By: Joe Strupp Tribune Executives: Editorial Shouldn't Be Paid For
Executives at Tribune Media Services (TMS), which recently
announced the purchase of a majority interest in rival TVData,
hinted that they may stop two TVData services that allow
programmers to pay for stories to be written about chosen topics.
TMS Director of Marketing Stephen Tibbie would not cite specific
examples of changes that might occur after the deal is finalized
later this year. But when asked about TMS policy regarding
payment from the subjects of stories, Tibbie responded: "Our
belief is that editorial services should not be paid for by the
subjects of coverage."
TVData, which has sold TV listings and other editorial content to
newspapers since 1965, has launched two services in the last
three years that allow programmers to pay TVData to write stories
on specific subjects, stories that are then given to newspapers.
TVData executives contend that editorial content is unaffected by
the payments and that newspapers decide whether they want to run
the stories.
TVData President and CEO Arthur J. Bassin declined to comment on
any future changes to services or staff following the TMS
takeover.
Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is an associate editor for E&P.
Related stories:
TMS BUYS MAJORITY INTEREST IN TVDATA (05/11/01)
TVDATA'S PROGRAMS PONDERED (05/14/01)
Copyright 2001, Editor & Publisher.
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