“Hitler Albums” discovered, contain documentation of looted art

The National Archives announced the “discovery of two original leather bound photograph albums,” which provide documentation on looted art by the Nazis during World War II.

These albums were created by the staff of the Third Reich’s Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR). This special unit was organized in the summer of 1940 under Reich Leader Alfred Rosenberg, initially to collect political material in occupied countries for exploitation in the “struggle against Jewry and Freemasonry.” The ERR established its base of operations in Paris in July 1940 and on November 5, Hermann Goering assigned the ERR the responsibility for the confiscation of “ownerless” Jewish art collections. On November 18 of that year, Adolf Hitler ordered that all confiscated works of art be brought to Germany and placed at his personal disposal. During the next several years, the ERR would be engaged in an extensive and elaborate art looting operation in France that was part of Hitler’s much larger premeditated scheme to steal art treasures from conquered nations.

Though it has been widely known that the Nazis, under the direction of Hitler, confiscated massive collections of art, it was thought that these particular records of note had been destroyed.

Newsweek to cut paid circulation

Falling revenue, the rising cost of postage as well as reduced paid advertisements have prompted Newsweek magazine, owned by the Washington Post Co., to cut paid circulation by 16 percent, equaling about 500,000 copies.

Newsweek cited rising postal and other costs in explaining its decision, according to a media buyer who has been briefed on the plan. “Obviously people are also migrating online for news and information,” said the buyer. “It’s hard to maintain current subscribers and attract new subscribers.”

Newsweek is but one of a number of publications that has decided to cut circulation in recent months. Newsweek’s largest competitor, Time magazine, cut its base earlier this year as well as others such as Playboy, Reader’s Digest and BusinessWeek.

LexisNexis to outsource jobs to “undisclosed overseas location”

LexisNexis, provider of information and business solutions and well known within the law community has announced it will begin job cuts at the beginning of next year. The company plans to move some of its operations overseas with the intent to “improve operational efficiencies.”

According to a statement provide by LexisNexis Thursday afternoon, the company said it is looking at ways to improve operational efficiencies through outsourcing and offshoring of “non-core product development positions,” beginning next year.

“It will result in an unknown number of positions being eliminated in our overall Dayton operations in 2008 and beyond,” the statement said.

The job cuts are expected to occur throughout 2008 and 2009, however, the company maintains that employees who are cut will be eligible for severance and benefits packages.

Historical Society gains historic Native American papers

The South Dakota State Historical Society has recently received 136 rolls of microfilm covering more than 100 years of Indian Rights Association (IRA) history. The reels contain archives from the years 1864-1973.

“These records complement the BIA microfilms for all the South Dakota reservations which are already housed in the state archives,” said Marvene Riis, archives librarian. “In addition, the IRA Papers provide the researcher with a unique insight into Indian affairs, from the IRA, the Indian and the government points of view.”

Sacramento Bee acquires editor from North Carolina

After nearly 25 years as executive editor of the News & Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina, Melanie Still now leads the Sacramento Bee. Last month, Bee editor Rick Rodriguez resigned over a dispute involving ‘differences in opinion’ of the future of the Bee.

Though changes are on the horizon for the Sacramento Bee, Still believes her new position will not effect current plans.

“That’s the atmosphere in the news industry right now. On the journalism side, it’s a time of change,” she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “What I want to focus on is taking the great news values that the Bee has and finding new ways to do journalism.”