Transcript 1: Winer's Question During Panel

Moderator: Questions from the audience.

Winer: I have a question relevant to the Tribune and to potential investors and also to readers. Everyone here gets the paper every morning and obviously expects in-depth reporting. Since Tribune publishing division has had a profit this year of $595.9 million, many of us are wondering why you’re cutting the ability to deliver that news that consumers want.

In just a few days, 45,000 consumers from your readership areas have signed this petition right here expressing dismay that hundreds of reporters and other newspaper staff are being cut. We’d like to present you with these 45,000 signatures collected by MoveOn Media Action and--

Moderator: This is not really a question.

Winer: And ask: Will you meet with some of these consumers? Will you meet with some of these consumers to hear their concerns? 45,000 of your consumers.

Moderator: Next question.

Winer: Will you meet with them, Mr. FitzSimons?

Moderator: Thank you for your question.

Winer: There are some of them downstairs, and we’d be happy to set up a meeting. I’d like an answer to my question.

Moderator: Inaudible

Winer: Come on, can I just have an answer, Mr. FitzSimons?

Moderator: We’re going to move on.

Winer: Just any comment on it?

Moderator: Please, now.

Winer: Will you meet with them later?

Moderator: We’ll go to the next question.

Transcript 2: Winer's Dialogue with FitzSimons After Panel

Winer: I’d just like to hand you this petition, sir.

FitzSimons: Thanks.

Winer: It’s from 45,000 of your customers. They’re asking you not to cut all these jobs when you’re making these kind of profits. There are a lot of people out there who want to meet with you. Will you meet with them?

FitzSimons: Uh. No.

Winer: There are some people outside. You won’t meet with your own customers?

FitzSimons: Thanks very much.

Winer: So you won’t meet with your own customers? That’s the kind of reader responsiveness that you guys are practicing?

(FitzSimons walks away, leaving petition on table.)

Winer: Sir, you forgot the petition. These are 45,000 of your customers.