UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
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PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 13, 2017
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Commission file number: 1-33741
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Delaware	 	38-3765318	
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	 	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)	
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P. O. Box 224866, Dallas, Texas 75222-4866	 	(214) 977-8222	
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)	 	(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)	
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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☐        Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐        Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐        Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐        Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arranagements of Certain Officers. 
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On February 13, 2017, A. H. Belo Corporation (the “Company”) announced that Grant S. Moise has been promoted to Executive Vice President of the Company and General Manager of  The Dallas Morning News . In addition to his current responsibilities, Mr. Moise will assume oversight over all operations of  The Dallas Morning News including information technology, marketing, digital, circulation, production and commercial printing, as well as share co-responsibility with the Publisher for the news organization. In connection with his promotion, Mr. Moise will receive a compensation package that consists of a base salary of $475,000, effective as of January 1, 2017, with a target bonus opportunity set at 70% of his base salary. Consistent with other executive officers of the Company, one-half of Mr. Moise’s target bonus will be based upon individual objectives (IOs) and one-half upon financial performance metrics. IOs for all executive officers, including Mr. Moise, are comprised of performance metrics, based on a point system allocated to each objective which includes threshold, target and maximum performance and payout ranges for each objective of 50%, 100% and 150%, respectively. In addition, Mr. Moise will be entitled to receive long-term incentive compensation valued at $300,000 annually. Long-term incentive compensation awards, comprised of equity grants under the Company’s incentive plan and long-term cash incentives, will be made by the Compensation Committee at its regularly-scheduled meeting in March 2017, at which time the Compensation Committee will also set the financial performance targets and individual objectives for all executive officers.
Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)  Exhibits.
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    99.1  Press release dated February 13, 2017
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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Date:  February 13, 2017	A. H. BELO CORPORATION	
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﻿	By:	 	/s/ Christine E. Larkin	
﻿	 	 	Christine E. Larkin	
﻿	 	 	Senior Vice President/General Counsel &	
﻿	 	 	Secretary	
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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99.1  Press Release dated February 13, 2017
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Exhibit 99.1
Media Contact:
Katy Murray
SVP/CFO
A. H. Belo Corporation
invest@ahbelo.com                                                                                          
 
A. H. BELO CORPORATION APPOINTS NEW LEADERSHIP
 
Grant S. Moise Promoted to Executive Vice President of A. H. Belo Corporation and General Manager of The Dallas Morning News
 
 DALLAS (Feb.13, 2017) — A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) announced today the promotion  of Grant S. Moise as Executive Vice President of A. H. Belo Corporation and General Manager of  The Dallas Morning News.  He will report to Jim Moroney, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of A. H. Belo Corporation, and Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of  The Dallas Morning News .  
 
In his new role, Moise will be responsible for all core functions instrumental in delivering one of the nation's best daily local news media reports combined with excellent customer service. The news department will co-report to both Moroney and Moise.
 
“Grant has played a pivotal role in reimagining our business, leading the build-out of Speakeasy and the start-up of Proven Performance Media, in addition to spearheading the acquisitions of Distribion, Vertical Nerve and Marketing FX,” said Moroney.  
 
According to Moroney, Moise also led the transformation of The Dallas Morning News sales department, optimizing its capabilities in order to deliver marketing solutions that provide accountability and tangible returns on investment for its customers. Most recently, Moise led a five-year strategic planning process analyzing the company's risks and opportunities through 2021   and outlining a path forward to ensure the long-term success of the business.  
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“Our industry has faced significant challenges, and Grant has demonstrated the skills to execute on strategy and pivot as needed in leading our team as we build for the future,” added Moroney. 
 
Previously, Moise served as the Senior Vice President of Business Development for A. H. Belo and President of DMN Media. He managed mergers and acquisitions for A. H. Belo and oversaw the integration of new companies into the company’s marketing solutions ecosystem – including  The Dallas Morning News  core assets ,  as well as six new businesses that were built or acquired during the past five years. In his role at DMN Media, Moise had responsibility for the success of products and companies such as Briefing ,   Al Dia , as well as new ventures like Speakeasy and DMV Digital Holdings. Prior to that, Moise was Vice President of Digital for  The Dallas Morning News . Before his return to  The Dallas Morning News  in 2008, Moise was the Vice President of Direct Channel Sales for Tribune Media Net where he oversaw all advertising from traditional media buying channels.
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“In the 175-year history of our company, the audiences consuming our news and information have never been larger,” said Moise. “It is an exciting time to be part of the

 

A. H. Belo Corporation and The Dallas Morning News as we find innovative ways to effectively inform and engage these audiences.”
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Added Moise, “Quality journalism plays an important role in our society, and I believe that  The Dallas Morning News  is uniquely positioned to be successful in today’s dynamic media landscape. I look forward to leading the business operations for  The Dallas Morning News  for years to come.”
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Moise is on the boards of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association (SNPA), the Neeley School of Business Advisory Board at Texas Christian University, and the Providence Christian School of Texas. He is a graduate of the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas and has a Master of Business Administration from Texas Christian University.
 
About A. H. Belo Corporation
A. H. Belo Corporation is a leading local news and information publishing company with commercial printing, distribution and direct mail capabilities, as well as expertise in emerging media and digital marketing. With a continued focus on extending the Company's media platform, A. H. Belo Corporation delivers news and information in innovative ways to a broad spectrum of audiences with diverse interests and lifestyles. For additional information, visit ahbelo.com or email invest@ahbelo.com.
 
About The Dallas Morning News
Established in 1885, The Dallas Morning News is Texas’ leading newspaper and the flagship newspaper subsidiary of A. H. Belo Corporation. It   has received nine Pulitzer Prizes since 1986, as well as numerous other industry awards recognizing the quality of its investigative and feature journalism, design and photojournalism. Its portfolio of print and digital products reaches an average weekly audience of more than 1.6 million adults within DFW and includes online news and information sites; iPhone, Android and iPad apps;  Al Día  (www.aldiadallas.com), the leading Spanish-language publication in North Texas; and  Briefing,  the free, home-delivered quick-read. In addition ,   CrowdSource was created as an independent business division to assist event organizers and producers with its operational, marketing and promotional needs. SpeakEasy, a content and social media agency was similarly created independently to serve brands that want to write their brand story and manage their online reputations.  Plus,  A.H. Belo has majority ownership in  Distribion, Vertical Nerve and MarketingFX, three companies that specialize in local marketing automation, search engine marketing, direct mail and promotional products. To advertisers, the portfolio of products is represented by DMNmedia (www.DMNmedia.com), the marketing solutions group of  The Dallas Morning News , Inc. For more information about the publication and its entities, visit www.dallasnews.com.
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