Tribune Publishing

Eric Kallgren    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 3:18pm on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

On November 24, 2008, Conde Nast Portfolio published an interview with Sam Zell titled "Zell's Sell." Some excerpts:

On November 12, Zell spoke with Condé Nast Portfolio editor in chief Joanne Lipman at Quadrangle Group's Foursquare media conference, where, true to form, he came out swinging against journalistic icons. He declared the worthlessness of Pulitzer Prizes ("I haven't figured out how to cash in a Pulitzer Prize"), said the newspaper business model is "unequivocally...a failure," and challenged New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger, saying "If you want to be a charitable trust, be a charitable trust. If you don't want to be a charitable trust, then you've got to focus on producing a return for investors' capital, and it's just that simple."

Asked if there is a place for newspapers in the 21st century, Zell said:

I think the answer is certainly, but the answer to whether the conventional approach to the newspaper business that has been the model since the beginning of time, I could tell you unequivocally that model is a failure, or that model has passed its time of relevance. The newspaper business basically grew up as a monopoly, and like every other monopoly, it built processes and approaches that reflected its monopoly status. One example was the rate card you give to an advertiser in order for that person to determine how he would like to participate. You needed a Ph.D. in order to understand the rate card. In the days where the customer had no options, you could give him the rate card and say, "Take it or leave it." But today, that doesn't work.

I think the newspaper industry truly still doesn't understand that it is in a business with customers, and the business must reflect the needs and demands of the customer. And to the extent that we don't do that, we will disappear.

mark morrow    palm beach florida

Posted at 8:40am on Saturday, September 27th, 2008

i think you all own the sun sentinel. If you do not please forgive this email and disregard. If that is correct, I would give anything to find out how to get off you call list as I have requested, called, emailed, to get on your DO NOT CALL list. Could please send me someone's contact information so I please stop the calls. I sadly gave my information when I first moved to south florida. Accepted the 90 trial offer. at the end of the 90 days declined to continue the paper. Then sent a bill. When I question the bill whomever I spoke with said it was their error. Then two months later I got a letter from a collection agencey. Needless to say I really want nothing to do with this paper especially harassing calls selling subscriptions. My email address is morrow1000@aol.com. The phone numbers that are being called are as follows;
614 325 6769
561 547 2041
561 547 2042
561 547 2043

thank you for your time