UNIVISION, LARGEST SPANISH PROVIDER, SHUNS DEBATES FOR NOVELLA

Don't expect to find the most important news story this year on Ch 23 - Univision. But you can see fake kisses, unrealistic drama with models with alot of Lipstick!

"What is it?!? Spanish language viewers don't care? OR Univision takes them for granted!?!

Millions of American viewers of every walk of life, color, background AND LANGUAGE watched tonight the first Presidential McCain-Obama debate. But you wouldn't know it if you watched Univision. No Señor! Univision tonight is "serving" their viewers and public interest well.... by showing a novela. Yes, you heard it right, a NOVELA!! "

Read column:
http://www.nuzgeeks.com/forum/topic/show?id=1543079%3ATopic%3A4146

BELO RIFS/SLASHES 270 DALLAS MORNING NEWS/AL DIA JOBS

For 270 The Dallas Morning News employees there is a new 3 letter bad word - R I F.

A. H. Belo Corporation emailed employees a letter saying the voluntary severance offer (VSO) extended to the Company's newspaper employees in July has been completed and 413 employees will leave the company - 270 at The Dallas Morning News.

In addition, BELO said an involuntary Reduction In Force (RIF) will be completed by mid-to-late October to achieve the necessary remaining workforce reductions. That means lay offs for many.

The RIF is limited to the news, production, customer retention call center, and Al Dia departments at The Dallas Morning News;

The combined workforce reductions are expected to result in a savings of more than $29 million on an annualized basis - blah blah blah " said Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer.

"These job actions are part of a restructuring of our newspaper operations that accelerates the allocation of resources to promising new print and online products while focusing our workforce on A. H. Belo's local content creation and sales capabilities. We greatly appreciate the dedication and service of all A. H. Belo employees who are leaving the Company under the voluntary severance program. I'm confident that we're taking the right steps to realign our resources to meet consumer and advertiser needs while maintaining the exceptional quality of A. H. Belo's journalistic products," he said in letter to all BELO employees.

Sedeño leaves S-T, named editor of Texas Catholic

Media Matters blogger Veronica Villafañe posts a career change for David Sedeño, former publisher of La Estrella.

From Media Matters blog

Sedeño leaves S-T, named editor of Texas Catholic

David Sedeño, publisher of Spanish-language La Estrella until the Fort Worth Star-Telegram folded the publication back in April, moves on to become the new editor of the semi-monthly Texas Catholic and the monthly El Católico de Texas. Both papers are published by the Diocese of Dallas.

David has been on the S-T editorial board and doing editorial writing full-time since April. He started with the paper in 2004, when it was Knight-Ridder publication. Before that, he worked 9 years at the Dallas Morning News.

"The opportunity came to me. I didn't seek it," David told me. "This is an opportunity to lead a public I believe in, with growth potential." How does he feel about leading a religious publication? "I was born and raised Catholic. Faith is important to my family. I want to give back to my community."

David admits the past 18 months have been rocky and at times unpleasant: "I had to let go more than a dozen people." Despite that fact, he says a "safer job" was not a consideration in accepting the editor position at the Texas Catholic. "I really believe the future is in niche products. I think that's where the growth is... and in superniche publications, you're getting to the core of what people truly desire and need."

David leaves the S-T at the end of August. He's due to start on the new job September 1.

BLUE MONDAY AT THE DMN - 14% OF JOBS TO BE CUT

The Monday morning after Unity, The Dallas Morning News reporters awoke to find an email in their inbox announcing 14% job cuts - around 500 people throughout the BELO owned papers.

The company will make voluntary severance offers this week to employees at its four daily newspapers, including The Dallas Morning News, with the goal of completing the process by mid-September.

“We believe that the resultant, smaller workforce – focused intensely on products that take full advantage of A. H. Belo’s local capabilities in content creation and sales – is best suited for the business opportunities that will define our future success,” Robert Decherd, BELO CEO said.

“We have to be prepared for a wide range of possibilities driven by changes in the competitive structure of the industry, new technologies and rapidly-evolving media usage habits,” Mr. Decherd told shareholders.

GLORIA CAMPOS TO CO-CHAIR 2008 KATIE AWARDS

Network Hall of Fame recipient and WFAA Anchor Gloria Campos will help co-chair the 2008 Katie Awards. Along with Cheryl Hall, business columnist at The Dallas Morning News, they will work to organize and present the 50th Katie Awards competition.

As a board members of the Foundation, she said this endeavor is a "personal crusade," for her. "We staunchly believe in both missions of the Katies: to help college students pay for degrees in media-related fields and to honor the best work by those already in the media," Campos said. "We intend to restore the Katie Awards contest to its past glory. The key to success will be transparency and judges of the highest qualifications."

The annual presentation banquet will be held in conjunction with the 45th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the venue will be the Sixth Floor Museum, in downtown Dallas on Nov. 15.

Key Dates

* Entries must be submitted by Friday, August 22, 2008
* Finalists will be announced about October 1, 2008
* Banquet will be held on November, 15, 2008.

Additional details can be found at www.PressClubDallas.com or www.KatieAwards.com.

UNITY 2008 UNDERWAY - ATTENDANCE LOW

Blame it on the economy, the recent layoffs or just the high cost of going to the Windy City, Unity 2008 attendance is lower than previous year, according to the UNITY Convention newspaper.

Registration and revenue numbers are down compared to their last convention in 2004.
The paper reported today that registration and revenue numbers are down compared to last year. They estimate that about 6,000 participants will be in Chicago, down from 8,100 in DC in 2004. Revenue this year is estimated to be $4 million, down from $4.5 in 2004. UNITY President Karen Lincoln-Michel said that and increase in sponsorship is helping with costs.

The paper also reported that the much-publicized forum between Presidential Candidates John McCain and Barack Obama has been canceled due to scheduling changes. Obama is planning to speak on Sunday at 11 a.m. and CNN will broadcast the speech live.

OBAMA to Speak at UNITY 2008

Stop the presses! Obama will be return from his trip in the mid-east to speak at Unity 2008, according to NAHJ. No word yet on McCain.




"Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama will appear in front of thousands of journalists next week at the UNITY: Journalists of Color quadrennial convention in Chicago.



Sen. Obama, the apparent Democratic presidential nominee, will appear on stage Sunday morning, July 27th. This will likely be his first national appearance after returning from his international trip to Europe and the Middle East. Sen. Obama has accepted the invitation that UNITY also extended to Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.



“We are pleased that our UNITY colleagues will have the chance to hear from Sen. Obama and be among the first to question him upon his return from his overseas trip," said Karen Lincoln Michel, UNITY president. “We hope that in this historic campaign, Sen. McCain, whose presence is equally important, will also address our audience – the kind of audience that reflects the growing diversity in America.”



The event was originally planned for Thursday, July 24, but had to change because of scheduling conflicts from the campaigns.



UNITY – an alliance representing the nearly 10,000 members of the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Native American Journalists Association – will host a dynamic lineup of events, speakers, workshops and discussions focusing on issues and changes happening in the media industry nationwide and globally.



The event will be broadcast live on CNN, and may be repeated throughout the weekend, and will involve journalists of color from both CNN, partner TIME Magazine and the four alliance associations.



“We are honored to have Senator Obama join us at UNITY, especially considering his international schedule,” said Bryan Monroe, UNITY convention chair and vice president and editorial director, Ebony and Jet magazines in Chicago. “It reaffirms the importance and respect of journalists of color in this year’s election process.”



Unity has also been working with Sen. McCain’s campaign, but has yet been unable to secure his commitment to the presidential forum.

“We have had other Republican and Democratic presidential candidates address our organizations – including President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry at UNITY in 2004 – and hope Sen. McCain will join Sen. Obama and choose to continue that tradition,” said Onica N. Makwakwa, UNITY executive director.


The fourth quadrennial convention, which is themed “A New Journalism for a Changing World,” is expected to draw thousands of journalists during the five-day event and Career Expo to be held July 23-27 at McCormick Place West.

Obama & McCain to Skip Unity 2008

Looks like there will not be a Unity 2008 appearance by the presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain at next week's Unity '08 convention of minority journalists. The conference moved its planned "presidential candidates forum" to prime time Thursday so CNN could air it, but that also destroyed the scheduled of the candidates. Obama will be in Europe next Thursday, and McCain will be attending a long-scheduled "Town Hall on Cancer" sponsored by Lance Armstrong's foundation.

Derek Castillo Details Why He is Leaving

KXAS NBC 5 Sports Anchor and long-time Network member Derek Castillo will be leaving KXAS NBC5 at the end of the month. Earlier this year he spoke with blogger "Uncle Barky" on his departure plans.

By ED BARK
Sports anchor/reporter Derek Castillo leaving NBC5's playing field

NBC5's sports department at least temporarily could shrink to Newy Scruggs alone after Derek Castillo's scheduled departure at the end of July.

"I just couldn't do another contract working the weekends," Castillo said in a telephone interview Thursday. "I owe it to my wife and (eight-year-old) son now to be there more for them. Having a child really changes things."

Castillo joined NBC5 in July 2001 from WCAU-TV in Philadelphia. He became best known in D-FW for his live "Big Game Friday Night" reports from various area high school football fields. In 2005, he won a Lone Star Emmy award as the market's top sports anchor despite working the less prominent weekend shift.



Castillo said he's leaving NBC5 on good terms and hopes to remain in broadcasting because "my heart's still in this business." He grew up in Austin and graduated from the University of Texas in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

"Ideally we'd like to get back there," he said. "It's pretty ballsy, because I don't have anything else going on right now."

Cost-cutting and downsizing are ever-present facts of life in both broadcast and print journalism. Castillo said he has no idea whether NBC5 will replace him with another full-time sports staffer, a freelancer or no one at all.

"I would hope they would hire someone," he said. "But who really knows nowadays?"

Castillo joined NBC5 after John Rhadigan moved to Fox Sports Southwest, where he remains a prominent anchor. Note to FSS: Castillo also would fit you like a glove.

NETWORK FOUNDER TO BE INDUCTED INTO NAHJ HALL OF FAME

Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, Journalism Professor and one of the founders of the DFW Network of Hispanic Communicators will be Inducted in to the NAHJ Hall of Fame during UNITY ’08 - the nation’s industry’s largest gathering of journalists.in Chicago.

University of Texas at Austin Professor Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, Ph.D., and two other journalists, will be inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame Gala at 7 p.m., Friday, July 25th in the Chicago Ballroom of the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, 301 East North Water Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Created in 2000, NAHJ’s Hall of Fame is reserved for journalists and industry pioneers whose national or local efforts have resulted in a greater number of Latinos entering the journalism profession or have helped to improve news coverage of the nation’s Latino community.

“Our Hall of Fame Gala is one of NAHJ’s greatest traditions when we pause to celebrate the giants of our industry,” said Iván Román, NAHJ’s Executive Director. “Because of Juan and Maggie’s foresight and their activism, NAHJ is a leader in many ways - from creating innovative programs that serve as models for the entire industry to speaking out on Capitol Hill on legislation that impacts minority media owners. Fewer people know the story of Francisco P. Ramírez, but once you hear it, you will be inspired.’’


With the induction of Rivas-Rodriguez, there are now 22 NAHJ Hall of Famers. Past honorees include such pioneering journalists as Rubén Salazar, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the news director of KMEX who was killed in East Los Angeles, and Ignacio E. Lozano, Sr., who founded La Opinión, the nation’s largest Spanish-language daily newspaper.

Rivas-Rodriguez, Ph.D. is an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin and founder and director of the U.S. Latino & Latina WWII Oral History Project. Rivas-Rodriguez gained national prominence after leading protests in 2007 against the PBS documentary about World War II. The film, which originally had excluded the stories of Hispanic veterans, was eventually modified. Her efforts helped force PBS and other media outlets to pay greater attention to contributions of Hispanic veterans.

A former journalist who worked for major newspapers and a Dallas TV station, Rivas-Rodriguez developed the model for a student-produced convention newspaper in 1988 now used by several professional journalism organizations to give students a taste of “real time” journalism. A founding member of NAHJ, Rivas Rodriguez is the recipient of numerous awards including NAHJ’s 2007 Leadership Award. She also received the Rubén Salazar Award for Communications from the National Council of La Raza in 2007.

Hispanic Media Getting Cold Shoulder from GOP & Dems

According to Politico, "members of the Spanish-language media had been blogging, writing and outright complaining that the presidential campaigns have not been paying attention to them."

The Hispanic media’s irritation with the candidates has been building for some time. Last month, a columnist for La Opinion, a major Spanish-language newspaper, complained about being dissed.

“Usually, to do the job, reporters need a constant and accessible contact person in the campaign,” wrote columnist Pilar Marrero. “In Obama’s case, this has been virtually impossible: There is not — nor has there ever been — regular communication with the Hispanic press. One wonders what might happen in the general election campaign, and then in an eventual Democratic presidency, if indeed they win in November.”

Read more.

AL DIA PAPER TO DELIVER ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS - INCREASE CIRCULATION

The Spanish-language edition of the The Dallas Morning News, Al Dia, will grow and expand circulation to Wednesdays and Saturdays by late July.

The increase will double the circulation from 40,000 to close to 120,000 and will kick-start free home-delivery in selected coverage areas on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

"It's a great thing," said Alfredo Carbajal-Madrid, the paper's managing editor, who posted the announcement on the Al Dia web site. " The Hispanic population in North Texas continues to grow. We're responding to the appetite of this population for local news. At the same time, this is a perfect vehicle for advertisers to get to consumers."

The paper will increase coverage of local events and also push internet and online stories including multimedia packages.

MEDIA MOVES BLOGS ON GARY'S DEPARTURE

Media Moves, a journalism on "about Latinos in the media and the issues that affect the business," posted a story on Network member Gary Piña who among those let go at the Star-Telegram recently.


Piña among McClatchy casualties
Gary Piña, a news editor/page designer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, is among the hundreds of McClatchy employees laid off today. He has been with the Star-Telegram for over 20 years.

Gary is currently nearing the end of his second term on the NAHJ board. At the moment, he is the At-large-officer. He was a key player in the success of the 2005 NAHJ convention. He had recently expressed interest in running for president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Network of Hispanic Communicators.

Read more and also comments from NAHJ members here.

STAR-TELEGRAM LAYOFFS TO CONTINUE THIS WEEK

Sources say that another round of Star-Telegram employees will be getting packets this week and be forced to said goodbye to the paper. Will this be Blue Monday II? 

MACARENA HERNANDEZ TO LEAVE DMN - PURSUE JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

Friday afternoon the email landed on many DMN inboxes - Congratulations to Macarena Hernandez as she pursues a fantastic opportunity.  Macarena, who just wrapped up a successful (and highly controversial) series on immigration and students, will be leaving the Dallas Morning News in the next few months.  

Update:

In the fall of 2008 the International Reporting Project (IRP) will offer up to four IRP Fellowships to U.S. journalists, including Macarena, to carry out a project reporting from any country in the world outside of the United States. Macarena's fellowship will focus on Latin America and will begin September 1 in Washington, D.C. where IRP Fellows will spend two weeks at a program arranged. IRP Fellows depart September 13 for a five-week period of individual international reporting. All IRP Fellows will return to Washington for a final week October 19-25. Macarena's last day with the DMN will be August 27.

The IRP Fellowships aim to strengthen the U.S. public's understanding of key international topics by helping to educate U.S. journalists by providing them with access to leading international experts in the United States, and offering them opportunities to do reporting projects overseas.

The program brings U.S. journalists to Washington, D.C., at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of The Johns Hopkins University before traveling abroad. During the program, journalists have access to some of the world's leading specialists in international issues at SAIS and other institutions in the nation's capital.

CALIFORNIA/FLORIDA HOUSING COLLAPSE TO BLAME FOR STAR-TELEGRAM LAY OFFS

Blame it on California and Florida where the housing collapse and abundance of foreclosures are in an all time high, is what experts say the reason for McClatchy's major layoffs across the nation.


"1,400 McClatchy Co. employees targeted for layoffs can blame their job loss on the faltering newspaper economy in general, their company's specific concentration of papers in California and Florida where the housing collapse has been most acute -- and a forward-looking strategy once hailed as a way to avoid precisely this kind of pain," Editor and Publisher

Read the story here.

STAR-TELEGRAM STAFFERS SHOCKED

The dust hasn't even settled and the ink is not yet dry on those new pink slips, but insiders tell that many who got the axe today are grumbling two words - age discrimination. A large percentage of those cut are over 45.

"People know that the economy and lower ad sales are to blame but it just feels that many of those who go cut, are over 45 or have more than 15 years of service," said an anonymous staffer. "But we knew something was coming. Many HR staffers were called in Sunday morning for a emergency meeting. Word got around really fast."

Many of the 130 to be let go (almost 10% of the workforce) were notified this morning and afternoon. These included long timers in copy desk, editorial, sports, features, city desk, and classified/advertising. Some were given
buyout options and others, the golden pink slip and told about their severance package and last day.

Departing staffers will be paid up to six months’ salary, based on their seniority. Those with many years, got voluntary buyouts.

McClatchy, the owner who also announced cuts in other markets, says the job cuts will be made through a combination of voluntary departures, layoffs and attrition. McClatchy reports a 15% decline in advertising revenues in the first five months of the year. A hiring freeze was also imposed.

"Who is to blame,?" said one reporter. "Well all I can say is that despite the Fort Worth economy gas boom, the $4 gas and the massive foreclosures have finally caught up with us. We just wish it could have been more even across the ages. We put in 10-20-30 years and this is the Thank You we get!"

STAR TELEGRAM DROPS BLACK MONDAY BOMBSHELL

The sad news came this mid-morning with an email and letter to all employees:

To All Employees:

I am writing today to tell you that the Star-telegram is reducing its workforce by approximately 130 positions, or about 10% of the total.

This is a painful but necessary step. We're operating in a time of great change and challenge for our operations, for The McClatchy Company and for the newspaper industry overall.

When we announced our management restructuring 2 months ago, we did not have plans for further staff reductions. Since then our economic downturn has accelerated, reducing revenues dramatically. This requires the painful but necessary step of a more aggressive realignment of our staffing models.

As you know, we have already been transitioning to new ways of doing business. We're confident in our ability to navigate to a stable and prosperous future as an integrated media company serving as our community's most trusted supplier of news and advertising information.

Reductions will occur in most departments. Although many of these job eliminations will occur through involuntary layoffs, there also will be opportunities for employees to voluntarily elect a severance package where reductions are occurring in work groups of two or more employees. If enough employees do not take the voluntary option, then the work groups will be reduced according to least tenure. Employees affected by this reduction are being notified as quickly as possible and being provided with information about the severance program and their last day. They will be provided with a transition package that includes a severance pay allowance and benefits continuation. We also will provide outplacement services.

As a news company, we have often reported on such transitions in other industries. Now we face the painful reality of severing employment ties with valued friends and colleagues, many of whom have served the company well for many years. We are sorry to do so, and will do everything possible to make their transition as smooth as possible.

Other workforce reductions were also announced today throughout McClatchy. A press release detailing those actions – amounting to about 1400 jobs, or 10% of the company's workforce – is available at http://www.mcclatchy.com. As CEO Gary Pruitt says there, "McClatchy is committed to remaining a healthy, profitable company positioned not only to meet current challenges, but to take full advantage of opportunities for growth as we restructure to support our mission of delivering high quality news and information."

The Star-Telegram is making other changes in its business model and operations, as well. We have implemented our first home delivery price increase in 3 years, have plans to convert NIE papers to an electronic edition, and we're in the middle of a process that leads to selling some adjacent property. On the product side, we have plans to combine or merge some sections. Details on these changes will be announced later.

This will also be a difficult and disorienting time for those of us who remain on the job. Your continued effort and dedication are the foundation of our faith in the future, and we know from experience what a talented and productive group you are. The public service mission that has always animated us remains unchanged, but we will need to make many other changes as we adapt to today's far more competitive media landscape. We will be working diligently alongside you to ensure that we do so.

If you have any questions about the transition program or the voluntary transition option, please contact human resources. If you have any questions about departmental or structural changes, please contact your department manager. Thank you again for your continued service and cooperation.

Gary Wortel President & Publisher Star-Telegram

---------------------------------

Of those cut include:


Phyllis Stone
Tara Ransom
Alex Russ
Angie Somers
Carolyn Poirot
Rhonda McKinney
Kathie Hinnen
Joy Donovan
Bob Hood
John Sturbin
Todd Camp
Alan Cochrum
Gary Hardee
Jim Peipert
Mary Rogers
Judy Wiley
Richard Stubbe
Jill Johnson
Gary Pina - and four copy editors (from all three copy desks combined)
three librarians

more names coming - only 21 names today out of 130. Some tough weeks coming for Star-Telegram staffers.

Scholarship available for students to attend Nonfiction Conference

Ten students will receive scholarships to attend the 4th Annual Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writers Conference of the Southwest, presented by the University of North Texas Mayborn Graduate School of Journalism. The conference is offering The Dallas Morning News scholarships to five high school or college minority students. Five general scholarships open to all high school or college students will also be awarded. The application deadline is June 13.  

The conference will be July 18-20 (Friday-Sunday) at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, 1800 Highway 26 East, in Grapevine, Texas (five minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport). Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday is the keynote speaker and will be joined by National Book Award winner Bob Shacochis and “River of Doubt” author Candice Millard, among others.

Azteca TV 26 finally comes to some DFW Satellite subscribers

Direct TV owners can finally watch Azteca TV like their Time Warner/Charter Cable friends. DIRECTV, Inc. has added KODF-26, Azteca America, to the Dallas-Ft. Worth local broadcast channel lineup. No such luck for DishTV, Verizon Fios nor AT&T U-Verse fiber optic owners.

Azteca America’s Spanish-language includes worldwide soccer highlight coverage, newscasts from Mexico, highly popular novelas and professional Mexican League Soccer matches.

REBECCA AGUILAR SPEAKS ON KRLD TALK SHOW

Former Fox 4 Reporter Rebecca Aguilar was a guest on KRLD 1080's Ernie and Jay midday show to discuss the circumstances surrounding her dismissal from Fox 4. During the show, she disclosed details that she says led Fox 4 discriminately fired her. During the show, several callers voiced their support for Aguilar, who at the moment has not received any job offers. Listen to the audio/podcast here.

REBECCA AGUILAR FILES FEDERAL DISCRIMINATION CHARGE AT KDFW FOX 4

I guess you could see this coming for miles, especially after the "extended" long suspension that KDFW FOX 4 place on Rebecca Aguilar over a reporting incident last fall.

Rebecca Aguilar claims that she was fired from Channel 4 Fox KDFW-TV in March 2008 based on discrimination and her attorney says his investigation has revealed that Aguilar did nothing wrong in October 2007 when KDFW management suspended her over an alleged controversial interview.

The suspension came just two weeks after Aguilar, a 26 year news journalist veteran, was awarded Broadcast Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

This week Aguilar filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, better known as the “EEOC.” The attorney says Aguilar conducted more than 6,000 interviews in fourteen years at the owned and operated Fox station, but news management retaliated against her for advocating change inside the newsroom.

"I'm confident the EEOC will uncover what our investigation has unveiled. Fox 4 wanted my client to advocate change in the community through her reports, but to keep silent in improving working conditions in the newsroom," says Steve Kardell, her attorney.

Background on Aguilar:
-Recognized with more than 47 Broadcast Awards and Nominations
-Multiple Emmy Award Winner
-2007 Broadcast Journalist of the Year from NAHJ
-2005 Texas A.P. Broadcast Journalist of the Year
-2003 News Corp (Fox) Global Employee of Year

"La Estrella" to be renamed "La Estrella en Casa" in May

Editor and Publisher published a story on the changes coming to La Estrella.

"'Ft. Worth Star-Telegram' Merging Hispanic Papers Into One Home-Delivered Pub 



Betting that the key to the success of a Spanish-language paper is targeted home delivery, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram is merging its two Spanish-language newspapers into one publication dropped on doorsteps.

"I think as much as think as much as we focus on content -- and content is king -- we lose focus on distribution, and here in this case distribution is the prince," Star-Telegram Publisher Gary Wortel said in a telephone interview Thursday.

The Star-Telegram publishes two free Spanish-language papers during the week. 

La Estrella is a traditional newspaper with hard news and sports coverage of Dallas-Fort Worth and Mexico. The 14-year-old newspaper, which was briefly a five-day daily and returned to weekly publication last year, is distributed almost entirely through racks.

La Estrella En Casa is an entertainment-oriented, eight-page publication that is delivered on weekends to 100,000 households in Hispanic neighborhoods of Dallas-Fort Worth. The paper was launched last May, and has been a big hit with advertisers, Wortel said.

"Advertisers love it because they know it's getting into the homes," he said.

Beginning May 2, the two will be merged into a single home-delivered paper that will be called La Estrella En Casa. It will be bigger in page count than the current weekend paper, and will include hard news and sports. 

La Estrella competes with Al Dia, a free-distribution, six-day Spanish-language newspaper published by The Dallas Morning News. Its circulation is largely through racks and store stacks, and averages about 33,000 during the week, and 53,000 on Saturdays, according to its media kit.

NAHJ Members Safe from Star-Telegram Cuts

The April storm came a bit early for Star-Telegram employees this morning. In their inbox was an email from the publisher breaking the myth that jobs at the StartleGram are safe.

Pink slips were given out to 8 newsroom employees and more in the advertising, circulation and marketing. As far as we know, no NAHJ members were part of the list, for now. However also announced were major cutbacks and budget freezes. The days of having the paper pay for ALL your NAHJ or Unity conference, room and hotel are gone.

In addition, OK Carter, long time Arlington columnist, announced his retirement from the Star-Telegram. No connection is being implied to the job cuts letter but it is a bit ironic.

The blame all points down to less newspaper circulation and higher prices for everything else. For those who had doubts that the recession would ever hit "where the West begins," today was proof that Fort Worthians are not immune. More updates to follow.

Actual Letter to employees:

Email to All Employees

April 17, 2008

Today, we are announcing the restructuring of management level positions in several areas of the newspaper. This is not an across-the-board layoff, but a restructuring that focuses primarily on consolidating work and streamlining various levels of management throughout the organization. As a result, 20 positions are impacted, although we are working with these individuals to identify other possible opportunities. This is approximately 1.5% of our employee population. The positions impacted are in the newsroom, marketing, operations, circulation and advertising.

We have met with each of the affected employees to discuss the changes being made. These employees have served us well and will be treated fairly. They will be eligible to apply for any other available positions for which they are qualified within the newspaper. If they do not apply for a comparable position, most affected employees will be leaving on April 25th and will be offered a transition plan that includes severance pay, extended medical coverage, and outplacement services.

This is not a review we have taken lightly. We know it’s a difficult message to hear and certainly creates anxiety. We will work with those affected to make this transition as smooth as possible. Please let your manager know if you have any questions.

Gary Wortel

President & Publisher

Star-Telegram

Long Time Member Jesus Chairez Moves to Mexico

It is official: Jesus Chairez, producer and host of USA's first and longest running bilingual GLBT Latino radio show "Sin Fronteras" on KNON 89.3 FM (12 years) and Si Soy Gay blogger and Charter member of DFW NETWORK OF HISPANIC COMMUNICATORS moves to Mexico City."I arrived in Mexico City on March 10, to bring things to my apartment and also filed for my paper work to live here and will be picking that up on April 8," said Chairez. "I then return to Dallas to pack some more and sell the rest and move to La Ciudad mas Linda en todo Mundo!"

He said he is loving it there and plans to continue writing from his apartment in Col. Roma.

Read more here. OR at his blog at
Si Soy Gay at: http://sisoyglbt.blog.com/

KTVT CBS 11 Axes Maria Arita, Several Other Reporters

Maria Arita, a veteran broadcaster, for KTVT CBS 11, along with several other reporters including investigative reporter Robert Riggs and Reporter Kaushal Patel were given the axe lately by CBS 11.

Arita arrived in Dallas in 2005 and was scheduled to finish up her contract in the summer with CBS 11. CBS affiliates across the nation also had deep cuts in their newsrooms including affiliates in Los Angeles, New York and elsewhere.

A member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Maria began her career as a host/reporter for "On the Beam" - a nationally syndicated show which helped pioneer black entertainment news. Maria has to her credit numerous awards including a National Latina Communicator's Award of Excellence. In her first year as an anchor/reporter (at CBS 11 News) Maria received a Lone Star Emmy and a Press Club of Dallas Katie Award (Best Newscast in Texas).

She has worked on everything from film to series television, industrials, voiceover work and hundreds of commercials. Maria would later make numerous appearances on "Walker: Texas Ranger," and play the role of one of the moms on "Wishbone."

KDFW FOX 4 GIVES REBECCA AGUILAR THE PINK SLIP

After months of waiting, Rebecca Aguilar, NAHJ broadcast journalist of the year, got an updated on the job status at Fox 4 News -- pack your bags. According to DFW News Blogger "Uncle Ed Barky" Fox 4 officially fired Rebecca wednesday.

"I just think it's really sad that I gave this company 14 years and I did about 6,000 interviews," she said. "And now I'm out of a job because of one interview? It's like in one swoop it ruined my reputation. It ruined my name." - according to the blog post.

No word from Channel 4 on the news editor or other staff who worked with her that night when she aired a story on elderly West Dallas salvage business owner who shot and killed two burglars in his property.

In the blog story, Rebecca says she doesn't know what's next and that she will do whatever it takes to "restore" her reputation.

Read Uncle Barky's blog's for more details.

Live from San Marcos: Saturday March 1

More than a hundred journalists, students and media professionals are gathered here in the Old Main Building for the Region 5 NAHJ Conference. So far turnout is good. The building was a bit hard to climb but all is well.

NAHJ Region 5 Workshop Set for this Weekend

NAHJ Region 5 Conference is set for Friday Feb. 29 and March 1 at Texas State University in San Marcos. The conference will help journalists develop skills to move ahead in their careers.

The conference will feature at least six multimedia sessions, including blogging, podcasting, and beginning and advanced digital video. Also look into the the"Hispanic community's impact"on this year’s presidential elections. And we’ll also have a discussion on how the immigration debate"affects Latinos communities in Texas and nationwide.
Gilbert Bailon, the editorial page editor at the St. Louis Post!Dispatch and the current president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, will be the keynote speaker.
Registration is #25 for students; #50 for members of NAHJ; the Houston Association of Media Professionals; Lone Star Emmy; and the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists; and #65 for nonmembers. The registration form is available online at www.NAHJ.org.

Scholarship Recipient Talks about NY Times Worshop

Tracie Morales, a 2 time scholarship recipient, had a few minutes to discuss the NY Times Workshop she had this winter.

Club Babalu Relocating to 7315 Gaston Ave

Missing your favorite place to club? Club Babalu in 2912 McKinney Ave , uptown Dallas is no more. They are now in the process of relocating to 7315 Gaston Avenue in East Dallas. Club Babalu. Opened in 1994, Babalu was the only of its kind. With over five thousand square ft. of space, the nightclub was the ultimate destination for Hispanics in Dallas. It was always crowded and packed. But as the neighborhood went more upscale, so did neighbors - who often complained about parking, loitering and anything else. Also rent went high high high. So this new location should solve most of the problems. Keep you posted on the grand reopening.

LatinoBiz Magazine




After Hours Networking Mixer

Come network after work and make new business contacts with
LatinoBiz Magazine and the Hispanic Sister Organizations of DFW

Thursday, February 21, 2008
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Quality Innn Suites
1607 N. Watson Roard (Hwy. 360)

Arlington, Texas 76010
(817) 640-4444
 
CORNER OF HWY 360 & BROWN BLVD. 
IT IS LOCATED BEHIND THE VALERO GAS STATION
 
 
Complimentary Hors d'oeuvres, Refreshments, and Door Prizes!
 
*** Please RSVP as soon as possible ***
Email: greg@latinobizmagazine.com
  

Special Guests:
America's Association of Hispanic Businesses – Arlington Hispanic Advisory Council
Arlington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting -Collin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Dallas LULAC Councils (3)
DFW Health and Research Development Leadership Council - DFW Nat'l Association of Hispanic Realtor Professionals - DallasHispanic Bar Association - Dallas Nat'l Association of Hispanic Realtor Professionals - Denton Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Denton LULAC Council - Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Fort Worth LULAC Councils (3) - Garland LULAC Council - Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Hispanic Bankers Association - Hispanic Business Alliance - Hispanic Contractors Association of DFW - Hispanic Firefighters Association Hispanic Women's Network of Texas, Dallas Chapter - Hispanic Women's Network of Texas, Fort Worth Chapter - Hispanic Organization of Postal Employees - Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Latino Police Officers

Al Dia Get's a New Publisher

Al Dia has a new publisher. Alex Sanchez, 42, has been promoted to publisher of Al Día. Sanchez, joined Al Día in August 2007 as president and general manager. He will be responsible for all business-related functions and the newsroom. Alfredo Carbajal, Al Día's managing editor, will report to Mr. Sanchez. Sanchez was the former vice president and general manager at LBI Media, where he ran seven media properties in Dallas-Fort Worth. He began his career at media giant Univision and held sales positions for Telemundo in Dallas, Miami and Los Angeles.

Star-Telegram Launches New Web Redesign - Popups Galore

Late Thursday night the green lever was switched and in a blink of a megahertz, the new web site came pouring out and took over. Yes Star-Telegram redesigned their web site and sure enough, it's packed with popups, ads and stuff to make MYSPACErs feel at home. 

What's New:

- The ads are now on the right side. So if you are blessed with a small monitor, just keep looking left. 

- The Black Navigation bar -s-l-o-w=l=y- drops down to reveal even more ads. But there is a text box.

- The search engine is on top... never mess with a good thing. 

- A new TV-sized box flashes photos.

- Below are blogs, more blogs, the whole place has been overtaken by BLOGS.

- Then finally, real news.. Local and State -- in bright blood red tabs. If it bleeds, it ledes...

- On the side, a grey box with even more BLOGS! Yeehaw!

- Where is the Fort Worth and Arlington news... where... oh yeah buried in the LOCAL red tab.

I guess its like driving a new car, gotta get used to it. It's not tiny tiny text like Dallasnews.com but by far, the ads are much more in your face.  Too much blinky, blinky.  Why don't web designers understand that what we want is this!

So is this better than before?

Star-Telegram to Unveil New Web Site Any Day, May Look Like This

IS THIS THE FUTURE OF THE STAR-TELEGRAM?

Design and Layout editors are putting the finishing touches and testing out the all-new redesign of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram web site which is expected to look something like the above mockup and take elements from the corporate McClatchy Newspapers or the Fresno Bee and be unveiled sometime in the next few days or sooner.  Expect easier and faster way to skim news stories and more interactivity, including more easier matching of news stories and more prominent daily blog reports and some Yahoo touches.

"Star-Telegram.com is undergoing a makeover we think you’ll love. Our user-friendly navigation will help you find your favorite features in local news, entertainment, sports, business and more. Keep watching: The countdown is under way and you’ll see the changes in just days."

The design above is based on a the newly redesign of the McClatchy Newspapers and an attempt to unite all their media web sites and will begin phasing in Yahoo services in 2008 and using services from "McClatchy Interactive."

Amongst the expected additions a new project, to be called "Trusted Voices," which will offer in-depth perspectives and coverage from Star-Telegram and McClatchy foreign correspondents based in select regions, including Iraq, the Middle East, China and Latin America. The coverage will include traditional news stories and will further tap the regional expertise of the correspondents through exclusive blog reports designed to guide readers in understanding the news from these regions.

One of the program's first initiatives will be the "Inside Iraq" blog written by native Iraqi staffers based in the McClatchy Baghdad bureau including former ST reporter Leila Fade, which has been operating continuously since the U.S. invasion.

Hopefully the redesign eliminates those terrible pop-up ads that chase you around. Well keep you posted on the final design.

NAHJ Region 5 to Sponsor Journalism Conference in San Marcos

You're invited to attend an NAHJ Region 5 Conference on Feb. 29 and March 1 at Texas State University in San Marcos to help journalists develop skills for the future, and move ahead in their careers.

The conference includes at least six multimedia sessions, ranging from blogging to podcasting to digital video for beginners and advanced. We’ll also have workshops for Spanish-Language media as well as print and broadcast media.

The conference opens Friday evening with a town hall meeting, looking at the impact of the Hispanic community in the November elections. On Saturday, we’ll open with a plenary discussion on the latest immigration issues that’s affecting our communities in Texas and nationwide.

Keynote speaker Gilbert Bailon, the editorial page director at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the current president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, will give us an update on the state of the industry and where we’re headed at the luncheon on Saturday.

Early registration through Feb. 18 is $15 for students; $40 for members of NAHJ and the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists; and $55 for nonmembers. Registration and more can be found at our web site at www.dfwhispanic.org

Post X-MAS Gift For BELO Shareholders, Same-o for Staff

Dallas Morning News, WFAA and AL DIA reporters got an email late today saying "the transaction was compleated and the board has approved a plan to seperate the Tv and newspaper businesses."

What this means for staff is unclear but it sure relieves anxiety. Rumors this morning were that BELO might make more changes to struggling TXCN, slash Quick or Al Dia publication production or worse, install another Network IBM server.