Holdovers at all the Village Voice Media papers—LA Weekly included—received a friendly but not especially enlightening Sunday night greeting from their new keeper.

From: Larkin, Jim
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 9:54 PM
Subject: note to Village Voice Media staffers

Dear Staff Member:

Monday, January 30, 2006 marks the first day of our new company, Village Voice Media. As you know VVM has merged the six weekly alternative papers of Village Voice Media with the eleven papers of New Times Media. The VVM group today also includes 17 metropolitan websites and a national advertising sales outfit, The Ruxton Group. We think we have an unique opportunity to bring more editorial resource, financial strength, and organizational skill to all 17 of the VVM weeklies and websites and that is what we intend to do.

Practically, employee affairs will remain status quo. Your payroll dates will remain the same. Our banking relationships will not change. Your email address will not change. Your local health benefits provider will remain the same, and, your supervisor or Publisher will remain the go-to person for any questions you may have.

I am available at anytime by email at xxx@xxx.com or phone (xxx) xxx xxxx if you have comments or questions regarding Village Voice Media going forward.

Regards,

Jim Larkin
Village Voice Media

Go ahead, tell him what you really think.

Previously on LA Observed:
Village Voice gets New Times publisher
Donnelly chats up the boss
New Times deal sails through