On Thursday, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel added a Web job to the Tribune job board:

Title: Online Content Producer
Business Unit: TI – South Florida
Full/Part Time: Full
Location: FL-Ft. Lauderdale
Job Description Position Responsibilities:
Create a fresh, entertaining and informative website on a daily basis, with fresh updates throughout the day. Program the site, selecting, editing and packaging content. Collaborates with TV show staff to develop content for use on-air and online. Supervises associate producers, freelancers and interns.

Qualifications & Requirements:
Strong writing skills, particularly humorous, attitude-laden headlines and teases. Knowledge and love of pop culture. Extensive knowledge of the Internet, including emerging sites and trends. A collaborative working style. Minimum of two years media experience. Television, video and multimedia expertise a major plus. Excellent writing and editing skills.

The job posting is still active.

Finally, on Friday, Hall released an “update” memo saying jobs had been cut, and Greenberg returned a call to Editor & Publisher to say the same thing, and hinted that layoffs would also be coming to other departments. Greenberg said newspaper management planned to make an announcement at the end of the month after all cuts had been made. But the Sentinel still hasn’t publicized the 45 human resources, marketing and technology jobs that were eliminated in March.

And no one is saying anything about layoffs being made at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel either.

Sun-Sentinel employees were told about 20 percent of the newsroom will be laid off, but newspaper leaders have not released information to the public.

On Friday, the first two newsroom employees — reporters a reporter and investigations editor Joe Demma who were starting vacations today — were told they were being laid off. The rest of the layoffs will be made this week. Also on Friday, 11 pressmen were laid off.

This Tribune Co. trend is unacceptable. Just as they hold community leaders accountable for their actions, newspaper leaders must be held accountable. You can help: Send me your tips about layoffs and buyouts. (Anonymity guaranteed for anyone who fears retribution.)

Related stories

• More than 6,400 newspaper jobs have already been eliminated this year. That’s at least 32 jobs per day. There are so many black “unknown” markers on the map because more than 50 newspapers never announced layoffs, or failed to say how many people were being laid off or had accepted buyouts.
• Laid-off designer wants to help you get a job
• Editors in study say shrinking newsrooms damages quality of journalism or spun a different way: U.S. newspaper editors still optimistic, survey says

Updated July 21 with the name of the laid-off Sun-Sentinel editor.

I want to let you know that David Hiller has decided to step down as publisher of The Los Angeles Times, effective immediately. David took over as publisher in October 2006, during a difficult period for the newspaper and has performed with distinction since that time. During the last six months, he has helped The Times begin making the transition to new ownership, facing new realities. Part of that transition must now include a new publisher.

We are already in the process of identifying the right person to lead The Times going forward. We expect to name a new publisher by the end of the summer. In the meantime, executive vice president and chief administrative officer Gerry Spector and I will oversee all operations at The Times. Russ Stanton and his team are well underway with their work on the redesign of the paper and that work will, of course, continue at a quick pace.

The Los Angeles Times is a great newspaper with a talented and dedicated staff. Let’s do everything we can to keep it focused on future success.

Randy

Earlier today, Chicago Tribune editor Ann Marie Lipinski resigned:

July 14, 2008

Dear Colleagues,

Last month I wrote to say how much I valued your intelligence, professionalism and creativity and that I knew of no smarter or more inventive newsroom. Yet even in that I did not take your full measure. In recent weeks, faced with the call to reinvent your paper while reducing your ranks, you have shown new levels of commitment to your work and our readers and I could not be more grateful or awed.

For that reason and so many others, it is especially hard to tell you today that I have decided to resign. That decision was difficult and a long time coming and it would be inaccurate to attribute it to any one event. I began my editorship seven months before 9/11 and in the seven years since have become accustomed and even comfortable with editing and managing through crisis and change. But professionally, this position is not the fit it once was. Personally, my family and I believe it is time.

In earlier conversations with Scott Smith, and most recently with Bob Gremillion, I have expressed a desire to consider something new and I am grateful for the deep respect they showed me throughout those discussions. At the same time, there is much to do and your new owners should have their own editor, compatible with their style and goals, so today Bob will name my successor. He inherits a treasure in this newspaper and this staff, and I will count on you to continue to work hard on our readers’ behalf, just as you have done in the years we have been together.

I arrived here as a summer intern and many summers later my heart still skips a beat at the sight of the Tower and all it represents to this great city. Your newspaper is both a joy and a powerful engine for good. The evidence of that is too abundant to recount here, but permit me one recollection from our stewardship. Do you remember the night an innocent man walked out of death row and came to this newsroom to thank you for the journalism that had set him free? Because of you, there are many men at home with their families today who the state would have put to death, yet that is but one of your accomplishments. I can’t tell you how proud you have made me—for those stories, yes, but for the many ways you found to serve our communities, reimagine our portfolio across print and online and keep your heads above the storms. I believe in this newspaper, and know there is no better group to shape its future.

I will be here through Thursday and will look forward to talking with many of you directly. As I take my leave, it is with a fierce affection for you all, even those—and in many ways especially those—who have challenged me most. I will miss you, and not just a little.

Thank you for the honor and privilege of having served alongside you. Take care of our Tribune.

Ann Marie

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?”

On a related note, are newspapers already dead?

ODDS & ENDS
• The best story of the day: A coyote walks into a sub shop … And a cop at the doughnut shop nearby is the first to respond.
• Cheney’s lurking in the shadows. The original clip. And the same clip set to music, making it that much better.
• Amazing illustration, but neither Jodie Foster or Anderson Cooper are out. (There’s a great line in the story: “In cyberspace, no one can hear your denials.”)
• Ah, prom. The top slow-dance songs of the last 50 years.
• Hicks Design has that modern feel I love, without being too modern. Look familiar? They created the Firefox logo!
• What’s the difference between Helvetica and Arial? (Hint: Check the t’s and a’s.)
• Reuse and store plastic bags! Yes, I spent time folding bags …
• Create your own 3-D art!
• The seven “stations” every home should have.

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.