Denver Newspaper Agency's deadline day could get bloody

A week from tomorrow, January 16, is the day by which MediaNews Group chieftain Dean Singleton and execs at the Denver Newspaper Agency say they need to secure $18 million in labor savings prior to renegotiating $130 million in debt. "If that fails," says a letter penned by DNA senior...

By Michael Roberts

January 8, 2009

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A week from tomorrow, January 16, is the day by which MediaNews Group chieftain Dean Singleton and execs at the Denver Newspaper Agency say they need to secure $18 million in labor savings prior to renegotiating $130 million in debt. "If that fails," says a letter penned by DNA senior human resources veep Missy Miller that's quoted in a January 5 Rocky Mountain News article, "the financial health of DNA will be even more significantly impacted than it has been to date, and the employer will have to consider all options available to it."

What kind of options? Hard to know -- but according to an e-mail sent to newspaper staffers yesterday, the DNA has scheduled a blood drive for the 16th. Notes one insider, "It really could be a bloodletting day." -- Michael Roberts

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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