In announcing the promotion of Kim Johnson, new senior vice president of local sales, the release says Johnson is “a former waitress at ‘Knockers — The Place for Hot Racks and Cold Brews.’ Asked if she feels ready to accept the new challenge, Johnson said, “I once won a contest at the restaurant up-selling shots to guys who asked for beer — how different can this be?’ ”

This attempt at humor is sexist and stupid. These claims — made in jest or not — diminish her credibility. It’s unacceptable.

The full press release:

Tribune Interactive Names Leader of Local Sales

CHICAGO, June 16, 2008 — Tribune Company Tribune Interactive President Marc Chase today named Kim Johnson as Senior Vice President of Local Sales.

“The promotions department was testing a new online contest program, and somehow her entry form ended up in our human resources department,” said Chase. “The rules said we had to pick a winner, and it was easier to give her a job than explain it was an accident.”

Despite the screw-up, the company appears to have landed an accomplished sales professional with a ten-year track record of success, including over $100 million in local and national budgets achieved. In the mid-1990s, just after Al Gore invented the Internet, Johnson was the founding sales leader of Clear Channel Radio’s Internet initiative, where she grew revenues from nothing to millions of dollars. She has also lead Interactive sales for Entercom Communications and Citadel Broadcasting. Additionally, Johnson ran sales for CityReach Latino, an out-of-home company who served the top eleven US Hispanic markets.

“I thought I was entering a contest to win tickets to a Guns N’ Roses reunion show, but an invite to this party is even better,” said Johnson. “The ‘new’ Tribune is revolutionizing content, sales, and promotion—this is the place to be right now. We’re utilizing our brands and serving our audiences in exciting new ways and we want creative and successful sales professionals to join us!”

Johnson is a resident of Florida, and a former waitress at “Knockers -The Place for Hot Racks and Cold Brews.” Asked if she feels ready to accept the new challenge, Johnson said, “I once won a contest at the restaurant up-selling shots to guys who asked for beer—how different can this be?”

The Sun-Times re-design technically launches tomorrow, but thanks to an inside source, here’s the video the publisher did. I don’t like the new logo … it doesn’t seem to give dominance to “Chicago” (which is bigger but gray) or the name of the paper (which is reversed on red). Everyone is using pipes in dates now. I love the time-stamped briefs in the P.M. edition. (That seems more effective online, though.)

There was a shooting at the CNN Center in Atlanta. CNN was all over it (although ABC News was first to send out a breaking-news alert.) and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wasn’t far behind. But AJC was smart — under their headline, they asked:
• Blog: Were you a witness?
• Send your photos from scene

ODDS & ENDS
• I was part of a design shout-out from Josh Awtry — part of the all-Smith dream team. Unfortunately, Ernie Smith was part of it, too.
• MSNBC.com has a new logo and tagline: A Fuller spectrum of news.” The NewsStream screen saver is interesting, although I’m hoping they work out some kinks (it’s still a beta). There will also be a game, NewsBreaker.
• Want to go to Dublin? Google has directions, but take your swimsuit.
• Story of the day: A coyote in the Loop.

The Mat Kearney concert was amazing! First of all, Mark’s connections at the Sun-Times not only got us tickets … they got us VIP tickets. I’d never been to the House of Blues, but it was incredible. And I wasn’t entirely sold on Kearney beforehand, but after seeing him live … definitely a fan. I will never, ever doubt Mark. Ever.

Of course, this last-minute trip to Chicago meant rushing back to St. Louis. I made it to work with 30 minutes to spare. I don’t care — it was definitely worth it.

The Sun-Times is launching a redesign Wednesday! I hear good things, and can’t wait. They have started to preview new features (or warn readers, if you will). I got a chance to see one of the two-spread previews over the weekend. (Thanks, Mark!) If the whole redesign looks that good … then I can’t wait. Although I’m not convinced that people will pay to get the paper online.

I keep pushing Kevin to help start a breaking news blog. Seriously, we’re often telling each other about stories before the rest of the world knows. And we keep Mark updated, since he’s the one of the three of us who can actually post breaking news. But with Mark, Kevin and I working together … we could inform the world! Or something like that. We just need a clever name for the blog. Something journalism-related … Heard it here first? In the know? In the now?

Speaking of breaking news, the board at Tribune Co. is voting on whether or not to sell to Sam Zell. The story’s kind of unclear as to whether they’re meeting now, or met earlier. Kevin seems to have inside information (which would make sense since he works for Tribune. But he’s being coy. Mark and I are placing bets that the Trib will make an announcement late tonight after it’s impossible for other news outlets to get it in print. UPDATE: The board voted to sell to Zell. Mark had it posted on the Sun-Times site at 7 a.m. And Kevin’s update? That the board had asked Zell to increase his offer and he did.