Is The Washington Times' Continued Operation In Jeopardy? (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Talking Points Memo ^ | November 11, 2009 | Ben Frumin

[abb]

Things seem to be going from bad to worse at the Washington Times. And the continued operation of the newspaper, which is owned by Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church, seems to be in serious doubt.

There's already been plenty of speculation that the paper might fold or go online-only. Sources at the Times said they fear major changes and that the Moon family feud that's driving the paper's turmoil could lead to the Times shutting down in the coming months -- with some suggesting that Preston Moon, the reverend's son who serves as chairman of News World Communications, the parent company of the Washington Times, came close to that decision last weekend.

Others believe the paper, with its relatively modest circulation, could pursue an online-only strategy to harness its growth in that area. They also remain pleased with the new Washington Times radio network.

And the paper itself reported this week that "an independent assessment and leadership team has been organized to address the practicalities of daily operations, and ultimately, the future sustainability of the news organization."

Still, acting president and publisher Jonathan Slevin told Times employees that "there are no plans to shut the company down."

We expect The Washington Times to continue to serve its readers and viewers for years to come.

Slevin did not return a phone call seeking comment today, and declined to talk to TPM when we reached him yesterday.

Several sources inside the newsroom are taking a cautious approach. They said executive editor John Solomon still hasn't been seen in the newsroom all week -- and that reporters he personally recruited haven't heard from him. Mainly though, staff members seem uncertain about the security of their jobs. Solomon did not return a phone call seeking comment today, and declined to talk to TPM when reached yesterday.

A former Times staffer also tells TPM that the newspaper may have lost immediate access to the stream of money that helps fund the Times. According to the source, the newspaper used a stream of additional investments from the parent company that owns the Times to keep its operation going. But one of the three executives fired on Sunday -- chairman Dong Moon Joo -- was apparently the one responsible for securing those additonal investments. It was his main function, our source says. Without additional cash infusions from the parent company run by Preston Moon, it's possible that the Times will have serious short-term cash problems, we're told.

Joo couldn't be reached at the Washington Times today -- though the human resources department said they'd pass along TPM's request for an interview. TPM has also left messages with the church's U.S. headquarters seeking comment, which have yet to be returned. Don Meyer, a spokesman for the Washington Times and a partner at Rubin Meyer Communications, also didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment today.

The same former Times staffer who told TPM about the short-term cash flow problem also says that Larry Moffitt, who identifies himself as vice president of the Washington Times Foundation on his LinkedIn profile, "is gone." His duties seem to have largely revolved around church-centric activities. A second former Times staffer (who's also a church member) confirms that Moffitt has left. This source also tells TPM that Moffitt is close to Preston Moon. It's unclear whether Moffitt resigned or was pushed out.

Moffitt did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. An operator at the Washington Times said that "Larry Moffitt is no longer with the company" -- before transferring TPM to the human resources department, which would not confirm any news about Moffitt, but agreed to pass on our request for comment.

As we reported earlier this week, three other top executives have already been fired -- and executive editor John Solomon, is expected by many current staffers to be as good as gone. And just to complete the drama, sources have told TPM that there's a beefed-up security presence at the newspaper -- including armed guards outside management's office on the day the executives were fired.

A former staffer now tells TPM that the third floor where management works was actually sealed off -- and that the people who worked there, including Moffitt, couldn't get in. While the details here are still sketchy, it's possible that these people -- more than a dozen in total -- may no longer have jobs.

[abb]

As much as it pains me to report it, the same phenomenon that is affecting the liberal newspapers appears to be having the same effect on the few relatively conservative newspapers in the country. It is a technology issue more than political persuasion that is causing ink-on-paper to fade.

But to be intellectually consistent, I must post this bad news.

[abb]

ping

[abb]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/1109/Security_amped_up_at_WashTimes.html
Security amped up at WashTimes

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20091111_Phila__Newspapers_creditors_seek_to_halt_auction.html
Phila. Newspapers creditors seek to halt auction

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/source-wash-times-managing-editor-tears-up-when-asked-about-missing-exec-ed.php
Source: Wash Times Managing Editor Tears Up When Asked About Missing Exec Ed

[Moose4]

True, but also note the source—TPM is notoriously liberal. I’m not saying the article is factually inaccurate, but Talking Points Memo is definitely going to gloat over the Washington Times’ difficulties and ignore or play down similar, far worse situations at liberal-slanted papers.

You’re right, though. Dead-tree newspapers are slowly dying no matter what, but the liberal bias and arrogance of so many will cause them to die faster.

}:-)4

[boomop1]

The Nations real Newspaper.

[max americana]

That’s why it’s called America’s newspaper. The Wa ComPost isn’t doing any better either and on the brink of bankruptcy as well.

[abb]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091111/ap_on_en_tv/us_tv_cnn_s_contradictions_4
CNN finding that prime-time success is elusive

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004041770
McClatchy Opens the Door to Charging for Content

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/11/11/2009-11-11_leno_looks_limp_letterman_gets_lotta_love_in_poll.html
Jay Leno looks limp, viewers unfazed by David Letterman’s sex scandal: poll

http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/hollywood-reporter-sold-whos-whos-finkelstein-9945
Hollywood Reporter Set to be Sold to ‘Who’s Who’s’ Finkelstein

[HokieMom]

Leadership changes at The Times: Daily operations being assessed

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/10/leadership-shake-up-at-times/

[abb]

IIRC the Washington Times has never made any money and was always subsidized by the Moon Church.

And the Washington Post Company (WPO) now is only making money from the Kaplan division. They too, will have some hard decisions to make.

http://www.washpostco.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=62487&p=irol-landing

[abb]

What this all shows is all these “news” distributors (newspapers, magazines, radio, tv, etc) never were in the “news” business.

They were always in the advertising business and the “news” was something to put in between the ads.

[STONEWALLS]

“And the Washington Post Company (WPO) now is only making money from the Kaplan division.”

....the Kaplan aquisition was their saving grace...there’s no end of parents who will shell out to improve their child’s test scores....I know, I was one....and it put my daughter’s LSAT at 95 percentile and early admission.

[Gorzaloon]

But one of the three executives fired on Sunday -- chairman Dong Moon Joo -- was apparently the one responsible for securing those additonal investments.

Wow, this time it really IS the Joo's fault.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Love the WATIMES, but it has always been the Moonies semi-hobby, for which I thank them.

[abb]

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091111/BLOGS10/911119995
Kimball’s not happy with state loan for recovering newspaper

http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/davidwestphal/200911/1795/
No revenue model for news? Labor steps up

http://www.businessinsider.com/horrified-businessweek-staffers-being-asked-to-write-for-bloomberg-newswire-2009-11
Bloomberg Can Cut BusinessWeek Staff And Not Pay Severance

[LibLieSlayer]

Written by a group to the left of acorn.

LLS

[abb]

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3937
Public Media and the Decommodification of News
News behind pay walls is no help to democracy

[dangus]

Washington Times Bucks National Trend; Circulation Increases
     Daily circulation is up 3% in last six months;
Sunday circulation is up 15% from small base.
Washington Post circulation drops 8% in 6 months.
New conservative paper Washington Examiner
Bursts on to scene successfully.
     Times' troubles only have to do with Moon's
Times and Post aren't in direct competition.
personal finances since most Times readers also
read post.

[kidd]

I’m not so sure.

The Wall Street Journal just recently took the spot as the country’s #1 paper. Articles are sometimes left of center, but generally fair. But the editorial section is very conservative.

IBD circulation is increasing. Very conservative paper.

[ExNewsExSpook]

Don’t worry...if Moon decides to get out of the newspaper business, Mr. Murdoch wouldn’t mind having a paper in D.C., and News Corp has the deepest pockets in the media world. The other option would be for Philip Anschutz, the owner of the Washington Examiner, to buy the Times and fold it into his operation.

As a property of either News Corp or Mr. Anschutz’s Clarity Media, the Times would actually have better long-term prospects than the Post. The WaPo can’t survive forever on its Kaplan revenues.

[abb]

Whoever buys it must figure out how to increase advertising, bottom line.