue about the business he is fronting. The leadership he and his Zellots are offering is driving a collection of individually profitable newspapers and the entire Tribune Co. toward bankruptcy.

It will only be with luck and the sale of core properties that the company can pay it's debts this year. And what about the next stack of debts after that?

Zell, the business genius, the business Midas with the touch of gold, blew it on this corporate takeover. Viagra, my ass.

The only grave dancing he will be doing is on the remains of thousands of careers, the journalism business, the venerable Tribune Co., and the Los Angeles Times.

I dread the thought, but there is only bankruptcy in the future... unless Mr.Homel really has a secret plan he doesn't want to share with his competitors. That secret plan needs to be shared with his "partners," the folks who "own this place." We won't leak. Our livelihoods depend upon it. If the plan is real, we'll back it and the blogs will fall silent. Industry-wide, our people have gone to jail to keep secrets. Didn't he know that?

Or, like Nixon who had a "secret plan to end the war," is he preparing only his buddies for a mad dash up to the roof to board the helicopters.