Uclick Relinks With AMU

By: Dave Astor The uclick online firm is again a division of Andrews McMeel Universal (AMU), the parent of Universal Press Syndicate. Uclick was known as Universal New Media until it went independent early last year (E&P Online, March 13, 2000). But uclick wasn't immune to the dot-com downturn, and moved back into AMU's Kansas City headquarters July 13.

Chris Pizey, uclick's chief operating officer, said all 23 employees are being retained. At least half the staff was let go earlier this year, but none since March, according to Pizey. He added, "There is no change in our business priorities" now that uclick is again a division of AMU.

Uclick distributes content -- including Universal, Tribune Media Services, and Web-only features -- to about 250 online newspapers and 150 other sites. It also runs the uComics.com site.

***

CARTOON MUSEUM GETS $200G
Mort Walker Gives Emergency Loan

"Beetle Bailey" creator Mort Walker has loaned the International Museum of Cartoon Art another $200,000 to avert foreclosure by SunTrust South Florida Bank.

"We can keep the doors open for at least a few more months," said Walker, who has lent the museum he founded about $1 million. "However, the Walker well has now run dry. Unless we are able to secure more financial support on an ongoing basis, the museum's future in Boca Raton remains iffy at best."

***

PLAGIARISM ALLEGED, DENIED
Buckley Piece Used Mag Story Facts

An article in The New Republic (TNR) says William F. Buckley "ripped off" his own National Review magazine. TNR wrote that a Buckley column used similar language and facts as Michael Fumento's National Review piece that tried to rebut health claims made by opponents of U.S. Navy bombing tests on Puerto Rico's Vieques island.

Universal Press Syndicate Director of Communications Kathie Kerr said, "Mr. Buckley did all of the 'writing' in his column. The facts he reiterated were indeed assembled by Michael Fumento and published in National Review." She explained that Buckley credits National Review authors he uses facts from "about 90% of the time," but hesitates to mention the National Review name because he doesn't want to make it seem like he's promoting his own magazine.

***

'QUEEN OF CLEAN' ON SCENE
NEA Offering Linda Cobb Column

Best-selling author Linda Cobb is writing "Household Help," a five-times-a-week column that includes information about cleaning and other topics, for Newspaper Enterprise Association.
Cobb's books include "Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean."

***

'ANNE & NAN' END PROTESTED
NEA, Writers Couldn't Reach Pact

Newspaper Enterprise Association has ended syndication of "Ask Anne & Nan" after NEA and the column's creators couldn't come to a contract agreement.
Anne Adams and Nancy Nash-Cummings, who discussed everything from recipes to repairs, came to NEA in 1993 and ran in more than 200 papers.

Barbara Sauers, managing editor of The Star-Democrat in Easton, Md., said the paper was "besieged with calls" from disappointed readers after the column stopped. The newspaper told readers it wasn't to blame, and suggested they contact NEA parent United Media.

United Senior Vice President and General Manager Sid Goldberg said the syndicate received fewer than 25 phone complaints about the end of "Anne & Nan," with "12 to 14" from the Easton area. "Since the column appeared in over 200 papers, we find it unexplainable that at least half the complaints should come from readers at one paper," he stated.

Sauers said readers and editors from around the country have contacted the columnists since the feature stopped. She added that "Anne & Nan" replacement "Household Help" (see above brief) covers a narrower range of topics, but United Vice President for Sales and Marketing Lisa Klem Wilson disagreed.