How things have changed at the Chicago Tribune since the Tribune Company went into bankruptcy and the new CEO Randy Michaels took over the chain.
According to Blogs.Vocalo.org, top executives of the new Tribune Co., led, Michaels, turned what had been a shrine to the legendary publisher – Col. Robert R. McCormick- into a gambling, drinking and smoking party. The blog item was discovered by my friend and fellow Watchdog, Dave Lieber, head of Watchdog Nation, who sent it to me.
“We are in the office of the guy who ran the company from the 1920s to 1955 — it’s normally a shrine,” wrote John D. Phillips, the Tribune Tower building manager who posted the photos on Facebook, according to the blog by Robert Feder. “We pretty much desecrated it with gambling, booze and cigars. Good thing we know the guy who runs the building!”
The photos no longer appear on Facebook.
When I was the business editor at The Courant I had the honor to view the office, including the special doorway the Colonel had built as an emergency escape route in case an angry official or goon was after him.
I was told that when the Tribune purchased the Times-Mirror, the the TM publishers met the new owners in that room. One of the publishers, whom I won’t name, told me he was given a public spanking for sitting on the Colonel’s marble desk.
Not any more. What else will these folks do? Check out the photos here.
“While continuing to operate under bankruptcy protection, Tribune Co. disclosed plans last week for a third round of executive bonuses, bringing the total to more than $72 million.”
America.For the Corporations. By the Corporations.