Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Part 5 | Real Time comments Wed. open forum

This section is now closed to new comments; please go to Part 6.
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92 comments:

  1. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:18 PM

    34 in lansing?

    What do you mean by info center?

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  2. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:19 PM

    What positions in Muncie?

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  3. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:20 PM

    "Information center" is horse manure for "newsroom." Every good Gannetteer knows that.

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  4. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:22 PM

    Des Moines is down 8 and counting:

    * cartoonist
    * suburban/outdoors reporter
    * suburban photographer
    * librarian
    * 4 copy editors/paginators

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:23 PM

    To: All Des Moines Register and Affiliate Employees

    From: Laura Hollingsworth, President and Publisher

    December 3, 2008

    This week we notified 41 Des Moines Register employees that they were being laid off in response to the worsening economic situation. Another 15 open positions will not be filled, and we had four employees who volunteered for a severance package.

    In our weeklies division including the Des Moines metro-area weekly newspapers and our Marengo operations, there are an additional 14 employees being impacted.

    This total employee impact translates to 6.9% of our 801 member workforce.

    All laid off employees will receive severance packages and benefits for up to 26 weeks.

    Those employees who are leaving us in the coming days have made important and hard-working contributions to the Des Moines Register, many for a number of years. We are grateful to them for all their service and we thank them for their impact to this company and to our communities.

    The layoffs here and those going on throughout Gannett are difficult but necessary steps. The challenges the current economy poses are well known. Though it may be well into 2009 before we see some relief, the actions we are taking now will position us to take full advantage of the turnaround. With your help and through it all, The Des Moines Register will continue to remain strong.

    I thank you for your hard work as we move forward. You are a very talented and committed group of employees. Together, we will get through this. LH

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  6. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:24 PM

    And anyone who took the "over" on this morning's discussion line, take a bow and head to Vegas.

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  7. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:26 PM

    Word here at corporate is that after the big pwo wow with investors next week,Dubow, Conner and Dickey will take their families on a Christmas cruise to the Caribbean.

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  8. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:27 PM

    Thanks for the Des Moines updates. Please continue to do so. Phew...features seem safe so far...

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  9. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:30 PM

    RE: 5:26p
    Oh PLEEEEEZE, let it be true! That would lump them with those other clueless and tone-deaf moron CEOs from the financial and auto industries. Shame would look good on them.

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  10. Tom12/03/2008 5:30 PM

    Anyone have word on Murfreesboro and Clarksville TN?

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  11. Shirley in Texas12/03/2008 5:33 PM

    From todays FINAL post of the NewsAche blog:
    Wednesday, September 24, 2008
    So long
    Farewell to these good people on their last day at the Enquirer:

    Betty Barnett
    Jim Borgman
    Marty Eggerding
    Ann Haas Ann Hicks
    Allen Howard
    Jim Knippenberg
    Joy Kraft
    Tony Lang
    Margaret A. McGurk
    Sara Pearce
    Jennifer Schwertman
    Alan Vonderhaar
    William A. Weathers
    John Wolfe


    With this post I'm leaving the blogging business. And let me be clear: No one is silencing me. I'm just tired of it. The Enquirer is hopeless. Thank you for reading and commenting and supporting me.
    posted by Newsache at 1:32 PM 32 comments

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  12. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:35 PM

    What about Iowa City?

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  13. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:38 PM

    To All Employees:

    In October I shared with you the news that we would be eliminating more jobs at the Lansing State Journal as a result of a companywide effort to reduce the Gannett workforce by 10% due to deteriorating business conditions. As I’m sure you know by now, these eliminations were implemented today. It was a very difficult day for all of us. Those who are leaving served the Lansing State Journal well and will be missed. I know you join me in wishing them both professional success and personal happiness.

    To ease any additional anxiety I asked each department head to notify their staff when they were finished meeting with all individuals impacted by these layoffs.

    In total we eliminated 34 positions through a combination of voluntary layoffs, involuntary layoffs and eliminating three open positions.

    These are very challenging economic times for many businesses and we are no exception. However, I am confident that we are positioning ourselves for growth when the economy rebounds. I truly appreciate each of you and what you contribute to our organization. We will get through these difficult economic times and come out stronger.

    I will write at greater length about other (non-payroll) upcoming changes and our focus for 2009 in my weekly news summary. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

    Brian Priester
    President and Publisher
    Lansing State Journal

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  14. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:39 PM

    CJ staffers huddled around TV sets in the middle of the newsroom to watch news coverage of our layoffs today. For whatever reason at one point they all erupted into laughter. Sixty-eight people without jobs today are not laughing.

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  15. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:39 PM

    Any news on Cherry Hill cuts ?.

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  16. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:40 PM

    Murfreesboro lost 3 people. The rest came from unfilled positions.

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  17. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:42 PM

    Ok 4:11, here is your update from Ohio. There were between 45 and 50 jobs eliminated today at the smaller Ohio newspapers. For the record, many of these smaller papers have larger margins than many of the larger papers in the company.

    It is obvious from reading these postings that there are many larger papers in Gannett that have plenty of prima donnas in their information centers who apparently have plenty of time to blog.

    So who is draining who?

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  18. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:43 PM

    @ 5:39: Ditto. An update on Cherry Hill would be hugely appreciated by those of us who had to leave our swipe cards behind yesterday.

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  19. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:45 PM

    In reply to the 3:25 p.m. poster, I know of these cuts in Rochester:

    Sports: assistant sports editor Jim Castor, columnist Scott Pitoniak.

    Editorial: Speaking Out editor Kathy Wagner, editorial writer Kamahria Hopkins.

    News desk: Assistant news editor Tina Marsh.

    Photo: Rochester Metromix photo editor Rich Paprocki.

    Metro and investigations: Assistant metro editor Karen Davis; public service editor Sebby Wilson Jacobson (buyout).

    Living (aka features): Assistant features editor Liz Forbes (part time).

    Conversion desk (aka copy desk): Ted Rosen (buyout).

    Data desk: Janice Richardson (buyout).

    Non-newsroom: Joyce Santana, creative advertising (formerly in newsroom graphics).

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  20. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:52 PM

    Did I miss any announced corporate cuts?

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  21. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:54 PM

    Phoenix marketing dept. let 6 people go, moved 1 to a different department, and eliminated 2 open positions.

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  22. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:58 PM

    More Lansing details please.

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  23. Anonymous12/03/2008 5:59 PM

    5:54, who, if you are comfortable saying? and understand if you're not

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  24. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:00 PM

    thanks for the phx marketing info. got any names/positions?

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  25. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:01 PM

    I pray for all of those laid off. The Register is bat-shit crazy for laying off Duffy.

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  26. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:02 PM

    What about that Corporate meeting today? Any news/layoffs there?

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  27. Shirley in Texas12/03/2008 6:03 PM

    from ruthholladay.com

    The hit list from the Star
    Here, from a source, is a list of people who are no more at the Indianapolis Star. (Volunteer means the person chose to leave):

    North bureau
    James Yee, photo
    Joanna Lees, paraprofessional
    Diana Lamirand, editor
    Toni Copenhaver, paraprofessional
    Jason Ballenger, copy editor
    Jeff Koszut, copy editor
    Jim Gillaspy, reporter (volunteer)

    downtown
    Susan Guyett, features
    Christopher Lloyd, features
    Whitney Smith, features
    Nina Metha, features
    Phyllis Mahoney, copy desk
    Martha Strauss, library
    Gail Alexander, copy desk
    Steve Healey, photo
    Abe Aamidor, features (volunteer)
    Ellen McKinney, features (volunteer)
    John Stiles, sports (volunteer)

    To quote one person affected: "Dennis & Co. handled it rather well, compared to some other shops. No bum rush out
    the door or anything."

    Yeah, right. Did anyone read Doonesbury today? When comics go tragic, you know you're in the midst of a Depression.

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  28. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:08 PM

    Also would appreciate an updated roster in Asbury, with names.

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  29. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:21 PM

    23 of 217 at St. Cloud

    http://sctimes.com/article/20081203/BUSINESS/112030044

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  30. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:31 PM

    Shirley: That Newsache post is from the buyouts in September, not the layoffs this month.

    The Enquirer has not told its employees how many people got the axe; it simply said they were all notified by noon today.

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  31. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:32 PM

    Poughkeepsie loses 14: 3 vacant slots will go unfilled; seven employees' voluntary requests for severance were accepted; and there were four layoffs.

    The newsroom lost a sports editor, public editor, senior local editor, designer and a photographer. The designer and sports editor were involuntary.

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  32. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:35 PM

    Is there a list for Pensacola? Anyone?

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  33. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:39 PM

    list of names for Phoenix?

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  34. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:40 PM

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    Hoist a glass and drink a toast to Jim Castor, long-time assistant sports editor in Rochester . . . a damn fine journalist out of the old school . . . a great organizational and logistics guy . . . a man of reason and good news judgment . . . and a friend and mentor to a good many of us who cut out teeth in Rochester.

    Good luck, JRC.

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  35. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:42 PM

    Has anyone posted a list of the people in Louisville?

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  36. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:42 PM

    Nothing on Green Bay or Appleton yet?

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  37. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:49 PM

    Question:
    What are those of you who have survived doing for your former colleagues (and still colleagues in heart)? I'm interested in the ideas (money, help with job searches, a shoulder to cry on) and I think we all might learn from others how best to help the folks no longer in the newsrooms (screw the information center).

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  38. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:49 PM

    Is there any way to get info on Ohio broken down by paper?

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  39. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:50 PM

    The Advertiser Co., publisher of the Montgomery Advertiser and montgomeryadvertiser.com, has announced that staff reductions were made today as a reflection of the continued downturn in the local economy.

    Cheryl Lindus, Advertiser president and publisher, said the local company will eliminate 31 positions from the organizational structure. This will include 15 positions that are already open and 16 staff layoffs. The Advertiser employed 264 people prior to the layoffs.

    According to Lindus: “While combined readership among all of our products is high — reaching eight out of 10 adults in the market in a seven-day period — the advertising climate, both locally and nationally, has changed and we must realign our business model.”

    -- Staff reports

    http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20081203/NEWS/81203030

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  40. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:52 PM

    Garson is a hack in Louisville,scabbing parts off unused printing units doesn't mean you improved on reliability that KBA press is a piece of crap

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  41. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:53 PM

    Jim... not sure you got this already, but if you haven't, here are the Fort Myers totals:

    By the end of today we will have alerted all full time employees who are losing their jobs in the workforce reduction announced several weeks ago. Some part-time employees impacted by the changes will be contacted by the end of their workday tomorrow. Seven employees came forward voluntarily and fifty-six are being laid off. Many of these people will remain working through the end of the year, helping us through the transition and the holidays.



    This workforce reduction is painful, since it impacts good people who have contributed a lot to our organization. We will miss their contributions and their camaraderie. But the changes are necessary for our continued success as a business. To insure a stable future, we must proactively respond to our economic environment and to customers’ changing habits.

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  42. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:55 PM

    Well, it was today The Spotlight, a free daily Newspaper that Gannett bought 2 years ago, has been on the southside since 1939 is being shut down for good on the 16th of Jan. Merry Christmas to us. They did not even kiss us first.

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  43. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:56 PM

    Sorry the Spotlight is in Indy.

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  44. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:57 PM

    In addition to shutting the presses in Hattiesburg, one advertising rep was laid off. In addition, Van Arnold, a long-time (30 years?) employee and the paper's sports editor voluntarily took a severance package.

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  45. Anonymous12/03/2008 6:59 PM

    Ruth in Indy -- thanks for the update. Also, they will close the two weekly community papers they bought that served the east and south sides of Indianapolis as of mid-January. Sales, writers, production were told we could reapply for positions at the Star. They told the sales people they expected advertisers to "transition" to other Star products. Not newspapers, products.
    HSeen on preview: Hey Spotlight, (6:55) East Side Herald checking in. Sucks, doesn't it? The 140+ years of paper history we represent down the tubes. Let's go out with our heads high and middle fingers extended, shall we?

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  46. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:00 PM

    With the massive traffic over the past 2 days, I don't believe there is any way for Jim and/or Sparky to get a full tally of all the losses at all the papers.

    Jim would need to freeze the blog and read over the thousands of posts across 20 or better different headings.

    The true numbers will be difficult if not impossible to know for certain.

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  47. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:03 PM

    It's all about greed. I've consistently received better than average raises over the years, decades, for better than average performance. What that meant for me under Gannett was "elimination" from work that wasn't eliminated.

    I wonder if this isn't de facto age discrimination and violation of contract terms. The better pay and benefits were compensations earned for good work and loyalty, yet it's what was targeted for the most part in layoffs, so Dubow could keep his multimillion-dollar salary and the board their unearned compensations to nod their heads at him. I wonder if board members such as Donna Shalala have any clue how idiotic they seem to more than 1,000 of media's wisest eyes and ears today. Do they think we're going to ignore that they've deceived us?

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  48. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:03 PM

    This is all the info available in Cincy:

    http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-259-bloodletting-at-the-enquirer.html

    http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-261-updating-the-media-bloodbath.html

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  49. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:03 PM

    Terrific remembrance of Tom Fogarty here:

    http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/12/03/news/local/doc4936bc859947b180808157.txt

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  50. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:04 PM

    OMG...Van Arnold is leaving the Hattiesburg American? What a tremendous loss to that paper and that community. :(

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  51. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:04 PM

    6:49 For a start, I, for one, am going to serve as the designated driver for any of the drinkers among my dearly departed colleagues who want to get thoroughly wasted.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:06 PM

    Yes, I think a breakdown in Ohio would be helpful. Thanks 5:42 for the info. Indiana also.

    But especially Ohio if that number that 5:42 posted is correct, that's a lot of people for about 6-7 smaller papers. Please, someone, give us more details on where and what departments.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:10 PM

    The list from Ruth is missing two names. One designer and one long-time person in Sports.

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  54. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:12 PM

    The Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin lost probably the best photographer it's had since I've been reading it. Raise a Guinness in honor of Chuck Haupt!

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  55. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:17 PM

    Correction on "the list", Jim...

    The 40 you have down for Elmira and Ithaca is actually between Elmira, Ithaca, AND Binghamton according to the publisher's note.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Shirley in Texas12/03/2008 7:22 PM

    EeeK!
    I'm so embarrassed. Should have double checked the names on the roster ...
    Where is there a copy editor when you need one?
    Forgot.
    Gone, today.
    What a mess!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:23 PM

    Here's what we've been able to find out about Lansing. Of the 34 that Priester mentioned in his email it appears they came from the following departments
    News/NOISE 10
    Circulation 6
    Advertising 8 (should have been 9 if you include the pathetic excuse for an advertising director, Jodway - we sure hope your days are numbered before you sink the entire paper)
    Production 2
    IT 1
    Accounting 1
    Not sure where Priester is getting the 34. Perhaps they aren't done yet?

    ReplyDelete
  58. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:23 PM

    Also among those cut in Lansing: Mike Hughes, who is the most senior reporter in the newsroom and covers Hollywood for GNS.

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  59. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:26 PM

    Just for the record, the Pensacola News Journal sucks. It sucks big time. So sorry for the poor souls in the so-called information center. Those guys are constantly looking over their shoulders, so fearful of losing their jobs.

    And they should be. If they didn't get the axe yesterday, they still have February to come, before it is all over and done with. And it ain't gonna be pretty.

    Their editors, except perhaps for one nice very guy, TN, are ALL savage wolves in sheep's clothing.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:26 PM

    I know a number of the folks reading this are Editorial, but I'm quite interested in Production layoffs across Gannett-land. Some posts touch on layoffs in Production, any word on what positions?

    ReplyDelete
  61. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:29 PM

    OMG
    My very best goes out to you, Van Arnold in Hattiesburg. That place could never be the same without your songs ringing out in the newsroom. You'll do fine. God bless ya, buddie.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:30 PM

    Re: 7:17 PM ...

    Jim, that would seem to be correct. 40 positions gone in BIE; some are jobs that will simply go dark. (See publisher's note on today's Real Time Part 4.)

    ReplyDelete
  63. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:31 PM

    jim i agree with7:26 can we get an idea of layoffs from production depts and maybe how many production depts or pressrooms have been closed or about to close. it would be nice to go to work tonoght with an idea of what is in store for us.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:32 PM

    22 in Green Bay (daily and weeklies)

    http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081203/GPG03/81203142/1978

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  65. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:32 PM

    For those of us left behind, any ideas when we might expect the next round of layoffs? I know first quarter is always bleak ...

    Bottom line, will the "eliminations" make a difference?

    ReplyDelete
  66. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:33 PM

    Re: 7:26 PM Production question

    My bureau in Carson City, Nev., is next door to one of the Reno Gazette-Journal's press facilities. ALL of those folks are fired and more are going in the Reno pressroom. That's all I know.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:37 PM

    BINGHAMTON-ITHACA-ELMIRA 4:16 PM


    Colleauges
    Despite promising gains from local advertising programs, many of our advertisers are being impacted by what is now officially a recession. Once again we have had to look at reducing expenses and, once again, I bring you difficult news.

    Over the past weeks we have reviewed our expenses, beginning with our second largest expense, newsprint. We developed a plane to reduce paper consumption through tighter control of waste, by reducing page counts on certain days, and be redefining distribution of some non daily publications. We have gave close and repeated scrutiny to other non pay roll across Central New York, seeking to preserve, as much as possible, our ability to gather and report on local news and maintain a strong advertising sales presence.

    Overall, we determined that we need to eliminate 40 positions across Elmira,Ithaca, Johnson City, and Vestal (Binghamton)
    The names must remain confidential, but i can share these details:
    - We found nine positions, now vacant, that can remain unfilled
    -We accepted voluntary resignations from six employees
    -Yesterday and today, we are meeting with another 25 employees. Fifteen individuals were laid off. 10 other employees, we were able to offer opportunities to fill other vacant positions, and at least four of thos offers were accepted. So while the final number of layoffs is unclear at this hour, it will range from 15 to 21. All of those who are leaving us, voluntarily or not, will be receiving severance of up to 26 weeks.

    It is hard to see our colleagues leave. But I believe that, despite our diminished numbers, we will continue to serve our readers, advertisers, and communities with strong journalism, effective advertising solutions and excellent customer service. I thank you for your continued commitment to that mission.

    Sherm Bodner

    ReplyDelete
  68. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:42 PM

    The online editor in Lansing is gone too and a copy editor from the news desk.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:43 PM

    Re Production: At The Asbury Park Press it appears that 10 people were let go. This is Ad Design day side and night side Freehold and Toms River. Most if not all over 40!

    ReplyDelete
  70. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:44 PM

    From Daily Times publisher in Salisbury MD:

    Staff:



    It’s a sad day today as we said good-bye to a number of respected colleagues in the Delmarva Media Group as part of Gannett’s 10 percent reduction in workforce because of the continuing decline in economic conditions.



    As a result of the workforce reduction in the U.S. Community Publishing division, we lost 25 positions – 14 through layoffs, 2 through voluntary departures, and 9 by eliminating vacant positions. The departures will take from us a wealth of talent in the sales, news editing, production and circulation areas, and leave a void in our operations in Salisbury, Ocean City, Delaware and Virginia. All departments, except Finance, were affected in this round of reductions.



    The affected employees were notified earlier today and received a severance package. Benefits included one week of pay for each year of service (26-week maximum), and a continuation of medical benefits for the length of the severance period. Affected employees also have the opportunity to apply for any future open positions in the group.



    As a result of the reductions, we’ll be implementing several changes in the group to help us move forward. Those include:



    § All Classified calls for the DMG will be handled by the call center in Salisbury.

    § Some retail, real estate and key account sales territories in the group will be realigned.

    § The layout process for all newspapers in the DMG will be consolidated in Salisbury in the Pre-Press Department, under Jason Plaskon.

    § Pagination for all weekly newspapers in Delaware and Ocean City is being consolidated in Salisbury, and all news paginators will work in the Salisbury Information Center.



    I know this is a very difficult day. The job reductions are very painful, taking a toll on all of us. We’re losing some very good employees, who have contributed to our growth and success. Their departure will leave a void that other employees will have to fill.



    If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. I welcome your feedback.



    I appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.



    Thanks, Rick

    ReplyDelete
  71. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:44 PM

    Between 30 and 35 positions at the Ohio newspapers were at a centralized production facility in Carroll. Apparently they are staying on until after the first of the year. The remaining positions were scattered among the 10 newspapers in that group.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:45 PM

    To all employees:



    By now, I’m sure you’re all aware that we have begun the layoffs previously announced by our corporate office. All affected employees will be informed by the end of today. We are saying goodbye to 15 full- and part-time employees. The positions came from across the organization, and were not limited to any one department.



    The folks who are leaving us have been good employees. We thank them for their service and we wish them well. This position elimination has nothing to do with performance, and they can apply for appropriate job openings if they become available.



    As I’ve said in the past, I’m confident that our local economy will recover, and we will thrive along with our neighbors once this recession is over. We still have the strongest team in the Valley covering news and serving our advertising customers.



    I thank all of you for your patience and commitment throughout these tough times.



    As always, if you have any questions, please ask your department director or give me a call or email.



    - Rich Ramhoff.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:46 PM

    7:32 Listen to Dubow's talk with stock analysts next week, and that will give you an indication. If things are going as bad as I think they are going in the ad revenue part of this concern, then I would look for another round about April or May. It won't be 1Q that will be decisive, but actually the current month since newspapers count on this season's ad revenues for their viability. That is why I said I thought things are going very badly.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:46 PM

    Reno Gazette-Journal reduces workforce by 61 positions

    (Reno, NV) -- The Reno Gazette-Journal is reducing its workforce by 61 positions over the next four weeks. The company will stop producing weekly publications in Douglas County and Fallon and will close its commercial printing facility, Eastern Sierra Publishing, in Carson City.

    The final editions of the Douglas Times and the Fallon Star Press will be Dec. 26.

    The changes are part of a workforce reduction announced Oct. 29 by Gannett, the RGJ’s parent company, in the wake of the nation’s economic downturn.

    “At a time where we need to be more nimble and strategic, it is necessary to focus on our most profitable areas of business and our core audiences,” President and Publisher Ted Power said.

    “We regret having to make these difficult business decisions, thank our employees for their contributions, our readers and advertisers for their loyalty. We trust that all of our readers and advertisers know that the RGJ remains committed to providing news and information for all of our communities in our many other print and digital products.”

    ReplyDelete
  75. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:47 PM

    There were a few posts yesterday that indicated people were better off getting canned even if they were unprepared. I was unprepared. But today, I drove my kid to school and said hello to his teacher, I took a walk after that and listened to some good music. I came home, of course, I read this blog. I made some phone calls to friends I have virtually shut down during the day for the last 10 years. I met my mailman today. He has been delivering my mail for 6 years, he told me. I started a book and had time to program my telephone. And for the first time in a long time I enjoyed a sunset with my wife and kid.

    I may have to relocate my family to find another job, but it's better than the mind-numbing, knee jerk mandate we've been following at Gannett. Sorry to be so corny, but there's a real world out there beyond the company and I had forgotten that.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:47 PM

    Any word on the Male - Female ratio in Reno?

    ReplyDelete
  77. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:49 PM

    We lost 5 in Port Huron

    ReplyDelete
  78. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:50 PM

    December 3, 2008

    To: The Staff

    From: Ted Power

    We’ve just posted at rgj.com that by the end of the month we will have 61 fewer employees, will cease publishing the Douglas Times and the Fallon Star Press and will close Eastern Sierra Publishing.

    Thank you for the patience and support you have shown each other and your supervisors during the past weeks. Mostly, thank you for the dedication you have shown our readers and advertisers during a trying time.

    • The Information Center completed an outstanding immigration series, produced a compelling multi-media foreclosure report, drove 1 million page views to Metromix in its first month and covered an historic election and the arrest in a notorious murder case.

    • The advertising staff took lessons learned in comprehensive online sales seminars and grew its online retail revenue in November, sold 400 gifts to the digital holiday gift guide, launched and sold foreclosed home package to real estate agents, and reduced the number of errors and dollars refunded.

    • Online built the digital holiday gift guide, helped the Info Center with its foreclosure package, built a prototype for a rentals site and continued to redevelop gotorenotahoe.com.

    • Our circulation staff completed its own reorganization, audited our single copy locations and prepared for new efficiencies in 2009.

    • The production team honed our new web width, found savings in newsprint and ink expense and re-sectioned our classified pages to save more newsprint dollars.

    • Marketing put on a successful Journal Jog and Fantasies in Chocolate, the finance staff prepared to entrust others with paying our bills and the IT department provided critical reports and upgrades to help us make critical decisions and plan for future initiatives.

    They are significant accomplishments under normal circumstances and show true dedication and focus given the environment in which we have found ourselves.

    Our headlines tell the story of our city and state: foreclosures, empty hotel rooms, closed casinos, budget shortfalls, special legislative sessions, difficult forecasts. Given the continued apprehension, we have 11 vacant positions which we do not anticipate filling.

    More than ever before, it is critical for us to work together and to be partners with others in our communities so our market can regain the momentum of the first half of this decade.

    I know I can count on each of you to help each other help our readers and advertisers.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:50 PM

    7:23 - Heard through the grapevine that Mike Hughes was possibly going to be taking a buyout.
    Also, that 34 - according to an all-staff e-mail - included the elimination of three open positions.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:53 PM

    Hattiesburg American checks in.

    From: Skippy Haik
    Re: Expense reductions

    After careful consideration, we have made the decision to consolidate the production operations of the Hattiesburg American with The Clarion-Ledger. The target dates for the moves will be mid-January for most ad-building functions, February 2nd for printing and inserting functions of the Hattiesburg American, and second quarter for USA Today. These dates are tentative and are subject to change as we move through the implementation process.


    As you are probably aware, consolidation of printing operations has occurred at other Gannett properties this year and has proven to be efficient; that experience will prove valuable as extensive planning for this project commences during the coming weeks. The newspaper economy is faced with many challenges but we are not alone. Companies across the nation are faced with difficult business decisions. The change will not affect production quality or delivery times of The Hattiesburg American or USA Today. We will be working closely with our commercial print customers to accommodate their needs with this move.


    This was a very difficult decision that will affect about 38 staff positions with the newspaper. The primary reason for the production consolidation are economic uncertainties that have made streamlined operations, driven by improvements in technology, part of the business model of the future. There will be significant savings through improved efficiencies by combining our operations and the elimination of the expenses associated with maintaining two separate print operations. Although deadlines may require some minor changes, our goal is for our customers, both advertising and readers, to not see any noticeable change. Although printing of the product will be in Jackson, news, advertising and distribution will remain local.


    We will be providing more specific information to affected employees over the next two days. Severance packages will be offered to all employees who remain in their positions through the target dates described above. Although this will result in the elimination of production related jobs in Hattiesburg, new positions will be opening in Jackson and can be applied for by the Hattiesburg staff. I know all of you will have many questions and we will have a series of meetings to explain today’s announcement and its impact on your position with the newspaper. I will be sending an agenda of those meetings shortly.


    The newspaper was also charged with a 10% staff reduction to be announced today; these were in addition to the production consolidation. We were able to achieve this reduction through the elimination of current open positions along with the announcement of the retirement of Van Arnold who has over 30 years of service to the newspaper; we wish him the very best and thank him for his service. There will be no other layoffs necessary to achieve our targeted reduction goals.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:53 PM

    Detroit has about 1900 employees, when that one hits and the others are tallied you could definately see close to 3,000 total

    ReplyDelete
  82. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:54 PM

    We heard the next round will be late January. It's not over baby. Become a "valuable" employee and you will not have anything to worry about.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:54 PM

    Reading the blog the last few days has been torture - isn't the President Elect going to outlaw this? Perhaps there is hope...

    ReplyDelete
  84. Anonymous12/03/2008 7:54 PM

    7:44 p.m. - Are you saying that among the actual 10 newspapers (?) in the Ohio group, they all lost a TOTAL of only about 10-15 people????

    That's all????????

    Ridiculous!

    The circulations of those papers have been plunging and the revenues not much better - YES, they ARE a drain on Gannett! And they had that few layoffs???

    At what papers?? Mansfield along should have lost 10.

    Who gave these guys a pass??

    ReplyDelete
  85. Anonymous12/03/2008 8:02 PM

    12 in production at Louisville C-J

    ReplyDelete
  86. Anonymous12/03/2008 8:04 PM

    Phoenix axed at least 24 people from newsroom, plus 2 others volunteered to leave.

    ReplyDelete
  87. Anonymous12/03/2008 8:05 PM

    Speaking for one at APP, 52, female, $65k. I see a pattern of tenured, better paid (because we earned it, every day) workers.

    Someone said the layoff plan was stalled at corporate over legal concerns? I can see why. Were the few newbies sacrificed just to make it look like there wasn't a discriminatory target?

    And 4:22 p.m., thanks.

    One last thing. These publisher memos are getting hackneyed. But tell me: Does Dubow or did McCorkindale have a fetish about guys sporting the boyish name Skippy? Two of fewer than 80 publishers are named Skippy? What are the odds of that? It reminds me of Bush's obsession with patting the heads of bald men.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Anonymous12/03/2008 8:07 PM

    I'm clicking on your google ads Jim, going to learn how to earn $24,231 in a month!

    Enjoy the $.12 cents I just sent ya!

    ReplyDelete
  89. Anonymous12/03/2008 8:10 PM

    re: 7:37 Colleauges

    COLLEAUGES?

    Please tell me the person writing this wasn't the publisher.

    But, who needs copy editors?

    ReplyDelete
  90. Anonymous12/03/2008 8:11 PM

    Here is the article from the Hattiesburg American:

    http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20081203/NEWS01/81203041

    ReplyDelete
  91. Anonymous12/03/2008 8:13 PM

    Hey Miss 52 female $65k, the peeps trying to convey the publisher memos are just trying to give everyone a count like Jim would like. Are you just a bitter employee who has been overpaid for years?

    ReplyDelete
  92. Anonymous12/03/2008 8:13 PM

    Just have to say how very authentic and uncorporate-like Skippy Haik's letter from Hattiesburg seemed. I worked there, and found her to be a class act---good people.

    ReplyDelete

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