Cosa ha detto l'editore ai giornalisti

Il presidente della Washington Post Co., Don Graham, e il vicepresidente, Ann McDaniel, hanno spiegato  ai giornalisti di Newsweek in videoconferenza che il giornale è in vendita. Ecco cos'hanno detto

DON GRAHAM: I came up to tell you in person what our company is announcing now. The Washington post company is preparing to sell Newsweek.  We have reported losses in the tens of millions for the last 2 years. Outstanding work by Newsweek's people has significantly narrowed the losses in the last year and particularly in the last few months. But we do not see a path to continuing profitability under our management. We'll immediately start talking to prospective buyers; we've asked an investment bank, Allen & Co. to help us conduct the sale. Our aim will be-if we can do it-a rapid sale to a qualified buyer. We're a public company and we have to consider the price offered. But we'll have  a second and third criteria: the future of Newsweek and the future of those who work here.
I came up for 2 reasons: one is to share the news with you and the other is to thank you and to tell you how much I admire your work.We have shared many good days together and I believe you will share many more. If anyone should take the blame for this ending, it is me—for not seeing early enough and reacting in the right way to the changes that have come to our industry. But as a former member of this staff, I will always be proud to have been part of Newsweek . And, I will be doing what I can to assist its future and yours.

ANN McDANIEL: Thank you Don. To state the painfully obvious: This is a hard day. I know many of you have loved working for The Washington Post Company - for Don, for Lally and earlier for Katharine Graham. I certainly have. I have loved virtually every minute of the 26 years I have spent associated with Newsweek, and with all of you.
So I am sad this morning. But as sad as I am, this is not about me. And oddly, this isn't about any of you either in some very important ways. Our industry is changing. Newsweek has changed along with it, and today's announcement reminds us that we must continue to grow, to adapt, to find new ways of serving readers, users and advertisers. I am incredibly proud of what we --really what YOU -- have done in the past year.  We are a better magazine, both domestically and internationally.  We're a better web site, and we'll be even stronger after the upcoming launch of our redesigned site.  Advertisers like what we are doing and are paying a higher premium for it.  Our business processes are better than they have ever been.
All of that is thanks to each and every one of you. You've worked hard and you've improved Newsweek. Thank you.  Well, if things have improved so much, you might ask, why is Newsweek being offered for sale? Because hard as it may be for some to imagine, there's likely a better home for Newsweek, one which offers synergies and opportunities not currently offered by The Washington Post Company. We've all worked too hard and too long not to seek the best future possible, and so we will.  What does that mean for you?
Because we don't have a secret buyer waiting in the wings, because no deal is imminent, some things are unknown.  I do hope that you get to stay together as the great team that you are. In case that doesn't happen though, let me make one thing perfectly clear: Any employee, business or editorial,  in good standing at the time of the sale, who does not get an offer from the new owner, will get the severance, notice, dismissal and RIF pay described in the contract and in Newsweek's severance policy on the intranet. If you are new to Newsweek, and remain in good standing through the sale, you will get four months of pay.
For all of you, any pension you've earned will be honored, just as it will for Newsweek's retirees. All other benefits you now receive will remain in place through the sale, and you will receive COBRA healthcare coverage if the new buyer doesn't offer you a job.
I suspect you might be asking yourself, what if there isn't a buyer. I believe there will be. The Philadelphia Inquirer just sold for tens of millions of dollars. But if you think my confidence is misplaced, know this: Every one of you will get a job offer or the benefits I just described. For those of you represented by the Guild, we expect to meet with your union representatives in the near future.
I'll keep you informed as the sale moves forward. I ask in exchange that you continue to do what you have always done:
Do your job to the best of your ability.
Continue to show that every day Newsweek produces journalism that matters to our readers, our advertisers and our culture. 
We're a great company, a great magazine, a great web site because of you. There is a genuine opportunity here, a chance to move Newsweek to a new level of success.
Change is hard so I don't pretend that this will be easy. But the future can, and I hope will, be very bright.
We'll take a few questions this morning if you like.
I know this is a lot to digest so in the coming days and weeks, I'll split my time, as I long have, between here and DC. Know that any of you can reach me anytime with a call or an e-mail.
Thank you.