Thursday, August 14, 2008

Don’t just sit there ...

Do something! Head out to Los Angeles to sign the petition on TellZell. Then maybe start your own: get your readers to support you and your newspaper.

It's your company, and TellZell reasons that if you want a seat at the table you need to do something. Furthermore, you should take action (even if its simply signing a petition) because its "important to our readers, to community leaders, to everybody who cares about [your area], and democracy and great news and the comics and movie reviews and -- well, everything in the paper."

The business is in dire straits. We all understand that. But you also know that the consolidation and homogenization of news-gathering even during these difficult times isn't working. So if Tribune isn't listening to your creative and innovative solutions, why not at least try for a seat at the table where the decisions are made that effect your financial interests?

So maybe you don't want to get a union going in your newsroom – though we think you should form a guild – you can sign a petition. Okay, you may feel safer doing it anonymously, but share the link with your family, friends, neighbors, community organizations – and hey, don't forget the advertisers. They have a vested interest in the newspaper's survival, too.

And yes, as TellZell warns, a petition may be ignored. But what's to lose? If Tribune ignores tens (hundreds?) of thousands of employees and readers demanding representation at the ESOP table, well then ...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hundreds of thousands?? The petition has only 120 signatures so far and half of them are goofs (e.g. Jackie the Joke Man Martling). Even Times Editorial employees know that petitions are a waste of time.

Anonymous said...

138 responses so far, that's terrific!!!!! Even Jimmy Hoffa returning from the dead to sign. See, petitions work! How about a hunger strike next? That'll get their attention and maybe allow some of the beefier editorial staff to lose a few pounds.

Contributors said...

Hoffa is president of the Teamsters.

Anonymous said...

Haywood Jablowmee just signed your petition! Congratulations! Now its time to present it to Zell so he can sell the paper to one of the local tire kickers.