【英语国际】美国《新闻周刊》落户新东家

Sidney Harman, the 91-year-old founder of a stereo equipment company, has agreed to acquire Newsweek magazine from Washington Post Co.

Mr. Harman beat out three other final bidders, including investment firm OpenGate Capital and hedge fund Avenue Capital Group, for the 77-year-old magazine. Terms of the transaction weren't disclosed. However, little to no cash will change hands, people familiar with the matter said.

'Despite my years, I bring energy and a fresh approach,' Mr. Harman said. 'And I'm an experienced and knowledgeable businessman. I have a fundamental respect for the role of journalism and I think it has done no harm when you bring discipline to it.'

Like most magazines, Newsweek has suffered advertising losses as marketers cut back and turned to cheaper alternatives in digital media while its usefulness has been questioned in the era of Internet and cable news.

Other bidders appeared better situated to manage costs. Investment firm OpenGate Capital already publishes TV Guide magazine while hedge fund Avenue Capital Group had a deal lined up with magazine publisher American Media Inc. to handle back-office functions like printing and advertising sales.

Post Co. showed that this was not a purely financial transaction by telling Avenue it was uncomfortable handing over Newsweek to a group that would include National Enquirer publisher AMI.

Mr. Harman has agreed to keep a 'majority' of Newsweek's more than 300 employees, said Post Co., which will assume pension and retirement obligations. Certain severance costs for people not retained by the new owner will also fall on Post Co., according to a person familiar with the transaction.

'In seeking a buyer for Newsweek, we wanted someone who feels as strongly as we do about the importance of quality journalism,' said Post Co. Chairman Donald Graham in a statement.

One employee Newsweek won't keep is editor Jon Meacham, who told his staff Monday that he plans to resign.

Mr. Harman is absorbing an operation with total expenses expected to be about $180 million this year and has agreed to assume far more in liabilities than his nearest competitors, according to a person familiar with the matter. But it was his commitment to retain more employees that ultimately allowed him to prevail at the end of the three-month process.

一家立体声设备公司的91岁创始人西德尼•哈曼(Sidney Harman)已同意从《华盛顿邮报》公司(Washington Post Co.)手中收购《新闻周刊》(Newsweek)杂志。

在最后一轮竞标中，哈曼打败了其他三家竞标机构，购得拥有77年历史的《新闻周刊》。其他竞标机构包括投资公司OpenGate Capital和对冲基金Avenue Capital Group。交易条款没有披露。但知情人士说，这笔交易只涉及少量现金往来，甚至没有。

哈曼说，虽然我年事已高，但我带来了活力和一种新的方针；而且我是一位有阅历、洞明世事的生意人；我对新闻业的作用有着一种基本的尊重，我认为，在得到规范的情况下，新闻业没有造成任何损害。

和多数杂志一样，随着营销机构削减支出，并转向数字媒体中费用更低的广告渠道，《新闻周刊》因广告减少而蒙受损失。同时，这本杂志在互联网和有线电视时代还有多大用处，也受到了质疑。

其他竞标机构显得更有条件管理成本。投资公司OpenGate Capital已经出版有《电视指南》(TV Guide)杂志，对冲基金Avenue Capital Group同杂志出版商美国传媒公司(American Media Inc.)达成了交易，准备承接后者的印刷和广告销售等经营职能。

《华盛顿邮报》公司对Avenue公司说，要把《新闻周刊》交给一个将包括小报《全国调查》(National Enquirer)出版商美国传媒公司的集团，它感到不放心。这说明，它出售《新闻周刊》并不是一项纯粹的财务交易。

《华盛顿邮报》公司说，哈曼已同意保留《新闻周刊》300多名员工的“大多数”，而《华盛顿邮报》公司则将承担养老金和退休金义务。据一位知情人士说，对于不被新雇主保留的人员，其部分离职补偿也将由《华盛顿邮报》公司承担。

《华盛顿邮报》公司董事长格雷顾姆(Donald Graham)发表声明说，在为《新闻周刊》寻找买家的过程中，我们希望买家和我们一样看重高质量新闻的重要性。

《新闻周刊》不会留用的员工当中，有一位是编辑米查姆(Jon Meacham)。他在周一对手下说自己打算辞职。

《新闻周刊》今年的总成本预计将在1.8亿美元上下。一位知情人士说，他同意承担的债务远远超过条件最接近的竞争对手。但最终让他在为期三个月的竞购结束后胜出的，还是他留住更多员工的承诺。