Posted by chicagomedia.org on May 09, 2008 at 20:07:37:
In Reply to: Randy Michaels COO, Tribune posted by chicagomedia.org on May 07, 2008 at 18:38:49:
Mark Shapiro Elected to Tribune Board of Directors
Friday May 9, 2:00 pm ET
Board Also Elects Weitman as SVP/Corporate Relations
CHICAGO, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Tribune Company today announced that Mark Shapiro, a native Chicagoan, has been elected to the company's board of directors. Shapiro is president and chief executive officer of Six Flags, Inc., the world's largest regional amusement park company, a position he has held since December 2005.
"Mark is a great addition to the board," said Sam Zell, Tribune's chairman and chief executive officer. "This company's been on a roller coaster ride the last few years -- who better to help guide us into the future than a guy in charge of amusement parks? Mark has great experience in broadcasting and entertainment and knows how to reach audiences -- he's smart and innovative. Besides, we're hoping he'll cut us a break on season passes to Six Flags!"
Shapiro has helped Six Flags grow its entertainment portfolio, leading the company's acquisition of 40% of Dick Clark productions in 2007. Prior to joining Six Flags, Shapiro served as executive vice president/programming and production at ESPN, responsible for the development and scheduling of all programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and its affiliate networks. Shapiro was elected at Tribune's regularly scheduled board meeting held May 7.
In other business, the board also elected Gary Weitman as senior vice president/corporate relations. Weitman joined Tribune in 2000 as vice president/corporate communications. He oversees internal and external communication, including media and investor relations, employee communications, and Tribune's internal and external websites.
TRIBUNE is America's largest employee-owned media company, operating businesses in publishing, interactive and broadcasting. In publishing, Tribune's leading daily newspapers include the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.), The Sun (Baltimore), South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel, Hartford Courant, Morning Call and Daily Press. The company's broadcasting group operates 23 television stations, Superstation WGN on national cable, Chicago's WGN-AM and the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Popular news and information websites complement Tribune's print and broadcast properties and extend the company's nationwide audience. At Tribune we take what we do seriously and with a great deal of pride. We also value the creative spirit and are nurturing a corporate culture that doesn't take itself too seriously.