Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday | Nov. 21 | Got news, or a question?
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98 comments:
Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."
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Wow! I wrote the first comment!
ReplyDeleteI second that!
ReplyDeleteLet me take a minute and knock out all of the reoccurring themes that we have to read about every single day;
ReplyDelete1. Larry St.Cyr to the rescue!!!!!!!!
2. POOPGATE!
3. Something about BJs on Cincy's moms site.
4. No one in Jersey is worth a crap (except that poster).
5. Some random guy brags how he sold Gannett at 80 bucks a share and his 401K is up 245% or something.
6. Corp management sucks!
7. My newspaper's top management sucks!
8. My newspaper's middle management sucks!
9. The guy/girl next to me sucks!
10. Last, and this is a new one, Jim Hopkins sucks! (I personally dont understand that last one but it has started the last few days)
LOL. We ALL suck because we've been going to that Cincy Moms site!
ReplyDeleteAmusing thought, but Saridakis's eyeball hit data is going to be way overstated this month because of the outsiders are flocking to the Cincy Mom's site to see what the fuss is all about.
ReplyDelete9:21 thanks for making laugh out loud.
ReplyDeleteYou only skipped one...
Thanks for stopping by, (fill in the blank)
If GCI sinks under $5, will they still put a share in our 401K, or will they go along with pension fund rules that refuse to allow any stocks under $5 to be put into employee pension funds? Just s curious I had while reading stories about how pension funds are preparing to dump Citigroup if it sinks under $5.
ReplyDeleteWith stocks this low, is a good time to open a 401K? Will you potentially be making a profit, or just losing money?
ReplyDeleteJim, you should use your videos to produce a real time documentary about Gannett. Perhaps you can interview former employees and others who can talk about what the death of the newspaper will mean to the country.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to throw away money. Stocks are going lower.
ReplyDeleteI am so sick of writing stories that I know nobody else wants to read. Unfortunately, because I am not allowed the freedom, most of the time, to choose my own story topics, my bosses often assign stories, and they are some of the most lame, trite, boring topics that you can imagine.
ReplyDeleteI really want to ask them sometimes, "Would you seriously want to read that?" Because that would be a good litmus test. Sadly, I am left to waste my time writing stories that offer nothing new for our readers.
Can anyone hook me up with some of those Cincy moms we keep hearing about?
ReplyDeleteThey are married -- moms.
ReplyDeleteSince we started a new one...here it is again.
ReplyDeleteNashville and MTCN papers - employee "Awards" meeting with Publisher today. During Q & A session she said they are cutting 100 positions to be announced either the 3rd or 4th of December. 22 of those 100 will be from unfilled openings. So the count is 78 positions.
there is a child star working at my nj group paper... For real.
ReplyDelete10:14 Out of how many total employees? Any details of who on the list? And other details? We are all starved for any info. on how this is going to be carried out.
ReplyDeleteAn email sent to all KUSA-TV employees this evening around 7pm mountain time.
ReplyDeleteTo my colleagues at 9News:
All of you here have worked very hard over the past few years to stave off the business and economic conditions that are impacting our industry. Even so, the challenges are deepening and we must face them head on.
To that end, we are offering a voluntary severance program to some employees at our station who are age 55 or older and have a minimum of 10 years of credited service. Eligible employees are receiving detailed information about the offer now.
Department Heads and employees with personal services contracts are not eligible for this offer.
Even though you are not eligible for this program, we wanted you to know what is happening.
Also, you need to know that if the voluntary offer does not result in a sufficient number of volunteers, or if business conditions worsen, it may be necessary to consider other expense reductions, including layoffs.
We know this is very difficult for everyone involved. It is extremely important to me that everyone understands these reductions are not in any way a reflection of the work these employees have done. All of them are our colleagues and friends.
And, because we already have seen a reduction in staff through attrition or other initiatives, we expect our work loads and processes will need to change. This is a continuing challenge for everyone.
Your patience and loyalty under these circumstances has been remarkable, and I deeply appreciate it. If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor or our human resources representative.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Cornetta
President & General Manager
KUSA-TV/KTVD-TV
303-871-1464(p)
303-871-1819(f)
Here we go Broadcast... what stations are next?
ReplyDeleteThe Tennessean has about 1,100 employees. 850 full-time. 250 part-time.(stats from Careerbuilder) Not sure how many employees are part of Middle Tennessee Community Newspapers (MTCN). Any more news from Nashville?
ReplyDeleteis it true about currie?
ReplyDeleteis what true about currie?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but I need to blow off some steam. I f'ing hate everyone. Can we get this over with yet, please???
ReplyDeleteRE: Tennessean
ReplyDeleteThe Area Circulation Manager responsible for metro circulation has announced he is retiring just ahead of the layoffs.
This tension headache seems like it's not going away soon and might as well become part of the family. What should I name it?
ReplyDelete2:02, I know several circ people there, who is it that is retiring? Initials only if you prefer.
ReplyDelete3:31 a.m.: Craig?
ReplyDeleteJim, put 9:21's list at the top of every 'real time' and you'll serve your readers.... but cut your comments. What a dilemma! Gaining eyeballs or giving quality to those eyeballs.
ReplyDeleteOur local advertising is way up, like 20% over last year. Our reps are busting ass bringing in every piddly little 2x3 they can find.
ReplyDeleteWhat's killing our number is Verizon, Macy's, Younkers, AT&T, Alltel, Sprint, etc have stopped running those 5x18 - 6x20 full color ads in ROP.
In our midwest market, we nail around 75% penetration on a weekly basis. Practically everyone that is literate and has three quarters to rub together picks up our paper.
But because we've done such a great frickin job of telling the country that newspapers are dead, guess what? People believe it.
Newspapers work. When an advertiser has a message that is actually worthwhile to our audience, that audience will respond. Not for a lousy 10% off coupon, but when we feature something unique that advertiser offers, they get results.
Yesterday one our very BEST sales personnel gave his notice. VB is leaving the APP Titanic before the lay-offs hit. He DESERVES the buyout package and good wishes from everyone. He was and is a stellar employee and person. Good luck to you!
ReplyDelete@5:29...you are living in a bubble. Newspapers ARE DEAD! There is no future for a print product and your large advertisers already understand that. Your sales teams are wasting their time selling classified ads.
ReplyDeleteROP is like throwing money into a fire for an advertiser.
Unfortunately, this economy will put a knife in the heart of newspapers.
In the end, we will need Larry St. Cyr to the rescue!!!
The entire state of New Jersey and all the newspapers in that crappy state should be laid off.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone in NJ even know how to read?
5:29 -- You sound like a small-business retailer friend of mine. He's been complaining to me that the only reason this is going to be a lousy holiday shopping season is that the "damned media is telling everyone that the country is headed for a recession."
ReplyDeleteReally? I'm cutting back on my holiday spending because I'm terrified that I'm going to be out of work, if not within the next three weeks, then sometime next year. Other people I know have been laid off, and are cutting back for an even more pressing reason.
ReplyDeleteIt makes no sense for me to spend big bucks on expensive Christmas presents when I could save some of that for a rainy day and give homemade gifts or simply time to my close family and friends.
Even if the recession's not true, a sense of frugality is not a bad thing. Buy-buy-buy isn't a healthy mindset. I'm sorry for your retailer friend, but that's the danger of going into any business.
6:18am
ReplyDeleteI guess when they're done moving the CN out of their already sold building to their rented space, they'll nail a couple more useless individuals. Need to have certain personnel on-site for all the work with the move and then they're history! And you're right about their lack of education (although they can read): some staffers don't even have a college education!
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081118/gannett_tax_ruling.html?.v=1
ReplyDeleteWonder how much this tax ruling will set the company back, and also wonder how many times Gannett did something like this in states other than Maine?
The only ignorance you expose when you blast NJ is your own. This is one of the most highly educated states in the country, with a huge concentration of colleges and universities, lots of wealth (not that that is helping the rest of us right now), a giant tourist trade and major hospitals, biomedical and pharmeceutical coporations and research labs. I realize you are angry and scared, but find something useful to say, please. No one is asking you to move here, and I have about 200 journalist friends in this state that I am extremely worried about right now and don't need your tired, uninformed stereotypes. I am sure your state, like mine, has plenty of positives and plenty of negatives and none of that matters now. This is the Titantic and whatever class you're in, we're going down.
ReplyDeleteAfter all the NJ comments, I feel better about living in the south.
ReplyDelete9:59 -- It's still a fine time to open a 401k, particularly if you won't need the money for years. The unbeatable thing about a 401k is the company match. Even though the market has been hammered this year, I still have slightly more money than I've put in because of that match.
ReplyDeleteBe careful, however, to move your Gannett stock into something else every month. You get your match in GCI, which isn't great, but if you move it frequently you won't take heavy losses.
Also, you can choose to invest in things like bonds and fixed-income funds, which are very low risk. If you're not a gambler, It wouldn't be bad to put all your money in something like that for awhile. Then, you can move into stocks when the market recovers.
Or you could be aggressive and buy heavily into things like the S&P 500 now and see major gains in 10 years if things turn around. How you approach it depends on how much risk you're willing to take and what you expect to happen in the next five or 10 years.
Another plus you have is that you're not going to "open" a 401k with $20k. You will be somewhat protected from all of these fluctuations because you will be starting with a small amount of seed money and buying low.
So, if you can spare the cash from your paycheck, I'd go for it.
anyone who doesn't have a 401(k) -- even now -- is making a terrible mistake.
ReplyDeletefirst, it's like getting a raise up to 5%.
second, whatever you put in now isn't taxed, which is almost like getting another raise.
third, if you have several years to go before retirement, you have a chance to score pretty big when the market eventually recovers (hopefully under sensible regulation, given what once again has been proved about corporate irresponsibility, short-sightedness and greed).
if you have college-bound kids, what you have in a 401(k) is "invisible" for purposes of getting them financial aid. (and as suze orman points out, you can borrow for college, but you can't borrow for retirement.)
even if you have only a short time before retirement, shelter as much as you can from taxes now. if you've made it to your early 60s, the odds are very good you'll live to be 80something, and you'll need more money each year. (and if something takes you out before 80, either you'll need the money for medical expenses or your heirs will need it.)
Wow, 6:18, so much hatred for the state home to the man whose work led to you being able to make that post.
ReplyDeleteYou have heard of Thomas Edison, I assume.
Or maybe that hatred is coming from the man who wrecked so many families and careers in Jersey that he put his own family in hiding.
No need to fear us worker bees. You'll get yours. A higher power than us worker bees you destroyed will take care of that.
Today is the open enrollment deadline. Make sure you go to the YBR site and check everything out. Here in my state (yeah yeah I'm in NJ, shaddup I'm trying to be nice) Gannett/YBR opted us all into the spousal surcharge and smoker surcharge, even if it didn't apply. So we had to change that.
ReplyDeleteSo go log in and make sure everything is kosher.
( www.ybr.com/gannett )
10:11, do you remember the first year of the spousal surcharge, when they not only opted everyone in but phrased the question on the site such that if you didn't read it carefully, you didn't change it?
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, 6:18, who spit in your oatmeal this morning?
Wow. Is Gannett slowing down hiring? Only three jobs posted today and one yesterday in the publishing division. If you think you're getting laid off soon, might be interesting to see if Gannett has already prepared by posting something similar to your job.
ReplyDeleteHere is my question: Why don't more managers spill the beans on the site? I know for a fact that at least one mid-to-high level manager at my paper reads it, based on the remark of the top city editor. Why doesn't he anonymously post the secrets he knows on the comments? Surely, he is not the only person who knows how many people will be laid off at my paper, so how could he be traced? I'm sure this is replicated at many other Gannett papers, but it seems the only people who comment are lower-level staff like myself who are completely in the dark. Even my editor, a middle manager local editor, is unsure who of the six people he supervises will be let go, or if he will even have a job. Are these higher up city editors, feature editors, sports editors, news editors, etc., that loyal? Why aren't they sharing what they know in this venue?
ReplyDeleteHey 6:14 AM, newspapers are dwindling because of people like you, not because people don't want the paper. If you don't buy it and read it, fine, but don't put your self doom and gloom on an industry that helped build this country. Go stand outside any store in the am when papers are late and listen to the stuff from someone who is waiting. Listen to the stores repeat what they have to hear when papers are late. Too bad you don't know or understand what a newspaper is, or was, and it's place in society.
ReplyDelete6:18, actually the problem with NJ is that many know how to read too well and they choose the more 'sophisticated' papers like the NYT, WJ and Financial Times. The local, local is falling flat. So yeah, you might be right in that Gannett won't make it in NJ too much longer.
ReplyDeleteAbout pensions, what % of the retirement money is the fiduciary keeping in Gannett stock?
ReplyDelete10:18 Because the managers don't know. I suspect, but do not know, that this round of cuts is going to swing very heavily through management ranks because that saves GCI bigger bucks than cutting again at the rank and file. The chiefs have a bulls-eye on their backs, and they are as much in the dark as you are.
ReplyDelete8:02 am - did you bother to read the article for the link you posted?
ReplyDeleteIt won't set Gannett back anything (other than lawyer fees). Gannett was seeking a $718K refund on taxes they already paid the state back in 2000, but lost that appeal.
Has anyone heard about Phoenix?
ReplyDeletewe< managers, don't spill cause sooner or later someone is going to say something slanderous and then the lawsuit will ask for all Ip information and we will be exposed. That's why.
ReplyDeleteok enough of the boo hoo crap. Lets start making some real suggestions to help save our jobs:
ReplyDelete1. If we survive Dec 3 we will be thankful to keep our jobs. I propose we all suck it up in 2009. From the CEO to the inserter no pay increases, no bonuses, no increase to income what so ever.
2. All perks that don't generate revenue go out the window. A freeze for one year on tuition reimbursement, adoption, scholarships, president's rings, country club reimbursements, company cars (I mean really would any top level exec turn down their job if they had to drive their own vehicle), expense reimbursements for any alcohol, etc
3. Sorry former CEO but you know have to recruit and pay for your own nannies. If a reporter has to get laid off, you should have to pay for your own nanny. All top level execs have to pay for their health care, security systems, and legal assistance.
4. Bottom line, if it doesn't produce revenue, direct and measurable, it doesn't get reimbursed.
5. All forms of travel are restricted until revenues come back. All work is done by telephone and webex.
6. Eliminate any function that doesn't produce revenue, deliver or create information. That means no wasted time on All American Awards, reports no one reads, Best of Gannett, Chairman Awards, etc. You don't single out a property or an individual when everyone is pitching in to keep us afloat. We don't need to waste any time on distractions that keep us from focusing on the core values.
7. Yo editors, enough already with wasting tons of ink and newsprint on how our business sucks. TV doesn't do it. Radio doesn't do it. Online doesn't do it. But you can't wait to get to work and tell the world circulation is down and advertising is even worse. You are all sitting in your office today boo hooing about having to eliminate key staff. Yet you helped shape the climate with your lust to be the first to print the bad news. Enough already. elieve it or not I am a loyal Gannettoid and I want to see us return to glory. But it is time to take action, stop rewarding ourselves with perks that have nothing to do with retention, generating contests and reports that are meaningless and only recognize a few, and telling the we suck.
yeah, I am very curious what is happening in Phoenix, too. Any intell?
ReplyDeleteThanks.
In Westchester, the editors promised to spare "content creators." Any word on whether this is still the plan?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteOk what is teh back story with Larry. It is funny but I don't get it. He is a rather undistinguished executive. How come he is the guy to the rescue?
ReplyDelete12:33 pm:
ReplyDeleteI didn't hear Westchester editors "promise" that "content providers" would be spared. They said they didn't "think" they would be hit. that's not a promise.
At least one manager who claims to have seen the hit list says it includes sports and lifestyles types.
What are the chances of Gannett totally collapsing?
ReplyDeleteMemo from this morning in Phoenix:
ReplyDeleteTo: KPNX 12 News Team
From: John Misner
All of you have worked very hard over the past few years to serve our viewers with high-quality news programming and to serve local businesses with advertising solutions. Even so, Arizona’s economic challenges are deepening and we must take some steps to further reduce the station’s operating expenses.
To that end, we are offering a voluntary severance program to some employees at our station who are age 55 or older and have a minimum of 10 years of credited service. Eligible employees have received detailed information about the offer. Department Heads and employees with personal services contracts are not eligible for this offer.
Even though you are not eligible for this program, we wanted you to know what is happening. You also need to know that if the voluntary offer does not result in a sufficient number of volunteers, or if business conditions worsen, it may be necessary to consider other expense reductions, including layoffs.
We know this situation is very difficult for everyone involved. It is extremely important to me that everyone understands these reductions are not in any way a reflection of the work these employees have done. All of them are our colleagues and friends. This offer is being made to them simply because they meet the criteria mentioned above.
Also, because we already have seen a reduction in staff through attrition and other initiatives, we expect our work loads and processes will continue to evolve. This is a continuing challenge for everyone, but a challenge I know we can meet given our progress on many fronts. Ultimately we will successfully work through these tough times by focusing on our viewers and customers.
Your commitment to 12 News has been remarkable and I deeply appreciate it. If you have any questions about this program or the station’s direction in general, please see your department head, Emily or me.
12:33 p.m. -- Any word on other Westchester departments? Like the news desk, graphics, business news or metro?
ReplyDelete"Eligible employees have received detailed information about the offer."
ReplyDeleteNotice how we keep the details secret, but we put the newspaper details right in the memo? I bet they are getting more then 1 week per year service.
12:59. Run the numbers for yourself. Do a search for Altman Z score, and then using the data you can get from GCI's financial statements, fill in the numbers. Don't forget the $1.2 billion in debt GCI has taken, which is not reflected in the previous statements.
ReplyDeleteWhen I did it, I came up with a score showing GCI is very precarious and likely to go bankrupt within two years. That was using GCI data compiled before this year's economic downturn.
The Altman Z score is what professional investors use to determine whether or not to put money in a company. As you can see from the stock price, investors have already voted with their pocket books. We are in really deep trouble.
Any news on the Nashville office? I am looking for information on the people letting go around December. It's all seems to be hush hush. Someone has to know something. Will people be let go then or has the date been moved up?
ReplyDeletethis from The Ville Voice blog. Courier-Journal publisher meets the local SPJ chapter:
ReplyDeleteMaybe I was just hoping that C-J publisher Arnold Garson would be a jerk, so that it would be easier to take shots at him for what he’s being forced to do to the local newspaper. What a disappointment.
Garson is personable, open, willing to answer any question. He’s a news guy, stressing the importance of the news gathering operation. Looks like he’d be more comfortable in a newsroom than a sales meeting. Wears a brown sport coat, not a business suit. He recognizes the crisis his business is in, and just finds himself in the difficult position of having to make weighty decisions.
He was the guest of honor last night at Jennica’s, where he sat on a barstool and talked with a couple dozen of us about the future of the newspaper business. There was several C-J staffers there, though not as many as I’d have expected. I think Al Cross and I were the only ones taking notes.
And he’s moving soon into an East End home, in a neighborhood he couldn’t remember, but looking forward to moving from a 500-SF apartment.
Here’s some highlights of Garson’s talk:
-All businesses in America are under economic pressure. When the economy comes back, the newspaper business is in a good position.
-The success of the business is linked to its watchdog role, that’s something we must not forget.
-Layoffs - we’re assessing jobs, not people, and public service reporting and First Amendment issues won’t be sacrificed.
-Online advertising makes up just 10 percent of revenue. Garson acknowledges being behind the game and had hoped online revenue would be larger. They’re just now hiring internet-only ad reps.
-Circulation will continue to decline, but Garson claims the C-J reaches an astonishing 85 percent of adults. And while he said he would never say never, he doesn’t foresee a future in which the paper’s print edition would be cut back to less than seven days a week.
-Decision-making will remain local for news and sales. Beyond that, there are ways to consolidate operations within Gannett.
-HerScene, which will be published quarterly in 2009, as a home run for the operation.
-Declining readership in business news creates an opportunity for difficult choices there.
I am pretty sure all the papers will be leting the 10%ers go in the first week of Dec. Nashville included.
ReplyDelete1:08, I thought Westchester already eliminated the graphics department.
ReplyDelete1:34 Yes, he is a good guy. The real question is why would they bring in a 67 year old guy as a new publisher. Did he say how many years he was going to stay?
ReplyDeleteThere was well-founded speculation that USAT staffers would be receiving an email by today about staff reductions, which would then be followed up by a staff meeting early next week. So far that email has not been received and there is still no official announcement. Anyone know anything about this situation or what is causing the delay in releasing the information? Despite it being known for days that something is probably coming down at USAT, I've read virtually nothing about it. That in itself seems rather odd.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the Phil Currie news? Let's get on the stick here.
ReplyDeleteJust heard Phil Currie announced his retirement.
ReplyDeleteNo more corporate VPs except for Leslie, right?
ReplyDeleteNews about possible layoffs at Gannett's NBC-affliate KARE-11 in the Twin Cities: http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2008/11/21/4784/kare11_seeks_buyouts_threatens_layoffs
ReplyDeleteCurrie was yesterday's news.
ReplyDeleteI just removed a 12:52 pm comment written by someone claiming to be Gannett vice president/group controller Larry St. Cyr.
ReplyDeleteLarry tells me in an e-mail: "There was a comment on your blog today under my name. I did not place it there and would appreciate your removing it. I understand that you can’t control the comments that include my name but the one that claims to be me you can control."
That was very nicely put.
ReplyDeleteLet's stick to the 'thanks for stopping by, craig' brilliant humor and leave identity theft to shallow losers instead.
I agree with the article and I still believe that USA TODAY will survive...
ReplyDeletehttp://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=132752
12:22 PM - Can we hire you to be the CEO of Gannett?!
ReplyDeleteCan anyone shed any light on the Mississippi papers situation?
ReplyDeleteI struggled with my concentration this week, but I really can't imagine how I will focus next week. I wish we could just get this over with, even though I know I could be in the unemployment lines.
ReplyDeleteI was productive this week, which is to say I was bored. And still I filed several stories and prepared for next week.
ReplyDeleteYet this afternoon, I somehow felt wrong for having let the time slip away. It basically was a throwaway day, aside from a couple of small tasks, and I felt guilty.
That's the sort of innate devotion newspapers should learn to cultivate and reward. But now? Now all I want is the spoiler to this poorly written tale of corporate malfeasance.
And my mind wanders: Wouldn't it be empowering and amusing if we agreed to wear black on Tuesday, Dec. 2, the eve of the Great Layoff?
A simple declaration of solidarity. No walkout or anything like that. Just a color. They would get the point.
We in Westchester got this from our publisher today:
ReplyDeleteI wish each and everyone of you a Happy Thanksgiving. May your holiday reflect the spirit of the holiday. Thanks to each of you for your contributions to our success during the past year.
Yes, I have thought about having a happy Thanksgiving. But there is this little problem hanging over my head that isn't allowing me to have any delights at this time. I have this nagging suspicion that within days, my life is going to be thrown in turmoil. I hope your Thanksgiving is just as tormented.
ReplyDeleteThat is alot more then we got in Cherry Hill N.J.. We will get ours later 12-2-09.
ReplyDeleteDid all the employees in Westchester get the holiday note from the publisher or just 90% of you?
ReplyDeleteThe "spirit of the holiday": Either you will be on the street by Christmas, or you will be working for a company heading for bankruptcy, with no solid idea how to dig itself out of the mess its leaders have got it into. So, enjoy your Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteHave readers of any gannett papers reacted as sharply as they have to news that Argsu leader political reporter Terry Woster is leaving?
much reaction to this on the leading political blog in south dakota - http://dakotawarcollege.com/archives/6179
12:22 wrote: "Bottom line, if it doesn't produce revenue, direct and measurable, it doesn't get reimbursed. ... All forms of travel are restricted until revenues come back. All work is done by telephone and webex."
ReplyDeleteI really, really hope that you're not on the LIC side of things, and just have no clue how journalism works. Not every interview can be conducted by phone. Most city council meetings aren't Webcast or broadcast. And how are photographers supposed to do their jobs without mileage reimbursement? Set up little re-enactments with Hot Wheels and action figures in the studio?
Is the publisher in Westchester kidding? "our success in the past year" The past year might be our last year!
ReplyDeleteI would love to know who the bastard visitor in Nashville was today, who, upon being led past my department, commented that we didn't look like we were working very hard. (Comment being made to the publisher when he thought he was out of earshot.)
ReplyDeleteThank you very freakin' much, but I was on my lunch break and saved the personal business call I needed to make until that time. And what did he expect to witness from the others, who sitting and glued to their computer screens? Must one have sweat pouring off their brow in order to be productive? Do you know, sir, what's required of actually writing the content and designing the pages for a publication?
I'm just royally pissed off.
If it doesn't produce revenue it doesn't get reimbursed. Why is Giallombardo still there?
ReplyDeleteToday's Courier News had a nice article telling us all that some states will be slashing unemployment benefits. Was it that silly pants managing editor's idea of a joke? Little does he know that he is at the top of the list of "expendables" in the office pools at both papers.
ReplyDeletesome of what came out of the louisville meeting was "we're looking at positions, not jobs" in considering lay-offs.. if thats the case, should employees be thinking more carefuly about which positions to seek out eg: if I take a position with an online venture, and that venture doesn't work out after 6 months or a year, does that put me at greater risk of a lay-off ? you know, if the position goes away, I go away with it ?
ReplyDelete10:09, he is the uber-Gannettoid, if you get my drift. There was never a Gannett directive handed to him that he didn't like. Pet photo pages and school assembly pictures were always more important than how much taxpayer money the Bridgewater mayor has lavished on herself. So much for watchdog journalism. If he could make the paper full of cute kids and puppy dog tails every day, he would.
ReplyDeleteJust realized that both EE and ME have had a lot of relatives working in the newsroom. Not that any of those relatives were of spectacular talent.
BLACK TUESDAY 12/2?? i LIKE it!
ReplyDeleteblack is the color of mourning, and god knows we've got plenty to mourn. our jobs, and in some cases, our integrity, have been/will be ripped away from us though we've done nothing wrong.
spread the word --paint it black. no cheerful holiday sweaters, no grinch ties, just black, black, black everywhere the bosses look.
Paint It Black, 12:23am! Yeah, I think I have that on my itunes...hmmm... might blast it from my Mac that day too. Pass it on... Black clothes, Paint It Black on itunes. Yeah, sounds like a plan.
ReplyDeleteMore than likely the ball is dropping Monday or Tuesday at USAT. Paulson is trying to have his Editorial meeting on Monday instead of Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteBLACK TUESDAY.
ReplyDeleteDec. 2, 2008.
A date that will live in journalistic infamy.
Have you invited your local TV stations and competing newspapers to cover Black Tuesday since it will likely be a big day that Gannett will likely skip?
ReplyDelete