The Peoria Pundit is reporting that Newspaper Guild employees at the Journal Star are going to start an aggressive campaign “to ensure the paper is sold to a responsible buyer.” The campaign is set to kick off on January 1, 2007, with a full-page ad and website.
According to their website, the mission statement of the Newspaper Guild is to (emphasis mine):
Advance the economic interests and to improve the working conditions of its members;
Guarantee, as far as it is able, equal employment and advancement opportunity in the newspaper industry and constant honesty in news, editorials, advertising, and business practices;
Raise the standards of journalism and ethics of the industry;
Foster friendly cooperation with all other workers;
Promote industrial unionism in the jurisdiction of the Guild.
I have a feeling the driving factor behind the push for a “responsible owner” is concern that rumored buyer Dave Ransburg would compromise the bolded principle above. One wonders what kind of retribution will be meted out if their efforts are unsuccessful and Ransburg is able to gain control of the city’s only newspaper.
If, heaven forbid, we do end up with a Ransburg-run Journal Star, could that action be the impetus for a large group of disaffected PJS employees to start a rival daily newspaper, making Peoria a two-newspaper town again? Or will the status of newsie blogs be elevated — in Peoria at least — as indispensable independent news sources?
Keep your eye on this site, still under construction as of this writing, for more details after the first of the year: www.savethejournalstar.com.
If it does turn out that Ransburg does buy the Journal Star, I will be cancelling my subscription.
“as indispensable independent news sources”
You mean opinoins….not news.
Word is coming out of the PJS that senior reporters have already been offered contract buy-outs, and that they will be replaced by less senior new hires. The knowledge and experience of the senior reporters cannot easily be replaced and they will be missed.
It would be wonderful to see someone with resources, energy, broad-based experience, objectivity, and enthusiasim for the future of Peoria purchase the PJS. Is it inappropriate to suggest that Alexis Khazzam be approached to purchase, or join in the purchase of, the Journal Star?
Back during the 80’s and 90’s when the world of banking was constantly changing in the Greater Peoria area corporate bank names were often “written on chalkboards” on the front of the buildings and branches instead of fancy signage since ownership change came rapidly. Repeatedly the PJS would interview the local honcho of each institution and report “no changes will be made to staff.” What a joke! During that time many bank employees at all levels lost their jobs.
I am reminded of a detailed cartoon I once saw depicting a medival castle under heavy seige by fierce warriors while the persons inside defended the castle walls by dropping rocks, pouring hot burning oil etc. The caption on the cartoon merely read “Just another friendly takeover”. I think the personnel inside 1 News Plaza’s brick walls learned from the banking community that it will not be life as they once knew it and they want to fight. Isn’t it funny though – many of the senior personnel (pronounce that “those making the big bucks”) have been bought out thus further feathering their nests, but also weakening the chance for the want-a-be survivors. In the meantime these survivors are quietly boiling the oil and carrying the rocks up to the top of the walls. Sabre rattling is one thing, but the hopeful survivors have to remember not to burn their bridges because Copley has already turned their back on Peoria and they are looking for the highest bidder and they should not kid themselves that they are not! After all, to Copley it’s “Just another friendly takeover”! ^oo^~
Maybe a new owner (even Ransburg) wouldn’t be so bad. I know a lot of people that refuse to get subscriptions because of the terrible reporting and editorial content as it is. A good house-cleaning is in order. Speaking of ethics, look at the pop-up ads that the on-line PJS tries to force upon people now. Good thing I use Firefox and block them all.
“making Peoria a two-newspaper town again?”
Much as it pains me to say it, I doubt Peoria can support two daily newspapers anymore.
I’d subscribe to both, but I’d be one of the few.
This blog is already an indispensable independent news source. Let’s hope Ransburg does not take over the Star, as it would probably herald his political “comeback” but there is no doubt that “newspaper” needs a thorough housecleaning. “Honesty” in that statement must have been a misprint.
Aren’t we already a two newspaper town? There is that other paper serving ‘north peoria’…
“Aren’t we already a two newspaper town? There is that other paper serving ‘north peoria’… ”
Isn’t that a weekly?
Thank god for the internet as a news source. Ransburger in charge? If we can get LaHood to buy the weekly paper from ‘north Peoria,’ we will be sitting sweet.
Are you guys talking about the Peoria Times Observer? That’s a weekly. And you can get it delivered anywhere in Peoria. They just deliver it for free in “north” Peoria to boost their circulation so they can get higher ad rates; at least, that’s how it’s been explained to me by residents there who have tried to get them to stop throwing it in their driveway.