Toasted Posties

Quarter of Merc staff to be laid off

2007-06-02T06:07:00.000-07:00

Forwarded by a Toasted Postie:

Mercury News plans to cut one-quarter of newsroom positions this summer

By John McManus
Posted May 31, 2007

Sixty more newsroom positions – almost one in four -- are to be eliminated at the San Jose Mercury News this summer after a layoff moratorium negotiated with the local Newspaper Guild expires, Grade the News has learned.

John Bowman, executive editor at the San Mateo County Times until last week, said the staff reductions were discussed at an April meeting he attended at the Mercury News along with top editors of MediaNews, which now owns every paid daily newspaper around the San Francisco Bay but the San Francisco Chronicle. The proposed cuts would affect 24% of the 250 member Mercury News staff.

Mr. Bowman said he disclosed the layoff plan and resigned as executive editor of the Times because he was fed up with MediaNews' policies of trying to run newspapers short-handed.

"They're way past the point of diminishing returns, of penny-wise, pound-foolish," Mr. Bowman said of MediaNews' operations in the Bay Area.

David Satterfield, managing editor of the Mercury News, refused to discuss staff cuts. "I'm not going to talk about that sort of thing," he said. "We don't share that widely. "I think it has been a difficult start to the year," Mr. Satterfield added. "That's the word we keep getting from our advertising department."

Kevin Keane, vice president for news/California Newspaper Partnership-North, said, "I'm not in charge of the Mercury News. I'd prefer not to comment."

Susan Goldberg, who resigned as executive editor of the Mercury News in May and this week joined the Cleveland Plain Dealer in the same capacity did not respond to a phone call or an email message concerning the staff cuts.

Both Mr. Keane and Ms. Goldberg were at the April meeting in which the staff reductions were discussed, according to Mr. Bowman.

"Sixty is huge; oh my God!" Mercury News business reporter Elise Ackerman, exclaimed. "As far as I know nothing has been decided," commented Mercury News reporter Julie Patel. "If that's true, it would be devastating for the quality of the journalism that we do. It would definitely affect the public because there are fewer people providing quality information, translating public issues and engaging people in things that impact them."

Ms. Ackerman said the public has yet to realize how vital newspapers are in making a region a good place to live and do business.

A resident of downtown Oakland, Ms. Ackerman said prior MediaNews' cuts at The Oakland Tribune have deprived citizens of an effective champion against city corruption and mismanagement.

"The Tribune is actually doing a pretty good job of covering things that are important to me, but there are some really important things that aren't being covered right now," she explained.

Among those are corruption in city hall and a soaring crime rate. The FBI is investigating a "pay to play" atmosphere in city government, she said, but not the newspaper.

"The Tribune reporters are good and hardworking, but this stuff doesn't get covered in the newspapers because they don't have the staff."

"When a newspaper becomes so weak it's not an effective counterbalance to the incredible arrogance of some public officials, it can't play watchdog for the public," Ms. Ackerman added. "I'm afraid the same thing will happen in San Jose."

At the Mercury News, she continued, "my colleagues go the extra mile to find out what's going on at city hall. They try very hard to keep city council accountable. It's a much more successful area as a result." Businesses are reluctant to locate in Oakland, she said, because of concerns about municipal corruption and crime.

"Any more cuts would obviously hurt the paper, hurt the community, hurt employees," said Luther Jackson, executive officer of the San Jose Newspaper Guild. "A paper is a critical part of the fabric of the community."

Jackson said the Guild would have to be notified of any reduction in force greater than 50 employees. He had received no such warning, he said Wednesday. The Guild negotiated a moratorium on further staff cuts until July when it agreed last December to accept the elimination of 35 Guild positions at the Mercury News. The newspaper employed approximately 380 journalists at its peak in 2001, Managing Editor Satterfield said.

Dennis Uyeno, lead salesman in the classified advertising department of the Mercury News and a San Jose Newspaper Guild vice president, said losses in the newsroom "will make it much harder to sell ads. If you want to sell advertising, you have to have a quality product."

He said many at the Mercury News had been hopeful MediaNews owner Dean Singleton would have used the resources of the two-time Pulitzer-winning paper to improve MediaNews' other Bay Area newspapers.

Former San Mateo County Times editor Bowman said the April meeting at the Mercury News may have been a factor in Ms. Goldberg's departure as executive editor. She had tried to spare the Mercury News some of the 60 position reduction, he explained, but was told the other MediaNews properties were already operating on such thin staffs they couldn't absorb further cuts. After the meeting, "she seemed pretty defeated," Mr. Bowman said.

Reductions in staff have been common at newspapers across the country in recent years. The San Francisco Chronicle announced May 18 that it would trim 100 newsroom jobs from its 400-member staff in coming months. Newspapers have been losing both subscribers and advertisers to the Internet, according to figures compiled by the Newspaper Association of America. Their most recent data shows those losses are accelerating.

While staff cuts at the Chronicle came in the context of a newspaper reportedly losing millions of dollars a year to operate, MediaNews reported a $4.3 million profit in the first quarter of 2007. According to a May report in the Denver Post, MediaNews' flagship paper, the profit was fueled by the acquisition of former Knight Ridder newspapers, such as the Mercury News, Contra Costa Times and St. Paul Pioneer Press.

MediaNews' owns 61 daily newspapers and 120 nondaily publications

Tom Overton services, eulogy

2007-04-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

There are several services for Tom Overton:

There will be a visitation today (Saturday) from 5-9 at the Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, 302 Crockett, Cleveland, TX.

There will be another visitation Sunday from 4-9 at the Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, 302 Crockett, Cleveland, TX.

There will be a Rosary Sunday at 7 p.m. in the midst of the visitation.

The funeral service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s church, 702 E. Houston Street, Cleveland.

To accommodate those who can’t get to Cleveland, there will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Friday, April 27 in the Chapel of St. Basil, 3802 Yoakum on the University of St. Thomas campus.

-- Fred King

Forgot something … any of us is welcome to say a few words about Tom at the service. Just let Judy Overton know in advance so she can alert the presiding deacon. Her e-mail is tover62331@aol.com.

Thanks Fred

Tom Overton passed away

2007-04-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

Via Tom's family, friends and coworkers:

Tom Overton passed away peacefully Thursday night, April 19, at about 11 p.m., surrounded by family.

A funeral service will take place Monday, April 23, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Church, 702 E. Houston St., in Cleveland. There will be a rosary the night before; details are not yet available.

In addition, to accommodate those who can't get to Cleveland on Monday or Sunday night, a memorial service will take place Friday, April 27, at 2 p.m., at the Chapel of St. Basil, 3802 Yoakum, on the University of St. Thomas campus.

Brenda G.'s eulogy for Vic*

2007-04-13T18:57:00.000-07:00

Query: What’s the word most Posties think of when they think of Vic Edmonson?

For many of you, that word, more than any other, evoked memories of Vic. Former Post features desker Robin Dalmas, now of Redmond, Wash., said that “Vic distilled a six-word sentence, ‘I have a question for you,’ into one simple word that we understood immediately. How could writers and editors not love that?”

Vic was one of the first people I met when I went to work at the Houston Post in December 1990. He was the first friend I made there and continued to be my friend when our lives took us in different directions after the Post closed in 1995.

At first I didn’t know what to make of him. When I would greet him or thank him for helping me, he would make a comment about buying small bearded people pizza. He did it in such a deadpan manner that I wasn’t sure if he was going to give me trouble down the road. Instead, he came to be the Postie I relied upon most of all.

In April 1995, when it became apparent that the Post would close soon, Vic and I agreed that we’d call each other the minute either of us heard any news. When my phone rang April 18 at 9:30 a.m., I knew what it meant. That was the shortest conversation we ever had, because Vic had more people to call.

Another onetime Post newbie, features writer Randall Patterson, offered this story:

When I came to the Post, Vic gave me the tour of the building. Such an enormous place it was, and I was already giddy when Vic opened a door into the pressroom and the roar and spectacle of the giant presses churning out the big-city newspaper. Whatever they were printing lay on pallets, in stacks of thousands, and I was thinking about where I was, in a sort of reverie as I reached for a single copy, and heard Vic, behind me, telling me to put that back, that stealing is forbidden at the Houston Post, and I could get fired. He was so decent and vivid, I don't think I'll ever forget him.

Martha Liebrum, the former Post features editor and assistant managing editor, had a keen appreciation of Vic’s abilities. She explained it this way:

You said Vic was my right-hand man, but in fact, he was much more: He was my left brain ... the part that’s supposed to be linear, logical and calm.

Before Vic, I paid most attention to what I valued: good and accurate stories. The administrative stuff was necessary but of least interest to me. Vic helped us build a reputation for running efficiently. He didn’t help; he caused us to have that reputation.

Before Vic, I almost always managed to have people come in for a scheduled appointment, and I’d be shocked because I had lost my notes about the schedule. After Vic, no more awkward moments.

He took on a tremendous burden in watching that people got paid, that their overtime was on the check, that their expense accounts cleared F&A.

He put up with a lot of guff from some of our hard-to-live-with personalities, but he still got the job done, facing down fire-breathing dragons who shall go unnamed.

When he finished a long day in Features, he’d often work overtime in Sports, or wherever he could. He was loyal to the Post and would have been there forever, as I would have been if it had stayed in business.

I’ve worked at a variety of things since The Post and often thought how much many of those enterprises would have benefited from having Vic there.

Lori Colvin, former features desk editor, agreed, saying, “He was more than Martha’s right-hand man; he was everyone’s right-hand man. And I suspect things won’t be any different up there in his new heavenly place. He will probably be St. Peter’s right-hand man!"

Vic had dirt on all of us. He loved to hear the latest gossip but seldom contributed any, saying he was out of the loop. But we all knew better. Just as securely as he locked those Features file cabinets at the end of the week, walking off in his Friday flip-flops, Vic took his secrets with him when he left this world.

Ken Hoffman, a columnist at the Post and now at the Chronicle, offered this anecdote that pays tribute to Vic’s finely tuned attention to detail.

Dick Clark was having a TV special about the history of rock ’n’ roll, and I scheduled a phone interview with Fabian.

Remember him? Big teen idol from the early ’60s. Went by one name, sort of like Charo or Fabio or Bono.

Fabian was late calling me, so I went out for lunch with Rusty San Juan.

When I got back to the Post, there was a note on my desk from Vic.

It said, “Mr. Forte called for his interview.”

Now let's imagine that conversation.

Fabian calls and asks for me. Vic says I'm not there, but can he take a message?

Fabian says, sure, tell him that Fabian called.

Vic says, OK, but is Fabian your first or last name?

Uh, it's my first name. I'm Fabian.

May I have your last name?

Huh? OK, it's Forte.

In 40 years, he hasn't used his last name. He's just Fabian.

I get a message that Mr. Forte called.

Vic took casual Fridays seriously. His ensembles almost always included flip-flops and often included tank tops. On Friday evenings, he made a point to tell people who left before him to drive carefully. On one such evening, Mark Hanna, the Post’s entertainment editor, prepared to leave. As usual, Vic said, “Drive carefully.” Mark stopped, looked at Vic, said, “No, Vic. I’m going to drive like hell,” and prepared to storm off. Vic looked a little stunned but didn’t miss a beat. He smiled and told Mark to “drive like hell,” establishing a new Friday routine.

Jay Frank, the Post’s radio reporter, offered the following anecdote:

One day I was working on a column and called Brent Musburger, the longtime CBS sportscaster (now with ABC). His assistant said he was out but that he'd call me back in 45 minutes. So I decided to go downstairs and get something to eat. I got my usual ham sandwich, with an added treat — navy bean soup. If you recall, it was actually pretty good.

When I came back, there was a message on my desk that Musburger had returned my call. When I called him back, I thanked him and told him I was working on a column on whatever.

"No problem; we'll get to that. But first, how was that ham sandwich?" he asked. "And did you have the navy bean soup with it?"

I said something like, "Wow. How did you know that?" I was sort of puzzled as to where he got that piece of information. What else does he know?

"That fella who answered the phone filled me in," he said. "Very polite young man ... and good with details."

"Yes, he is," I replied.

Ernie Williamson, the Post’s executive editor and now assistant managing editor at the Chronicle, made the following observation.

As years roll by, I find myself reminiscing more and more about the good times at the Post. It’s strange, really. Lower pay, fewer resources and some strange bosses. But we had a good time, largely because we had the best people.

Vic certainly would be among the most memorable. He would, and could, do almost anything asked of him. And he did it well.

Former assistant entertainment editor Rebecca Goodballet recalled that Vic “was always donating blood. One time he came in to work and told Ann Valentine that he had given blood for her, even though she didn't need it.”

Former Features reporter Clifford Pugh, now style critic at the Houston Chronicle, said Vic “had an unbridled capacity for seeing the good in life and the good in people. Vic was a major reason I have such fond memories of the Post. Even when I think of him now, I can’t help but smile and have a good feeling about life.”

The last time Vic and I talked, the conversation drifted toward TV, as it inevitably did. I told him I had been watching a lot of “Magnum P.I.” reruns lately, knowing it was one of his favorite shows. He said the thing he liked about Magnum was that even though the characters would give each other a hard time on a regular basis, they would have done anything for each other when one of them was in need. He frequently made that same observation about his Postie friends. It’s the sort of thing he would have called an odd coincidence.

I’ll conclude with a comment from Lynn Ashby, former editor-in-chief of the Post, now editor of H magazine. “Vic was always a happy soul in a city room that was not always that happy. He had a way of making me smile. In a world that was bold font, he was italics.”

— 30 —

* Except for the "drive like hell" story, which she saved for the after-party.

Vic Edmonson, Chronicle obit

2007-04-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

Houston Chronicle obit, April 13 editions:

Vic Edmonson, former Houston Post employee, dies at 46

By MELANIE MARKLEY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Wayne Victor Edmonson, a much-loved character who handled administrative duties in the features department of the Houston Post before it closed, died Saturday from illnesses related to diabetes and chronic heart problems. He was 46.

Former Post editors and reporters say Edmonson was highly efficient and a stickler for detail when it came to his job, which involved answering phones, overseeing expenses, and doing other administrative tasks. Edmonson also wrote occasional reviews and kept track of entertainment listings in the newspaper.

Ken Hoffman, a Houston Chronicle columnist who then worked for The Post, recalls a time when Edmonson took a call from singer Fabian, who was responding to Hoffman's request for an interview.

Hoffman, who had gone to lunch when the call came in, returned to find a message from Edmonson.

"Mr. Forte called for his interview," the message read, even though Fabian, the one-time teen idol and singing sensation, had never been known by anything other than his first name.
Hoffman said the message typified Edmonson's approach to the job.

"Every little detail had to be perfect," Hoffman said, "so when Fabian calls, it's Mr. Forte."

Clifford Pugh, another former Post reporter now at the Chronicle, said Edmonson's attention to detail could drive people crazy, but he did his job with such zeal and enthusiasm that it was hard not to love him.

"He had an unbridled capacity for seeing the good in life and the good in people, which in our business isn't always the case," Pugh said.

Friends say Edmonson was an avid Trekkie who loved science fiction, collected comic books and considered pizza — especially Hawaiian pizza — the most perfect food in the universe. He also tried to see every movie that came out. Last year, said former Post colleague Brenda Gunter, he saw 224.

Martha Liebrum, who was features editor at The Post before she became assistant managing editor, said Edmonson started as a copy messenger before moving to the features department and taking the job as administrative assistant.

Liebrum said Edmonson was more than just her right hand.

"He was my left brain," she said, "the part that's supposed to be linear, logical and calm."

Edmonson, who had bachelor's degrees in journalism and English, started working at The Post while still in college and remained there until the newspaper closed in 1995.

Edmonson then took a job as a ticket sales agent for Continental Airlines, where he was promoted to a customer service position and then to a similar position for Continental's Disney Vacations branch. He worked there until his death.

Survivors include his mother, Frances "Becky" Edmonson of Houston; a sister and brother-in-law, Debbie and Jessie Robinson of Houston, two nieces and a cousin.

A memorial service was scheduled Thursday evening.

Tom Overton in hospice care at home

2007-04-11T19:43:00.000-07:00

Excerpts from e-mail circulated at University of St. Thomas:

Tom Overton, director of public affairs, has now entered another phase in his long and courageous battle with cancer and is receiving hospice care at his home. We recognize that all is in God's hands now and ask that you please keep Tom and Judy, Matt and Nathan in your prayers.

If you would like to include a card or message to Tom, we will make sure he receives it! As of April 11, Tom was still receiving visitors and Judy really appreciates anyone who can come by to see him.

Their address is 1202 Plum Grove Road, Cleveland, TX. I would suggest calling Judy ahead of time: 281-659-1373.

Many thanks,

--Sue

Susan E. Bradford
Executive Director for Institutional Advancement
University of St. Thomas

Vic Edmonson, 1961-2007

2007-04-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

From Brenda G:

Wayne Victor Edmonson, 46, passed away Saturday, April 7, at 4:57 a.m., due to illnesses related to chronic heart- and diabetes-related conditions. His close friend Bill Bates, whom he had known since high school, was at his side when he concluded that final journey.

Born Feb. 25, 1961, in Houston, to Wayne and Frances "Becky" Edmonson, Vic, as he was known, lived in the Westbury-Sharpstown area until moving with his family to Missouri City during junior high.

He graduated from Dulles High School in 1979. During high school, he began working at Burger King, where he met several lifelong friends, and rose to the rank of manager while in college. He also was a past master counselor, the highest ranking in the DeMolay Lodge No. 1336 in Bellaire, a Masonic preparation group for young men, leading his group to receive a first-place award with an essay he wrote for a statewide competition. He attended Houston Baptist University on a full academic scholarship, graduating with bachelor of arts degrees in English and journalism.

In 1982, while still in college, he got a job at the Houston Post as a contract copy messenger. In 1984, he transferred to the features department and full-time employment, serving in an administrative role supporting features editor Martha Liebrum. He continued in that position, later supporting Julie Gilbert when Liebrum became assistant managing editor and Gilbert became features editor, until the Post closed in April 1995. During his 13 years at the Post, Vic made many friends in the features department and across the newsroom. He distinguished himself as a skilled administrator, assisting the Post's leaders in managing budgets that grew sparser and more challenging each year. He also contributed regularly to the newspaper's entertainment listings. His finest moment at the Post, however, was when the newspaper published his review of the film "Star Trek: Generations" in 1994.

As the Post moved toward closure, Vic began suffering from ill health. Instead of immediately seeking employment when the newspaper closed, Vic spent that time seeing his family through the long process of his father's decline, until Mr. Edmonson passed away later that year. In early 1996, he took a job at Continental Airlines as a ticket sales agent. He continued there until his death, being promoted to a customer service position and then to a similar position for Continental's Disney Vacations branch. Just as he did at Burger King and the Post, Vic made numerous longtime friendships while serving in various areas at Continental.

He was preceded in death by his father. In addition to his mother, survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Debbie and Jessie Robinson, of Houston; two nieces, Megan, of Redding, Calif., and Danielle, of Houston; and a cousin, Joyce Shea, of Detroit.

A memorial service will take place Thursday, April 12, at 7 p.m., at St. Philip's United Methodist Church, 5501 Beechnut at Renwick, in Houston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Philip's United Methodist Church, 5501 Beechnut St., Houston TX 77096-1005; checks should be addressed to “St. Philip’s UMC” and specify "In Memory of Vic Edmonson."

Bud Bentley passes away

2006-12-28T07:37:00.000-08:00

From Fred:

Bud Bently, who was The Post’s art director when he retired in 1983, died on Christmas Day. His obit is in today’s Chronicle.

ALBERT FRANKLIN BENTLEY III died on December 25, 2006.
Mr. Bentley was born on Bentley Hill in Temple, Texas, on May 28, 1913, the second son of Cleo Pace and William Gladstone Bentley. He was the grandson and namesake of A.F. Bentley, a civic and business leader, as well as a pioneer builder of early Temple.
Mr. Bentley had a long career as a newspaper artist and cartoonist with The Houston Post, where he was well known for his byline as Bud Bentley for almost forty years. He retired as Art Director in 1983.
Mr. Bentley started his newspaper career in 1940 with The Houston Press, then joined the Army Air Force in 1942.
In addition to his military duties, he was Editor-in-Chief of the popular, award-winning newspaper "Tailspin" at Ellington Field.
After completing his service in the Air Force, Mr. Bentley joined The Houston Post in 1946 to begin his long career there. Mr. Bentley was a member of the Baseball Writers of America, the Sigma Delta Journalistic Fraternity, and a founding member of The Press Club of Houston.
When he retired from the Houston Post, he turned his abundant intelligence and energy to his lifelong passion of handicapping horse races at his favorite thoroughbred course, the Fairgrounds in New Orleans. He and his beloved wife enjoyed many wonderful, well-deserved years there.
Mr. Bentley is survived by his wife, Patricia Keenan Bentley, a third generation Houstonian. The couple was married in the rectory of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in 1944. A daughter and four sons were born to them: they are Patricia Ann Wambold of Lake Forest, IL; Robert Leland Bentley of Los Angeles; William Keenan Bentley of Studio City, CA; Albert Brian Bentley of Houston; and Barry Lester Bentley of Columbus, OH.
A son-in-law and three daughters-in-law also survive: Melissa Wilson Bentley of Studio City, Richard Lawrence Wambold of Lake Forest, May Doyle Bentley of Houston, and Rosalie Weilend Bentley of Columbus.
Nine grandchildren also survive. They are: Lauren, Carolyn, and Robin Wambold of Lake Forest; Chet and Wyatt Bentley of Studio City; and Julia, Bryan, Mary, and Carol Bentley of Houston.
All of the members of his family cherish the many years that we were privileged to spend with him and remain devoted to his memory.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six until eight o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 29th of December, with a Vigil service scheduled to begin at seven o'clock, in the Morrow Chapel of The Settegast Kopf Co.
A graveside service will be conducted at ten o'clock in the morning on Saturday, the 30th of December in the Mausoleum Chapel at Holy Cross Cemetery, 3502 North Main Street.

Published in the Houston Chronicle on 12/28/2006.

Tom Overton update

2006-11-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

Tom is in rehabilitation a week after his surgery. He sustained some nerve damage and is learning how to walk again. It's a slow going process, but hasn't affected Tom's terrific, optimistic outlook. He is in Room P326 at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The wonderful people at St. Mary's Church in Cleveland are having a Garage Sale 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday to cover the cost of Tom's ongoing treatments. A chili lunch for $5 per bowl will be offered after the 11:30 a.m. Mass Sunday. There will also be a small auction of items in which the proceeds will go toward Tom's treatments.

-- via Fred King

MediaNews mows through the Merc newsroom

2006-11-09T06:09:00.000-08:00

From Melanie Hauser:

"... MediaNews, the national newspaper chain that owns the Oakland Tribune and recently purchased the Contra Costa Times and the San Jose Mercury News, has unveiled its proposal to cut wages for new reporters at the Merc by more than thirty percent. ... "

" ... The wage proposal was immediately denounced by union leadership as insufficient to attract and maintain top-quality journalists in the ultra-expensive Silicon Valley. ..."

"... The wage proposal comes as no surprise for followers of MediaNews. The company prides itself in cutting costs. It’s also required under a business model that calls for going deeply into debt to purchase more newspapers. Click here for the company’s latest annual report. ... "

" ... MediaNews has told the union that if it does not meet its contract demands by November 30, then it will move forward with plans to lay off 101 employees in December, including 69 union members of which 40 would come from the newsroom. ... "

21 laid off at LA Daily News

2006-11-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

By James Rainey, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 31, 2006

The company that publishes the Los Angeles Daily News laid off Publisher Tracy Rafter and 20 other employees Monday.

Although the Los Angeles Newspaper Group did not publicly announce the changes at the San Fernando Valley-based paper, employees said the cuts were described as a streamlining move.

Rafter was replaced by John C. McKeon, president and chief executive of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, which owns the Daily News, the Pasadena Star-News and six other Southern California newspapers. It is the local arm of privately held MediaNews Group Inc. of Denver, controlled by William Dean Singleton.

Singleton is known as a resolute cost cutter who likes to own papers in clusters so that he can combine reporting, advertising and printing operations.

MediaNews is believed to be close to a deal to buy another suburban Los Angeles paper, the South Bay Daily Breeze, now owned by the Copley chain.At the Daily News, four jobs will be lost in the newsroom and several other reductions will come from the management ranks. The paper's union represented 110 non-management employees before the layoffs.

Although employees were saddened by Monday's action at the 151,000-circulation paper, they had feared much worse — perhaps the loss of one-fifth of newsroom staff. Early this month, speculation had swirled in the newsroom that Rafter and Editor Ron Kaye would be ousted for resisting cuts.

"I don't think anyone is happy about this," said Brent Hopkins, a general assignment reporter and union shop steward. "But … they didn't just slash and burn."

McKeon and Rafter could not be reached. Kaye told his staff that he planned to stay on the job.

-- thanks to Melanie Hauser for passing along

Ann James Freelander celebration today

2006-11-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that the family of Ann James Freelander is inviting her friends and former co-workers to a celebration of her life today (Nov. 4) at 7 p.m.

It will be held at the Stag's Head Pub, 2128 Portsmouth (713-533-1199). Go to the pub's Oak Room, which is a separate room to the far left as you enter the pub.

The Stag's Head is at the corner of Portsmouth and South Sandman in the Shepherd Plaza Center, which is just south of Richmond between Shepherd and Greenbriar. (It is the same pub where the wake was held for Doug Freelander.) There will be complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.

For more information, you can call Ann's daughter, Sherrill Montgomery, at 1-936-520-9989.

This will be the only gathering for Ann; we hope everyone can attend ....

Thanks

Tom Overton having surgery today

2006-11-02T06:02:00.000-08:00

Postie Tom Overton is having surgery on his back Thursday, Nov. 2, his 53rd birthday.

Judy Overton says his mobility has become greatly compromised in the past 12 hours, so the doctors will revisit his spinal area and remove a mass that is encroaching on that area.

This is a delicate surgery like the last one six months ago and could take up to eight hours. Surgery will be at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Right now he's in Room Purple 319. Tom was to undergo an embollization on Wednesday, November 1.

Judy and Tom thank you for your prayers.

Wake for Ann James Freelander

2006-10-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

From George Flynn:

The family of Ann James Freelander invites all her friends and former co-workers to a celebration of her life.

This wake will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, at the Stag's Head Pub, 2128 Portsmouth (713-533-1199).

It will be held in the pub's Oak Room, which is a separate room to the far left as you enter the pub. The Stag's Head is at the corner of Portsmouth and South Sandman in the Shepherd Plaza Center, which is just south of Richmond between Shepherd and Greenbriar. (It is the same pub where the wake was held for Doug Freelander.)

There will be complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. For more information, you can call Ann's daughter, Sherrill Montgomery, at 1-936-520-9989.

This will be the only gathering for Ann; we hope everyone can attend....

Thanks

Judy King's obituary

2006-10-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

From Fred:

Judith (Judy) Louise Croom King, born October 25, 1945, and born again in the fall of 1972, entered the presence of her Lord Jesus Christ on Oct. 21. Her husband and son were at her side.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Pitser Blalock and Fletcher Metcalfe Croom and brother, Hunter Metcalfe Croom. Survived by husband, Fred King; children: Thomas Blalock & Anna Lee King and Sarah Elizabeth & Christian Duncan Farmer; grandchildren: Juliette Louise King, Robert Thomas King, Victor Alexander Farmer, Anastasia Alexandra Farmer, Dennis Duncan Farmer, Dima Thomas Farmer, and Anya Elizabeth Farmer; great-grandson, Nickles Grande Farmer; sister and brother-in-law, Emily Anne Croom and Robert Shelby.

Also surviving are an aunt, Mary Katherine Earney; and Fred's siblings and their spouses, Audrey VanDemark, Mary and Dan Posey, Tim and Peggy King, Terry King, Alan and Janet King, and Tyra King; and cousins, nieces and nephews.

Judy and her Bellaire High School sweetheart, Fred, had their first date in November 1962. Judy was co-valedictorian of their class, 1963.

She earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree with special honors in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin in 1967.

Judy and Fred married July 1, 1967.

Judy was the author of six published books, including The Greatest Gift Guide Ever and Breast Cancer Answers. She finished the second edition of Breast Cancer Answers just weeks ago as that disease ravaged her body. The books were delivered Oct. 18 and she got to hold one. The book became her ministry to women fighting the disease and the effects of the treatments.

She owned Judy King Editorial Services, helping scores of authors present their ideas clearly in good English, and was president and founder of www.GivingCenter.com.

Judy was a Girl Scout leader for many years, and five members of her troop earned the Gold Award. When her health permitted, she was a leader in the churches she and Fred attended and a Sunday school teacher.

Despite her great academic, community and professional success, what Judy loved most was spending time with her family. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and an eager, humble servant of the Lord.

A memorial service for Judy King will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Tallowood Center, 10405 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024. (That's on the eastbound service road, just inside Beltway 8.) A reception for family and friends will be held there immediately afterward. Care for children age 5 and under will be provided.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to a charity serving Russian orphans, HOPES from the Father, 906 Shadberry Drive, Magnolia, TX 77354; or the Angel Tree project of Prison Fellowship, PO Box 1550, Merrifield, VA 22116-1550.

In the Kings' 1999 Christmas letter, sent just weeks after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Judy wrote, "Friends have provided such wonderful support - and earnest prayers. God is sustaining us, and we know His timing is perfect ."

Ann James Freelander died today

2006-10-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

Everyone --

Ann James Freelander died this morning from liver complications, at her home in Conroe. Her daughter Sherrill is overseeing things and can be reached at 936-756-7436 if needed.

Ann's wish was to be cremated. There will be a memorial wake in Houston in the near future. Details will follow when those are worked out.

-- George Flynn

Addendum: Houston Chronicle story

Judy King died this morning

2006-10-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

From Fred:

A child of God who also was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend is home. Judy died this morning about 5:35.

Tom and I were with her. She had been discharged from Memorial City about 7:15 p.m. Friday and was brought to our house by ambulance. About midnight, as Tom and Anna talked to her, she smiled and her eyes focused and she nodded appropriately. That was the only response from her from about 6 p.m. Friday until she died.

Never any indication of pain although her breathing was very difficult.

We expected to have several more days, even weeks with her, based on what her oncologist told me Wednesday or Thursday. But, most important, Judy had great visits with all her children and grandchildren this past week. I know that was a great answer to the prayers of many of you. We have been loved and supported so much through this. Judy was buoyed by that.

She will be cremated, per her wishes. There will be no private service.

Fairly solid plans are for having a memorial service about 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Tallowood Center, Attingham at Katy Freeway. That's a long block inside the West Belt. (It's a shopping center our church bought. The part nearest the freeway service road is a restaurant called 59 Diner.)

No flowers. She had some suggestions about memorials if you're inclined. Details later.

Will let you know final plans later.

It would make my life a bit simpler if you sent any replies -- although none is necessary -- to fredking@pdq.net.

Ann James Freelander seriously ill

2006-10-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone --

The family of former longtime Post writer Ann James Freelander reports that she is in very bad health and may not recover. She had gall bladder surgery recently and was re-hospitalized from complications of that and a failing liver.

She is under heavy medication, and under in-home medical and hospice care. Her daughter Sherrill says she has been drifting in and out of consciousness since last night -- doctors do not know if she will be able to recover. Sherrill will be back early afternoon today and will accept any calls on Ann's behalf.

Ann's phone number is 936-756-7436; her address is 3109 Wilson Rd., Conroe TX, 77304.

Ann is the widow of former city editor Doug Freelander. As everyone who knows her quickly came to realize, Ann could be a cantankerous, ornery tiger at times -- as well as a full-time, incredibly tender, loving, compassionate person who cared deeply about those in her life and work. She's showed her toughness, stamina, sheer will -- and selflessness -- in working major Post beats (and stories -- from the Frank Sharp Sharpstown scandal to the Dean Corll/Elmer Wayne Henley serial murders and so on) during the 1960s and 70s.

Please join us in praying that her unique kind of spirit can get her through the challenges of this ordeal. Her daughter Sherrill says she'll pass along the sentiments of those who want to call.

Thanks.

-- George Flynn

Tom Overton back at M.D. Anderson

2006-10-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

Tom Overton of St. Thomas U. is back in MD Anderson.

His room phone is 713 834 8728.

Still has his sense of humor and says hisspine is compressed, not collapsed.

-- Fred
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: TOver62331@aol.com
Sent: Thu 10/12/2006 11:09 PM
To: King, Fred (DCO)
Subject: Tom Overton update

Hi, Fred,

Tom is back at MDAnderson since Monday afternoon. He has a collapsed spine
and the doctors have begun radiation and are possibly looking at surgery as
an option again as well.

He is doing great! He is in Purple 820. I never remember the room phone
number, but his cell is 713-906-7910. If he doesn't answer, he may be on
another call or in treatment. Please leave a number so he can call back.

We are not sure how long he will be at the hospital this time around. If
anyone chooses to email, I will get them to him.

All the best,
Judy Overton

Gates lends money to MediaNews

2006-08-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

A Toasted Postie in Florida sends this in:

Gates Foundation among MediaNews lenders (Aug. 21)

SEATTLE (AP) - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was among a few dozen banks, insurance companies, mutual funds and others entities that loaned $350 million to MediaNews Group Inc. for its purchase of four newspapers from publisher McClatchy Co.
The Seattle-based Gates Foundation, the world's largest philanthropy with an endowment of about $30 billion, contributed an unspecified amount of money toward the transaction, according to an Aug. 8 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by MediaNews Group. Others listed as contributors include General Electric Capital Corp. and Blue Shield of California.
Spokeswoman Monica Harrington said she could not confirm how much the foundation had contributed to the loan. A message left with the foundation's investment team Monday was not immediately returned.
Jody Lodovic, president of Denver-based MediaNews, said he did not know how much of the loan came from the Gates Foundation, but was pleased it had contributed. "It seems like even new media people understand and believe in the value of traditional media, so we're certainly happy to see them participate," Lodovic said.
McClatchy completed its $1 billion sale of the San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times, Monterey County Herald and St. Paul Pioneer Press earlier this month, finishing its disposal of a dozen newspapers picked up in its recent acquisition of Knight Ridder Inc.
Denver-based MediaNews, a privately held company headed by William Dean Singleton, bought the Mercury News and Contra Costa Times to establish itself as the largest newspaper publisher in the San Francisco Bay area. Hearst Corp. bought the Monterey and Minnesota papers but is turning both over to MediaNews in exchange for a stake in MediaNews' operations outside the Bay Area.
MediaNews already owns the Oakland Tribune and a cluster of suburban papers in the Bay Area. Its other properties include The Denver Post, The Salt Lake Tribune and The Detroit News.
The Gates Foundation awarded about $1.36 billion in grants last year, much of it for public health initiatives in developing countries. In the United States, its donations focus on education and technology in public libraries.
The foundation's loan to MediaNews is part of a broad investment portfolio designed to fund the endowment. The foundation's assets include more than $4 billion in stock in companies including oil behemoths BP PLC and Exxon Mobil Corp., club warehouse chain Costco Wholesale Corp., and pharmaceutical makers Merck and Co. and Schering Plough Corp., according to a recent SEC filing.
Most of the foundation's money came from donations of Microsoft Corp. stock from Bill Gates, the software maker's co-founder and chairman.
In June, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, the world's second-richest man behind Gates, announced that he would begin giving about $1.5 billion a year to the Gates Foundation, essentially doubling the pot of money the philanthropy doles out each year.

MediaNews eyes the Internet

2006-08-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

Melanie Hauser passed this along about three weeks ago. Sorry ...

MediaNews looks to set standard for papers online (Aug. 1)
By John Simerman
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
MediaNews Group Inc., the pending owner of the Times, hopes to harness its newfound Bay Area newspaper dominance on the Internet with a regional Web site that aims to be a model for how old-guard newspapers can work and make money online.
Denver-based MediaNews and its owner, William Dean Singleton, are discussing a regional Internet collaboration among its 11 Bay Area newspapers and possibly its lone regional rival, the San Francisco Chronicle.
Joseph Lodovic, the company's president, told the Times last month that the company was in "very preliminary" talks with Hearst Corp., owner of the Chronicle and SFGate.com, about a joint Internet venture that could be run under the BayArea.com name.
It was not clear whether the Web site would replace any of the individual newspaper sites or direct Internet users to the existing sites.
Hearst has helped finance the MediaNews purchase of the Times, the San Jose Mercury News, the Monterey Herald and the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota from McClatchy Co., but it will not have any direct ownership of those papers. A Department of Justice decision Monday cleared the way for the sale later this week.
Singleton has noted the region's technology strengths and said there is "no better place in the country to come up with new ideas and new plans in melding online and print than in the Bay Area."
But Singleton has been reluctant to discuss details of those ambitions and was tight-lipped about his plans Monday, calling any talk about them "premature."
"I didn't say we didn't have a vision," Singleton said. "We haven't formulated it into a plan yet. We'll begin exploring those issues this week."
That kind of collaboration would be aimed at stanching the tide of readers who gravitate to Yahoo, Google News and other news aggregators that dominate the Internet market. A survey released Sunday by the Pew Research Center found that MSNBC, Yahoo, CNN, Google and AOL crush even the biggest national newspapers.
The same survey found that while newspapers' online editions have helped stem more severe losses in readership, they have not done much to add an audience or compete effectively with their online rivals. Very few people read the local newspaper online only, and when they do, they do not read very long, mostly scanning headlines.
That has made it difficult for newspapers to make money from online advertising. Just 5.5 percent of newspaper industry revenue comes from online sources, according to the Newspaper Association of America.
To draw more traffic, some newspapers have begun to team up with traditional online rivals and develop search engines that let readers easily link to related stories, pictures and video from outside sources.
Local news and information are not enough, said Greg Sterling, an Oakland-based media analyst.
"Google and Yahoo have conditioned people. They're overwhelmed by the amount of information online. Search engines have been the only way to manage information," he said.
"If newspapers in a local market can effectively do the same thing, they will have an opportunity really to generate revenue. I think now the recognition is they need to offer more value, better functionality, more content."
Ultimately, the goal is to entice readers and add to the "clicks" upon which ad sales are based.
Some publishers see a future in which readers make "micro-payments," a few pennies each time they click on a story, picture or video.
Ultimately, online newspapers will need more than one way to tease money from the Internet, said Bill Mitchell, online editor of the Poynter Institute, a Florida-based journalism think tank.
"The idea of news organizations coming to grips with the reality of their readers relying on a variety of news sources and figuring out a way to generate revenue from that reality seems to me to be smart on both counts," he said.
A collaborative Bay Area news site could be "far more comprehensive than anything provided by any one of the newspapers," said Mitchell.
It also may help cut costs, through economies of scale. The dark side, some fear, is that it becomes a justification for cutting back on newsrooms and competition among local papers.
"The question that's raised by the economies of scale is, what percentage of them would be poured back into the journalism, and what share would be saved for the owners?" said Mitchell.
Newspapers are also seeking more from the big Internet news sites.
Singleton acknowledged that MediaNews was in ongoing talks with Yahoo. Such a deal reportedly would package newspaper content from MediaNews and other newspaper companies; the papers could get a cut of the revenue from ads tailored to news searches.
Both Yahoo and Google have recently agreed to "pay-per-click" deals with the Associated Press and other big newspaper companies, marking a shift in how newspapers collaborate with the big Internet firms that have siphoned away readers and revenue.
Brian Nelson, a spokesman for Yahoo, declined to discuss the negotiations or the pay-per-click model. He said the company has long struck deals to drive more Web traffic to newspapers or other content providers, or for recognition alongside a story.
"Every deal is different and every partner wants something different," he said.

James O. Holley remembered

2006-07-24T15:40:00.000-07:00

I forgot this column was on the old Posties site. Jim Bishop of the Victoria Advocate remembers Holley, whom he fondly calls "James O.," to his readers on National Boss's Day. I don't know the date it ran, but it was before February 2001.

A Houston Post history lesson

2006-07-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

If you missed Lynn Ashby's fantastic column from the 10th anniversary of the Post murder, read it now. We've posted it online and it's archived on the site. Ashby reminds us of the Post's extensive history, all the way back to the Alamo. Here's an excerpt:

... At its demise, The Post (The was part of the name) was one of the oldest businesses in Texas. It had been The Daily Post, The Post-Dispatch and had gone bankrupt a couple of times as The Houston Post. But we traced our heritage back to the Telegraph and Texas Register in San Felipe, and in our library I could read old microfilm copies of the paper's news, ads and legal notices sprinkled with names like James Bonham, Stephen F. Austin and William Barrett Travis, who wrote a letter to the editor ending with, "God and Texas -- Victory or Death!!" The paper ran the Texas Declaration of Independence signed at Washington-on-the-Brazos. But its most famous edition was news of the fall of the Alamo. The same issue ran a report about Col. William Fannin and his men being ready to face Santa Anna at Goliad. As Sam Houston's army passed through San Felipe, the publishers, Gail and Thomas Borden, loaded their presses on ox carts and joined the escape. They dumped their presses into Buffalo Bayou and fled to Galveston. Another version has it that Santa Anna's soldiers did the dumping. The April 14th issue of the paper was still inside the presses when it was dumped, and the move caused the Bordens to miss what could have been the paper's biggest story -- the Battle of San Jacinto one week later. ...

2 Holley kitties need homes

2006-07-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

Carolyn Allen is taking care of several of Jim Holley’s many cats, which he loved dearly. Jim left money for their care and vet bills until Carolyn or I can find homes for them. Thanks for considering helping. -- Fred King

These are two kitties looking for homes. They were Jim Holley's cats and are in need of good homes. They have had their rabies shots and health checks and are spayed. If they will eventually be indoor/outdoor kitties, let us know and we will get their HIV and feline leukemia shots for you.

I am attaching pictures, just remember they are not at their best in the pictures with things being turned upside down and having to stay in kennels.

Bandit (top) is very friendly. Grey and white longhair.

Blackie (right) is shy and someone who is used to being around cats might want him. Black longhair.

We will have some more as they get their vet visits done with.

Email me if you are interested in adopting. Please, they need homes.

Carolyn Allen, scallen@pdq.net

Jim Holley's cats

2006-07-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

Carolyn Allen and Fred King are seeking good homes for Jim Holley's cats.

We already have placed half or more (we hope) of them.

It appears all are full grown. Carolyn is taking them to a vet to get vaccinations for rabies, distemper and kennel cough.

Pick a gender and contact Carolyn to arrange pickup.

If you plan to let the cat outside some, your cat will be vaccinated for feline AIDS and feline leukemia before you get it.

Such a deal! And such a nice way to honor Holley's love for these animals.

Contact Carolyn at scallen@pdq.net.