Birmingham Post-Herald from Birmingham, Alabama • 40

Wr i A I December 12 1997 CIO 3 Friday Update TELEVISION AUTOMAKERS Chevrolet hints at new model: Muscle car kweis start drooling Struggling station fires roster of newscasters staff ent newscasts plans with the focus groups and it will come back with a different format Just when that far-mat will appear remains unknown Land refused to discuss the planned format changes saying the station would probably reveal more about that around Dec 30l That's the next-to-last day of work for the 18 employees fired Thursday to unknown if a new news team will be on board by then If not the station could have a news blackout ceastog local news coverage while it revamps its behind the biggest shake-up to Birmingham television's history -It was a shakeup that the stattonh management and even some affected employees said makes sense "We have done exhaustive research with area viewers and focus groups" said Eric Land the stations general manager since March "That has led to the derision we have made today We Just cannot continue to offer a traditional newscast That's already being done to this market" He said the station has tested differ --V By Patrick Rapinskl Bhmdmhan Pmtflerald In the wake of Thursday's across-the-board firing of WBMG42s anchors and on-air reporters a station executive said the CBS affiliate could come back with a larger better-funded news i Chevrolet hinted Thursday that it may launch another Corvette model next year to go along with the two-doar convertible ana twodoar coupe Tte implication is a or some other configuration Chevrolet officials prefer to keep their plana a mystery for now 1 wouhfat be smjxisea if you saw another new Corvette model in the near future" said John MhkOefarook Chevrolet's general manager A Chevrolet spokesman said the company expects to make ananmmeement in mid-1998 The move is surprising because General Motors Clorp Chevrolet division In March hunched its first redesigned Corvette to IS yearn Automakers generally wait up to five years between mnjar announcements or changes in a vehicle But Middlehrook said Chevrolet wants to break with tradition by coining out quickly with something new far the VettaL have ktaof thfags plained far Corvette to keep it alive well and vibrant and an order backlog" be said Middlebrook said Chevrolet currently registers a five-month backlog far Corvette orders The 1997 Corvette with its lowest adling price at around $3800 to the fifth bony style hi the 44-year hbfasy of the American-made sportscar The 97 makeover was an attempt by GM to restore some luster to what had become something of a bloated outdated car Alabama SYNOVUS MORTGAGE Corporation names new chief executive: Mich Michael Padalino has I i I 1 newsroom openrtta Industry toriden not affiliated with 42 nidablackout would allow thexta-tion to hire the personnel it needs train them and let them develop the team chemistry they will need to effectively work togetheron air One industry insider said file station could black out local news far all of January and then bring it back fa February to time to attract viewers tuned into the Winter Olympics which will be shown on CBS Phase tan to WBMGpageCB WORKPLACE Women prospects for few 1 top jobs By Maggie Jacksoa IteAaociatedPMi NEW YORK Women made a small burst of progress to earning the biggest paycbecks in corporate America last year but few female executives are far line to win the highest compsnyposti a research group jn-nounsedTbursday vj At the pinnacle of the Fortune SOO hold few "line" Jobs that directly involve corporate profits and lomes and that traditionally toad to the highest position the research group Catalyst said to its annul tally of women at the topi The survey found that only 20 per-le officers' cent of women corporate the people in the senior ranks ofaoar- pantion hold line positions compared with 41 percent of mate corporate officers I an indicator of where work needs to be done" said Shdla WeOtog-tan president of the respected New Yark'dtybased group devoted to keying women advance to businea'Tlar- porate leaden should take steps to ensure their leadership fa dudewomea" Other results of the study revealed that women hold 10J percent of corporate officer posts to the Fortune SOO up Just slightly from 10 percent-last year and that 24 percent of such companies have no women corporate offices up from 22 percent lari year'Two entire industries mining-crude oil production and textiles have none 1 The only area where women made dramatic program wai fa eamtagi The number of women holding a place among the top five eamen at Fortune 500 companies more than doubled since I99i But the 61 toppaid female executives still make up only 2J percent of the roughly best-compensated executives The groups study was reiessed i day after a UJI study found a rimiar lack of advancement among won worldwide The International LaborOr- i found that women hold Just percent to 5 percent of fan management pasts around the globe despite making up 40 percent of the workforce It said that women UA imwyw earn 68 percent of what their male the mail-like pace of gains MnWriltagton and women corporate officer! interviewed by The Associated Press nevertheless found results encouraging "In very small periods dramatic chmge is not likely" Ml Wellington ew laid in a telephone interview raimber ii going in the right direction although we will remain Please tore to JOBS page Cl been named president and chief executive officer of Synovus Mortgage Cora hi Birmingham Padauno has a yean experience to the mortgage banking industry and to a member of the legislative committee of the Natnial Mortgage Banken Association He to oast-! president of the Alabama Mortgage Banken Aaroriatian Synovus Mortgage Oorp often mortgage servicing far banks throughout the Southeast and services mote than 22j000 mortgage loans worth more than S1J biilioa Synovus Mortgage Oorpi to an affiliate of Georrinbased Synovus Financial Cbrpi a 89 billion nudfifinandal services company comprised of 84 banks in Alabama (including Fint Commercial Bank in Birmtogham) Georgia Florida and South uunUnnSynovui abo owns portions of Total System Services Inc one of the largest credit debit commercial and private-label canl processing companies Synovus Trust Company one of the largest piwiden of trust services and Synovus Securities Inc a full-service brokerage firm Businesses helping (baby) boom teg i in court The Redmond WariL-based software giant bad accuaed Justice Department lawyers of basing their case on an ignorance of computer mftware The Judgeh derision takea aim at a key method that Micronft a model far corporate America in the faformafion age bra used to become the moat important hightedi company Jackaon rejected the governments demand that Microsoft be found to contempt of a 1995 antitrust consent decree signed by the company Aa a remit Microsoft nave to pay a $1 millianday fine might by Attorney General Janet Rem to MICROSOFT page a FJanked by ttieir fraronts Jaoquefirw left and Linden Thompson the five surviving 7-mo nth-old Thompson are shown in front of their 1998 Chevy Astro van The van was donated by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors in Sflver Springs Md The Thompsons made history when thev had tha McCaughey septuptets In Iowa wore bom COMPUTERS The station has lagged hi the local television news ratings ever since it started its newscasts almost a decade ago That did not please file new owners Media General which wanted a change and was the catalyst by 20 percent to 30 percent Jut been selling more this year period" he said Denson said he know what to attribute the boost to but glad it's there Through much of the industry Christmas 1997 has hardly been stellar Consumers have been restrained with their spending and only buy when the price is right While discounters and upscale retail-era have fared best many stores from mom-sndpnp shops tn gfants Dayton Hudson Corp and Sears Roebuck and Gdl have turned to gim- micks to attract shnpenL More evidence of the poor climate came Thursday from the Conn merae Department which said retail sates tore a mere 0J percent in November below estimates far the month The next two weeks can make or break the season Many customer! make their purchases closer to the holidays so stares expect the big rush to start this weekend and really pick up on Dec 20 when holiday vacatron be- gfa- Last year file four biggest dropping Microsoft suffers 1 I jf i i CHAMBER SouthTrust president named chairman of chamber Julian Banton chairman chief executive and president of SouthTrust Bank NA takes over today as chairman of fiw Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce He will serve far a year Banton who will serve a one-year term succeeds William EL Jordan president of the Central Region of Regions Financial Oorp Meanwhile Gary Youngbkxxl president and chief operating officer of Alabama Gas Ooi was named the chambers chairman-elect He will succeed Banton in December 1998 Abo elected to the Chamber's executive committee were: Mason Davis vice chairman and general counsel Tommie Cummings vice chairman and treasurer David Sher vice chairman-business communications Dr Charles A MrCallum vice chairmaneccootnic development Jeannette CL Keller cnalmuu vice chairman-education and wortfarce preparation Barry Copeland vice chairman-governmental affairs Charles Mayer vice chairman- Harrison vice cfaairmanpmgnun development Dr John Raise vice chairman-regional government '1 Dr Lawrence XLemak vice dubmanqrorta development A student at Tsinghua University in Bering presents Bil Gates with a university cap Galen spoke today at the university leedfaig technology institution He would not comment on Washington federal court rufing against his Microsoft Corp SHOPPING Retailers hope sales soar i- during hoildays setback By Hiawatha Bray The Boston Globe A federal Judge has dealt a major setback to the campaign by Microsoft Oorp to extend its domination of the software industry into cyberspace Late Thursday District Court Judge Thomas Fenfirid Jackson to Washington ordered Microsoft to stop farcing computer makers to include its Intend browser on machines that use the Microsoft Windows 95 aperetfag system The judged ruling to the antitrust case brought by the Justice Department also suggnta that Microsoft may be barred from carrying out its plan to build an Internet browser kito its future Wtodows 98 operating qrstem due far release next year days came fa the 11 days before Christmas according to the bterea-tional Owairil of Shopping Centers a New Yart-based trade group But retailers are nervous about what's ahead Foul weather can always wreck a Seaton -Crowds and packed puking fats also may deter some consumers "There doesn't seem to be mrt traffic to the mall as we Cathy Hon owner of The Rock Roll Factory in the Great Ijkes Mali outside Cleveland People seem to be waiting longer far thfags to gn on sale and maktag lists for things they plan to came hack far but that means thelari two weeks will be frenzied Mobs of people frustrate Cynthia Ckawfard who la about to start her to hectic this time of year the Edgewood Pa resident said at mid week If droppers don't flood stores and malls in the next few dayi merchants who are already rumiiv sales and me-rid offers to fine customers will be farced to dash prices That would erode their profits during the critical part of the retailing year Please tan la SALES page MERGER Shareholders In vote an wraimranNw mv wiw im i Corson Plrto Soott doofrSh are holders of t' Inc and Milwaukee's By Rachel Beck The Asndsted Pleas NEW YORK not only con sumers who ore panicking with only 13 I left until Christmas shopping days Time is running out far retailers to make this the solid holiday season many had hoped far Bis not shaping up to be a very good Christmas far a lot of retailers said Kart Barnard a retail consultant and president of Retail Trend Report Many are praying far tint surge of businem soon RetaDen must start bringing shop pers into their stores now if they hope to salvage their Christmas sales A ft many oen consumers wont spend freely to the fi- slow start hu left many nervou that nal days of fiw season Stora are also wanted about being farced to take big markdowuL But locally at least one retailer is more than happy with the dropping season ao tar Demetrius Denson asdstant manager of Thfags Remembered a gift hop specializing fa engraving and mmngAming yhnnifa ggjg Ihh aeasonh sales have been beating lad Carson Plrie Scott A Ox will hold special meetings in their respective cities an Jaa 30 to vote on Carson Pirie merger with The merger would create the faurth largest traditional department store chain in the country with mare than 230 stores in 24 states and revenues 'L of more than 115 biilioa department stores operate under the names of Parisian Yo(mkersHerberger and Carson Pirie stores operate wider file names of Boston Sore Beryeners and Canon Pirie Scott baiaashadM ate i Hn 171111 nr Aholday dropper makes her way through Downtown Despite a ifl sales havo T- acconfing to figures 1 1 1 unemployment sluggish in the months before js released by tha UA Department of Commerce Retailer am looking forward to higher sates during the rest of the holiday.