To fully appreciate the article that William Powers
wrote entitled "Seven Steps to Salvation" you need
to see it's original context as one of several
articles on the Collapse of BIG MEDIA that were
featured in the Spring 2005 issue of The Wilson
Quarterly.
By context I refer both to the time, a full two years
before the Tribune purchase was gaining energy, and
place in regard to the placement of the featured articles
which were introduced as quoted here:
"Collapse is not too strong a word to describe what has
happened to America's major news media.
Stripped of their old economic and technological
advantages, befuddled by the changing character of their
audiences and and beset by new competitors, they are
reeling from the blows recent scandals have dealt to
their credibility and prestige.
Their old authority is gone, and with it, perhaps, their
ability to define for Americans a shared realm of
information, ideas, and debate. " TWQ page 39 ı
Bear in mind that this was a time period when some-
one preparing due diligence profiles for a major media
acquisition should have highlighted commentary of
this caliber.
With this perspective in mind, compare William Powers'
media recovery program Seven Steps to Salvation with
the nine Core Values that Sam Zell introduced to the
Tribune Company in 2008. Then ask yourself, what are
Sam's games?
W.POWERS' SEVEN STEPS:
1. RELAX
2. ENJOY YOURSELVES
3. BE NATURAL
4. DON'T PATRONIZE
5. MAKE TROUBLE
6. ONLY DISCONNECT
7. DON'T GIVE UP HOPE
TRIBUNE CORE VALUES:
Keep Your Word
Collaborate
No Surprises
Compete
Play Fair
Take Intelligent Risk
Reward Successful Performance
Question Authority
Serve Our Local Communities
As all of us participate in various roles
in the transformation of media. Maybe
we can all benefit from forgetting about
ranking, territory and stodgy rules and just
help each other enjoy our craft and the
entertainment that we produce.
Good luck on that.
### T=Mak
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