John Lynch to run Union Tribune

[radio-darn]

In a move that sounds similar to what happened in Chicago when Sam Zell and Randy Michaels took over (and darn near ruined) the Chicago Tribune, it's been announced that developer Doug Manchester will buy the San Diego Union-Tribune and it will be run by radio executive John Lynch.

For those of you already non fan of our major daily newspaper - I predict this will not make it better.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/17/platinum-equity-seell-san-diego-union-tribune-doug/

 

[SDRadio]

That should be "ruin". Thanks CB.

 

[DoctorWu]

John Lynch knows nothing about print media.

-- Doc

 

[RadeoEngineer]

Lynch knows a lot about a lot of things. I wouldn't be too quick to bet against him. Be glad someone is at least attempting to keep the newspaper alive. Many, many newspapers have shut down.

 

[topcat]

:As a former resident of San Diego, I wish John Lynch all the sucess in the world. I hope he can bring this newspaper back to it greatness.Good Luck John

 

[radio-darn]

:As a former resident of San Diego, I wish John Lynch all the sucess in the world. I hope he can bring this newspaper back to it greatness.

Based on his first public statements, he'll run it out of business. If he advised Manchester on buying the paper it must have been based entirely on what the real estate because Lynch should be smart enough to know that they can't make money running a newspaper, especially now. The "old" UT had a rep as very right wing: it wasn't, but for liberals who live by bumper sticker slogans, it was a convenient perception, however dated. Now though you have an owner (Manchester) who has actually come up with some specific actions to PO the left, plus Lynch is basically saying they will bully anyone who doesn't agree with them (the "obstructionists” as he called them).

If you were a little concerned before about the UT editorial stance but still bought the paper anyway, well these guys will push you over the edge. Heck I'm a conservative and I won't give a dime to a Manchester enterprise. I had enough exposure to him during my days in downtown SD politics and public affairs to know he's not someone I want shaping the future of this community.

If you want to see how radio experts attack the newspaper business, check out the story of former Jacor/CC honcho Randy Michaels and real estate mogul Sam Zell at the Chicago Tribune. I'm sure the Manchester/Lynch team will end up providing it's own case study on why radio and real estate are not the optimum backgrounds for newspapering.

 

[SDRadio]

Based on his first public statements, he'll run it out of business....

If you were a little concerned before about the UT editorial stance but still bought the paper anyway, well these guys will push you over the edge. Heck I'm a conservative and I won't give a dime to a Manchester enterprise. I had enough exposure to him during my days in downtown SD politics and public affairs to know he's not someone I want shaping the future of this community.

Jeff Prescott wrote it best as posted at http://SDRadio.net:

Sure, you can max out your profits…but as all other newspaper owners have learned, when the “eyes” go away, the ads go away,and then it’s time to pair-down the staff, cut features, and maybe even days of the week publishing and/or delivering.
It might be time to go completely digital.

In the old days, the very rich (Hearst, McCormick, Scripps, Chandler, Murdoch) had their papers as their personal mouthpieces. That luxury can’t be afforded these days by more than a few, and I honestly don’t know if Mr. Manchester is one of them.

 

[600kogo]

Of course Lynch will run it into the ground there should be a sign on the front of the UT building in Mission Valley reading "Manchester Hyatt Mission Valley coming soon" Taking bids on wrecking ball contractors!