McClatchy, Tribune, Buffett, and the need to think outside the box

On Thursday, McClatchy—the publicly-traded owner of 30 local newspapers, including the Miami Herald, the Charlotte Observer, and the Kansas City Star—filed for bankruptcy. The company will continue to operate, but is seeking relief from debt and pension obligations; if that goes to plan, it’ll pass into the control of Chatham Asset Management, a hedge fund which is already McClatchy’s top creditor, and which also owns the Canadian publishing giant Postmedia and the parent company of the National Enquirer. On Friday, McClatchy’s DC bureau reported that a federal pensions agency has concerns about a 2018 transaction between McClatchy and Chatham that could put the brakes on the bankruptcy process. Still, McClatchy—which has been family-controlled since the aftermath of the California Gold Rush—looks likely to end up in the hands of the 21st-century prospectors who increasingly own the local-news business. Local-news-watchers have traced McClatchy’s present plight to its decision, in 2006, to buy Knight Ridder, then America’s second-biggest newspaper company, in a deal worth $4.5 billion. (Yes, with a “b.”) The deal burdened McClatchy with debt, and since it was struck, ad revenue and print-circulation figures have cratered. A recent hike in digital subscriptions has offered some respite; still, between the Knight Ridder acquisition and the middle of last year, McClatchy cut nearly 60 percent of its operating expenses and more than 80 percent of its full-time staff,... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2020-02-17 13:11:10 UTC ]
News tagged with: #big publisher #canadian publishing

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Books to Film: Josh Malerman’s ‘Bird Box’ on Netflix

Michigan-based author Josh Malerman's debut novel 'Bird Box' is a Christmas release from Netflix in its Universal Pictures production directed by Denmark's Susanne Bier and starring Sandra Bullock. The post Books to Film: Josh Malerman’s ‘Bird Box’ on Netflix appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-12-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bird box #josh malerman #post books #netflix appeared


'Fantastic Beasts' enchants the box office with $62-million opening

Warner Bros.' "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" met expectations in winning the box office this weekend, opening in first place with $62.2 million, according to figures from measurement firm Comscore. The "Harry Potter" prequel, a follow-up to 2016's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter #warner bros #box office #fantastic beasts


How McClatchy plans to pursue national advertisers’ digital budgets

The 161-year-old newspaper publisher has hired its first-ever national ad sales vp in a bid to boost digital ad revenue. The post How McClatchy plans to pursue national advertisers’ digital budgets appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital budgets


Daily News publisher changing name back to Tribune

Over two years after a much-ridiculed branding change, Tronc, owner of the New York Daily News and other publications, is changing its name back to Tribune Publishing on Oct. 9. [] "> To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2018-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tribune publishing


Hamilcar Publications, New Boxing Book Imprint, Launches This Fall

Hannibal Boxing, a Boston-based, boxing-focused media company founded by book business veteran Kyle Sarofeen and partner Andy Komack, will launch a boxing book imprint this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Amazon ‘Prime Book Boxes’ for Children; National Book Festival September 1

Having tested the program on an invitational basis for three months, Amazon rolls out its children's book boxes offer to the US Prime membership. And the Library of Congress holds its annual National Book Festival this weekend. The post Industry Notes: Amazon ‘Prime Book Boxes’ for Children;... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prime membership #amazon rolls


Subscription box for self-help books launches

Donna Louise Hay, the founder of the GozenGirls book club for self-development titles, has branched out by creating a subscription box. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books launches


Little Box Books: the subscription service for diverse kids titles

A new subscription service for diverse and inclusive children’s books has launched in the UK. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inclusive children #subscription service


Films based on books take 44% more at the box office

Films based on books take 44% more at the box office in the UK and 53% more worldwide than original screenplays, research from the Publishers Association (PA) has shown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #original screenplays #box office #films based


News & Notes: SELF Links up With The Players Tribune; IMAG Award Winners Revealed

F+W sells off a magazine and a pair of trade shows, and more from around the industry this week. The post News & Notes: SELF Links up With The Players Tribune; IMAG Award Winners Revealed appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #trade shows #news notes


Industry Notes: Amazon Prime Boxes Books for Children, Unicorn Acquires Ronquillo’s ‘Spellbound’

In subscriptions, Amazon's Prime program announces a "Book Box" invitational offer in the United States, as the UK's Unicorn art-book publisher names New Mexico's Fatima Ronquillo to its retrospective club. The post Industry Notes: Amazon Prime Boxes Books for Children, Unicorn Acquires... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book box


Kobo and Serial Box to release royal wedding-inspired series

Kobo is teaming up with app company Serial Box on a six-part series to celebrate the royal wedding. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #royal wedding #six-part series #serial box


Serial Box Has New Funding for Audio Bundling With Reading, as a ‘Publishing Studio’

Tapping into the robust audiobook market, Molly Barton announces a key new investor: Boat Rocker Media can leverage Serial Box's content for television and film production. The post Serial Box Has New Funding for Audio Bundling With Reading, as a ‘Publishing Studio’ appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #film production #serial box


Serial Box Snags $1.65M in Funding

Serial Box, a venture that serializes weekly original genre fiction in prose and audiobook formats, raised $1.65M in seed investment funding. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #raised $1 #audiobook formats #serial box


The Unusual Life of Andy Kaufman: PW Talks with Box Brown

In his new graphic biography, 'Is This Guy for Real? The Unbelievable Andy Kaufman,' cartoonist Box Brown documents the life of the eccentric comedian, actor and professional wrestling performer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graphic biography #box brown


Former Lion Hudson staff win payout after tribunal

The 37 staff who were made redundant by Lion Hudson PLC in January have been awarded a payout after the company failed to properly consult with them before they were dismissed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #company failed


Star Tribune Launches Quarterly Print Magazine

The Minneapolis magazine can be found as both a newspaper insert and on newsstands. The post Star Tribune Launches Quarterly Print Magazine appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2017-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fate of the Furious breaks Star Wars box office record with $700 million opening

Star Wars, Harry Potter or indeed the almost century-old comic book legends Batman and Superman may have sprung from a rich creative well, but in a stunning twist all of them have been banished to the box office naughty step. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2017-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter #star wars


'Beauty's' in beast mode as it bests 'Power Rangers' at the box office

In the battle of 1990s nostalgia, Lionsgate and Saban Entertainment’s mighty morphin’ “Power Rangers” was no match for Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” The live action remake starring “Harry Potter’s” Emma Watson pulled in an estimated $88 million in the U.S and Canada in its second week, meeting... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #box office #beast mode


Ladybird Book of Boxing Day coming for Christmas

Penguin Random House is to release the 20th title in the Ladybird Books for Grown Ups series: The Ladybird Book of Boxing Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #boxing day #ladybird books #ladybird book