Letter from Peter Liguori, new Tribune CEO
The following is a letter sent Thursday from new Tribune Co. CEO Peter Liguori to Tribune employees, reproduced here in its entirety.
Hello,
Today, I accepted the job as CEO of Tribune Company. It is an honor to be given the opportunity to work with all of you and to lead Tribune forward. I am excited about what lies ahead. I am also aware that most of you don’t know me. While email isn’t the ideal way to introduce myself, please allow me to tell you a bit about why I took this job, what my priorities are and what I expect to accomplish by working together.
Why did I join Tribune? First and foremost, I joined Tribune because this is a place with unparalleled media assets, iconic brands in major markets and very talented, creative employees. Collectively, our digital operations, television outlets and newspapers are the best in the country. Financially, we also have a rock-solid balance sheet, significant liquidity and low debt.
As important as the parts of this company are as businesses, I know that Tribune is more than just a collection of financial assets. They are leading examples of what is best in media, television and journalism in America. We are all tasked to build upon the legacies of excellence, and the long proud heritage of service to the communities where the work you do is crucial. I am profoundly aware of the responsibility we all share and am committed to strengthen those foundations for the listeners, viewers and readers we service.
In short, there’s a lot to build on.
That doesn’t mean we don’t face significant challenges. We do. So does every other media company. Rather than lament the problems, I want us to identify them and solve them, not be defined by them. During my working life, I have always pursued great content as I passionately believe great content always wins out and will drive the value of our media platforms for our audiences, advertisers and businesses affiliates.
To generate great content, we must always focus on our customers — the viewer, the listener, the reader. We have to design products with an outside-in focus and constantly ask, “What does the user want?” With that in mind, we must keep innovating. We must keep developing new products and technology, fresh original content and better services. Innovation is part of Tribune’s DNA and we must keep at it.
On the broadcast front, that means airing compelling, original programming and best-in-class local news. We must find efficient ways to create our own fresh programming. On the newspaper side, that means partnering with readers to deliver the content they need and want, wherever they are and whenever they want it. We must accelerate our digital offerings and get paid for them. Across all of our businesses it means more blogging, tweeting and recording to deepen our relationship with our audience. Great content will create value for our audience, advertisers and affiliates.
Over the next several weeks, I intend to meet as many of you as possible and learn as much as I can about what you do and how I can help you do it better. First-hand, I will spend time at our business units, meeting with our local teams, getting to know the communities you serve. Please be candid and direct with me and I promise that I will actively listen to you.
We will then make sound decisions and execute them with full commitment. We need to do this together — you must lead the charge along with me. Tribune is too crucial to the communities and consumers we serve for us to fail. I am passionate about succeeding. I know you are too. Together, we are about to accomplish great things.
Respectfully,
Peter
ALSO:
Tribune Co. emerges from bankruptcy
From the Oscars to the Emmys.
Get the Envelope newsletter for exclusive awards season coverage, behind-the-scenes stories from the Envelope podcast and columnist Glenn Whipp’s must-read analysis.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
