Chicago Sun-Times Page One Editor, James Smith, is interviewed for more than five minutes on Oprah’s show to talk about the series of historic front pages the paper has published as Barack Obama ascended to the presidency and the White House.
Editor-in-chief Michael CookeDinner at Eight full movie reports in a message to me that he was in the audience while James took the questions. I don’t know about you but I would never imagine Oprah ever giving a five minute interview with a newspaper designer and also wouldn’t think a top editor could ever exhibit that much class by NOT taking the stage.
To give the spotlight to the designer for this occasion is really rare and gallant.
From a former Sun-Times colleague comes news of the buyout happening today at the paper:
Howard Wolinsky:
I formally notified the Sun-Times this afternoon that I intend to take a buyout.
We are facing a 20 percent staff cut. But the company offered people 55 and above one year’s salary plus health coverage for up to five years.
It was an attractive offer.
Besides, I could save someone else’s job.
My boss, Dan Miller, who has resigned as well, told me not to be altruistic. I won’t be. Still, someone else, and I do know who it is, is breathing easier today, at least for the short run.
I will miss my Sun-Times colleagues and wish them and the paper well.
After nearly 27 years on the job, and more than 4,000 bylines, it was way past time for a change.
I am excited and optimistic about the next step in my life.
I have a mix of opportunities. Of course, I don’t know if they will all come to be.
So I am looking for more ideas and leads so I would appreciate hearing from you.
One of our designers made a button that I proudly wore this afternoon:
“Be nice to me…I took the buyout.”
Howard
Update: A source tells me that today was the deadline for overage-55 workers to accept the buyout. As of 4:30 Chicago time only eight of the 27 took it.
Robb Montgomery works with top media houses in Europe, North America and the Middle East to develop new prototypes for news products and to design multimedia and cross platform newsrooms.
He also produces training that grows visual and digital literacy within organizations.
