Editor & Publisher 1997-01-04: Vol 130 Iss 1

89 Pages·23 MB·English

1996-1997 REVIEW AND FORECAST ISSUE
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JAM 4.1997 • $2.29
THE FOURTH ESTATE
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A LOOK
BACK..
Public Companies
Cautiously
Optimistic
Newspaper
Reps' 1997
Ad Overview
..HER SCAR TOLD THE ENTIRE STORY. IT SPOKE OF
Syndicates,
HER WILL TO LIVE AND THE BRUTALITY OF THE
Tech, interactive
CRIME. IT TOLD ME HOW SHE SURVIVED.”
Reviews For '96
The images of dramatic news eveinnttss aarree Donna didn’t move.
often cruel and brutal. There are timess wwhheenn The legal secretary was still dealing with
capturing those images requires uunniiqquuee the trauma when Christina met her. “She was
sensitivity and artistry. disgui.sed in a black hat and glasses,”
San Francisco Examiner photogjrraapphheerr Christina says, "but what she couldn’t hide
Christina Koci Hernandez, winner ooff tthhee was the cigarette burn on her hand. She
1996 Society of Professional Journnaalliissttss’’ wanted to keep her identity hidden for safety
Photojournalist of the Year Award, bwrorouugghhtt reasons. When I saw the empty walls of her
all of her skills together in the imlaaggee ooff apartment. I knew it was there 1 would make
Donna, a gang rape victim. ,;-- -j her picture. To me, her scar told
After a dozen thugs repeatedly !i JJOOUURl NALISM I the entire story. It spoke of her will
assaulted Donna in a housing | ■I| D[)JI5STT INCTION ! ^ brutality of the
xi Mo I iL
project, they wanted to see if jL i crime. It told me how she
It M
O «
*N a: ^ she was still alive. So one of
XIQ u
xnhmq them held a lit cigarette against Vivid photography adds impact
her hand for more than a minute. ||__| |^^ ^p^g-pi to the newspapers we deliver. It
Afraid they would kill her, II nNeEwW SPAPERS li can make all the difference.
*~>w no
aiio_jcoKi«Q
xuKo: at
*:rva-uiz<
Tri-City Herald/Bob Baker
A river runs through it.
1996 Winners C.B. Blethen Memorial Awards
Distinguished Deadline Reporting
Under 50,000 circulation: 1st place - Tri-City Herald. Tri-Cities Washington;
Bometimes a story is simply so big it changes the way the Staff, "The Floods of ’96.” 2nd place - Yakima Herald-Republic. Yakima.
Washington; Staff, “The Floods of ’96.” Over 50,000 circulation: 1st place -
world works. The Tri-City Herald’s masterful coverage of the
The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon; Staff, ’95 arxJ ’96 flood coverage.
region’s devastating 1996 winter floods communicated the 2nd place - The Spokesman Review, Spokane, Washington; Staff, shootings at
a junior high school and hotel.
breadth, depth and drama of an overwhelming experience-
Distinguished Feature Writmg
providing perspective, critically needed information and riveting Under 50,000 circulation: 1st place - Tri-City Herald, Tri-Cities, Washington; Kim
Bradford, ‘To Keep This Family Close, They’ll Put Up a Fight.” 2nd place -
human storytelling.
The Beilinghom Herald, Bellingham. Washington; Leo Mullen, “Lost Crew
That kind of reporting earned The Tri-City Herald the most Returns from Clouds.” Over 50,000 circulation: 1st place - The Spokesman
Review, Spokane, Washington; Carla K. Johnson, “Secrets, AIDS and Faith—the
prestigious award in Pacific Northwest journalism, the C.B. Story of Joyce Claypool,” 2txl place - The Seattle Times, Seattle, Washington;
Blethen Award, Two other newspapers, The Yakima Herald- Bill Dietrich, “Fifty Years from Trinity.”
Distinguished Enterprise Reporting
Republic and The Oregonian, also won Blethen Awards for Under 50,000 circulation: 1st place - The Lewiston Morning Tribune arxl
flood coverage. All three offered readers news they could use, The Idaho Falls Post Register, Lewiston and Idaho Falls, Idaho; jointly awarded
to both staffs, “Snake: The River Between Us.” 2nd place - The Walla Walla
as well as powerful stories of shared experience. Union Bulletin. Walla Walla, Washington; Bryan Corliss. Donna Kemp and Becky
In other categories, the subjects were diverse and no less Kramer, “This Land is My Land.” Over 50,000 circulation: 1st place -
The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington; Staff, “The Ragged Edge." 2nd
compelling—from assessing our nuclear legacy to the place - The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Courtenay Thompson, Wade
complexities of youth sports culture. Stories that were as big Nkrumah, Usa Daniels, Robin Franzen, “Youth Sports: Not Just Fun arxJ Games.”
Distirtguished Investigative Reporting
as the West or as intimate as one family’s struggle with AIDS. Under 50,000 circulate: 1st place - The Olympian. Olympia, Washington;
For 21 years, The Seattle Times has honored the cream of Devin Smith and Heidi T, Liebetrau, “No Ucense to KiH,” 2nd place -
The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham.Washington; Kathy Sheehan, “Behind
Pacific Northwest journalism with the coveted C, B. Blethen Closed Doors.” Over 50,000 circulation: 1st place- The Idaho Statesman,
Memorial Awards. This year, judges felt especially challenged Boise, Idaho; Jim Hopkins and Elizabeth Ommachen, “The Boy Next Door, An All-
American Murder.” 2nd place - The Seattle Times, Seattle, Washington; Eric
to choose the best from much that was exceptional. Nalder and Duff Wilson, “The Pang Fire: What Went Wrong.”
That kind of quality gave Pacific Northwest newspapers Debby Lowman Award
1st place - The Seattle Post-IntelNgencer, Seattle. Washington: M.L Lyke,
good reason to be proud of winning a Blethen Award. And “Confronting a Killer.” 2rx] place - The Seattle Times, Seattle, Washington: Staff,
Pacific Northwest readers good reason to expect excellence “The Value of Money: Managing Your Money—A Resource Guide to Personal
Finance."
from their regional newspapers.
Entries for 1997 C. B. Blethen Awards must be received by May 16,1997. Stories must
appear in a daily newspaper (b^onging to the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Assoc.) in
Alaska. Alberta, Britisli Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon. Utah or Washington between
March 1,1996 and February 29,1997. Contact the Pacific Northwest Newspaper
C. B. Blethen Memorial Awards Association. RO. Box 11126. Tacoma, WA 98411, [phone].
CHe Seattle CfNes
..rM . nj^ii HU‘‘in'
SECTIONS NEWS DEPARTMENTS
26 2
Newspeople In A Year Of Expansion Calendar
The News /45 newsprint prices softened in 1996, some
newspapers grew richer and fattened on TV stations,
2
28 while others just grew
Stock Tables
13
Advertising/
Promotion Cautious Optimism
4
Newspaper rep firms give Companies set in motion aggressive plans to
their 1997 ad forecasts prepare themselves for a neu> generation of readers Editorial
and a new century of technology
48
4,80
News Tech Newspapers And The Courts The Fourth Estate
Filmless, keyless, The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the
shaftless in '96 constitutionality of the Communications Decency Act
is eagerly awaited in 1997 5
57 27 Letters To
Legal The Editor
Biggest Stories Of 1996
TWA Flight 800 explosion, Clinton re-election,
58 Olympic bombing, arrest of Unabomber top the annual 5
Interactive list as voted by Associated Press news editors and Newspaperdom
Communications broadcast news directors
Time of change and
challenge
64
Syndicates/
News Services
They set their sites on the
Web in 1996
70
Classified
PAGE?
January 4,1997 ■ Editor & PirausHER 1
|
CALENDAR STOCK TABLES
JANUARY 1 r Editor & Publisher
12-17 Newspaper Association of America Operations j
SuperConference, Hilton in Walt Disney World U.S. Media Stock Values
Village, Orlando, Fla. j
16-18 SNA 1997 Editors’ Conference, Hotel Inter- j (Weekly Closing Quotes)
Continental, Chicago j|
23-24 North Carolina Press Association Winter Newspaper STOCK 12/30/96 12/23/96 12/27/95
Institute, William and Ida Friday Center, Chapel Hill, j
A.H. Belo Corp. (NY) 34.875 34.875 34.500
N.C. j
AmerIcaR Media Inc. (NY) 5.875 5.625 4.125
FEBRUARY Central Newspapers Inc. (NY) 42.875 42.250 30.500
5-8 National Association of Hispanic Publications j Dow Jones & Co. Inc. (NY) 34.500 33.750 39.875
Convention, Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, Calif. Gannett Co. Inc. (NY) 75.625 75.000 60.625
12-14 Ohio Newspaper Association Annual Convention,
Gray Comm. Sys. (NY) 17.875 17 625 17.250
Hyatt on Capitol Square, Columbus 1
12-15 E&P Interactive Newspapers ’97 Conference, Hyatt I Harte-Hanks Comm. (NY) 27.875 28.000 20.375
Regency, Houston Hollinger International (NY) 12.250 11.750 11.000
20-22 Inland Press Association Weekly Newspaper | Knight-Ridder Inc. (NY)# 39.250 39.250 31.375
Publishers Conference, Embassy Suites, Phoenix j
Lee Enterprises Inc. (NY) 22.750 21.875 22.375
North, Phoenix, Ariz. i
McClatchy Newspapers Inc. (NY) 33.000 32.375 22.750
21-23 Great Lakes Newspaper Production Conference, j
Hyatt on Capitol Square, Columbus, Ohio Media General Inc. (AM) 30.875 31.375 29.500
23-26 Inland Press Association Key Executives Conference, | New York Times Co. (AM) 38.500 37.875 29.500
Pointe Hilton Resort atTapatio Cliffs, Phoenix, Ariz. Providence Journal (NY)# 30.250 30.125 N/A
26-3/1 American Newspaper Layout Managers Association j
Pulitzer Publishing Co. (NY)** 46.250 46.875 34.968
Aimual Convention, Menger Hotel, San Antonio,Texas j
E.W. Scripps Co. (NY) 34.500* 34.375 39.125
1 MARCH Times Mirror Co. (NY) 53.125 53.000 34.125
2-5 SNA 1997 Spring Publishers’ Conference,The Buttes j Tribune Co. (NY) 80.125 79.125 60.000
Resort,Tempe,Ariz. i
Washington Post Co. (NY) 332.000 332.875 288.625
6-9 Investigative Reporters and Editors/National Institute j
for Computer-Assisted Reporting Third Armual j # Adjustment to reflect receipt of 1.16 shares of Comcast for each
National Computer-Assisted Reporting Conference, I share of E.W. Scripps as of 11/13/96
Renaissance Nashville Hotel, Nashville,Tenn. ** Adjusted for 4 for 3 stock split as of 11/1/96
10-13 America East Newspaper Conference, Hershey Lodge \ # Initial Public Offering 6/24/96
# Adjusted for 2 for 1 stock split as of 7/31/96
and Convention Center, Hershey, Pa. i
13-16 Mid-Atlantic Newspaper Advertising and Marketing
Executives Winter Meeting, Sheraton Colony Square, Editor & Publisher
Atlanta, Ga. j
15-18 Inter American Press Association Midyear Meeting, Foreign Media Stock Values
Hotel Caesar Park, Panama City, Panama
19-22 National Newspaper Association Annual Government j (Weekly Closing Quotes)
Affairs Conference, Hy'att Regency Washington on i
STOCK 12/30/96 12/23/96 1/2/95*
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Hollinger Inc. (a) 12.950 12.850 10.250
1 APRIL News Corp. Ltd. (c) 20.500 20.500 21.875
8-11 American Society of Newspaper Editors Annual j Pearson Ltd. (b) 7.210 7.150 6.350
Convention, J.W Marriott, Washington, D.C. j
Quebecor Inc. Class A (a) 22.950 23.000 20.500
26-30 Society of American Business Editors and Writers, 1
Reuters Holdings, ADR (c) 75.625 74.000 54.875
Lowe’s Hotel, New York City j
27-30 Newspaper Association of America Armual j Southern Inc. (a) 19.000 19.100 14125
Convention, Chicago Hilton & Towers, Chicago Thomson Corp. (a) 28.850 27.300 19.125
Toronto Sun Publishing Corp. (a) 15.950 15.950 12.750
1 January February March Torstar Corp. (a) 32.250 32.050 23.000
SMTWTFS SMTWTFS SMTWTFS (a) Quotes are in Canadian dollars
(b) Quotes are in British pounds
5 6789 10 11 2345678 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (c) Quotes are in U.S. dollars
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 * London and Canadian markets closed 12/27/95 for holiday
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Prepared for E&P by Schroder Wertheim & Co. Inc.
26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 ^Vjo“4i25 26 27 28 29
2 Editor & PuBUSHER ■ January 4,1997
Dedicated to the Media and Communications Industry
Apollo Publishing Partners. L.P. Nledia Communications Partners
an alHIiate of Apollo Investment Fund. L.P. has sold the stock of
and CilylVIf'dia, Inc.
Jam(‘s A. Finkelstein pulilishor ol
have sold the stock of ht\*ton Jounutl.
IXuntj Htioitt^,*,* in
National Law Publishing Company, Inc. PbiUiMpb 'ut Ru,Hih'.*,i Jtmnutl.
publisher of the AlinnraptJuJSl. Paul CityUtunur.*,*,
AViP )Wk Jounuil, Pithburffb huoutr,*,* Ttutr.u
rbf Satiomit Idiw Jounutl, Tbc Etuployumtt Pufurr (Pttt.iburyb).
IdUi' TtrcbnoltHjy Prinhui Pittohunjb huoiitf.i,* Dirrvlory,
IP Vl\lrt<K^uk. Tbr htunne.K* Jounutl Sfrvinq (tirutfr JHU-ttuker.
Iaih' JiwnutI SfiuiiMr-Pir.Kt, Tbr Ruoinc.'.* ./ounutl Srnutty (itYoter StUTituintto.
litaikr Pnhliattioiut, J/iUKi Hipb Tnb.
ljtn%' JtNirtuil Extra! and illaiutijuif} Attorney/ylXX^ Jhust Hipb IWb Diirvlory,
to a newly formed entity owned by Corpitnttf R^fHUi Aluutt.ufto.
CtHpt*rttU RrptHi Fact HtH*k,
Boston Ventures Corpontte PtpoH Vntiurto,
Limited Partnerships IV & IVA Ttrin Citito HttuW,
Tn'itt CitUo F/nployutntI W'Wkly
and
James A. Finkelstein American City Business Journals. Inc.
W'e acted as financial advisor to, and a unit of Advance Publications. Inc.
assisted in the negotiations as the representative ol We acted as Financial advisor to, and assisted in the
National Law Publishing Company, Inc. negotiations as the representative ol CityMedia, Inc.
I^cember 1995 July 1996
Vkkonis, SiiiiLKK & Associates Iinc. Vekoms, SiiHEEK Si Associates Iinc
V
eronis, Suhler & Associates (VS&A), founded in 1981, is one of the leading investment
banks exclusively serving the media and communications industry with over 340 completed
transactions totaling in excess of $19 billion including over $750 million in newspaper
transactions. VS&A’s Newspaper Publishing Team specializes in helping daily and weekly
newspapers, alternative news weeklies, shoppers, local business journals, legal newspapers and
other community-based publication owners to maximize value through private sale transactions,
mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, financings and valuations. In addition, VS&A makes
direct investments in newspaper publishers through its $330 million private equity fund - VSA
Communication Partners 11, L.P. To learn more about VS&A's financial advisory services and
investment criteria, contact Kevin M. Lavalla or Robert J. Broadwater.
Kevin M. Lavalla Robert J. Broadwater
Managing Director Managing Director !
[email protected] [email protected]
Veronis, Suhler & Associates Inc.
Investment Bankers to the Communications, Media, Publishing,
Broadcasting, Interactive digital media and Information Industries
350 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022 Tel; [phone] Web: www.vsacomm.com
The Oldest Publishers
and Advertisers Newspaper in America
With which have been merged: The Journalist, established March
I 22,1884: Neu’spaperdom, March 1892; The Fourth Estate, March 1,
1894; Editors Publisher, ]\ine 29,1901; Adoertising, ]\xne 22,1925.
James Wright Brown, Chairman of the Board, 1912 -1959
President,
Editor Emeritus Robert U, Brown icxt ii5|
,THE FOURTH ESTATE Co-Publisher,
Advertising/Research D. Colin Phillips icm i i7|
Co-Publisher,
Circulation/Production Christopher Phillips loa ii5|
AFn Active Year
Executive Editor John P. Consoli icxt 22S|
Senior Editor George Gameau |m 22.t|
reed LEOALLY by the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996 Associate Editors David Astor icxt 226|
and fattened financially’ by falling newsprint prices and rising earn¬ Jodi B. Cohen icxt 2291
Stao’ Jones icxt 228|
ings, big newspaper companies last year moved into television at a Laura Reina icxt 2221
furious pace, as Mark Fitzgerald reports in his industry' review, beginning Jim Rosenberg icxt 2241
on page 7. A.H. Belo Corp. bought the Providence Journal Co. for $1.5 Midwest Editor Mark Fitzgerald
billion and Media General Inc. bought Paik Acquisitions for $710 million. Washington Editor Debra Gersh Hernandez
However, the real object of affection in these deals was mrt the papers West Coast Editor M.L. Stein
— but the TV stations that came along with them. Copy Editor Jennifer S. Waber icxt 2.WI
In addition, the biggest deal in Tribune Q).’s history, the $1.13 billion Art Director Hector W. Marrero icxt 2211
Art/Graphic Assistant Lery Chan
acquisition of Renaissance (Communication Corp., did not include a sin¬
Editorial
gle newspaper. iVnd bnfadcasting for the first time will be the biggc*st Production Manager Robert Rivera icxt 2201
business at the company begun when Joseph Medill founded the
Chicago Tribune 149 years ago. Vice President Advertising Michael J. Dardano icxi i44i
These high-priced acquisitions are not without risk, however.The pur¬ Sales Representatives James F Hoos ion I6ui
(New York) Joanne Koenigsberg lexi issi
chase of Renais-sance dramatically increased Tribune’s debt and resulted Betsy Maloney icxi IS9|
in MfxxJy’s downgrading the company’s debt rating. But traditional news¬ Sales Representatives .\nthony R. George
paper companies, like any other business, must answer to stockholders (Chicago) Richard H. Henrichs
who want their companies to find ways to make more money, increase Western Regional
Advertising Manager Michael Rogers
profits, and not be left behind in the growing age of telecommunica¬
tions. Production Manager Carol Blum icxi i66|
Brian C. Ogden. Assistant icxt i6S|
Does this latest activity' mean the traditional newspaper companies are Classified
abandoning newspapers? Hardly. Advertising Manager Shawn Olson icxt 29S|
Hazel Preuss, Assistant icxt 29S|
In fact, the Tribune Co. would like to include another newspaper in its Circulation
portfolio, according to president and CEO John Madigan, but can’t justify Marketing Director David Williams icxt 2soi
the purchase, considering the high-priced multiples it would have to pay. Fulfillment Manager Marlene Hazzard icxt 2hoi
And there were still many pure newspaper deals in 1996 — the Information Services Shqipe Malushi icxt .4Si|
biggest coming in July, when Pulitzer Publishing (a), completed the $214 Promotion Manager Lawrence J. Burnagiel icxt isoi
Denniston Brown, Assistant icxt isii
million purchase of Scripps League Newspapers, the chain which pub¬
lishes 16 smaller-circulation papers and 30 nondailies in the Midwest and OFFICES
West. —J.C. General: U W. 19th St , New Yotk, NY 10011; [phone]; ftix: Editorial
[phone]; Advertising [phone]; Circulation [phone].
Corporate e-nuil: [email protected]; Web Site: http://www.mediainfo.com.
Chicago: 8 S. Michigan Ave, Suite 1601, Chicago, IL 60603; [phone]; fax
The Fourth Estate [phone]. .Mark Fitzgerald. Editor; Richard H. Henrichs.Anthony R. George,
By Steve Greenberg Sales Representatives.
Washington: National Press Building, Suite 1128, Washington, DC 2(X)45; (202)
662-7234; fax [phone]. Debra Gersh Hernandez. Editor.
Palo Alto: 101 Alma Street,*405. Palo Alto. CA 94.301;[phone]; fax (415)
322-7178. ML. Stein, Editor.
Los Angeles: 1725 Chelsea Road. Palos Verde Estates. (A 90274; tel/fax (310)
378-7075.
San Francisco: 20993 FoothUI Blvd .Suite 719, Hayward,CA94541;(510) 888-
9640;^ [phone]:e-mail [email protected] Rogers,Western
Regional Advertising Manager.
.,.UML£65 VOU’P PIZEFER
THE ONLINE EDITION f Charter Member,
Audit Bureau
of Circulations j
Member,
National Newspaper
Audit Bureau AsstKiation
of Circulations Newspaper Association
Member of America
Microfilm copies of Editor 6^ Publisher are available in 16mm microfilm. 35 mm
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Vol. 130. No. I, January 4, 1997, Editor & Publisher,The Fourth Estate (ISSN:
(X)I>094X) is published every Saturday by the Editor & Publisher C^. Editorial
and business offices at 11 West 19th Street. New Yorit. N.Y. 10011. Peri(xlicals
postage paid at New York. N.Y.and additional mailing offices. Printed at William
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Postmaster Send change of address to Editor & Publisher Co., 11 West 19ih
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Editor & PiiBusHER ■ January 4,1997
LETTERS, JO the, EDITOR
Ctrcuiatton
j the other days of the week. readership.
Like many others, 1 believe the future
LY'f##/ ^ I average you calculated the math of print news will be influenced and
our NOV 9 article reporting Audit j wrong, which only reinforces the point must include the World Wide Web.
Bureau Circulation results for j that you should not be changing the However, 1 must admit as a reader 1 pre¬
September 1996 seriously misrepresent- j numbers provided by Audit Bureau, fer my newspaper at the kitchen table
ed our daily circulation figures. j and a book in the comfort of my reclin-
You did not use the daily circulation I Brian Sartor er, rather than feeling any need to sit in
number as reported by the Audit i Sartor is director of consumer products a straight back chair staring at a 13-inch
Bureau in the FAS-FAX. Rather, without | at the Minneapolis, Minn., Star Tribune screen.
even consulting us, Being a bit old-^hioned 1 am not
you changed the num¬ going to send this correspondence on
Newspaperdom*
bers provided by Audit e-mail — I’ll use my modem and fax it.
Bureau in an attempt
to create your own 50 yeaks ago ... A survey Mike Nixon
six-day average for our by E&P reveals that during St. Louis, Mo.
newspaper. the l6-year period between
As a result of strate- 1929 and 1946,306 daily
gic changes we have newspapers were suspended Correction
made in how we man- for one reason or another. At
age our circulation, it the same time, 145 daily new ONTRARY TO AN item in “News-
is not meaningful for papers were started — 116 o j people In The News” (Dec. 21, p.
us to report a six-day them in new places, growing 14), Associated Press newsman William
average. We are manag- population centers which dit Kole was appointed chief of only one
ing our circulation dif- not have newspapers in 192S bureau: Amsterdam.
ferently and toward There was a net loss of l6l
different levels for the dailies during diat time, but
various days of the there was a net gain of 40
week.This enables us newspaper towns,
to achieve a better E&P found that 61% of the
match of our business papers that closed were und<
Maynard Institute
goals (profitable circu- 5,(X)0 circulation and did not
lation) with the needs have the revenue to survive
of our marireter cus- the depression years. Seventy
tomers (audience nine of them had an average Training a multicultural work force for today's news media.
reach on the days they circulation of l,690.The aver
advertise) and our age population of those towi
reader customers (sub- was 6,129. The death of thos< The best investment
scriptions they prefer), newspapers were mainly
Given our strategy, and because of economic condi- you'll make this year.
the fact that Audit tions, E&P concluded.
Bureau Circulation is a
measure primarily for From Editor & Pubusher Editing Program
the benefit of advertis- January 4, 1947
June 1 - July 25, 1997
ers, the idea of com- . University of Arizona
billing our Thursday-Saturday average j and realizin;
with the other days of the week make \ tion to rem< Management Training Center
about as much sense as it would to add I keep my PC July 27 - August 30.1997
Sunday into the average.This is why | the ease an< Northwestern University
the Audit Bureau reports our Thursday- i with a com]
Saturday circulation separately from ! At one til
For information about these and
other programs, contact:
Maynard Institute for Journalism Education
For additional storie^’analysis 1211 Preservation Park Way
and industry resources, Oakland, Calif. 94612
Phone: [phone]
visit us on the Web Fax: [phone]
E-mail: maynardi)[email protected]
http;//www.mediainfo.com
January 4,1997 ■ Editor & Publisher
1
WHAT THE FACTS SU66EST:
It’s True.
Read it Yourself.
Anti-cancer benefits of regular,
moderate sun exposure outweigh
the risks associated with sunburn
and overexfjosure which easily can
be minimized, according to new
research conducted outside of the
dermatology industry. (Left) “Sun-scare” lobbyists want you to believe that eliminating sun
Why doesn’t the media ever hear exposure reduces risks. (Right) Research supports the concept that
this side of the story? regular, moderate sun exposure is less-risky than avoiding sunshine.
Giant pharmaceutical firms have
teamed with dermatology industry or regular moderate sun exposure, merely “salad bar” summary stories
lobbyists to intentionally overstate Although it would be difficult to written with a preconceived agenda,
the risks of regular sun exposure— document, it is very conceivable that ■ Cosmetic manufacturers and
promoting the financial interests of this anti-tanning position could be multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical
industries making billions of dollars killing thousands of people. companies spend $100 million
by scaring people out of the sun. ■ Researchers have known for every year advertising a self-serving
Sound incredible? Consider: years that melanoma skin cancer is message that tanning is bad for us.
■ Legitimate research connects most common on parts of the body They are the single-largest advertis-
increased sun exposure to lower that do not receive regular sun ing category in beauty magazines,
risks of the most deadly cancers. exposure. People who tan regularly You’ve been told, “There is no
Colon, breast, prostate and ovarian seem to be at a lower risk for this such thing as a safe tan.” In reality,
cancers—which kill a combined deadly form of skin cancer, yet “sun it isn’t safe NOT to tan. Avoiding
138,000 Americans annually—may scare” lobbyists flood the news with the sun may be dangerous,
be retarded or inhibited by regular misleading anti-tanning messages. We’re not saying that people
sun exposure. I Rank-and-file dermatologists, should tan recklessly—just that
■ One 1993 study suggests that who journalists turn to frequently moderate tanning is smart, outdoors
30,000 cancer deaths could be for information, are not privy to in the sun or indoors in a salon,
avoided every year if more people what the research really says on this Don’t lose sight of that in profit-
tanned regularly. Yet “sun scare” issue. Typically, they only read what inspired “sun scare” rhetoric,
lobbyists bury their heads in the dermatology industry lobbyists Interested in hearing more? We
sand and claim unilaterally that publish in their own propaganda, have a lot to tell you, and will send
there are no benefits from tanning They seldom read the research, but you the research to back it up.
Moderate Tanning. It’s Smart.
Call [phone] for a free kit on “Smart Tanning,
_s. .
EVERY SATURDAY SINCE 1884 E6?P
A^ar Of
Expansion
L
ike a stereo¬ /4s newsprint prices Communications Commis¬
typical male, sion regulations about over¬
newspapers got softened in 1996, some lapping ownership.)
hold of the TV The Providence purchase
remote in 1996 newspapers grew richer will also make TV the biggest
— and it looks media segment at Belo, where
like they’ll never let go. and fattened on TV broadcasting already accounts
Freed legally by the for 49% of cash flow.
Telecommunications Reform stations, while others Similarly, Media General’s
Act of 19S>6 and fattened purchase of Park Acquisitions,
financially by falling just grew announced in July, gives the
newsprint prices and rising publisher of the Tampa Tri¬
earnings, big newspaper com¬ bune and Richmond (Va.)
panies moved into television BY MARK FITZGERALD Times-Dispatch 28 more daily
at a furious pace unseen in newspapers and 82 weeklies,
the five decades since the boob tube forever and spreads its geographic reach from the Southeast
changed the way America gets its entertainment and into the .Midwest and Northern Plains.
news — and started the newspaper industry’s long At least as important to Media General, however,
decline of household penetration. is the fact that the deal more than doubles its televi¬
There were a couple of blockbuster newspaper sion reach in the Southeast.
sales in 1996 that recalled the go^o years of the At the time of the purchase. Media General
mid-’80s: A.H. Belo Corp. bought the Providence owned three TV stations, reaching 9.1% of South¬
Journal Co. for $1.5 billion and Media General Inc. eastern households.
bought Park Acquisitions for $710 million. However, Park’s 10 television stations — all of which are
the real object of affection in these deals was not affiliated with a Big Three network — extends its
the papers — but the TV stations that came along reach to 22.1% of television homes.
with them.
By the end of
Sure, buying Providence RENAISSANCE AGE
Journal Co. gave the publisher Need further proof that 1995, newsprint
of the Dallas Morning Neus television was driving the big
had soared to
a prestigious East Coast newspaper deals of 1996?
paper. More important, how¬ Consider this: The biggest $800per metric
ever, the purchase launched deal in Tribune Co.’s history
ton. As 1996 ended,
A.H. Belo into the TV big did not include a single news-
leagues. pajjer. however, newsprint
With Providence Journal’s And when Tribune’s $1.13
had fallen to just
nine network-affiliated televi¬ billion acquisition of Renais¬
sion stations added to its own sance Communication Corp. under $300 a ton.
Tribune Co. chairman, president seven stations, Belo will have is final early in 1997, broad¬
and chief executive officer 15 stations reaching 12.3% of casting for the first time will be the biggest business
John Madigan said the $1.13 the nation’s viewers — mak¬ at the company begun when Joseph Medill founded
billion acquisition of ing it the tenth-largest TV the Chicago Tribune 149 years ago.
Renaissance Communication operator in terms of viewer- VCTth Renaissance’s six television stations, broad¬
Corp. serves notice that Tribune ship and the eighth when casting would account for 48% of cash flow when
intends to be in the top tier of measured by revenues. (Belo the deal is completed. Tribune said. In 1994, Tri¬
broadcasters. Broadcasting will acquire KING-TV, an NBC bune’s publishing ventures, including its four daily
for the first time will be the affiliate in Seattle, and KREM- papers, posted a record revenue of $1.3 billion.That
biggest business at the TV, a CBS-affiliate in Spokane compares to $829 million for its broadcasting and
company, which was begun and so will shed its current entertainment division, which includes $104 million
when Joseph Medill founded Seattle-Tacoma station, KIRO- for the Chicago Cubs professional baseball team and
the Chicago Tribune 149 TV, which runs UPN network its syndicated TV shows.
years ago. programs, to satisfy Federal In his July annoimcement of the purchase, Tri-
Januaky 4,1997 ■ Editor & Pcbusher 7
bune Co. chairman, president
and chief executive officer
John Madigan said the block¬
buster deal — by far the
biggest acquisition ever by
the famously’ cautious com¬
pany — serves notice that Tri¬
bune intends to be in the top
tier of broadcasters.
The Renaissance purchase
and the other deals would not
have been possible without
the passage in February of the VaIII NASHVILLE:
TAfhroecolwtme oc mof2 5ma1%n9my9 tu 6otn,e liw3ec5vah%tiiisc oithonh nsei n hlcRiomremefiatoe srsoem nda llr^ CCEONNTVEERN TION JULIA CHENG
single owner of TV stations NNaattiioonn ooff IIssllaamm lleeaadd)e r the Rev. Louis Farrakhan went to the annual convention
can reach. In Tribune’s case, ooff tthhee NNaattiioonnaall AAssssooic iation of Black Journalists — and promptly derided African-
the Renaissance deal gives it AAmmeerriiccaann jjoouurrnnaalliissttss as "slaves" who "feed the people filth and ignorance and
16 TV stations that reach a ggaarrbbaaggee,,"" aanndd —— ffiinn.a lly — as professionals whose "writing is so stale and
total of about 33.4% of U.S. iinnssiippiidd..""
households.
Tribune would still have considerable room to PAPER DEALS
grow in broadcasting because all the Renaissance There were some pure newspaper deals in 1S>96
stations are UHF. Since these stations are calculated as well, however.
at half their reach,Tribune will have an official reach In July, Fhilitzer Publishing Co. completed the
of 25%. $214 purchase of Scripps League Newspapers, the
Tribune clearly remains bullish about further chain which publishes 16 smaller-circulation
improvements in the regulatory climate. papers and 30 nondailies in the Midwest and West.
Explaining the deal to Wall Street analysts and Four months after the deal closed, however, Scripps
media trade reporters. Tribune’s chief legal officer League’s former heir apparent, Barry H. Scripps,
said the company expects to hold on to the Miami sued his father and mother over the sale.
TV station included in the purchase, despite poten¬ Barry Scripps, 51, alleges his mother 70-year-old
tial cross-ownership problems. Betty “implemented a wrongful scheme” to sell
Tribune publishes the Sun-Sentinel in nearby Ft. Scripps League and “unlawfully induced” Barry’s 87-
Lauderdale. year-old adoptive father, Edward W. Scripps, to
“The FCC recently indicated it is time to review “breach their lifelong promises to Barry to retain
the cross-ownership rule, and we certainly support the ownership of Scripps League in the family and
that effort,” Tribune’s Crane H. Kenney said. “But ultimately turn over its management and control to
J
even without a review of the rules we will be seek¬ Barry.”
ing a permanent waiver on cross-ownership. That’s In the lawsuit, Barry Scripps contends he was
how we’ll approach that.” given a promise of lifelong employment within
Scripps League — a promise the lawsuit claims is
legally binding on new owner Pulitzer.
It was an attempt to keep the paper in the family
that led to another notable newspaper sale in 19%.
In 1983, the Slane family, owners of the Peoria,
Ill., Journal Star and the much smaller Galesburg,
Ill., Register-Mail, set up an employee stock owner¬
ship plan to keep the two Illinois papers in local
hands.
However, the ESOP, covering about 4SH) current
and past employees, proved far too generous as the
papers’ financial performance pushed the stock
price up and up. As employees began to cash out
In St. Louis, the departure of William Woo (left) after nearly a early — many becoming millionaires — the financial
decade as editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch foreshadowed a burden of buj’ing back the stock became too great.
change in philosophy at the Pulitzer Publishing Co. flagship. Long Finally in April, the papers announced they had
regarded as one of newspapering's leading skeptics about public been sold to Copley Press Inc. for $174.5 million. By
journalism. Woo was replaced by one of the philosophy's foremost that time, the stock had zoomed from $39 in 1983
advocates. Cole Campbell (right), former editor of the to $198 a share in the sales agreement.
Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. Another ESOP-owned newspaper found itself
Editor & PuBUSHER ■ January 4,1997
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