The News-Press Speaks (To Their Employees)

Could someone post what the NP management calls examples of this "bias"? The only bias I see is their "four legs good, two legs bad" stance on every animal issue.

Boy those teamster folks are good - they have fooled the journalistic community from around the entire globe.

And who do that expect will actually believe this bull$%*#? UNBELIEVABLE!

If anyone ever needed proof that the woman is wacko, this is it.

What a shame, the News-Press believes its employees are as stupid as its owner. Aren't they professional news gatherers? Can;t they determine the truth for themselves? This is like sitting down a bunch of gardeners and reminding them of what grass looks like. Of course, it's also like telling them that grass is actually purple and then not showing them any evidence of such purple grass.

So let's go step-by-step thru the Mistruths:

1)According to Melinda Burns in an earlier SB Media Blog post, the employees were left no other choice but to bring in a union after they felt that management was interfering with news. There is not one shred of evidence that the Teamsters were ever involved before. If there is some evidence, can someone please present it?

2) Jerry Roberts, an esteemed editor respected the world over, was not influencing the news. He was letting reporters tell it straight. If anything, he wasn't allowing Travis Armstrong's cranked out opinions about how to limit development to become headline news everyday. Travis talks the slow-growth game, then hangs with NIMBYs who vote in pro-growthers, ie Goleta. But okay, maybe Roberts was biased. So if he was inserting bias or censoring news, please, again, give examples. Without examples, this is all childish hogwash.

3) This is an outright lie. There was no standing N-P policy anywhere in the books. I checked. In planning stories, which the Rob Lowe story was, most major newspapers always publish addresses. That is, of course, the point of planning and the public process. Plus, Rob Lowe was wanting to build at that address; he did not live there, so his "safety" was never threatened.

4)The paper has shown a steady decline of subscriptions. As well, no matter where you go in town, people are complaining that they cancelled their subscription yet still get the paper sent to them. That is a tactic to maintain circulation figures, and is in effect, lying to the Auditors.

5) No one in town was complaining about anything during Jerry Robert's reign except for everyone who was hammered by Travis Armstrong. Reporters had to routinely apologize for their paper's editorial opinions, not for their slant, but because they were so vindictive and mean. Editorial writers are supposed to remain professional; Travis Armstrong, as evidence by his forced leaving of previous publications, was never professional. But once again, please tell us where Robert's biases lie.

6) McCaw may have broken the law. In fact, she's come so close that the National Labor Relations Board charged her with unfair labor practices, which is like the District Attorney filing charges against an arrested person. It's up to a judge now to find out, but to say outright that she did not break the law is pretty close to lying.

7) Zant and the others were fired for disloyalty for their actions in a union action. It will again be up to a judge to determine whether this was illegal or not.

8) THat may be true. But they leave out the fact that another 45 or so left under distress.

9) To say that the Teamsters have infected news coverage from London to Japan and beyond is ridiculous. Real journalists are well aware of what role a union plays in this sort of thing and would have stayed away from the story if that's all it was. But clearly, this has attracted a worldwide audience because it's so much more than a unionization drive. How stupid does she think we are?

10) I cannot speak to the paper's financial viability, though I can say that as the paper loses readers and grows resentment daily, advertisers are quickly jumping ship. Grumblings from inside media outlets in town suggest that many advertisers are turning to both the Sound and the Indy because they're sick of what's happening inside the N-P.

I think that about does it.
Signed,
Can't wait for another chance to humiliate these fools.

I'm so glad someone finally explained to me why I walked out of that building and never went back! I've been so confused for the past eight months.

The only thing missing in that paranoid fantasy is an alien landing.

Aluminium foil hats will be welcome when everyone can hear for themselves more of the "lies, misinformation and spin" about why "the News-Press is portrayed so negatively" during the Wake-Up Wendy Wednesday rally at the Plaza lawn, next week at noon on Wednesday February 21st.

Did anyone else just hear a schreech coming from the tower in DLG Plaza?

I would love to be a fly on that wall right about now.

What a jumble of myopic, paranoid, delusional fabrication and outright lying. If this were the spewing of an institutionalized psychotic maybe, but the actual beliefs of the owner/publisher of a once revered newspaper supposedly committed to journalistic integrity and truth?!! Let others more clear of mind witness the activities at noon tomorrow and again next Wednesday in De la Guerra Plaza of those who by their protest "do prefer to be involved in an issue such as this." Then we'll see whose truth is "strong and getting stronger."

Coming soon in the Santa Barbara Independent:
WITCH WENDY CONDUCTS WITCH HUNT OVER LEAKED MEMO

"And I'll get your little dog, too!"

Psst. The President lives at 1600 Penn. Ave. I believe this may have been reported, despite the industry-wide standard policy against publishing the addresses of public individuals.

This is the same delusional twaddle the SBNP has been peddling since day one: we are the victims, Jerry Roberts is the devil, the Teamsters are his "storm trooping" hordes, the newsroom staff can't think for themselves, and everyone is a fool, a charlatan and a dupe except poor li'l Wendy, Travis, Nipper and (lie by the dozen) Scotty.

And it relies on crusty ol' crap about Teamsters violating the law back in the Hoffa Senior days, which is irrelevant, and as "lies laid out" lays out, the NLRB has already decided to prosecute these suckers, and with the latest even more serious abuses, is probably getting ready to drop a major ton of prosecutorial bricks on 'em.

And of course, as far as I'm concerned, Cappello violated the law by spuriously threatening shopkeepers with a frivolous lawsuit for exercising constitutional rights, Wendy definitely violated the law by erecting her short-lived fence (and ordering employees not to wear "McCaw, Obey the Law" buttons and carry "McCaw, Obey the Law" signs), and she knows damn well she's going to lose her "election objections" case before the NLRB, and is simply playing out the frivolous legal string.

These are vindictive, dishonest, evil, vicious people with no sense of proportion, fairness, public relations or concern for the community. They will be brought to justice.

To add to "lies laid out," issue 4 most likely has skewed data resulting from different methods of retaining subscriptions.
The first half of year had subscription renewal notification that ceased delivery if the subscriber did not actively renew. The latter half, and now, has a renewal notification that would continue the subscription if the subscriber did not actively respond to cancel.
The first method unsubscribes the passive customer. The second method resubscribes the passive customer. Nice way to twist the stats.

"They've got a solid case of 'The Emperor's New Clothes.' "

Passive resubscribe. Expect lots of bill collectors harrasing people in SB to get payment for unwanted papers.

Passive resubscribe is the present policy of the San Diego Union. One person in the complex had the paper dropped on her door for 7 months after the previous owners moved out. Calls went, I'm getting a paper, and I don't really want it. Your name, address. Oh, your not so and so. We can't cancel then.

On the other hand, it might be that the newspress billing system, can't handle the concept of cancellation (or does not want to handle). Once you've paid, your subscription runs until the date set. Even if you have canceled, requested, and received a refund.

"Did Management interfere with the News?"

Of course Wendy McCaw is interfering, now more than ever: everyone in the world -- EXCEPT for the News-Press -- is covering the daily Mess.

Tomorrow's demonstration -- just feet from her door -- won't be featured in any of those huge photos that cover the holes in the paper, as one example. Rob Lowe and Travis drinking are old news -- let's talk about the ongoing interference.

Ironically, by being delusional and in denial about the Teamsters, she'll end up a union girl, forever.

From the Baron's memo:

"What hasn't been talked about was that Roberts in his position had been censoring the news, allowing bias into reporting, and taking out his personal vendettas in the press."

How about ONE example of censoring, bias or vendettas by Roberts, Wendy, just one?!

Come on, just one...

More from Wendy McCaw and the Baron:

"Disloyalty of this type by any employee (John Zant) is unacceptable, inexcusable and jeopardizes the livelihood of fellow workers."

What "jeopardizes the livelihood of fellow workers" is the incredible bad will brought on by firing John Zant. Readers are quitting since local sports, including Zant, is the only reason many bother to buy the paper.

For 38 years John Zant has been extremely loyal to the paper and what it stands for.

Let's see, all the trouble started AFTER July of last year, right?

Can someone tell me why I left the News-PRess in December of 2004 because the morale in that place had sunk so low that I couldn't stand being in that place?

Forget about Wendy&Co.

It's Wendy&Cult.

I just heard from a friend that The Independent is deleting blog posts that are not directly attacking people just bringing up a point. I guess the Indy is taking a page from the NP and censoring all blogs.

The memo makes good sense. Perhaps the newsroom should stop whining and get to work. being a journalsits is not a right, it's a privilege.

These people need to prove their worth and earn their keep.

Right on Jocko.
The newsroom has been purged of those egos who would rather be on the news than report it. It's time to pick up and move in a positive direction.

Still Working,

Hold your tongue, you spineless toad, you coward. DO NOT INSULT these people like that, you simple child. These people didn't sign up for this. Wendy McCaw, by her failure to deal with the situation like a thoughtful, rational, intelligent professional has forced all involved to stand up for their principles. This is something you obviously can't understand or comprehend.

If you are anti-union, so be it. There's a reasonable argument there. But don't you dare insult the good people this pitiful, awful woman has put out of work. Her only triumph in life has been divorcing a rich man. She has no credentials, no dedication, no class, and clearly no admirable skills.

I sign this with my name because I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, I am right. If you are so convicted, you'll do the same. This is not a game. People's lives are being overturned. If you have any spine, show your face and take the public scorn you deserve for towing McCaw's wretched line.

This internal memo is indeed wacko, but it shows that Wendy is beginning to sweat a bit. Even if her take on the situation is completely out there, she rarely explains herself to anyone let alone the employees at the News-Press. She must be getting a little uncomfortable.

As one of three site administrators, I wish to assure our blog readers that lively discourse on these and all Independent.com subject matter is encouraged and virtually uncensored. So to anonymous poster "What" [February 13, 2007 07:35 PM] I say "Piffle and poppycock." A cursory review of comments on this and other threads will reveal an array of oppositional entries.

And, my friend, your epistolary style borrows from the Master of Confused Obfuscation himself, Mr. Travis J. Armstrong, with the deliberately vague and unsupportable trope "I just heard from a friend..." Yeah, right.

For whatever record may be made, let me inform all blog readers as to the character of the handful of non-spam related deletions we have made to our blogs since last July: duplicate postings, outright unsupported libel, posting of other copyrighted sources, and ads parading as posts.

I also wish to commend our Commenting Community on their general good manners, nature, and sense, which has made our job interesting and easier than it may have been.

--Club Reporter

Bravo, Club Reporter! Your efforts are appreciated.

How John Zant was let go is beyond me. There was a tribute to him here:

http://www.santabarbarasblog.com

He was class, stability, and everything positive the News-Press had.

Stil stunned

One small slice from The Baron’s memo:

“4. Is the paper doing OK since the walkout?”

“The paper is doing fine. In fact, it is doing much better since the changes in the newsroom. Statistics show that in the first half of last year under the supervision of Jerry Roberts, many more subscribers canceled than in the second half following the departures of Mr. Roberts and the others.”

Come on, Baron, not that you’re fudging, but please explain your signed audit for the NP’s six months ended September 30, 2006, posted by the Indy above.

It shows “Average Paid Circulation” of 40,979 average Monday-Friday for the three months ending June 30, 2006 (the quarter before Jerry split) compared to 37,667 for the three months ending September 30, 2006 (the quarter after Jerry split), same days and same average.

And that’s when the paper actually had a full staff of reporters.

40,979 vs. 37,667. It’s a 8.08 percent DROP for weekday average sales, Baron. Just from one quarter to the next. Double it for the year?

That has to be more than the “general newspaper industry decline,” eh?

As far as the NP actually selling papers to actual real people paying at least ½ the cost, as of September 30, 2006 the NP was only selling 31,838 "home delivery and mail" (Monday through Friday, combined average) and 3,271 "single copy sales," same days.

The press usually says “41,000 circulation” but this “real world" of these actual subscriptions and newsrack sales is 35,109 average weekdays.

Once cheapies (25% to 50% of cost), school freebies, employee/indy sales, third party giveaways, barters and website sales are added to the hopper, the “total average paid circulation” for Monday through Friday increases to 39,323.

Of course, some of these could be the papers you keep throwing on doorsteps that people are complaining about.

What’s the plunge going to be for the quarter ending March 31, when Scott Steepleton started writing the Sunday news and Zant is gone? Hmmmmmmmm….

Don’t worry, Baron, it’s got to bottom out at some point.

In the meantime, don’t forget to let your employees know about where most of your money actually comes from -- advertising sales. Whoops, forgot to mention those, didn’t ya?

The Sound is starting to fatten up and the NP, well…..it seems like it's been losing some inches around the mid-section, wouldn’t you say, Baron? Too lean and mean? Time to fry up some more of your porkburgers?

Remember to report, also, the cash pouring out from all of the legal fees, crisis spokesperson costs, private eye fees, and high security fees. Cappello, Stein, McCandless, Millstein can’t be cheap, just to mention the lawyers.

Of course, those $500 an hour fees are offset by the pittance you don’t have to pay editors or reporters.

Don’t forget to tell your employees about the catastrophic collapse of your brand name over the past six months. You remember, like when the benzene got into the Perrier?

Maybe I misspoke and you can correct these numbers. Or maybe it's like "bias," and you're just better off with sweeping statements and no examples.

All in all, glad to hear the paper is doing “fine.”

If not, it’s Jerry’s fault.

From the LAObserved Blog:

"McCaw lives in Fantasyland"

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/0...

From Hollywood Fishbowl L.A.:

"Did Wendy McCaw Break the Law? Protest Planned for Valentine's Day."

Link

Would somebody please give Travis some sweet loving ... to make him a little more compassionate.

Just curious which former NP staffers were in it for the ego trip while slacking real news coverage that Still Working alleges... Sounds like someone is pimping a Travis A. clone doll and emulating his same poisonous-rumor-and-innuendo-posing-as-fact act. It seems the narcissism charge made by Still Working best fits his/her poseur role as professional journalist if we are to believe that's what his/her actual employment is.

You know who's more delusional than Her Highness? Those who think the News-Press will be making a comeback. Those who think she will sit down at the table and discuss issues. Those who believe this mentally ill business owner will suddenly become sane and reasonable.

I know these things because I am the offspring of a mentally ill parent. You keep thinking they will suddenly become sane. You get mad at them for being sick. You think it's their fault and if they would only try they could become decent and thoughtful and considerate. People, it will not happen. Mentally ill people do not generally get better without a lot of help. Her Highness will not become sane. She is wacked out. Unlike most mentally ill people, unlike most people period, she has enough funds to sustain this insanity until the paper is bankrupt and the News-Press building is sold to become an extension of City Hall.

People, do not spend any more time trying to make this mentally ill person sane. It will not happen. And it's painful for me to read posts that suggest a belief in a cordial sit-down to work out differences.

Move on to other endeavors. The News-Press is dead. Long live the memory of it.

"Been there" has it exactly right. Wendy McCaw will never behave rationally and she'll never have to, because she can afford to support herself. She's not subject to "market forces" like the rest of us, and in her narcissism she's not affected by shame, guilt, humiliation or other emotions. She's a 12-year-old girl with an unlimited budget and no parents to say "no." Anyone who expects her to change is deluding himself.

Jocko can't type, or spell. I'm proud to be a journalist (I don't know what a "journalsits" is). And StillWorking, well, considering that -- with a few exceptions whom I highly respect (not one single "manager" among them) -- the only people left in the newsroom are either idiots who were on the verge of being fired before this mess began (we'll call them "managers" now) or people so desperate for a job that they came in on the wave of first-come-first-serve hirings, your words just further prove how low the quality of people and work has sunk at the NP. Kudos.

Hey, Disgusted: I'm still in the newsroom. I'm neither an "idiot who was on the verge of being fired" nor some newbie "desperate for a job." I'm simply not willing to run from a fight nor give in to a bully. And no, I don't expect the Red Queen to suddenly become sane: I expect the NLRB to rule in our favor and certify our union election, and to rule that my colleagues were illegally fired and reinstate them. And then things should get REALLY interesting.

To Bread and Roses: Hang in there and be strong. Those who ARE hanging in there either for financial survival, or as you say, to fight the good fight also deserve support and credit.
Journalism positions and other good paying jobs are few and far between, so without other means of support, some people just CANNOT leave. Unless the decision is made by the red queen, staying or leaving is a personal decision, and that choice needs to be respected and supported.
Wendy may have many millions of dollars, but it can be reduced significantly very quickly with all the legal fees and possibly awards she may have to pay. Also, if the community comes together on this and puts enough pressure on the red queen and her minions, you never know what could happen.

So outrageous as to be laughable, were it not for the fact that this rich bitch has a podium.

About circulation.
Note that the September data are unaudited, and were provided by the paper.

The last audited circ was for 3/31/2006, and was completed in October or November.

Auditing occurs yearly, and the auditing appears to take a while. Usually 9 months, but sometimes longer.

So, audited circ, March 2006. Next audit due, March 2007. Final audited figure, sometime in 2008, I bet.

So any little lies can go on for a while.

"just someone," thank you for the correction. The circulation statement signed by the Baron says "subject to audit." But he wouldn't fib, would he?

breadandroses:
I'm heartened to learn that a few off the old-school idealists who became newspaper journalists for all the right reasons are still standing strong, playing the hand they've been dealt wisely, and doing whatever is necessary in the long run to expose those intent on harming the community for their own gain. Hang in there, bro.
That's what the job is all about, and I'd buy you a drink if I knew who you were.

Was the drama all a big smoke screen? Simply coincidental or cunningly executed to drown out fair coverage of high-stakes local issues?

I have often pondered whether she is being controlled and if this bruhaha was in some way planted .

To keep the noise level up (right before local elections, whose results were OPPOSITE the national trend in local elections), while our local City Councils and County Boards become rubber stamps for the Orange County Chamber of Commerce?

If this is war, as The Great Almighty Wendy the Conqueror has stated, we must understand the enemy. That is the first tenet of war.

As you may already know, when dealing with someone suffering from narcissistic personality disorder (and trust me, they are suffering), you have basically two options: suck up totally to them, or run. There is none of the reciprocal give and take of a healthy relationship. And these people are notoriously resistant to treatment with a near-zero rate of improvement.

To more fully understand the mentally ill person in the NP ivory tower, please refer to these very good books about the narcissistic personality disorder:

The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissists: Coping with the One-Way Relationship in Work, Love, and Family

Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You

Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited

When Your "Perfect Partner" Goes Perfectly Wrong: Loving Or Leaving The Narcissist In Your Life

Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Up's Guide to Getting over Narcissistic Parents

Why Is It Always About You? : Saving Yourself from the Narcissists in Your Life

Narcissism: Denial of the True Self

Pursing my manipulation theory further....

So, UOTT, wouldn't her bearing those personality traits in the works you cited make her blindly and malleable?
AND IF SO,,,,
What better reason for befriending/hanging around and providing support to such a whack-job EXCEPT to get in her head and use her for your gain??

I am awe inspired by the weakness you negative bloggers are dispalying at attacking "The Red Queen".
The real issue here is being ignored.
When a new owner (of any business) needs / wants to make changes in a company it is going to be done no matter what the reason / cost. That is business (which is what the News Press is BTW)

I read / write a hint of inspiration in one of these blogs that maybe it was time to clear some deadwood and get new pesrpectives in the News Press with realigning ownership and staff in the company SHE owns and controls!
Why don't you Ex's get over the whining and move on. welcome the changes...it might even be better for you!

Definately for those who will stick it out and brought in to make it better.

I don't know any of you...just watching this silliness.

growLETA, your comments make sense for someone who is normal and healthy, as you probably are. But you may not realize the severity of the situation. These malignantly narcissistic people (think GW Bush and OJ Simpson) are so unaware of others that it's frightening. Many doctors over time have tried to treat such disorders, and with no success. If you feel the average reporter-on-the-street has the credentials to win with such a person (and someone with such great funds!), I find that very sad. That's why these people are so dangerous, that naive belief we have that we can work with them. We cannot. Even if the courts rule in our favor, what will that accomplish? Look at OJ, getting a million dollar book advance and not passing it along to Ron Goldman's father, who is entitled to it by law. Sad to say, our legal system is run by money. Look at GWB and his cartel, breaking every law in the land. Luckily, though they may not go to prison, they will be voted out of office. In Wendy's case, she cannot be voted out of office. She will reign in terror until her queendom is bankrupt. But the pleasure she will take in smashing the little people will be her reward. I'm saying: Get out of the way of the bulldozer. It cares not what you think. It only cares to destroy.

Are these your photos adam? no wonder you've followed this story. you like trains and your watching this one wreck.

http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.p...

Unfortunately Adam Meeks, a newspaper is not just a business. It is an integral part of a community and those who run a newspaper have responsibilities to that community to portray the truth as accurately as possible. Most don't get in the newspaper business to make money -- just ask any journalist. Most get in it to make a difference, to play an important role in one's community, and to be a responsible, productive part of the world. For those who consider the newspapers business just a business, please get out of newspapers. You clearly have no understanding of reality.

Adam Meeks...In case you missed the beginning to this saga, here is a link to Barney's first story in the Indy explaining why he quit after so many decades.

http://www.independent.com/archives/2006...

OPEN LETTER TO ALL FORMER AND PRESENT NP REPORTERS:

I worked at the News-Press from 1988 to 1989, then freelanced for it until 1996. Now I freelance for the Los Angeles Times and many national magazines. I get between $650 and $2500 for my freelance articles.

While I was at the News-Press, I came under the command of a very mean supervisor (who will remain nameless) and I realized that this person had too much control over my life. I realized that working for one company gives one a very insecure life. If they screw with you, all your income is threatened.

As a freelancer, however, nobody owns me. I have 10 or 20 clients at any time, and if things sour with one of them, so what? I have many more to turn to.

I buy my own health insurance, from Blue Cross, for $224 a month. I own my own time. I love my life. I write from my desk in Arroyo Grande with a view of my 7 acres and my horses, with my good dog at my side. I go to conferences, I've won an award for my writing, and a fellowship to further my studies. I wrote a book and my co-author and I got a $140,000 advance, and I hope to do more. I have a literary agent.

So, people, don't think that exiting the NP is such a tragedy. For me, it was the best thing that could happen.

Best to all of you in your future adventures,

Kathy

Breadandroses: You're likely one of the rare few I mentioned "whom I highly respect." The few good, original folks left -- and you know who you are -- who are still going to work every day in that miserable place and fighting have my support 100 percent. And I know you can't leave now, and shouldn't have to leave for that matter. But I don't think you can deny that the new "managers" and new hires are just dragging down the quality of a once-great product.

Adam;

You're exactly correct in your statements. The highly negative bloggers here, union officials, and former employees that are making public demonstration are interested in IGNORING the real issues at hand. It's a smoke screen tactic used in propaganda in order to use public emotion rather than rational argument. Don't be swayed by those here who would choose to disparage you personally.

Hey SW...no one has disparaged Alan personally or otherwise (and I do like his photos).

As for smoke screen tactics? Just re-read the ten commandments from the baron...bahahahahaha

Okay, Still Working, what are the "real issues"? I have yet to see a lucid list of them.

Still Working: you are a punk scab. The ONLY smokescreen is the oily spew SBNP passes off as news while your fishwrap ignores fair coverage of critical local issues before, during and since the last election cycle.

One real issue is how the NP reporters peaceably and legally formed a union that McCaw won't recognize, but instead chooses to break the law by actually firing people for forming the union. (She says it's for "disloyalty," but we know that's the real smoke screen here. And since loyalty is such a concern to her, I wonder why McCaw committed the first act of disloyalty by not respecting her intelligent and informed staff's explicit desire to form a bargaining unit?).

Still Working, why are you afraid to sign your name if you are so certain McCaw is on the honorable side of this fight? Why are you NP supporters publicly vocal only when anonymous? It's almost as if you have something to hide...

Adam Meeks: No one is above the law.
When a new owner (of any business)BEGINS TO SCREW OVER THE WORKFORCE in an "open shop" and the employees then decide to seek fair treatment by LAWFULLY organizing themselves into a representative unit. it is going to be done no matter what the reason / cost. That is business (which is what the News Press is BTW)

Whatever the News-Press is doing, I'm pretty sure it is at odds with the philosophy of Starbucks... although Starbucks is pretty anti-union too, they at least try to keep their employees happy... for example Starbucks still contributes to employees 401(k)s. In any case, I've drafted a letter to the Starbucks CEO encouraging them to stop selling the News-Press on the South Coast...

Letter to CEO of Starbucks

Adam Meeks,

If those are your online photos mentiond above, I bet you think these guys are pretty cool:

http://www.ble.org/

Have fun telling them to, as you put it, "get over the whining and move on" next time they face a grievance.

re: 'By all accounts, the community is getting tired of steel-mill tactics and prefers other issues to focus on.'

as of 3:28 PM, there are 59 comments for this single Media Blog update...in addition to state, national and international coverage.

c'mon Still Working, post your name. Scott? Travis? Nipper?

Oh brother...tell me to get out of the newspaper business based on your drama...get over yourselves...IF anyone breaks the law they should be heard and pay the consequences. If someone fabricates accusations based on drama (as I see most of this) it is a "Smoke Screen" and a much noise about nothing.

To those departed...you don't want to go back to work there...those still there want to be there...some even act as moles (that's OK) and it will catch up to them one way or another...

Get over it and go away and use the energy to find new lives (or something like them) elsewhere and let "The Red Queen" squaander HER BUSINESS into oblivion...a Newspaper doesn't owe society ANYTHING it owes readers information and advertising...whomever writes it / sells it is there because they want to be...

GET OVER YOURSELVES AND LEAVE OTHERS ALONE!!!

ENOUGH!!! BUYAH BUYAH...later

What "Online Photos Above" were you refering to Toot Toot (pintos or refrieds) LoL...I crack myself up...not in the NP Biz either...

I just think you people need to leave "TRQ" to her own devices if you think she is that bad let it take it's course...otherwise any money you win in a settlement goes to the union and the attorneys...GO FIGURE!

Adam...These are the photos from a previous post - from a google search of "adam meeks" - just wondering if it was you. Cool photos BTW

Are these your photos adam? no wonder you've followed this story. you like trains and your watching this one wreck.

http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.p...

Posted by train spotter | February 14, 2007 10:40 AM

growLeta...you are an angry one aren't you? Get a massage / swim in the ocean / ground yourself and get a life. Still working has as much right to his / her viewpoint as anyone...I find it funny that you want to be heard / read yet USE CAPS AND ANGER TO EMPHASIZE YOU FEEBLE POINTS.

Oh...now I get it...different Adam Meeks. I am flattered though, that you would Google me. I actually have a much more productive career than following train wrecks. This is not about me though except that I do know people in the middle of this energy sapping tug of war. "The Red Queen" will prevail though..

SHE OWNS THE BUSINESS AND HAS THE RIGHT TO RUN IT ANY WAY SHE WANTS TO!

I find it funny that you want to be heard / read yet USE CAPS AND ANGER TO EMPHASIZE YOU FEEBLE POINTS.

Posted by Adam Meeks | February 14, 2007 03:54 PM

That was funny how I used those CAPS in honor of the growLeta angry one. I am bored with it now I will just read the ramblings.

Thanks for the fun

devolution of a thread

Ha. That's funny. It's nice to know that not everyone has lost their sense of perspective over this ordeal.
And, for those of you out there wondering, we're getting messages and support from readers and advertisers alike telling us that they aren't paying attention to the vocal few. They are continuing BUSINESS as usual and that includes buying, reading, and advertising in the NP.

What are they "reading," Still Working? And better question: Who's writing what they're reading?

if advertisers are holding tight with you "still working", why is the paper so thin?

"the vocal few"--what an interesting way to describe the majority of the newsroom staff. Maybe the N-P management & Still Working are using a type of "new math" that the rest of us have not yet had the opportunity to learn. This would explain why the vote of 33 to 6 for unionization wasn't valid. In N-P math, "6" has a greater value than "33." And when this type of logic is applied to other aspects of life, one can clearly see that Mrs. McCaw is a rational person & shrewd businesswoman to boot. And the sky is green too.

Per the comments of "Been There" who posted at 11:14 P.M. on the 30th, I think he/she has it on the money when they say that there is no point in trying to negotiate with McCaw.

There is talk among some that we should get buisinesses to not advertise in the News-Press but given the amount of money McCaw has (I don't know, but I was told toward the end of 2002 that it was still $800,000,000, which is many times more than the $90,000,000 figure I was told she spent to buy the News-Press)she would probably not mind losing some pocket change to make her point.

While I lack the legal knowledge to comment on whether or not efforts made by former N.P. employees will succeed, I have seen no indication, after having read many news reports, the Wendy McCaw is capable of being affected in any way by the actions of others.

Clearly, she is a True Believer so merely shaming her, or attempting to hit her in the pocketbook, is a waste of time.

Whatever attempts are made to restore the former status of the News-Press will probably have to be made by force per legal actions.

It's just a very sad story all the way around.

And, for those of you out there wondering, we're getting messages and support from readers and advertisers alike telling us that they aren't paying attention to the vocal few.

I'm certain that's true, but I doubt it's as wide spread as you are implying. The supposed bias that the former employees are accused of having are probably ones that most of Santa Barbara would relate to... and it's clear that McCaw wants a paper that caters to the elite, rich minority. She wants a paper that SHE relates to, and to hell with the working class people that live in this town. And I'm sure the businesses and advertisers who are continuing their support relate perfectly to McCaw.

Those opposing her are not the "vocal few" because of size, but the "vocal few" in financial status. In her twisted libertarian mind, she's right because she's got the most money - any other rationale need not be considered.

-adam meeks-

You wig out on CAPS, syntax and style in the midst of a serious forum. This is that ol' SBNP smokescreen again.

You choose not to argue against any of my so-called feeble points. Therefore you know you are wrong.

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. That feels better.

growLeta - You (again) have misconstreud my point. It is a very simple concept. "The Red Queen" owns the News Press. She wants to make (probably long needed) changes in a weak staff (for whatever reasons) she implements these changes based on a catalyst and timing. Heads Rolls people scream, whine and kick. These Rolling Heads can't do anything about it, so they call on a Union to whine with them. The rest is, as-they-say conjecture? I think that sums it up pretty well. Get over yourself, get a life.
It's Over...

Long-needed changes? So, let's see what would be among those ... pandering to the rich and famous, killing stories about Travis Armstrong's drunken driving arrest and sentence, OF COURSE getting all new vending machines, breakroom furniture and some ugly outdoor furniture (shortly after telling some newsroom managers they absolutely could not fill any empty positions, no matter how desperately they were needed to continue coverage), completely throwing AP style out the window and making up Wendy-style (i.e. "Blonde" at all times), insulting nearly everyone in the community with nasty and childish editorials, putting people with no experience or skills in charge of running the paper (and who could forget poor Travis always needing HR woman Yolanda with him any time he was around more than one person, and since more than two editors talking constituted a meeting and he had to be in on all meetings, that meant the editorial page editor and HR woman had a hand in what went on your front page every day and what got killed instead). And then, after some newsroomers stuck it out for the sake of paper, the long-needed change was to dump those who wanted to stay and fix the mess ... to dump Anna Davison, the best reporter in the newsroom before any of this mess even started. See, here's what you're not seeing -- there was no getting rid of "weak" staff. What's left is weak; what's gone are some of the best journalists in the business. And this town deserved that kind of quality. If, by long-needed changes, you mean completely getting rid of any sense of quality or respectability and bringing in reporters who clearly missed Journalism 101 and can't even cover a simple speech, then sure, you must know what you're talking about.

EXACTLY! You get it now THANK YOU. That is what I mean. However she wants it to be is what she can make it. Even if (in YOUR opinion) it is weaker now than it was with (your opinion) the better staff and its operating quirks. It is OK because it is her company. So Be It..."Of With Their Heads"...in the words of "The Red Queen".

Thanks for the clarification...I hope the whiners are still reading this blog...

Adam

But don't you feel you and this community deserve a newspaper that offers quality local reporting? That's what most community members I talk to say. The NP is a business, yes, but somehow a newspaper has to be above letting a crazy owner dictate what's news. Crazy can dictate the editorial page; that's standard. Fine, that's why rich people buy papers, so they can control the editorial page. But just because she's rich and crazy, even though this is her business, should not give her the right to dictate for this community what's news and what's not.

adam?
You are using CAPS, you emotional wreck.
Also, yor syntax is slipping.

For whatever reason they choose or for whatever reason fits your reality, SBNP employees are citizens who have the legal right to form or join a collective bargaining group. You cannot stop that.

Why the hell are any of you continuing to try to engage this Meeks person in "logical" discourse? There's no 'there' there....

Clearing things up...you are sounding very sane in all of this and to some extent you can hold an idealistic, hopeful wish for such things, but Rupert Murdoch is a classic example of ownership and control. Wouldn't you agree?

growLeta I pity poor little you...I use caps for emphasis and you cannot let go of the criticism I gave you. That is probably why you have such a white-knuckle-grip on the SBNP stuff...please relax before you burst a blood vessel...isn't suntax the expensive oil I put in my Porsche?

allegro805...where in the Hell did you come from? I have good pints and that is why people (except growLeta) are respnding...but you probably (secretly) agree with me huh?

I would side with the Ex's if they really had more to go on. Employment issues...not much more than an HR nightmare I say.

Peace Out

oooops I made 2 typos (before growLeta get me here on it)

suntax / syntax

good pints / good points until after business hours then it is pints...LOL

As for the comment above by Clearing Things Up, Anna Davison may not have been THE best, but she was the cutest who made hearts melt with lustful fascination.

Just curious Adam...do you live on the South Coast (Coast of southern SB county if you are unfamiliar with the term) or are you chiming in from some other locale?

oops - "aren't from..."

Yeah, Adam, I secretly agree with you. Have a few more pints.

Do us a favor and spend about 20 minutes reading up on Federal and California Labor Law and try to break out of the box of "It's her paper! She can do what she wants with it! She owns it! She owns it! She OWNS it!". That has been the one-note gist of your broken-record argument. Feel free to ramble on with all your good 'pints.'

From now on, buddy, you're on , and others would be wise to follow suit.

That is: "you're on //ignore//..."

I think Adam is a troll for The Wendy.

Thank you I am local (since 1977) and I am not a troll for "The Red Queen". I just got edgy with the one sidedness of this blog about the poor Ex's. That's why I chimed in to begin with...she might be guilty of some wrong doing...for all I / you know...Time will tell.

I'm just saying, let the business determine its own fate and the "Still Workings" do so in peace.

Thanks for the pints...

There are many mysteries to see inside of the WALL. I wonder how they will unravel for themselves? To see "The Red Queen" has all her faculties is to be beside a point. It is HER PAPER to own! It is for her she can will her fate to the EX's. You might see how I get edgy.

I hold out a HOPEFULL WISH - it is a mystery to find? Yes!

You know, I'm starting to feel a fondness for Adam Meeks. Hey Adam, why don't you head down to the News-Press and take one of the dozens of editorial jobs they have open and then report back to us. I'd like to hear your take on the mood in the newsroom. What do you think?

Dear trolls:

What? writes: I just heard from a friend that The Independent is deleting blog posts that are not directly attacking people just bringing up a point. I guess the Indy is taking a page from the NP and censoring all blogs.

Perhaps they are just deleting posts from people who can't write coherently. Oh, wait, no, they left your post up.

Jocko writes: The memo makes good sense.

Yeah, sure, even though not a word of it is true.

Still Working writes: The newsroom has been purged of those egos who would rather be on the news than report it.

Liar.

Adam Meeks: I am awe inspired by the weakness you negative bloggers are dispalying at attacking "The Red Queen".

I am not at all awestruck by your weak mind, your immaturity, your ignorance, and your illiteracy; they are unfortunately all too commonplace.

Hey Truth Machine,

Not a single comment you just posted attacking three NP supporters are the truth. They are angry opinion. Your name, darling, is a complete misnomer.

Good try. But, on the next attempt, how about looking at the issues rather than making an emotional statement. You've turned to attacking those are addressing the issues. Let's bring the focus back.

My comments were of course my opinions, but they are also true (just as my opinion that the Earth revolves around the sun is true). As for my being angry, that is the troll's opinion, but it's false, as is the troll's opinion that "the newsroom has been purged of those egos who would rather be on the news than report it".

The troll keeps mentioning "the issues" but never says what they are, or says anything about them. It's an odd kind of trolling, not even very effective as trolling goes. Ho hum.

Today's NP (not counting classified):
A section - 8 pages/13 ads
B section - 8 pages/8 ads
C section (sports) - 6 pages/1 ad
D section - 8 pages/4 ads
----------------------------------
Total = 30 pages/26 ads

Thursday used to be the second biggest day after Sunday. So sad.

"... let the business determine its own fate..." ~ Alan Meeks

If we wait, as Alan suggests, there won't be anything left.

Truth Machine is broken...poor sick fool. BTW I'm more literate than you could ever imagine. Strong Minded (enough to use my own thank you) and anything but commonplace. Bad try...no truth to any of your statements...again only Ex's loser emotion...are you one of the upstairs seats that was vacated due to lack of vision, imagination and talent liek the rest? I would wager you are...

Get A Life and a new Machine...

Oooops...my Swedish is showing...should be - Like not Liek

ho hum.

Silly Adam, trying to hi-jack the thread. Just likes to insult, get some relief from all that pressure, doesn't really care at all about the issues. Probably a freeper, certainly a troll. Ugh!

Alan...you are starting to lose your cool, calm demeanor. I was wondering how long it would take.

I agree with T-spotter - so sad...to watch this train wreck.

I meant "Adam"...doh

Adam is a foolish sucker: "I would wager you are..." -- this about a matter that I surely know about and he knows nothing about. Ok, Adam, how about a friendly wager of, say, $150 million dollars?

Please, let this thread die. It's descended into childish name calling and unpleasant personal attacks that's not endearing to either side of the News Press issues.

Come on, I'm giving you guys an out.

Adam Meek = Norman "Witness" Colavincenzo.

SBCitizen, thanks for being a rational voice. I second your motion.

SBCitizen - let them have their "fun" - there is another thread already started.

Amid from the shameless food fight that has ensued since Meeks, et.al. have entered the ring, the ethical issue of paramount importance here is being sadly obfuscated or completely ignored: The outrageous, slanderous characterization by Still Working and others of former NP staffers as self-aggrandizing egoists and publicity grandstanders, many of whom devoted so much time and sweat over so many years (e.g. Zant 38, Barney B. 46) raising the pre-McCaw NP into a widely esteemed small town newspaper. The indisputable integrity and dedication of so many of the 58 ex-NP staffers (listed on an earlier Indy blog) who gave so much to us, the former readership of this now pathethic sham of a paper;
who raised families here along side ours; who attended and volunteered time at countless school and community events, games, and celebrations with other SB residents; who have been integral to the vital, ethical fabric of this town - to categorically malign them in an sorry attempt to justify the most ruthless power coup this town has experienced in recent memory is a unmitigated travesty. The hope here is that those who follow the credo of 'might makes right' so rampant among currnet NP management will ultimately open their eyes to the profound personal and institutional damage that has been perpetrated on this community by McCaw & company, and join in the search for a viable alternative paper that will finally make the NP irrelevant. Now that is indeed a topic worthy of further discussion...

Note: My comment above should begin "Amid", not "Amid from." (First draft was "Aside from")
Also, typo w/word current later on... :)

I concur. where is Bill C.

no worries fence sitter. my eye sight is shot too and besides i am lysdexic too

I am not Norman and I am not into mud slinging. I am stuck in the middle of this thing and I agree, there is much lost heritage. That is sad. There is a possibility of survival for the SBNP. It is not going to be decided on by this blog or personal name calling, insults and / or lies let alone our anguish.
It will be decided in a courtroom by some disinterested (paid) parties. They will hear both sides and rule. Then what? If the Ex's lose will they take it like they deserve it, or will the mudslinging continue?
I thinks it is sad, I really do. I hope everyone gets what they truly deserve. The Ex's should take the high road and ride it out in the legal system and not on the front steps of a company that is done with them.

Not Norman

Well said, "Sitting". As I said, Still Working's charges are a lie.

As for Adam Meeks claiming he's not into mud slinging, we have "I am awe inspired by the weakness you negative bloggers" in the very first sentence of his first post, followed by "Why don't you Ex's get over the whining", "your drama...get over yourselves", "GET OVER YOURSELVES AND LEAVE OTHERS ALONE!!! ENOUGH!!! BUYAH BUYAH.", etc. etc.

Oh, and "If the Ex's lose will they take it like they deserve it" -- that's ripe. I suppose that, since he thinks they deserve to lose, he will consider a win to be a miscarriage of justice, despite his lack of familiarity with labor law, among his many other lacks.

A thread at blogabarbara , http://blogabarbara.blogspot.com/ got me to thinking ; what if she tires of all this and decides to shut down rhe NP? As Adam said, it is her business. She owns the paper and I think the property, as well as a big chunk of Goleta (her printing facility) and also the bankruptcy court-building site.

It has been insinuated on the blogs, and confirmed by a friend that worked for her, that she is a certified narcissistic person.

What if she takes her ball and says, “Game over”!
Can she be stopped?

what really peeves me? the whole paper has turned into such a rag, i would not even line my chinchilla cage with it!

pictures of gratings and domes? the rest is all ads or stupid non-articles like "2 old ladies cut valentines and a dog watches someone play the piano!" "two people from la buy cheesy $10 rings and get a 10picture, 2 page photo spread!"

is this the local coverage that bitch wendy was so wont to present? THERE ARE NO MORE LOCAL STORIES but faxes from county government! there are no more local stories but picture essays randomly thrown together by wandering photogs!

and AP WIRE! and more AP WIRE! what a sad, pathetic rag this thing has become. no reporters, nothing left, so so so sad

In response to not LOL any more...I don't think "The Red Queen" would just close it down...maybe fire-sale it off what's left of it to the Union and it's new friends...and do something else...

RIGHT!...Ha ha ha ha ha ha

Maybe she'd use the money and start a cool weekly to offer more (of teh other side) to the community.

I am funny huh?

(the other side)

looks like AM "the thread highjacker is back". I say we ignore him today.

Please do ignore me today...and always...being that I have my own mind I will continue to write. Like it or not...besides most of you are dillusional anyway.

Adam Meeks is a leftover career saboteur from another thread. Feed him and he will grow.

I like Adam. He's ignorant. He can't spell. He's impulsive and out of his league. But he's got balls. Let him stay and throw him a bone!

What the News-Press thinks is any and all people in opposition to any of McCaw's whims is disposable. End of story

--virtual finality