Robservations: Heat’s on Ferro to make a deal for Tribune Publishing

Michael Ferro

Michael Ferro

Robservations on the media beat:

Pressure is mounting for Tribune Publishing chairman Michael Ferro to negotiate with Gannett on its unsolicited offer to acquire the company. But Tribune continues to push back, calling Gannett’s campaign “misleading and disingenuous,” adding: “Gannett has no path to control for Tribune Publishing and their tactics clearly demonstrate a desperate and opportunistic attempt to steal the company.” On Monday Gannett went directly to Tribune shareholders and urged them to withhold support for Ferro’s slate of board members at the annual meeting June 2. Said Gannett CEO Robert Dickey: “We intend to give Tribune stockholders the opportunity to send a clear message to the Tribune board that its lack of engagement with our board and management team regarding our highly compelling, premium offer for $12.25 per share in cash is unacceptable.” Also on Monday, Reuters reported that Oaktree Capital Group, Tribune's second largest shareholder, was pressing Ferro to “actively engage with Gannett and other potential buyers to seek a higher price.”

Mike Adamle

Mike Adamle

WMAQ-Channel 5 will be without the services of Mike Adamle for most of the May sweeps. The veteran sports anchor, who’s been off the air since March 13, will continue on personal leave at least through May 18, according to a spokesman for the NBC-owned station. Sources said Adamle, 66, is dealing with reactions to medication for epileptic seizures. The former football star has attributed the ailment to his time as an All-American running back for Northwestern and player in the NFL, including the Chicago Bears. The current sweep period runs from April 28 to May 25.

Tom Corfman

Tom Corfman

Tom Corfman, assistant managing editor of Crain’s Chicago Business, has been tapped to emcee the Chicago Headline Club’s 39th annual Peter Lisagor Awards Friday at The Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Street. This year’s competition, which was opened statewide for the first time, drew a record 916 entries. The awards honor excellence in journalism in more than 100 categories, encompassing print, broadcast and digital media.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey

Now you can own a chair from “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Five years after Winfrey ended her 25-year run in syndication, chairs from her former Chicago studio will be auctioned for charity. On the block will be 213 single chairs, five double chairs and one triple chair. Opening at $25 per chair, online bidding at oprah.screenbid.com starts at 2 p.m. Thursday and runs through May 12. Net proceeds will benefit the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, which supports Winfrey’s school for girls in South Africa.

WTTW“Feast,” the Albany Park Theater Project’s acclaimed youth production, will premiere at 10 p.m. May 12 on WTTW-Channel 11, the Window to the World Communications public station. The one-hour special, taped last summer at Goodman Theatre, is described as “a theatrical love letter to Chicago’s diverse food culture and joyful cooking traditions, featuring heart-warming stories harvested from Chicago's kitchens, street corners, butchers, bodegas, farmers and fishermen.” It features a 25-member cast of young performers.