OPINION

EXCLUSIVE

SAM ZELL RALLYS THE TV TROOPS IN LA

THERE’S NOTHING POLITICALLY CORRECT ABOUT THIS GUY

(Feb 7th, 2008 12:00PM PST)

BY ERS NEWS

The new owner of the Tribune Company is on a tour of the properties. Wednesday it was KTLA and today (Thursday) it will be the Los Angeles Times. Zell known for his salty language and lack of a tie showed up not on a motorcycle (he drives one) but in a big black Suburban. Of course all of the suits at KTLA no longer have to wear ties (a pre-Zell Tribune edict) so there wasn’t one necktie in the room.

Zell and his new Lieutenants, Randy Michaels and Ed Wilson (still presumable on the Fox payroll but there anyway) met with the employees on the KTLA lot. The standing room only crowd listened intently as Zell talked about the partnership between him and the employees (They have posted signs at every Tribune property saying “YOU OWN THIS PLACE.”) He talked a lot about how badly Tribune had been run in the past. He said the structure was such that all decisions were made in the Tribune Tower. Sam told the group their ideas are valuable, a concept lost on the previous management who didn’t believe an idea of value could come from anyone other than someone in the Tribune Tower. Sam challenged each employee to join him in his quest to turn the place around. He said the only person in charge is Sam and that the decisions have been made on the local levels, and local management will be held responsible. He also said it is unbelievable Tribune owns the L.A. Times and that the people at the Times barely know KTLA exists. Sam said that would all change. Randy Michaels, while acknowledging the differences between print and broadcast writing, said, “wouldn’t it be nice if at least the KTLA Assignment Desk and the News Desk at the LA Times “talked with each other and exchanged information?”

Sam and Randy, in discussing news coverage, zeroed in on the KTLA decision to leave the Malibu Fire coverage at 10 a.m. for a Jerry Springer show as a “bad decision.” A decision most likely made by General Manager Vinnie Malcolm who sat quietly, taking the tongue-lashing.

 

Sam also told the crowd that he expects to hear from them. He said so far he has gotten about 1900 emails from employees, but wants to hear from everyone with their observations and ideas. He said he reads every email and answers every one. Sam told one employee things are going to be different in 90 days. Much different. Stay tuned.