An agreement with the L.A. Times was previously denied by the Pac-12GETTY IMAGES
The Pac-12 in '18 was experiencing "deep distress," and in that year "struck a deal ... with the Los Angeles Times that aimed to steer $100,000 in advertising to the newspaper in exchange for an expansion in conference coverage," according to John Canzano of the Portland OREGONIAN. The conference hired a high-profile crisis-management firm and began working on a playbook that "directed the conference to 'seek to identify positive voices that could shift the conversation.'" That plan further instructed the conference to '"expand upon media partnerships' with two primary media platforms -- the Los Angeles Times and The Players' Tribune." The Pac-12, which "long denied there was a formalized agreement," for the first time "now acknowledges it signed a contract to provide advertising revenue to The Times." The Pac-12 promised "special access" for Times reporter Blake Richardson. Pac-12 VP/Public Affairs & Head of Communications Andrew Walker "offered to pave the way" for the newly hired Richardson. Walker suggested "scheduled twice-monthly telephone calls with the reporter," and he offered that Richardson could even be "embedded with Cal's basketball team on a trip to China." Walker also invited Richardson to the conference's downtown S.F. HQ to "meet with conference Commissioner Larry Scott" and Pac-12 Networks President Mark Shuken. L.A. Times President & COO Chris Argentieri acknowledged that the newspaper was "approached and held deep discussions with the Pac-12 Conference," and he also "confirmed that Walker was the lead contact from the conference." Argentieri: "No revenue was generated. No payment was made" (Portland OREGONIAN, 7/30).
