Tribune Co. Exec Sends ‘Offensive’ Memo

A top executive at Tribune Co., parent of the Chicago Tribune, e-mailed a company-wide memo Monday that contained links to off-color satirical videos, including one he labeled “Sluts” in which a gyrating woman appears to pour liquor on her bare breasts.

According to Phil Rosenthal at chicagobreakingbusiness.com, the note to employees in Chicago and elsewhere came from Lee Abrams, Tribune Co.’s chief innovation officer, less than a week after an unflattering New York Times front-page story characterized the Chicago-based media concern’s top management as fostering a poisonous, sexist “frat house” atmosphere.

Abrams’ memo spurred complaints to Tribune Co.’s human resources department from Chicago Tribune Editor Gerould Kern and others, upset at the sexual content. Abrams was not immediately available for comment.

“I thought it was offensive and I thought it was completely inappropriate to be sent out in a workplace setting to everyone in this company,” Kern said Tuesday. “We’ve had some employees complain as well, and I took it to HR.”

Kern also said he complained to Abrams.

Abrams sends notes to staff each week encouraging them to reinvent the media business and not be chained to convention. The memos are generally an impressionistic pastiche of ideas, observations and links to outside sources.

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