Steve Cavendish begs Gannett to sell Tennessean

http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2013/08/13/desperately-seeking-the-newspaper

A good argument overall, but it's obviously from the heart and obviously useless. When was the last time Gannett sold off a property?

 

So by property, that doesn't include Gannett's soul?

 

I'm not sure it was the last time, but in 2005, Gannett "traded" three papers, including the one I worked at, to Knight-Ridder for one larger publication and cash. It was an, um, interesting newsroom meeting that afternoon.

 

I remember them selling their two suburban papers in Pittsburgh to the Tribune-Review, but that was 1997.

 

I have made a public offer of $25,000 for The Tennessean, but only if Gannett throws in my hometown Daily New Journal. I think it's quite fair.

 

Here's a link to a story on that Gannett-Knight Ridder deal in 2005 ...

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XLkaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LEUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2808,2657071

Gannett also sold the Marietta (Ohio) Times to Ogden in 2001.

http://www.gannett.com/article/99999999/PRESSRELEASES11/100722134/Gannett-Foundation-sells-The-Marietta-Times

 

Shouldn't he be begging someone to buy it? Gannett would surely sell it if the right price were offered.

 

All of Nashville's big money types just got tapped out for a while by saving the bankrupt symphony and its world-class boondoggle of a performance hall; so I'm thinking outside of Al Gore (which I suppose always could be an option) or maybe ex-mayor and ex-governor Bredesen (who recently added to his high-hundreds of millions net worth) someone local buying the paper ain't gonna happen.

 

Yeah it does sound a little like begging the Yankees to trade A-Rod.

 

As an Ogden alumni, I can say that's like choosing between an under the skin zit that won't come to head over jock itch.

 

And I'd like to know what he's willing to chip in from his own account.

That's one of my pet peeves, when people bitch and moan about how the owners of such-and-such a company, whether it's a newspaper, a sports franchise, a restaurant, etc., should do the right thing and sell to someone who cares about it. But it's always "sell to someone (else)". If you care that much, put some of your own skin in the game.

 

You know, I think I might kill myself if Al-Jazeer-Gore bought The Tennessean.