San Diego Union Tribune

Owners of the flagging San Diego Union-Tribune, one of the largest daily newspapers in California, said Wednesday that the publication would be sold to a private equity firm for an undisclosed sum. Platinum Equity of Beverly Hills would be the Union-Tribune's first owner since the paper was acquired in 1928 by Copley Press Inc., a family-owned chain based in La Jolla.

It's a big week for the Dodgers' roots, today marking the day the Dodgers called up Jackie Robinson, Friday the official release of his film biography “42,” on Tuesday marking 66 years since he made his historic major league debut and this week marking the 100th anniversary of Ebbets Field. Here's a look at it all, plus some other tidbits, on the web: -- Your first stop should be Ron Rapoport's story at LA Observed on his interviewing Robinson in a dark downtown hotel room, near his death.

The union representing Los Angeles police officers is pressuring the owner of San Diego's biggest newspaper to change the paper's editorial stance on labor issues or to fire its editorial writers. The feud is rooted in the recent purchase of the San Diego Union-Tribune by Platinum Equity, a private Beverly Hills firm.

SAN DIEGO - David Copley, owner and publisher of the San Diego Union-Tribune until it was sold in 2009, died Tuesday after crashing his Aston Martin near his home in La Jolla. Copley, 60, was found slumped in the front seat of his car early in the evening and rushed to Scripps Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He had left a board meeting of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, saying he did not feel well. The cause of death was an apparent heart attack; Copley had received a heart transplant in 2005.

The quality of "Page 2" on Tuesday (Jerry Crowe), reminded me of another Jerry (Magee) who recently retired from the San Diego Union-Tribune. They are members of an elite group: "The writers whom writers love to read." Duane Mitchell Escondido

The Los Angeles Times named Bill Nagel, a former executive at the San Diego Union-Tribune, to the newly created position of executive vice president of business services. Nagel replaces Jack Klunder, executive vice president of circulation and distribution, who is leaving the newspaper. Nagel will oversee circulation and will focus on increasing alternative revenue sources by marketing The Times' print distribution system, call-center operations and production services to other media.

It's a big week for the Dodgers' roots, today marking the day the Dodgers called up Jackie Robinson, Friday the official release of his film biography “42,” on Tuesday marking 66 years since he made his historic major league debut and this week marking the 100th anniversary of Ebbets Field. Here's a look at it all, plus some other tidbits, on the web: -- Your first stop should be Ron Rapoport's story at LA Observed on his interviewing Robinson in a dark downtown hotel room, near his death.

Now here's a mad idea: Invite 10 Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonists to use their sharp-tongued political satire by illustrating an article on "Why George W. Bush Is in Favor of Global Warming" for the March issue of Mad magazine. John Ficarra, the editor of Mad, and Sam Viviano, the art director, assembled the team. They told the International Herald Tribune that the artists were all happy to participate. The contributing cartoonists and the years they won the Pulitzer are: Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 2002; Steve Breen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1998; Matt Davies, Journal News, 2004; Jack Higgins, Chicago Sun-Times, 1989; Dick Locher, Chicago Tribune, 1983; Jim Morin, Miami Herald, 1996; Mike Peters, Dayton Daily News, 1981; Joel Pett, Lexington Herald-Leader, 2000; Michael Ramirez, Investor's Business Daily, 1994; and Ben Sargent, Austin American-Statesman, 1982.

The Beverly Hills-based private-equity firm that owns the San Diego Union-Tribune has hired a New York investment bank to explore options for the newspaper, a move often considered a first step for an owner seeking to sell. Platinum Equity, which acquired the paper two years ago from the Copley family, hired Evercore Partners to "evaluate strategic alternatives," said Mark Barnhill, a principal at Platinum. "We manage a large and complex investment portfolio, and routinely consider a range of options that will best position our companies for the future," Barnhill said in a statement.

Roberto de la Madrid, who became the first U.S.-born governor of a Mexican state when he took office in 1977 in Baja California, has died. He was 88. De la Madrid died March 19, officials from Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party confirmed. He had cancer and died in Tijuana, according to media reports. Born in 1922 in Calexico to Mexican parents, he was taken across the border to Mexicali soon after his birth. Raised on both sides of the border, De la Madrid counted Jose Lopez Portillo -- then president of Mexico -- as his closest personal friend when the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party chose him as its candidate for governor of Baja California.

Beverly Hills investment firm Platinum Equity, which recently bought the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, has emerged as a possible buyer of the Boston Globe. Platinum Equity has submitted a "preliminary bid" for the paper, according to a person with knowledge of the proposal. The firm is offering to pay $35 million for the paper and assume $59 million in pension liabilities, according to published reports. The New York Times Co. said in a regulatory filing last week that it was considering putting its New England Media Group, which includes the Globe, up for sale.

The Los Angeles Times named Bill Nagel, a former executive at the San Diego Union-Tribune, to the newly created position of executive vice president of business services. Nagel replaces Jack Klunder, executive vice president of circulation and distribution, who is leaving the newspaper. Nagel will oversee circulation and will focus on increasing alternative revenue sources by marketing The Times' print distribution system, call-center operations and production services to other media.

The quality of "Page 2" on Tuesday (Jerry Crowe), reminded me of another Jerry (Magee) who recently retired from the San Diego Union-Tribune. They are members of an elite group: "The writers whom writers love to read." Duane Mitchell Escondido

The union representing Los Angeles police officers is pressuring the owner of San Diego's biggest newspaper to change the paper's editorial stance on labor issues or to fire its editorial writers. The feud is rooted in the recent purchase of the San Diego Union-Tribune by Platinum Equity, a private Beverly Hills firm.

A former San Diego Union reporter has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was the target of sexual harassment by a female editor and eventually lost her job because of it. Lillian Mei-Mei Wang, 30, of Palos Verdes filed the suit Tuesday in San Diego Superior Court, claiming she was the subject of sexually suggestive comments, "unwelcome pet names" and ongoing requests for dates from her editor, Sandra Dolbee.

San Diego Newspaper Guild members at the San Diego Union-Tribune held a noon demonstration Thursday in front of the newspapers' offices to protest a two-year labor dispute. Union members have worked without a labor contract since 1987 and have repeatedly accused the company of failing to bargain in good faith. Earlier this year, the National Labor Relations Board charged management with 37 violations of federal labor laws. The allegations are currently the subject of an administrative hearing.

Beverly Hills investment firm Platinum Equity said Monday that it had completed its purchase of the San Diego Union-Tribune from Copley Press Inc. Starting its first newspaper venture, Platinum installed Paul Bridwell as the senior executive of the Union-Tribune with the title of chief restructuring officer. In a news release, Platinum described Bridwell as an experienced turnaround specialist who has served in senior positions at several companies owned by the investment firm. David H.

Owners of the flagging San Diego Union-Tribune, one of the largest daily newspapers in California, said Wednesday that the publication would be sold to a private equity firm for an undisclosed sum. Platinum Equity of Beverly Hills would be the Union-Tribune's first owner since the paper was acquired in 1928 by Copley Press Inc., a family-owned chain based in La Jolla.