Email today from @tribpub announced stockholders are getting a new special dividend and that “this year we have driven significant company performance improvements, both in managing our expenses and substantially increasing our digital subscriptions.”
— Kathleen McWilliams (@kgmcwilliams) November 14, 2019
We got sweatshirts!!! Who needs a raise when you have a sweatshirt to keep you warm? 🤗 Thanks, @baltimoresun @tribpub! pic.twitter.com/GJMGOsUuXq
— Baltimore Sun Guild ☀️ (@baltsunguild) November 14, 2019
This is Orwellian doublespeak. @tribpub, if you truly valued your employees you wouldn't deny them raises while hiking their health care insurance costs. pic.twitter.com/EW9papJhpy
— Sara Gregory (@saragregory) November 14, 2019
My employers announced the company is awarding another dividend to stock holders this morning. @tribpub also threw in a line about hiring and retaining top talent as a top priority.
That last part is hot garbage.
— Tom Shortell, Road Warrior (@TShortell) November 14, 2019
Oh and in case the sarcasm wasn’t clear, this dividend and the message that came with it are abhorrent and insulting, @tribpub.
— Baltimore Sun Guild ☀️ (@baltsunguild) November 14, 2019
Your employees are creating this shareholder value. But the message is clear that we are none the more valuable to you, @tribpub. If that’s not the case, please do something to show it.
— Baltimore Sun Guild ☀️ (@baltsunguild) November 14, 2019
@tribpub chairman David Dreier had the gall to say in the same email the company is committed to hiring and retaining employees. Yet …
No raises. Higher health care costs. Shuttered or decimated newsrooms. Employees still relying on food banks. https://t.co/jO2q2VMn8y— Brock Vergakis (@BrockVergakis) November 14, 2019
The best thing I ever did as a journalist is to help unionize my newsroom and I will continue to fight for our staff and for those groups around the country that want to unionize. My DM is wide open #unionstrong @CWAUnion @news_guild @gaufre @PhillyNewsGuild
— Jennifer W. Sheehan 😷 (@jenwsheehan) November 14, 2019
@tribpub has another $9M to give to stockholders by our estimates — but not a dime for staff's interest in health care, raises or anything. But maybe we'll get some free keychains at the health fair today. https://t.co/b1BmDeZMKC
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
The joke is that we don’t get paid enough to have savings.
Some of us can’t afford medications and have to visit food banks.
Glad @tribpub is maximizing shareholder value though! https://t.co/k3grbstQTT
— Ryan Murphy (@JournoMurph) November 14, 2019
And @tribpub is not even pretending to care. https://t.co/3SpBEWKOLa
— Tidewater Guild (@TidewaterGuild) November 14, 2019
We have a child going to college. And we wonder how we'll afford that. So I really don't want to hear empty words about how much Tribune values staff retention and recruitment. Clearly that's for execs only. ..
— Jennifer W. Sheehan 😷 (@jenwsheehan) November 14, 2019
Attention Tribune Publishing, here we have a potential paying reader who is on the fence about subscribing because he isn't sure his money will be wisely spent. https://t.co/aqUuXUmU8Q
— Chicago Tribune Guild (@CTGuild) November 14, 2019
TribPub announces a shareholder payout just TWO DAYS after saying they’ll shut down Hoy, leaving Chicago without essential Spanish-language journalism.
Shareholders get cash. Journalism does not.
This is infuriating. @CTGuild
— Megan Crepeau (@crepeau) November 14, 2019
1) Given the ongoing contentious relationship between journalists and TribPub, which is a better use of readers' money?
1) paying for a subscription of some kind
2) not paying for a subscription of some kind— Ed D. (@EdDinIL) November 14, 2019
2) I am currently not a subscriber. Several years ago I canceled my print subscription but I've been considering subscribing to the digital edition. Events like this however make me reconsider weather I should do it.
— Ed D. (@EdDinIL) November 14, 2019
truly telling on themselves as they shut down the one paper you'll see people actually reading in this city. they've long been more interested in raising the blood pressure of collar county dads. https://t.co/DC9MXtWM8z
— Ghost Hobo Roy Orbison (@Mt_Skvll) November 14, 2019
Newspapers, like most things, should not be profit-oriented entities https://t.co/XUeJyfER9C
— Arthole (@branmoorhead) November 14, 2019
Priorities. How many of those shareholders are Latino, I wonder? https://t.co/pjMrGgcuR4
— Alejandro A. Riera (@AlejandroARiera) November 14, 2019
Love the Trib and it's staff, management, ownership, and edboard… less so…much less so. https://t.co/mnnO4GSTNK
— Ernesto (@EJFoto) November 14, 2019
Our readers – your customers – want you to actually make the investment you say you're making in journalism. It's time for Tribune Publishing's executives and top editors to finally do the right thing.
— Chicago Tribune Guild (@CTGuild) November 14, 2019
Tribune Publishing has once again chosen the short-term interests of its shareholders over the long-term sustainability of its journalism. This is short-sighted and harmful to journalists, readers and the company. https://t.co/VNiUqh7r4m
— Chicago Tribune Guild (@CTGuild) November 14, 2019
Coming two days after Tribune Publishing announced it was closing Hoy, our Spanish-language newspaper, this is either tone-deaf or cruel.
— Chicago Tribune Guild (@CTGuild) November 14, 2019
The announcement to employees speaks of Tribune Publishing's "commitment and investment in our greatest asset – our people." It also alleges that "ability to hire and retain top talent remains one of our top priorities." Please do not lie to us.
— Chicago Tribune Guild (@CTGuild) November 14, 2019
We're going to keep fighting for our readers, our company and the future of journalism, and we're going to win. Please join us.
— Chicago Tribune Guild (@CTGuild) November 14, 2019
5) So, what is Tribune Publishing telling its dedicated and hard-working employees–the ones who substantially increased the company's digital revenue and subscriptions that led to the transfer of wealth to shareholders? The message to employees is: "Let them eat cake."
— Todd Lighty (@ToddLighty) November 14, 2019
Is there free asprin in that bottle??
‘Cause I’ll be needing some when I’m figuring out how I’m gonna pay for my increased healthcare cost in 2020. 😷🤕
Booo @tribpub Boooo 👎👎👎— April Gamiz (@_aprilb_) November 14, 2019
Look at the amazing giveaways we got at the @tribpub Health Fair! This definitely makes up for the fact we just gave stockholders another $9M and we have to pay 6.4 percent more for health care. @TidewaterGuild @CTGuild @baltsunguild @PhillyNewsGuild @CourantGuild pic.twitter.com/f3VCX6bnUS
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
[Baltimore Sun Guild] An Important Company Announcement from @tribpub: For all our employees' great work, we are rewarding… shareholders! (Not mentioned: And meanwhile denying raises to unionized employees who ask for one!) https://t.co/vtueomUzG7 via @reddit pic.twitter.com/xueUGeYc6e
— Disrupt MediaLab (@dmedialab) November 14, 2019
Between this and its “commitment to diversity, @tribpub has been doing some serious gaslighting this year. https://t.co/Q17UMm3Yz5
— Brock Vergakis (@BrockVergakis) November 14, 2019
BTW @tribpub: We happen to think our staffs are worth more than a few pens, a lip balm and a cheap metal water bottle.
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
Just completed my open enrollment. Really great seeing how much extra will be coming out of my paycheck right after learning how much will be going in shareholder pockets.
Thanks @tribpub https://t.co/VvP7er96lV
— Katherine Hafner (@khafner15) November 14, 2019
Hey @tribpub. It doesn’t look like @FTIConsulting is doing a great communications job helping win over your employees. Maybe ask for your money back and spend it on your own workers instead. https://t.co/tVyEUhYoHn
— Brock Vergakis (@BrockVergakis) November 14, 2019
You know what would create more than 25 cents in shareholder value? Investing 👏🏼 in 👏🏼 your 👏🏼 newsrooms 👏🏼 @tribpub https://t.co/lSXGIRK5am
— Baltimore Sun Guild ☀️ (@baltsunguild) November 14, 2019
that's an utterly foreign concept for @tribpub – also cuts into the massive bonuses for the execs
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
When @tribpub says that bringing in & retaining top talent in newsrooms is a priority… are they aware that reporters don’t work for keychains, fleeces & pats on the back orrrrr…..
— Sarah M. Wojcik 😷 (@Sarah_M_Wojcik) November 14, 2019
These incredible journalists, who survived a mass shooting in their workplace and still continue to cover their communities, cannot pay their bills. @tribpub just gave their raises and ours to stockholders. If that's not greed, we don't know what is. https://t.co/DKqrmCJ3CI
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
It’s hard to feel like a valuable asset in a company that hikes healthcare costs, refuses raises & then rewards millions to shareholders. I guess I’m just extremely grateful for @mcallguild looking out for me & my coworkers b/c it’s clear @tribpub is doing no such thing.
— Sarah M. Wojcik 😷 (@Sarah_M_Wojcik) November 14, 2019
When @mcallguild @TidewaterGuild and @CourantGuild met Tribune at the table to ask them to keep premiums the same next year, @tribpub didn't even offer a counter. They just said no. Really feeling valued over here
— Michelle Merlin 😷 (@michellejmerlin) November 14, 2019
Hey @tribpub it's nice you can find millions for shareholders. How about kicking over ~ $50,000 so some employees don't have to take a paycut over rising health premiums? Or better yet, give them raises to offset costs.
"our people" are "our greatest asset?" Give me a break— Michelle Merlin 😷 (@michellejmerlin) November 14, 2019
A year ago, @tribpub bought out editors, reporters and other staff. Recently, it delivered "exciting" news – we'd pay more for our already expensive medical benefits. @tribpub could have easily eaten the hike but opted not to. It has a funny way of showing its priorities.
— Tom Shortell, Road Warrior (@TShortell) November 14, 2019
Invest in these people. Invest in this work. Invest in your readers, @tribpub.
— Josh Noel (@hopnotes) November 14, 2019
It's time to invest in your newsrooms and your people, @tribpub. https://t.co/DTEGRtlEAH
— Josh Noel (@hopnotes) November 14, 2019
These optics speak for themselves. pic.twitter.com/NqurGYSs6E
— Josh Noel (@hopnotes) November 14, 2019
Tribune Publishing’s executives and top editors need get in touch with both their business sense and their consciences. https://t.co/jnPKczWZ40
— Chicago Tribune Guild (@CTGuild) November 14, 2019
“The ability to hire and retain top talent remains one of our top priorities.”
My colleagues have to chose between keeping their job & having health care because they literally cannot afford the increases.
But yes, please, tell me about how our work is benefiting shareholders. pic.twitter.com/zrOCwEq0Tp
— Danielle Ohl (@DTOhl) November 14, 2019
I have colleagues who need to go to food banks for groceries. I have colleagues who made more at their college delivery job. We qualify for all kinds of government assistance. Meanwhile, we’re saddled with college debt from the degrees required to get these jobs.
— Danielle Ohl (@DTOhl) November 14, 2019
My colleagues and I won a Pulitzer Prize for continuing to do our jobs after a man literally murdered half of us.
We got atta boys abound. The company sold t-shirts proclaiming journalism matters. But I cannot pay my rent with awards or T-shirts.
— Danielle Ohl (@DTOhl) November 14, 2019
Thanks for being transparent about this. We need to do better.
— Allison Seyler (@ajseyler_) November 14, 2019
*note, I agree with everything you're saying, but most people two years out of college are flat broke. It gets better fast.
— Dee Marketing MBA 👽 (@Dee_Marketing) November 14, 2019
Danielle knows what she's talking about.
— Joshua McKerrow (@joshuamckerrow) November 14, 2019
Thread https://t.co/nb0rJXRyVS
— Nitasha Natu (@nnatuTOI) November 14, 2019
👏🏼READ👏🏼THIS👏🏼THREAD👏🏼 https://t.co/9BaehWiDZm
— Meghin Moore ⛰ (@meghin_) November 14, 2019
Our Chesapeake colleagues have shared stories about needing to go to foodbanks to eat. We are not retaining top talent, I'm watching it walk out the door all the time. This is, simply, false. https://t.co/DcpsWlKjPo
— Charlie J. Johnson (@Charliemagne) November 14, 2019
Two days after shutting down Spanish-language newspaper Hoy, Tribune Publishing approved quarterly dividends beginning with a $9 million cash payout to shareholders on Dec. 10 https://t.co/EADFaVqXfO
— Robert Channick (@RobertChannick) November 14, 2019
My company, Tribune Publishing, just announced that it's going to pay regular dividends to shareholders. This is on top of $56 million it gave shareholders–the largest of which is former company CEO Mike Ferro–during the summer. None of that cash is coming into the newsrooms.
— Todd Lighty (@ToddLighty) November 14, 2019
1) The cash flow to stockholders comes just after Tribune Publishing announced it is shutting down its Spanish-language newspaper Hoy.
— Todd Lighty (@ToddLighty) November 14, 2019
2) This lack of investment in newsrooms includes no raises to the employees who–to quote form the company's news release–deliver the "award winning journalism to our communities."
— Todd Lighty (@ToddLighty) November 14, 2019
“The Board’s decision to institute a regular cash dividend reflects the Company’s financial strength, flexibility and confidence in its strategic plan,” said David Dreier, Tribune Publishing Chairman. https://t.co/c2zYNSDjP5 via @YahooFinance
— Virginia Press Association (@va_press_assoc) November 14, 2019
Tribune Publishing — shutting down its Spanish language reporting, newsrooms atrophying and in dire need of overhaul — is paying a 0.25 dividend to shareholders on Dec. 10.
A Christmas bonus for capital. Employees haven’t had year-end bonuses as long as I’ve worked here.
— Charlie J. Johnson (@Charliemagne) November 14, 2019
I’m not a Tribune shareholder but I will pay more for health insurance next year so maybe this was sent to my work address by mistake. pic.twitter.com/cqnofe3vO3
— Brian Colligan (@briancolligan) November 14, 2019
Quick napkin math tells me Michael Ferro makes $2.28m on this deal. That’s in addition to the $13.6m he made from the cash dividend in May, the $12m “consulting fee” last year and the $2.5m payment described here. https://t.co/gNZ9HQeY3K
— Brian Colligan (@briancolligan) November 14, 2019
Luv 2 maximize shareholder value pic.twitter.com/Fd5iHsAJ3U
— Brian Colligan (@briancolligan) November 14, 2019
— Brian Colligan (@briancolligan) November 14, 2019
Maybe sent to you as one of the managed expenses? Way to return value to the shareholders man. I think Ferro still has the most at 9 million and he’s a great guy so thanks for doing your part to make him $2.25 million, sorry about the health insurance.
— Travis Fain (@TravisFain) November 14, 2019
Thanks. It’s not that much for me but I’ve been doing it for 21 years now. It’s the >5 year employees who really feel it and each year it forces them to evaluate the viability of this profession.
— Brian Colligan (@briancolligan) November 14, 2019
An Important Company Announcement from @tribpub:
For all our employees' great work, we are rewarding… shareholders!
(Not mentioned: And meanwhile denying raises to unionized employees who ask for one!) pic.twitter.com/BQufcecj09
— Baltimore Sun Guild ☀️ (@baltsunguild) November 14, 2019
My newspaper company,@tribpub, just announced that that stockholders are getting another special dividend. As part of the email: “The ability to hire and retain top talent remains one of our top priorities.”…. pic.twitter.com/VYylYoEnRl
— Jennifer W. Sheehan 😷 (@jenwsheehan) November 14, 2019
Tribune has demonstrated over and over again that this is not true. My husband and I, who both work at the Morning Call, are facing 6.4 percent higher health care costs this year. No annual raises in as long as we've been here (15 for me). ..
— Jennifer W. Sheehan 😷 (@jenwsheehan) November 14, 2019
We have a child going to college. And we wonder how we'll afford that. So I really don't want to hear empty words about how much Tribune values staff retention and recruitment. Clearly that's for execs only. ..
— Jennifer W. Sheehan 😷 (@jenwsheehan) November 14, 2019
STAGGERING STUFF FOLKS: We just received an email announcing how @tribpub is giving another $.25 per share to stockholders as a way to "return capital…" @TidewaterGuild @CourantGuild @ChesapeakeGuild @CTGuild @PhillyNewsGuild pic.twitter.com/LPUVP4LXC7
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
"Today’s announcement has no impact on our digital transformation or our commitment and investment in our greatest asset – our people. The ability to hire and retain top talent remains one of our top priorities.," the email reads…
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
Excuse us, while we laugh out loud…
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
6.4% higher health insurance costs; the closing of Hoy, an important Spanish language paper; no annual raises in forever; staff who either have to work a second job to make ends meet or use food banks to supplement ……
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
We see right through you, @tribpub . We aren't buying what you're trying to sell us. Nice try though.
— The Morning Call Guild ☀️ (@mcallguild) November 14, 2019
.@tribpub just announced another dividend to shareholders, this time 25 cents per share. Not sure how much that adds up to, but just wanted to throw out there that my salary has not increased since May 2015.
cc: @baltsunguild @ChesapeakeGuild
— Pamela Wood☀️ (@pwoodreporter) November 14, 2019
IMPORTANT COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT: @tribpub is paying out ANOTHER dividend to shareholders instead of investing in their newsrooms.
Glad to hear the company is doing so well. The workers who are responsible for your profits deserve a piece. pic.twitter.com/ZTnZQjBaR8
— Ryan Murphy (@JournoMurph) November 14, 2019
Tribune: "We've improved significantly both in managing our expenses and substantially increasing our digital revenue and subscriptions."
Also Tribune: "Congratulations, hard-working employees. You get a collective 'atta boy.' Hope it pays the bills." https://t.co/kQ3ZtORcp7— Stephanie Sigafoos (@ssigafoos) November 14, 2019
This…whole..thread https://t.co/Xezs4sJaDl
— Jennifer W. Sheehan 😷 (@jenwsheehan) November 14, 2019