Petrelis Files

NY Post Punches Pinch; FEC Files for Rival Golden

Ouch! Pinch sure gets punched, news-wise and pictorially, in Sunday's New York Post business section article by Peter Lauria.

He writes about Sulzberger Jr.'s myriad woes from the news room and the boardroom, and ponders who might replace him, if the extended Sulzberger cousins decide that's necessary.

Lauria reports: "The most frequently mentioned candidate to usurp Sulzberger's power is International Herald Tribune publisher and first cousin Michael Golden."

Now, you know me and I how feel about media names in the news--have to look at their FEC files. This is Golden's file, as listed on NewsMeat.com.

GOLDEN, MICHAEL
THE NEW YORK TIMES CO
MOYNIHAN, DANIEL PATRICK (D)
$1,000
12/01/93

GOLDEN, MICHAEL
NY TIMES WOMEN'S MAGAZINE
SASSER, JAMES RALPH (D)
$250
05/14/93

GOLDEN, MICHAEL
NEW YORK TIMES CO
MOYNIHAN, DANIEL PATRICK (D)
$500
11/30/92

GOLDEN, MICHAEL
NYT WOMENS MAGAZINES
MINETA, NORMAN Y (D)
$250
11/02/92

There is one other donation listed for a Michael Golden, but the listing doesn't say who his employer is, so it may not be a contribution from the Timesman, with that caveat, here's the information:

GOLDEN, MICHAEL
NEW YORK, NY 10024
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (D)
$3,000
09/29/92

What can be gleaned from Golden's giving? Two glaring points. He donated only to Democrats, no real surprise there, and the checks were written out more than a decade ago.

So if the Sulzberger cousins tire of Arthur Jr. and his rocky, unprofitable ways, and Golden becomes chairman of the New York Times Company, based on his long-ago political contributions, I'd say he'd continue the liberal slant of the newspaper. Something that should give comfort to the extended family, many stockholders and a big chunk of readers.

Read his bio and check out his photo at his page at the NYTCo site.