MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Thursday, 20 June 2013
CONTACT:
Brett Abrams : 516-841-1105 : brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com
Community Groups Mobilize Against Sale of Tribune Co. Papers to the Koch Brothers at Pension Fund Meetings in MO and IL
MISSOURI & ILLINOIS – In the latest step to “Save the News” and stop the sale of the Tribune Company’s papers to the Koch Brothers, community groups from around the country are mobilizing at public pension fund meetings nationwide, urging the groups to submit public comments resolutions to their investment managers calling on them not to sell the papers, including the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, to the Koch Brothers.
In Springfield (Illinois), members of Common Cause and other groups will be attending the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois board meeting, where a public comment on the issue on the agenda. Rey Lopez Calderon, of Common Cause Illinois, will be speaking at the meeting and is available for interviews.
WHAT: TRS – Teachers Retirement System of Illinois Board Meeting
WHO: Speakers Include: Rey Lopez Calderon, Common Cause Illinois.
WHEN: Thursday, June 20th 9:00am LOCAL TIME
WHERE: Springfield, IL
In Jefferson City (Missouri), members of CWA, AFSCME, SEIU and other groups will be attending the Missouri State Employees Retirement System board meeting, where a public comment on the issue is on the agenda.
WHAT: MOSER – Missouri State Employees Retirement System Board Meeting
WHO: Speakers Include: Jake Olson, state council director, SEIU; Adam Seehaver, Organizing Director, CWA State Workers Local 6355. Bradley Harmon, president CWA Local 6355; Josh McCarroll, legislative director, AFSCME Council 72.
WHEN: Thursday, June 20th 9:00am LOCAL TIME
WHERE: 907 Wildwood Dr., Jefferson City MO
The groups are specifically asking that pension funds, (1) communicate concern to their investment managers regarding the long-term implications of a sale of the Chicago Tribune, LA Times and other papers to the Koch Brothers; (2) recognize that a good return on the funds investment does not depend on a quick sale to the Koch Brothers, and that (3) these funds not act as “passive” investors. At the meetings, community leaders will present a list of top ten reasons not to sell the Tribune Company’s papers to the Koch Brothers.
The investment funds, specifically, Oaktree Capital (23.5%), Angelo Gordon (9.4%) and JPMorgan Chase (9.1%) are key owners of the Tribune Company.
Additional actions have been and will be held across the country this summer at pension fund meetings in Los Angeles (CA) San Francisco (CA), Madison (WI), Hartford (CT), Albany (NY), Providence (RI), Boston (MA), Tigard (OR), Tallahassee (FL) and Olympia (WA).
The Save Our News Coalition includes CourageCampaign.org, AFL-CIO, Climate Reality Project, Common Cause, CREDO, Daily Kos, Democracy For America, Forecast The Facts, Free Press, Greenpeace, League Of Conservation Voters, Media Matters, MoveOn.org, The Other 98, PR Watch, Progress Florida—SEIU—United New York—Working Families Party
For a full list of events and information, or for interviews, please contact Brett Abrams at 516-841-1105 or by email at brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com.
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