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Zell 'Clueless' About Journalism and Democracy

What he's done to, and says about, Tribune Co. shows fundamental misunderstanding

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 2, 2008 3:37 PM CST
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(Newser) – Sam Zell may or may not turn the Tribune Company around, but his ownership has crippled “real newsgathering,” Peter Osnos writes in the Daily Beast. “If Tribune goes down, he will still be very rich,” Osnos continues, “but he will have presided over the evisceration of some of our best newspapers.” While Zell understands newspapers must make money, he ignores the commodity they sell: the news.

In trying to inject some entrepreneurship into the industry, Osnos writes, Zell has created “a lousy business and a newspaper that is no longer much good,” and shows he “was clueless about the role of journalism in a democratic society.” Zell criticizes the New York Times as a “charitable trust” dedicated to incisive reporting regardless of cost, but if the Tribune Co. doesn’t pursue excellence in news, it will have nothing to sell.

Sam Zell comments on his purchase of the Tribune Company during a news conference last year.
Sam Zell comments on his purchase of the Tribune Company during a news conference last year.   (AP Photo)
Zell listens to his introduction before addressing the Inland Press Association's annual meeting in Chicago last year.
Zell listens to his introduction before addressing the Inland Press Association's annual meeting in Chicago last year.   (AP Photo)
Billionaire real-estate investor, and Tribune Company owner, Sam Zell.
Billionaire real-estate investor, and Tribune Company owner, Sam Zell.   (AP Photo)
The Los Angeles Times building, owned by the Tribune Company.
The Los Angeles Times building, owned by the Tribune Company.   (AP Photo)
The Tribune Tower is seen along Chicago's Michigan Avenue.
The Tribune Tower is seen along Chicago's Michigan Avenue.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
inky
Dec 2, 2008 10:41 PM CST
I miss the good old days, when rich old farts just bought racehorses.
Guest
Dec 2, 2008 5:31 AM CST
What did you place at the bottom of your birdcage then?
Thinker
Dec 2, 2008 4:48 AM CST
I stopped reading the Tribune in 1998 after a "news" article about the conversion of an "abortionist" (they didn't use the title "Dr.") appeared in the Women's Section of the paper. It was an obvious right-wing propaganda ploy, and I vowed at that point to never purchase another Tribune. And I never did.

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newspaper • New York Times • Sam Zell • Chicago • Tribune Company • journalism • Los Angeles Times • print journalism • Chicago Tribune

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