The Rake Magazine

The Star Tribune Guild convened a 10:30 meeting this morning to look at a pattern of age discrimination in the reassignments cooked up editors for the paper's owner, Avista Capital Partners. Speaking on background one Guild officer said that by their count "only three or four" of the [30-40] reporters told they are being reassigned, "are under the age of 35".

It is generally considered "paranoid" or "cynical" to read individualized, strategic intent in these reassignment frenzies. But when, as the same Guild source points out, the percentage of reassignees is so heavily skewed to older writers AND they are notified of their reassignment only days/hours before they have to decide to accept a buy-out and leave the paper, you really aren't left with many credible explanations other than that this is the latest exercise in the tried-and-true corporate "right-sizing" template of -- let's describe it the way it smells -- -- insulting/threatening a veteran reporter with a switch to a beat usually covered by a summer intern, if at all.

There are specific examples all over the place, but when you get to Neal Gendler, a 60-something with a heart condition being reassigned to the OVERNIGHT copy-editing desk, you're not even getting points for subtlety. (CORRECTION: I've since been told that Gendler's reassignment is not as a copy desk editor, but as a general assignment reporter, from 10 pm to 7 am. In other words, police chase and flaming wreck with shoot out at 3 AM ... Gendler's your man.)

The Guild also has a problem with the peculiar sequencing of the reassignment/buy-out deadline process devised by the Star Tribune. As I asked wrote yesterday, how else can you explain managing editors spending so much time re-mapping their employee universe BEFORE knowing for certain who they will have to work with, other than as a not too subtle and yes, fairly cynical process for "encouraging" those they most want out of the building to pack up and go?

It may be technically legal, but it runs contrary to the spirit of journalism, where your agendas, if you have them, are supposed to be plainly disclosed.

Whether the Guild alone can get any traction on the age discrimination issue remains to be seen. I happen to believe they should pursue aggressive outside counsel if only to squeeze Avista for a fatter, longer-term health benefits package. But that's me and it wouldn't be my money.

I gotta tell ya I'm damned near out of gas on flogging the Star Tribune (and the Pioneer Press, and WCCO TV and just about everybody other than KSTP's Bob McNaney and Strib columnist, Nick Coleman) to look up from its new strategic focus on the Fridley Squirts Hockey league long enough to put a full-bodied squeeze on the US Attorneys/Heffelfinger/Paulose story. The thing is belching vaporous gas like an incipient volcano and they're still taking "I don't knows" from Heffelfinger (who most likely doesn't know -- so enough) and "no comments" from Paulose, who, at the very minimum, should be compelled to hold a full press conference on the matter.

Thankfully, other papers have recognized the pattern -- particularly Karl Rove's bogus voter fraud/vote suppression strategy -- and are working more productive lines of inquiry.

Ex-Stribber, Tom Hamburger, filed this story for the LA Times. (Here is a good synopses via TPM Muckraker.

The Strib had the good sense to re-print the Times story -- with minimal editing -- but couldn't find a spot for it on 1A.

Sharp eyed readers here at LTTS jumped on it and filed deliciously acid comments. To wit:

From "herbtheverb" --

"So, just to rub salt in the wound (like they care), who do you guess wrote the story? Why it would be L.A. Times staff writer Tom Hamburger of course! You know, the guy who was one of the top political reporters around these here parts, once employed by the Strib locally, then as Washington correspondent.....

Wait though! It gets even better since these were events that happened in 2004 and THAT'S THREE YEARS AGO FOLKS! So even now, our wonderfully competitive LOCAL papers can't unearth potential voter discrimination by LOCAL officials against LOCAL citizens and needs ex-local reporters employed by a west-coast paper to inform their "customers".

There are even more juicy tidbits there about Paulouse, about how they sought to keep it out of the papers of the time (no worrys, mate, just don't talk about it in a Maple Grove zoning board meeting), and read carefully about the how/why the story was caught now (i.e. Monica Goodling angle).

Suburban H.S. sports coverage indeed: mission accomplished. The prosecution, uh..... rests.... "

Then, from "Not Pleased With Strib Cutbacks" --

"Tom Hamburger, a former Strib D.C. bureau reporter, finally does the digging his former paper has been incapable or unwilling of doing on the resignation of Tom Heffelfinger and how it fits into the overall picture of Karl Rove's politicization of U.S. Attorneys.

This story is the reason why the Strib and the PiPress need strong and well-staffed Washington D.C. bureaus now more than ever."

On that last note, the Strib did announce yesterday that it is bringing Kevin Diaz back to its DC bureau. Diaz was basically insulted with a salary cut when Avista took over from McClatchy, so he stayed with McClatchy -- which has done excellent work on the US Attorneys scandal -- SOME of which has been picked up by the Strib.

Nancy Barnes, editor and Sr VP for News had this to say in making the announcement, "As our chief correspondent, Kevin will be responsible for covering our delegation, as well as major state and regional issues before Congress, such as the farm bill. We expect him to be instrumental in covering the upcoming Senate race, and the Republican convention headed our way.

"Kevin will be joined in Washington by an intern: Jake Sherman, a senior from George Washington University and editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper. He has interned at the Washington Post, the Journal News in White Plains, NY, the office of Rep. Christopher Shay, CNN's Crossfire, and the Stamford Advocate. He will intern with us from June 18-Aug. 31.

"They will report to Doug Tice. For those of you interested in the details: We have rented space in the Scripps Howard newsroom, effective June 18, since we lost our own bureau space in the McClatchy sale."

Diaz and an intern. Well, considering the alternatives everywhere else in StribVille these days, how can I complain?

(Messages to Diaz' voice and e-mail got the response that he is "away" until next Monday.)

In an open letter to friends and colleagues, Kevyn Burger, mid-morning host at FM 107 and, as I've said for two decades, one of the great gals/babes of the Twin Cities, announced she has breast cancer and will undergo aggressive treatment beginning this weekend. A reporter at KSTP-TV and then WCCO-TV before settling into her present radio gig, Burger will return to the mic for an hour tomorrow morning, from 9 to 10 AM to discuss her situation, and then take an indefinite hiatus for surgery and chemo.

FM 107 GM Dan Seeman says his plan is to find a regular fill-in, instead of cobbling together a cast of rotating hosts. He hasn't yet decided who that will be.

I don't want to go all maudlin here, because Kevyn wouldn't relate to it or approve. But a big part of her charm has always been her "player" attitude. (Which explains why she ranks high as a "guy gal".) She understands the media game, has played it well with her own unique style and continues to survive with dignity intact. Not everyone can say that.

Hang tough, Kevyn.

(Her message is attached inside.)

Hello friends,
I am sorry to be contacting you as part of a group e mail. Trust me, I would prefer to tell each one of you the news that I am about to impart over a walk, or coffee, or a glass of wine. However, I simply can't bring myself to dial each one of of you to deliver this news personally.
Those of you who worked with me in news know I was never one to bury a lede. So here is is:

I have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

I had a routine screening mammogram they day after I did the Walk for the Cure. I expected to get that 'see ya next year' postcard in the mail. Instead, a call, the need for another look, the need for an ultrasound, the need for a needle biopsy.
And the confirmation of the diagnosis: invasive ductal carcinoma. In two places.
The good news is that this cancer has not moved to my liver, bones or lungs.
The bad news is that I actually have two lumps and they are periolously near my lymph nodes.
So, I am scheduled for surgery at the soonest possible date. I will have a full mastectomy on June 2 at 9:30 a.m. This will be followed by immediate reconstruction. I will recover for a few days at Abbott Northwestern, then come home, recover some more, and begin preparing for chemotherapy and then radiation.
I am still stunned. My favorite band Atmosphere has a line in their song 'That Night' that goes 'This sort of real doesn't happen to you, right?' and that may best describe my feelings.
It has been a long and crazily distorted time, as I have waited for the conclusive information to arrive. I've already seen an array of specialists and undergone a series of pokes and prods. Basically, I have now used up my share of the health care budget for the rest of my life...and about half of yours, as well.
Once again, the good news-bad news scenario. This will not kill me. (That's the good news.) The bad news is the fear and misery that will be my companion in the coming months.That I have to say goodbye to my breast and my self-image as a person with an almost super-human immune system. That I am going to have to learn how to be vulnerable and how to ask for help.
All of these challenges frighten me very much. I am being pulled out of my comfort zone and may never be able to return.
I am blessed to have a gutsy and loyal husband, a loving family and dear and devoted friends. I will have to rely on each of you in ways we can't now imagine.
Please do not call me right now. I need to keep my strength and focus. Please do not send large and extravagent arrangements of flowers to the hospital. They always remind me of funerals and that is the last thing I want to think of. Please pray for me and for my family and please be strong for all of us.
A hard lump of fear is wedged in my middle and nothing can make it dissolve until the surgery is complete. I know many of you feel it with me. Still I am optimistic. I know I have a lot of fight in me and I will give my all to this struggle. Since the diagnosis, I was riding my bike on a beautiful spring day, these words came to me:
"My fear is strong, but my faith is stronger."
It is. It truly is. And the faith that you have in me is such a big part of that.
I will soon have a website to communicate with all of you and give you updates. In the meantime, a small request: actively think of me every time you cross the river. Don't forget to admire how that ribbon of water is on a journey. Notice how the ricer shines; think of how the water seeks the sea. Think of how I'm working to heal...and send me your thoughts, prayers and best wishes as you cross between the banks. My body and soul feel somewhere floating in between right now, working hard to rejoin you on the solid ground of the banks. Wave to me. Beckon me back to the land of the fully alive. I'll be there with you again...soon.

With love,
Kevyn

PS This news is not a secret. Feel free to share this information with anyone who needs it.

My son has helped me set up a blog.
http://kevynbaby.blogspot.com
It will also be available on the fm107 website. This may be the best way to communicate with me for the time being

With the clock counting down to Friday's deadline for accepting Star Tribune management's buy-out offer, Strib reporters will get a look at the big, new, glossy, reorganized reassignment chart top editors have been fussing over. Word is it will debut sometime today or tomorrow.

Actually, I don't know about the "big" or "glossy" parts, but it has struck some as odd that the paper's supposedly maniacally busy managers have enough disposable time to cook up a reorganization chart, with entirely new assignments for quite a few staffers ... BEFORE they have any idea who is actually going to be on their staff after next week.

It doesn't seem like an exactly efficient use of executive time.

Top editors Nancy Barnes and Scott Gillespie have been e-mailed questions about this, and I'll dutifully plug them in when and if they respond.

Until then the suspicion further souring the anxious atmosphere of the place is that the pre-buy-out reassignment chart is another not too subtle tool for pushing "targeted" employees off the company dime.

For example, if Employee "A" has never been one of your favorites, but you're getting the feeling he may linger, you re-assign him to the all-important Bloomington Planning Commission/graveyard of marginalized reporters. Employee "A" -- who may be a career-long screw up or just someone you've never particularly cared for -- sees the big, glossy chart getting pinned to the newsroom wall, trips over a half dozen corpse-like colleagues to search for his name, finds it inked in next to "Bloomington", says, "Screw this" and signs up for the buy-out.

Mission accomplished, if you're the diabolical manager.

This attrition technique has not exactly been invented by today's Strib managers. And it always has the dark beauty of keeping your fingerprints off an old-fashion whacking without cause.

Presumably the official explanation is that today or tomorrow's list is all for the service of the employees, offering them "guidance" and "clarity" as they make their decision.

Riight.

Whatever it is, another newer, bigger and glossier reassignment list will have to get whipped together after management gets a load of who actually takes the bait/hint and who doesn't.

(SEE IMPORTANT UPDATE BELOW)>

Is this bait and switch?

Star Tribune Guild officer Chris Serres notifying his colleagues this morning ...

>>> Christopher Serres 5/29/2007 9:44 AM >>>

Dear Guild friends and colleagues,

The buyout package agreed to by the Guild was intended to reduce the need for involuntary layoffs. However, there is still a possibility that layoffs will occur, even if the company meets its targeted goal of 50 job reductions in the newsroom and editorial departments.

In a meeting with management on May 18, Guild members of the Star Tribune support staff were told that the company intended to eliminate 10 of their positions, including six news assistants. If that goal was not reached, layoffs might occur, Guild members were told.

It is the first indication that cuts to the newsroom could exceed the 50 originally sought by the company when it unveiled its cost-cutting plan earlier this month.

Guesstimates in recent days had at least 50 Stribbers accepting the paper's buy-out plan. (Deadline to notify the paper is 5 p.m. June 1, this Friday.) Previously it had been assumed that 50 newsroom cuts (not all necessarily reporters) would satisfy new owners, Avista Capital Partners, at least for the time being. This latest news suggests otherwise.

Since a lay-off under current rules would garner less medical coverage than is being offered under the buy-out, this "news" could inspire even more to take the money and run.

UPDATE: Later Tuesday Strib Guild members received the following correction ...

Dear Guild members,

In a note sent earlier today about possible layoffs, the following sentence was not accurate: "It is the first indication that cuts to the newsroom could exceed the 50 originally sought by the company when it unveiled its cost-cutting plan earlier this month."

In fact, the company has assured us that it does not intend job cuts to exceed 50 positions. However, targeted layoffs may occur in job classifications in which there are too many people for the positions available.

But the total jobs cut, either through layoffs or buyouts, likely will not exceed 50.

Apologies for the error.

Your unit officers