Inside these posts: Chicago Tribune Media Group

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Chicago Magazine hires Reader’s Whet Moser

Chicago Magazine has hired the Chicago Reader’s Whet Moser as associate digital editor for its chicagomag.com Web site. Chicago Magazine is part of Tribune Co.’s Chicago Tribune Media Group.

Don Meek to head reorganized Tribune Digital

Tribune Co. is renaming its Tribune Interactive division Tribune Digital, in a reorganization that places Don Meek, who had been chief revenue officer for the company’s publishing and interactive operations, in charge as executive vice president.

Judge gives creditors right to sue Zell, others

A bankruptcy judge on Friday granted Tribune Co.’s  official committee of unsecured creditors authority to make the opening moves in long-threatened litigation over the 2007 leveraged buyout blamed for the media company’s tumble into Chapter 11.

Judge Kevin Carey said he would sign off on an order acknowledging the official committee is the proper body to bring claims against lenders, executives and other leaders of the embattled media company, as well as advisers who reaped millions in fees from the LBO. Get the full story »

Tribune Co. exec apologizes for ‘offensive’ memo

Days after Tribune Co.’s corporate management was characterized in a newspaper article as fostering a sexist “frat house” atmosphere, one of its top executives sent a company-wide e-mail with links to off-color satirical videos.

Among the videos was one the executive, Lee Abrams, labeled “Sluts” in which a gyrating woman appeared to pour liquor on her bare breasts.

Abrams, chief innovation officer of Tribune Co., which owns the Chicago Tribune, apologized “to everyone who was offended” in another company-wide e-mail Tuesday. Get the full story »

Tribune Co. names Liebentritt chief restructuring officer

Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co. today named Donald Liebentritt chief restructuring officer, effective immediately. The company promoted David Eldersveld to be his successor as general counsel.

Tribune Co. delays filing amendments to bankruptcy plan

Tribune Co. delayed filing anticipated amendments to its bankruptcy restructuring plan Friday, citing ongoing negotiations with creditors.

A week ago, in the wake of collapsed talks toward a new settlement in the case, Tribune Co. lawyers told a Delaware bankruptcy judge that the company would file plan amendments by Friday and provide suggestions for new schedule for voting and confirmation hearings on the revised plan. Get the full story »

Will Eisner be Tribune Co.’s next chairman?

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner on July 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

By Dawn C. Chmielewski, Michael Oneal and Sallie Hofmeister

Former Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner is in discussions that could lead to his return to the media spotlight — as chairman of the now-bankrupt Tribune Co.

The Chicago-based media company’s largest creditors are having preliminary conversations with prospective candidates who could operate Tribune Co. once it emerges from bankruptcy, according to several people with knowledge of the situation.

Eisner, who has been dabbling in the digital world as an investor since stepping down from Disney in 2005, is among the candidates under consideration to replace Chicago real estate magnate Sam Zell as chairman of the reorganized company. Get the full story »

Tribune Co. asks for golden parachutes for top execs

Tribune Co. proposed paying its top 43 executives a severance package of cash and benefits if they are asked by a new board to leave the company after the Chicago-based media conglomerate emerges from bankruptcy.

The company didn’t put a price tag on the package, but said it amounts to 2.5 times salary and bonus for Chief Executive Randy Michaels, and 2.25 times salary and bonus for Chief Operating Officer Gerry Spector. Both would be entitled to 24 months of the company’s group health benefits.

Nine other top executives, including Tony Hunter, the publisher of the Chicago Tribune, and Eddy Hartenstein, publisher of the Los Angeles Times, would get 1.75 times salary and bonus plus 24 months of benefits. A list of 32 others would get 1.5 times salary and 18 months of benefits.

Tribune Co. filed the plan late Thursday as part of a supplement to its plan of reorganization.
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Tribune judge allows some access to report

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Carey signed an order providing certain key parties access to the full examiner’s report in the Tribune Co. bankruptcy case so they can evaluate its momentous conclusions before an Aug. 6 voting deadline.

He also indicated he might move the deadline out by a few days, but said he was determined not to disrupt the schedule for confirmation hearings on the Tribune Co. plan which are slated to begin Aug. 30.

Carey stopped short of ordering full public disclosure of the report. But he indicated he would prefer to make it public if parties in the case can resolve a series of confidentiality disputes raised by several big lenders to Tribune Co.’s ill-fated 2007 leveraged buyout, which was led by Chicago real estate magnate Sam Zell. Get the full story »

Chicago Tribune Media Group promotes two execs

The Chicago Tribune Media Group, the Tribune Co. division that includes the Chicago Tribune, on Wednesday announced the promotion of newsroom executives Joycelyn Winnecke and Jane Hirt.

Chicago Tribune Editor Gerould Kern, a senior vice president, said in a memo to staff that Associate Editor Winnecke and Managing Editor Hirt each are adding the title of vice president after 22 months in their current posts in recognition of “their exceptional accomplishments and growing responsibility for the company.” Get the full story »