September 2009
2 posts
Lt rail stopped 32nd St./Wash Cops. Fire around train. Traffic diverted.
Light rail trouble W of 38th. Train stopped, lots of cops. Don’t know if it’s accident.
August 2009
2 posts
Light rail back up WB @ 22nd St.
Accident has light rail stopped WB @ 22nd. Just cars involved, no train.
May 2009
73 posts
Against my better judgment, I try analyzing the MSM’s challenges for HSJ teachers attending an ASNE institute. Gulp. http://bit.ly/n72SK
Yikes. Anyone else’s jaw drop at Ann Curry’s touchy-feely Brad Pitt interview? Video: http://bit.ly/kYLvR. NY Daily News’ take: http://bit.ly/Z6UKe. My favorite Curry response, other than giggling: “Cool. Very cool.” Favorite question: What do you say to women back in the U.S. who are jealous of me right now? Pitts’ response: “Really. Thank you....
Ruling in Tucson Citizen case
U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins on Tuesday rejected the Arizona attorney general’s request for a temporary restraining order that would force Gannett Co. Inc. to resume publishing the Tucson Citizen. Here’s the ruling: http://bit.ly/C2slu.
The judge said the AG’s office failed to show that it stood a good chance of prevailing in its anti-trust complaint.
“While...
Defense response to AG’s TRO motion in Tucson Citizen case. http://bit.ly/13XiCi. Legal arguments behind what was said in court Monday.
Some points it raises:
No antitrust violation because no economic competition within JOA.
TNI competes with all manner of media in Tucson market.
Citizen was failing, thus no competition eliminated.
AG doesn’t prove public interest would be irreparably...
An updated wrapup of links to Tucson Citizen case docs:
The Complaint: http://is.gd/AvYT
Memo Supporting TRO Request: http://is.gd/AvZC
Motion for TRO: http://is.gd/Aw0k
News Release http://is.gd/Aw0U
AG’s Exhibit A: memo provided to potential buyers on assets, staffing, competition, etc.
AG’s Exhibit B: original JOA agreement. Not much interesting here.
AG’s Exhibits C-F: includes...
New Tucson Citizen AG exhibit: Ruling and docs in Honolulu Star-Bulletin sale. It was a similar case involving Gannett and a JOA. Star-Bulletin sold and still operates, though had much bigger circulation and buyer with very deep pockets. Buyer in Tucson Citizen case said it bid on Honolulu paper. http://bit.ly/iPNkS
Tucson Citizen case affidavit: Buyer descibes offering proof it could pay. Includes Gannett exec’s e-mail with reason for breaking off negotiations. http://bit.ly/q0D1n
Just realized I’m making micropayments, 8 cents per page, to use federal court system. Guess it works when info’s essential. http://bit.ly/HyLFl
Latest AZ Daily Star story on Tucson Citizen. Detail on hearing. Ruling today. http://bit.ly/14h3qR |
E&P’s story on Tucson Citizen hearing. JOA partners said Citizen lost $10k/day. http://bit.ly/3z9Xe |
AP’s full story on Tucson Citizen hearing. Ruling tomorrow. http://bit.ly/CRPRf
AP’s story on Tucson Citizen hearing: AG anti-trust division chief says shutdown silences editorial voice. Gannett, Lee, Citizen argue that rejected buyer’s offer too low. http://bit.ly/ASzWf
AZ Daily Star: Federal judge says he’ll rule Tuesday on AZ attorney general’s request for a temporary restraining order forcing owner to reopen Tucson Citizen: http://bit.ly/dDA0v.
Pulled from Tucson Citizen docs, Tucson Newspapers Inc.’s ad chief, advertisers, ad agency execs address papers’ competitive situation. Their point, which is key to the defense case: Newspapers face a lot of competition now for ad dollars, with the Web adding to a list featuring TV, radio, niche pubs. It isn’t about competition among newspapers. Jim Click, Tucson car dealer and...
In AP and Star on Tucson Citizen exhibits: Gannett exec says assets valued at $760k. Best offer $400k. | http://bit.ly/dDA0v
“Sadness in the newsroom,” says one of two remaining Tucson Citizen staffers: http://bit.ly/z1umd |
This post pulls together Tucson Citizen case document links:
The Complaint: http://is.gd/AvYT
Memo Supporting TRO Request: http://is.gd/AvZC
Motion for TRO: http://is.gd/Aw0k
News Release http://is.gd/Aw0U
AG’s Exhibit A: memo provided to potential buyers on assets, staffing, competition, etc.
AG’s Exhibit B: original JOA agreement. Not much interesting here.
AG’s...
New all-opinion Tucson Citizen breaks news: 1:45 p.m. arguments in closure suit. http://bit.ly/24plN |
AZ Daily Star’s story on defense filing in Tucson Citizen case: http://bit.ly/dDA0v |
Tucson Citizen exhibit: Harvard professor says AG suit erroneously oversimplifies media competition in Tucson. http://bit.ly/fKSyJ | Joseph P. Kalt, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Tucson Citizen exhibit: Auto dealer Jim Click says advertising strategy won’t change w/o Citizen in print. http://bit.ly/fKSyJ |
Tucson Citizen exhibit: Gannett VP says online model similar to huffingtonpost, dailybeast, slate: http://bit.ly/fKSyJ |
Defendants’ exhibit list re Tucson Citizen, statements from execs, advertisers: http://bit.ly/fKSyJ |
Remaining Tucson Citizen staffer: “sense of sadness still permeates.” http://bit.ly/19XTn |
First tweets from new Tucson Citizen: http://bit.ly/wxJm2 | http://bit.ly/53Ku6 |
E&P: AZ Central unique visitors up 9% in April, 1.8 mil. http://bit.ly/n7oY5
Plan for Tucson Citizen’s talk-only, online-only version: Moderators, Mark B. Evans and Ryn Gargulinski. “Headline: Once you’ve read the news, discuss it on new Citizen site.” http://tinyurl.com/p4o3jt
Here’s one post pulling together documents in the Arizona attorney general’s anti-trust lawsuit and request for a temporary restraining order involving the Tucson Citizen:
The Complaint: http://is.gd/AvYT
Memo Supporting TRO Request: http://is.gd/AvZC
Motion for TRO: http://is.gd/Aw0k
News Release http://is.gd/Aw0U
Exhibit A: memo provided to potential buyers on assets,...
Keith J. Allen leaving Sierra Vista Herald managing editor’s job for non-journalism position. Talented journalist, fine person. Godspeed.
Tucson Citizen court docs: Gannett exec says Lee suggested closing Citizen. Also, parties discussed one partner acquiring greater ownership stake in TNI but nothing came of it. Exec: Daniel S. Ehrman Jr., VP Planning & Development. Ehrman says Lee exec (Carl G. Schmidt, VP, CFO) suggested closing Citizen in May or June 2008.
Tucson Citizen court docs: In deposition, Lee exec (Carl G. Schmidt, VP, CFO) suggests Gannett’s contribution post-JOA management expertise, paper procurement, systems. Background: Agreement post-JOA is 50-50 split of TNI proceeds or losses for what would have been duration of JOA (through 2015). DOJ closed its investigation without finding anything awry. Lee has vigorously denied the...
Tucson Citizen court docs: In deposition, Lee exec (Carl G. Schmidt, VP, CFO) says Gannett wasn’t interested in buying Lee’s share of JOA.
In affidavit from rejected Tucson Citizen buyer: Offered $10k, then $100k, then $250k. Then offered $400k over several years. Prospective buyer says value of Citizen drops quickly once paper stops publishing.
More Tucson Citizen case docs: Exhibits C-F, includes depositions in anti-trust investigation and TNI operating statements.
More Tucson Citizen case docs: Exhibit B, original JOA agreement. Not much interesting here.
More Tucson Citizen case docs: Exhibits G-L, post-JOA agreement letter, rejected buyer’s affidavit.
More Tucson Citizen case docs: Exhibit A, memo provided to potential buyers on assets, staffing, competition, etc.
As we await ruling on AG’s Tucson Citizen request, info on Tucson-based U.S. District Court Judge Raner C. Collins: Federal Judicial Center bio; Judgepedia bio; latest Financial Disclosure Report (2007). Highlights: Clinton nominee (1998), UA law school grad, former Pima County prosecutor, trial attorney, city magistrate and Superior Court judge. Invested in bank accounts and mutual funds,...