NOTE: This story has been updated to include new information from Thursday’s SEC filing. By Julie Reynolds The vultures have landed in Chicago. With the board appointment of its co-founder and godfather Randall Smith, vulture hedge fund Alden Global Capital… Continue Reading →

NOTE: This announcement was released at 10:30 am Eastern time on June 30, the day Alden Global Capital, owner of Digital First newspapers, is freed from a “standstill” agreement barring it from acquiring more Tribune stock. This paves the way… Continue Reading →

Hedge fund Alden is now free to pounce on additional shares By Julie Reynolds On Tuesday, an agreement expires that has kept Alden Global Capital from buying more shares of Tribune Publishing, raising the specter of a merger or takeover… Continue Reading →

Art by Kirk Anderson For several years, we’ve been running the work of master editorial cartoonist Kirk Anderson, alone or accompanying our stories here at DFMworkers. It’s time to give Kirk’s wit and insight a page of their own. Here,… Continue Reading →

Why is the hedge fund owner of America’s third-largest newspaper chain investing millions in Las Vegas gaming concerns?   By Julie Reynolds I recently wrote about Alden Global Capital’s multi-million-dollar spring shopping spree as the worldwide pandemic unfolded and as… Continue Reading →

Move cements Alden’s bid for a Trib merger or takeover come July NOTE: This story has been updated to include The NewsGuild’s response and reported comments from shareholder Mason Slaine. By Julie Reynolds Two directors chosen by hedge fund Alden… Continue Reading →

Media, gambling and travel are the big investments, even as layoffs and furloughs hit Alden’s newspapers across the country   By Julie Reynolds While the rest of the country tightened its belts in the face of the global pandemic, Alden… Continue Reading →

Effort aims to unseat two Alden-allied board members at Tribune’s annual meeting By Julie Reynolds READ The NewsGuild’s letter here Saying it is “alarmed and concerned,” The NewsGuild has launched a proxy campaign to Tribune Publishing shareholders that raises questions… Continue Reading →

Reply critiques “distortions, misrepresentations, and patently false claims” READ the Guild’s letter to Senators Duckworth and Durbin here By Julie Reynolds In late March, Heath Freeman, whose hedge fund Alden Global Capital owns the country’s third-largest newspaper chain and is… Continue Reading →