Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    New York Times on the Tribune Company's 'Bankrupt Culture'

    Real estate mogul Sam Zell had no media experience when he bought the Tribune Company , which owns the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, TV and radio stations and other media properties. Less than a year later, the Tribune Company filed for the largest bankruptcy in the history of American media. Some 4200 people have lost their jobs.

    • rss
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Real estate mogul Sam Zell had no media experience when he bought the Tribune Company, which owns the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, TV and radio stations and other media properties. Less than a year later, the Tribune Company filed for the largest bankruptcy in the history of American media. Some 4200 people have lost their jobs. Others have left not for financial reasons but because of what today's New York Times calls a work culture featuring "sexual innuendo, poisonous workplace banter and profane invective [that have] shocked and offended people throughout the company." David Carr wrote the story.

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Wanted: Scientists and Engineers!
    1. 0:00Afghan Officials Talking Peace with the Taliban
    2. 7:33Is America Falling Behind in Science, Engineering?
    3. 45:45New York Times on the Tribune Company's 'Bankrupt Culture'You’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrea Brody

      Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      David Carr

      New York Times

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Wanted: Scientists and Engineers!
    1. 0:00Afghan Officials Talking Peace with the Taliban
    2. 7:33Is America Falling Behind in Science, Engineering?
    3. 45:45New York Times on the Tribune Company's 'Bankrupt Culture'You’re reading this
    Back to To the Point