Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Tuesday | Dec. 9 | Got news, or a question?
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91 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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ReplyDeleteSo I have only had the chance to get on this blog a couple times in the last 4 years I have worked for Gannett. usually I am to busy in the field, meeting clients on weekends, evenings, hell even joining the polar bear club to jump in a 32 degree lake at 6:00 o'clock in the morning. So I could get a meeting with a business owner. Now that being said I definitely can see why possibly my position was spared this year. I say this coming from an advertising side of things of course. I spend my days creating new products, creating sale events my clients never have ever thought of and Building relationships. I completely became the person that I have always wanted to be. I have had the chance to come from nothing to build this life for myself and everyday I strive to be better. I have met more people, more connections and networked my ass off. I feel Gannett is a great company to work for it was just full of half assed people waiting for the phone to ring and payday Friday. I can honestly tell you the editorial and even the no longer with us sales staff I know and have dealt with are probably the laziest, least creative people I have ever met. Layoffs are terrible but does anyone realize 3 years ago most publications tripled their work force to accommodate our clients as best as possible with the growing economy then. Well guess what we don't have the client base anymore to bad so sad. I guarantee many of folk complaining on this blog probably were doing it during business hours as well. Maybe you should have worked harder, blogged a little less. I lost some dear friends in this and I don’t necessarily agree with every action taken. But those people who I know and still respect won’t have trouble getting another job somewhere else or possibly a different position back with Gannett. Simply because you can’t give up and call it quits. And they are thankfull for what they have learned the people and connections they have made and kept a great network around them I don’t have any sympathy for anyone losing their job when I bust my ass and my boss busts her ass and so many of my colleagues bust their ass to do what they do to make your paychecks, and when you leave every day at 5:27 and show up a quarter till 9 while I work 12 hours a day 6 days a week. maybe you should have worked a little harder too. I am glad to see the company streamline our resources again I am happy to see that I have a chance again to take on more clients, help build peoples businesses and relationships and get to do it with a company that I feel will have my back as long as I keep looking better then all of you.. This obviously doesn’t apply to everyone, but how about all of you out there try working together, help each other. Stay the hell of this blog and go find a job and do the best damn job you can. It’s like a breakup, realize what you did wrong and fix it next time around. And for gods sake quit bitching so much. It could always be worse.
ReplyDelete“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means”
Einstein
So I have only had the chance to get on this blog a couple times in the last 4 years I have worked for Gannett. usually I am to busy in the field, meeting clients on weekends, evenings, hell even joining the polar bear club to jump in a 32 degree lake at 6:00 o'clock in the morning. So I could get a meeting with a business owner. Now that being said I definitely can see why possibly my position was spared this year. I say this coming from an advertising side of things of course. I spend my days creating new products, creating sale events my clients never have ever thought of and Building relationships. I completely became the person that I have always wanted to be. I have had the chance to come from nothing to build this life for myself and everyday I strive to be better. I have met more people, more connections and networked my ass off. I feel Gannett is a great company to work for it was just full of half assed people waiting for the phone to ring and payday Friday. I can honestly tell you the editorial and even the no longer with us sales staff I know and have dealt with are probably the laziest, least creative people I have ever met. Layoffs are terrible but does anyone realize 3 years ago most publications tripled their work force to accommodate our clients as best as possible with the growing economy then. Well guess what we don't have the client base anymore to bad so sad. I guarantee many of folk complaining on this blog probably were doing it during business hours as well. Maybe you should have worked harder, blogged a little less. I lost some dear friends in this and I don’t necessarily agree with every action taken. But those people who I know and still respect won’t have trouble getting another job somewhere else or possibly a different position back with Gannett. Simply because you can’t give up and call it quits. And they are thankfull for what they have learned the people and connections they have made and kept a great network around them I don’t have any sympathy for anyone losing their job when I bust my ass and my boss busts her ass and so many of my colleagues bust their ass to do what they do to make your paychecks, and when you leave every day at 5:27 and show up a quarter till 9 while I work 12 hours a day 6 days a week. maybe you should have worked a little harder too. I am glad to see the company streamline our resources again I am happy to see that I have a chance again to take on more clients, help build peoples businesses and relationships and get to do it with a company that I feel will have my back as long as I keep looking better then all of you.. This obviously doesn’t apply to everyone, but how about all of you out there try working together, help each other. Stay the hell of this blog and go find a job and do the best damn job you can. It’s like a breakup, realize what you did wrong and fix it next time around. And for gods sake quit bitching so much. It could always be worse.
ReplyDelete“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means”
Einstein
how come the Blog is set to eastern standard time, when you reside on the west coast?
ReplyDeleteAnother dismal week started. I've friends at Tribune properties. I just shake my head thinking of the ride they're on.
ReplyDeleteYou Gannett folks have been hit every way.
Ummm ... that pay cut post you made earlier... is that company wide or site specific?
ReplyDeleteThe people who complain about a lack of content here clearly haven't been reading for very long, nor do they understand how crowdsourcing works. I'll chip in another $25 with my next paycheck, Jim.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else suddenly getting an error message when attempting to transfer funds within their 401k? I like to move my company match out of Gannett as quickly as they stick it in there, but last night, when I tried, I got this message: Your Request Can't Be Processed
ReplyDeleteYou're not able to make this request for the following reason(s): * An unexpected error has occurred. Please call the Benefits Center. (Message Number: 999999999:333654468)
word in Louisville is that three 42 inch flat screens were delivered to the C-J. Building services guy is said to have installed two of them in Arnie's house.
ReplyDeleteNJ here:
ReplyDelete"The Courier News Home News Tribune operation and planning retreat will be held today, Tuesday, December 9th at Il Pomodoro Restaurant in Somerville from 10am-5:30pm. It will be followed by cocktails and dinner."
"Our challenge for the retreat and 2009 is figuring out how to strengthen and improve what we're already doing in an era of declining resources and an overworked staff."
"Corporate has asked us to focus on six priorities and we will build our retreat around them:
1 Audience Growth
2 Information Center Priorities
3 Advertising Revenue Growth
4 Circulation Volume and Revenue
5 Cost and Infrastructure Efficiencies
6 Employee Development and Communication"
Blah blah blah...
Jim,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate this blog. It can be bitchy and whiny at times, but there is some real substance here.
As a former Gannett manager who was downsized earlier this year let me just give an encouraging word to your readers.
Getting let go from Gannett is a blessing. Embrace it. Live it. Look for other things. It's not the worst fate to lose a job in a dying industry.
One place to look for employment: Health care.
Take care.
Each day gets...worse. Not just because I got laid off, but because I didn't leave on MY terms. I suggest that anyone who feels they could be next, leave ASAP because you don't want to deal with looking for a new job/profession AND process all the emotional issues of having been told by someone that you are one of the 5-10 percent worst employees in their eyes. And that's what many of these layoffs were. Firings based on nothing other than personal feelings. Had little to do with finances and much more to do with giving some warped editors a chance to dispose of people who they perceived (often incorrectly) as no longer needed. Not only were many of us still needed, but some of us had such an array of skills that we could have been easily salvaged by a simple transfer to where there was a greater need. Instead, Gannett properties chose to rid themselves of some good, honest folks who were proven performers, who could have helped turn things around in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhat!!!!??????
ReplyDeleteNo comments yet - and it's 10 am.
Has Gannett shut down?
Any thoughts as to what life will be like without newspapers? It seem unrealistic every home in America will have a computer with internet access. Will the daily news on TV become more popular?
ReplyDelete2:02 am is the FIRST person to ask why this blog is set to U.S. Eastern time, when I live in California. Smart reader! Answer: A plurality of my readers live on the East Coast. That's also where Gannett HQ is, too.
ReplyDeleteHey 1:49: it sounds like Arnie G in Louisville needs your soapbox
ReplyDelete8:35. This is the same agenda, at every property, ever year. Yet, when the new year hits, we spend 40% of our time trying to figure out who we are going to cut. Retreats like this are a classic waste of time.
ReplyDeleteHey, advertising dude: Sounds like you're really busting your ass. Maybe you should take a well-earned break at lunchtime today, and learn to write a coherent paragraph in English. It'll probably help your networking efforts.
ReplyDelete8:10, You need to get your facts straight before you post. Arnold Garson, publisher of the Courier-Journal,had 3 new flat screen TV's and a decorated X-mas tree delivered to his new house by maintenance employees the day before the layoffs started. Just like little Ed Manassah and Denise "poison" Ivey, Arnie continues the tradition of using employees as personal servants. Even though Arnie said "We will be well positioned for success when the economic environment begins to turn around",it's already happened for the Garson's since Mrs. Garson is getting a new Cadillac from Santa. I have to wonder if it's being paid for by Gannett just like poison Ivey's Lexus and little Ed's Cadillac. The arrogance and greed never stops.
ReplyDeleteJim
ReplyDeleteAs I have posted previously, all of the layoffs in Jersey that I have been able to think through involved a person with less GANNETT seniority being let go over a person with more GANNETT seniority. I put GANNETT in caps because service to papers previous to a takeover do not count. Anyway, in my newsroom, if there were two copy editors in the same dept., the person let go was the one with fewer years service. I am not saying this happened everywhere, but since people are claiming this is personal - swearing that vendettas are being carried out -- they should show evidence here that a person with more seniority was let go in favor of someone with less w/same job description in same dept.
As I've also stated previously, I lost a lot in this round of layoffs, a whole lot. But I still think this is how it was done.
It sucks plenty to be laid off by a company you slaved for into a crap economy. Do not devalue your worth, beat yourself up or feel worse because you think it was personal. I really don't think that is true.
If I am wrong, of course, I would absolutely want that exposed here.
I guess onething that comes from reading these blog entries is that it makes you feel better about working for the media company you DO work for!
ReplyDeleteIn my company, no publisher gets a company car, and any publisher who was caught using employees or company equipment (van, for instance) for personal use would be in a world of hurt!
Of course, my media company is much smaller, privately held, with about 20 daily newspapers, none of them more than 30,000 circ daily... but we also have had some layoffs (about 1-2 at each site). So it is tough for us too.
BUT, being private DOES make a difference, and there is less politics. When in Gannett, I found the corporate interference stiffling. And the crud rose to the top, not the talent.
Meanwhile, in Rochester...
ReplyDeleteThe Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, N.Y. seeks a highly experienced and well-organized editor for the opening of Local Content Director/Days. This editor reports directly to the managing editor and oversees local and business news. Candidates for this position must be excellent line editors and capable of leading other editors and reporters to come up with high-level enterprise coverage for print and online. Planning and scheduling skills are essential. We are looking for someone who can support the Information Center concept of producing excellent journalism for all platforms. At least five years of experience as a city editor, metro editor or similar mid-level editing job is required. Please contact Neill Borowski, managing editor, at nborowsk@gannett.com.
- from journalismjobs.com
Damn, 11:14, I was just about to post that!
ReplyDeleteA couple of days ago, you noted GCI got a $2.9 million tax break to add 185 jobs at its Chicago headquarters. In light of the arrest today of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, I am wondering if any money was exchanged in return for that huge tax cut? I would dearly love to see Corporate heels swinging in the wind.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of jobs, notice how many are popping up for Gannett---all over the place, including corporate, USAT and in the communities.
ReplyDeleteTOM WANTS YOU TO JOIN HIM IN CELEBRATING HIS CONTINUING SURVIVAL IN GANNETT:
ReplyDeleteFrom: Callinan, Tom
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 2:55 PM
To: CIN-News Users; CIN-Operating Committee
Subject: Annual gathering at my house 12/20
I wanted to get past the layoffs to decide this. But I am planning on the annual gathering at my house on Dec. 20.
Note that I called it a "gathering" rather than a "fest" as in the traditional Shrimpfest. There will be the traditional shrimp and hot sauce ….but I'll be toning down the catering and make it a bring-your-own wine or whatever event. I just don't think it's appropriate me for to throw a big bash at a time when so many of our friends and long-time co-workers are now gone.
But the tradition at my house goes back 12 years now at three newspapers. It's important for us to meet spouses, thank families and try to relax at least once a year in this setting. It may be more important than ever, this year.
Let's do it, respectful of the situation we are all in mindful and those who have been affected.
I'll send out directions and details when I return from vacation 12/16. But please put it on your calendars and at least plan to stop by.
RSVP e-mails helpful but not mandatory.
TC
Are there any newspaper historians out there who can share how newspapers fared during depression, earlier recessions? Is there a business cycle for newspapers that we can learn from? At that time, was radio to newspapers what the Internet is now? Just wondering.
ReplyDeleteImportant to meet spouses? Why? That certainly digs at the spouseless among them, I would think.
ReplyDeleteWould any newly "Liberated" former Gannett journalists, ad designer, i.t. people (who still like the news business) be interested in collaborating in some sort of Co-Operative decentralized news gathering enterprise?.....Like an independent A.P.
ReplyDeleteThe CO-OP website would have it's own website with a zip code or town targeting system to focus on local stories and a cover page for national.
With the resources of Talent, Contacts, and Local Market Knowledges possessed by all the people tossed out in the trash by Gannett, something very interesting could grow.
Make Jim the Publisher
Just throwing out an Idea I've been toying with.
Reggie H.
Oh my, Tom's annual "Shrimpfest!" Sounds like it has been the hit of the company for years, at least in Tom's own mind.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, why would there be any concerns to "tone down" the catering for this party (let's call it what it is) if the cost was coming out of Tom's own pocket?
It seems to me the implication is that the cost of this somehow has been a company expense??? Am I wrong here? And if so, how can such a thing be at the company's expense, especially if it is a private event in the Big Boss's home?
Anyway... my final question is: Who at Cincy, exactly, is invited to this liquor bash, anyway? All Cincy employees? Bobble Head Department heads? Who??
11:37 I'm something of a Great Depression buff. The collapse in economic activity from 1929-to-1933 in summary form was as follows:
ReplyDeleteREAL (inflation adjusted) OUTPUT of the U.S. =minus 33-to-40%
UNEMPLOYMENT PEAKED at 25% went down to 18% by late 1930s then a 2nd Smaller Depression occurred in 1938.
DOW JONES INDUSTRIALS went from Aug-1929 High of 390 (approx) to
July-1932 Low of 40. NOTE: the Dow Jones did not reachieve it's 1929 PEAK until October of 1954 925 YEARS)
ALL companies (regardless of industry) and individuals financed with high debt where destroy (financially). Companies with low or no debt were able to limp along and (if creative) buy equipment and buildings for 5%-to-10%.
DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE between 1930 & now: 1) US was a SUPLUS NATION>> NOW DEBTOR and 2) US EXPORTED OIL >>now they have us by the BALLS.
Newspapers thrived in the Depression. Think Pulitzer, Hearst and Scripps. The reason they thrived is they provided news -- real news, not phony, manufactured trend stories and other garbage manufactured by committee meetings.
ReplyDeleteThe key to surviving this recession is having no debt. Look at the corporate report, and you will see GCI has more than $6 billion in debt. Interest payments have to be made on that debt regularly and that money comes off the top line of revenues received.
ReplyDeleteAt our site, the layoffs affected folks of seniority (one was a 20-year veteran manager in prepress) to the newest hired was the first fired. It seemed to be dependent upon the department director. IMHO, I have seen too many talented recent hires laid off in the last year while some folks who have bad attitudes and poor work ethics continue to stay on. I think some directors use that seniority thing as a way to get out of making tough decisions.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I will say is that with this last round, almost everyone let go either had been looking, had a bad attitude/poor work ethic, or volunteered to be let go. Out of our 18 I can only thing of a couple that were probably not ready to call it quits. Half of them were positions they just froze that were already empty, and shuffled the remaining staff to cover responsibilities.
Time to revive the Federal Writers Project?
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/56xe5p
An interesting idea based on FDR's New Deal. I doubt it'll happen, but who knows?
Now that the layoffs are over, it is clear that this blog will continue to see a drop in viewers, readers, posters and relativity.
ReplyDeleteSorry Jim, but you have jumped the shark. This blog is dead. After you ratted out a poster and ever since Corporate has been checking computers, no one is coming here.
Thank you for the time and effort. Lets all stop contributing to Jim as we need to concern our cash and move beyond the bitterness of this blog.
To 12;31, what did you get rid of "THEGANNETTBLOGSUCKS" blog you had?
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteyou don't know me but that's okay. From what I understand, contrary to popular belief, the lay offs are not over. If you think 2008 went out with a bang - Just wait until 2009!
BTW - i'm on my way to the post office (EST) to mail you some money as my thanks for the blog.
For real 8:35? CN hasn't gone off site for the last 3 or so years - had food brought in to the meeting room. Cocktails and dinner? - after laying most of the OC off and anyone else that would normally attend this function,it doesn't surprise me the current pub would do something like that. Shame.
ReplyDeleteReggie:
ReplyDeleteIf anybody gets serious about formming a news co-op, I would be interested. I haven't been shown the door yet, but I'd like to get out sooner rather than later.
12:31 pm: So, so amusing -- and, of course, so wrong. You and yours made the same prediction late last month, when Gannett Blog had recorded 148,621 visits and 277,481 page views over the previous 30 days.
ReplyDeleteFast forward to today, and traffic has now surged to 216,983 visits and 490,127 page views over the past 30 days.
Certainly, it won't stay that high, since traffic always peaks around big news events. Nevertheless, the occasional predictions that this blog is dead are nothing more than wishful thinking on the part of my frustrated critics.
Please check out this site on facebook, join the cause, it's free
ReplyDelete"Don't let Newspapers Die"
12:31 and Jim - the layoff's are no where near over - huge hits will be coming to Detroit soon and don't be surprised if similar large hits do not come to USAT and Arizona - this of course would be before the hits that will come mid Q1-09.
ReplyDeleteThe Des Moines Register's advertising department had a 4:00 PM CT meeting with Laura Hollingsworth for a question and answer session. Each question was searching for a real confirmation that these layoffs were over. Laura Hollingsworth confirmed that 6.9%, not the estimated 10% was achieved because she fought for the greatness of The Des Moines Register. 2009 budgets were redone to show the worst possible scenario. Are layoffs coming again? Laura Hollingsworth would not say never. Guess what is coming? A new cafeteria!
ReplyDelete8:35 a.m., Reps from both papers have moaned to local government officials about how bad the papers have been doing for YEARS, while actual profit margins obviously say something different. Obviously the motivation is to get government sympathy in the form of government advertising.
ReplyDeleteWith the economy the way it is and budgetary problems at the papers, why the need to have the retreat at a restaurant? Why not have a retreat with a tray of sandwiches and fresh coffee at the empty rundown CN building or at the new empty lavish CN offices?
I'm hearing that HNT-CN wants to "take on" the Star Ledger because of that paper's difficulties.
As a former CN drone, I can tell you that deploying resources to go back into towns --that the paper pulled out of-- isn't going to shore up future reader losses in the home base of Bridgewater and Plainfield.
CN will never be the paper in Bedminster, Far Hills, Clinton, or Tewksbury. The CN is a paper for the ordinary schmoe. Sophisticated, more educated and wealthier readers will take the Star Ledger, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. They will never consider CN to be a reliable paper for any purpose.
If HNT and CN are to survive and do well, they should concentrate their core towns. That has not been happening for many, many years.
HNT is Woodbridge, Edison and East Brunswick. CN is Bridgewater and Plainfield.
Funny that both papers have ignored editorial coverage and advertising sales in both of the towns where they are situated for many years now.
I don't know where that NJ person was coming from who spoke about the layoffs having to do with Gannett seniority. That had absolutely nothing to do with any of the cuts at the APP. We still have a large percentage of people there who came to the APP before we were purchased by Gannett.
ReplyDeleteOur layoffs in Lafayette, LA have not happened yet, and are scheduled for tommorow.
ReplyDeleteDidn't li'l Ed also get his Louisville GCI caddy detailed weekly. And don't forget the time the metro desk could not travel outside the county because it busted its budget. Send in the clowns.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of layoffs, I was told last week that my position was eliminated, thanks for your hard work but goodbye. As a now twice-ousted Gannett employee (the first was a newspaper sale), I try to keep the emotion out and understand the business decisions and technicalities. But it's tough each morning to pick up the paper and see someone else's name in the staff box under my "eliminated" position.
ReplyDeleteGannetts margins have always been outstanding, but remember that the one's posted here are gross margins at the sites.. NIBT. They are before Taxes, and corporate allocations such as interest on that $6-7Billion in debt, corporate overhead and YE pension, unemployment and other charges. I suspect if Jim could get ahold of the final YE numbers for 2008 the picture would be different. The era of huge double digit margins are over and GCI is in the middle stages of survival mode. They are obviously trying to stash cash and get ahead of a worse financial environment in 2009. Unfortunately the annual report won't be released until March and the numbers will be hurt by the layoff expenses. In this environment the change in working capital and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow are more important. Because of non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization expenses you can run a loss on the P&L but still have positive cash flow.
ReplyDeleteI think it's amusing some unlettered Gannettoid advertising half-wit comes on here and brags and pats himself on the back for all his "hard" work for a corporation that just fired 2,000 people three weeks before Christmas, despite still making hundreds of millions of dollars.
ReplyDeleteGannett isn't losing money, it's just not making enough money to please its executives and major shareholders.
And his clown has the gall to say it was lazy people that got fired.
What was it Scrooge said about decreasing the surplus population?
Of course, when the Gannett Turk comes calling for this jerk (and he will), we won't hear a bleat out of him. Maybe he'll gladly bend over for his beloved corporate overlord.
Funny, Gannett encourages people to use its newspaper forums and blogs, including comment functions, but this jobsworthy whines that people are on this site during the day. Gannettoid Kool-Aid drinkers tend not to grasp the concept of hypocrisy.
This guy is actually proud of working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. Either he has no family (or will shortly lose it), or just abuses them by making his "career" for Gannett is top priority.
Silly wage slave, defined by his silly job for a grotesque company.
This party is a really big deal for Tom. After holing up in his corner office all year long, avoiding all possible contact with anyone other than his cabinet toadies, he genuinely thinks people want to go out of their way on a Saturday night to show how much they adore him. When I first heard about his Shrimpfest, I was looking forward to some great food. But all he does is thaw bags of jumbo shrimp and juxtapose it with a bowl of ordinary sauce. Then he holds court with his top editors around the kitchen island all night long. I never saw him deign to go around the house and have friendly 1-on-1 conversations with lower-ranking workers or, as he puts it, “meet spouses or thank families.” That refusal to connect with his workers other than by email is one of the main reasons why he still doesn’t know most of our names.
ReplyDelete1:49 AM Thank you for the self-evaluation of your meritorious efforts on behalf of Gannett-- and your assumed rewards for "busting you ass."
ReplyDeleteSomehow, this comes across as being very sanctimonious and obnoxious. Have you no mercy or realization of the many people who worked as hard as you did, even harder. It did not save them. Many are far too old to be be employed at another newspaper, and what they envisioned for their retirement years has been destroyed.
You are a person with very little vision, and it would not be surprising to see you "axed" in the next round. You show all the signs of Gannett leadership in your callous and sucking up comments-- but remember that it's never really worked for workers in the past, and it will not work for you, unless they are really seeking out a miserable, self-serving, prevaricating puppet to move up the ladder.
If your dreams should rest in the writing area, please take a few courses which will teach you to get a lucid idea across.
2:40 p.m. - Such publishers serve as an example to others of how not to be an effective leader.
ReplyDeleteI too had such a publisher and I always vowed that if I EVER were in a position of authority like he had - I would do everything exactly the opposite of what he did.
So he actually WAS a great role model for me - I always ask mayself, "What would that idiot do?" and then I do the opposite.
So far it has served me very well.
This guy in Cincy is clearly a great role model for how not to lead a newspaper - he clearly has a bright future in Gannett.
Comments like those made by 2:37 pm really steam me....stupid wage slave? What do you care if someone is actually dedicated to the job? does it make you look bad or something. This company would be alot better off if everyone just minded their own F'n business and concentrate on their own work.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those stupid wage slaves you refer too, a mid level manager that puts in a lot of hours each week...why..because I take pride in what I do and I choose to be there in the trenches with my people. I have an office that I spend maybe an hour a month in, the rest of the time I am on the floor with my people.
If it irritates you so much thats just a dam shame. Dont criticize me for not being mediocre like you.
Need I remind everyone that the only way to survive times like this is to pull together and stop the bitchfest. Ye I do alot of extras, thats my choice.
If people had your attitude during WWII building tanks and liberty ships, we would probably all be eating bratwursts right now.
I love bratwurst!
ReplyDelete3:40 Just a reminder. There were no bratwursts behind German Barbed wire. Last time I checked they weren't too fond of journalists either!!
ReplyDelete11:37 asked about Depression layoffs.
ReplyDeleteCompany lore has it that the Lansing State Journal did not lay off ANYONE during the depression.
It did implement job sharing and even paid some wages in script good to redeem at local stores.
The merchants did this in exchange for advertising.
All in all a very humane approach where everyone kept a job and at least some income.
I'm sure actions such as these are unheard of most anywhere today.
Eight months ago I warned about Tom Donovan being a lickspittle corporate toadie who would sell the employees down the river. As I recall I was excoriated and told that he was going to turn things around and people stopped just short of saying he would make the APP a paradise. Well, still think so? I'm out of the office on Wednesday so I won't be able to hear his latest line of BS about how sad he is people were fired and how important they were and how you can't cut your way to profitability while he waits for his next dog-whistle set of orders. Just remember that each time he's said "we cut deep so we would not need to make further cuts."
ReplyDeleteThese layoffs weren't all about "eliminating positions." A lot of good people who made the wrong enemy were lost. And because there was no serious oversight of these editors who made the cuts, the company unknowingly lost some top performers with terrific work ethics. I can't imagine what it must feel like knowing you did everything possible for the company, worked hard and had a lot of talent, yet you're on the streets today because someone totally misread you or just had it in for you.
ReplyDeleteYou know, the constant eviscerations of every boss, every manager, every publisher as being dumb, evil, clueless, venal, etc., is just as bad, in its way, as the actions these people are being accused of.
ReplyDeleteNo one takes seriously the over-the-top portrayals of literally any boss' name that comes up. If this is how people really think, then they are no worth to any organization. Brother...
1:49 a.m., I have only one word for you: TROLL.
ReplyDelete1:49 and 1:50, we got your point the first time. You really didn't have to post it a second time but I can tell you REALLY love yourself and just couldn't help it.
ReplyDeleteLayoffs not over...Multimedia TV Newstations laying off today...5 voluntary last week, 4 involuntary today.
ReplyDeleteSo I see there area at least four job postings for positions with Gannett today on Journalismjobs.com
ReplyDeleteWonder if those positions were recently "eliminated" or just the people who were working in them.
4:59...Not every boss. Just a select few. I think that's who some people are referring to here. And I think those bosses know exactly who they are and what they've done.
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mogulus.com/9newsnow is the WUSA newsroom live(or at least delayed by 10 seconds). The newsroom has been torn apart for new furniiture and configuration as it transforms into the "Information Center".
Some question spending money on new furniture, even though it's needed when you are downsizing staff.
As older more experienced folks take buyouts, the intellectual capital goes outthe door with them.
I love my job and in today's employment market am thankful I have it.
ReplyDeleteI loved my job, 6:18 and I'm sorry that someone took it away from me, especially in this employment market
ReplyDelete6:18
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Craig.
The depression brought about the Newspaper Preservation act and the first JOA in Nashville of The Tennessean and Nashville Banner. The Publisher of the Banner had gotten into trouble with the electric company because to save money he had paid and electrician to jump the meter to avoid paying for electircity... or so the story goes.
ReplyDeleteLets face it.. As bad as the economy is the things that are making this even worse than the Depression is the shrinking industry and the newspapers place in society. In 1929 radio was still relatively new. There was no TV, no web, fewer magazines. Newspapers had a household penetration of 100%. You had to read a paper to be informed and to find a job etc. It would have been much easier to survive than now if for no other reason than overhead was less. Tax burden, labor, benefits, executive compensation and other costs were less or didn't exist. The biggest difference though was ownership was local, debt loads were most likely smaller, unless the owner had a gambling addiction, and the families that owned the papers could survuve with a reduced income. Plus they knew every employee and everybody in town.
Anonymous 1:48 PM
ReplyDeletesaid:
I don't know where that NJ person was coming from who spoke about the layoffs having to do with Gannett seniority. That had absolutely nothing to do with any of the cuts at the APP. We still have a large percentage of people there who came to the APP before we were purchased by Gannett.
That NJ person is probably one of the notorious backstabbers at CN-HNT. To narrow it down, he loves putting pet photo "news stories" on the front page. He's also very good at telling us not to write anything negative about the Bridgewater mayor. (We're not allowed to cover the council meetings.)
And, I'm sure he will whine to Jim in an attempt get this post removed.
During the Depression -- which lasted until the late 1930s -- Hearst had to close many newspapers (see the movie "RKO 281." Scripps Howard dodged into JOAs everywhere it could to keep afloat - Evansville, El Paso, Albuquerque. In Michigan in 1929 there were competing papers in Battle Creek, Grand Rapids and, I believe, Jackson; the smaller ones closed or merged in the 1930s. Marginal suburban dailies, such as in Evanston, Ill., or Ardmore, Pa., went weekly.
ReplyDeleteIn Indiana, competing papers were kept alive by a law mandating that legal notices be published in both a Republican and a Democratic paper. This led to one owner, two papers. But in most states competition became rare outside the major cities.
My great-grandfather was an advertising manager for the Detroit News in the 1930s, and according to family legend, many was the time he was paid in groceries for an ad. And if you look at a microfilm of 1930s newspapers you see a paucity of advertising.
People did have nowhere else to go. Newspapers also had very small newsroom staffs because so much of their money was spent on composing. Much more of their content was syndicated copy or news releases. Fewer people made careers in newspaper work, it was more of a raffish field, and so people moved on (and were not replaced). There was little money in it anyway.
The amount of newspaper competition that was kept alive from the 1930s into the 1980s by Scripps-Howard or Hearst papers is one of the major differences between then and now.
Jim, you seem to be going back and forth on moderation - has there been/continuing to be issues with the non-civil?
ReplyDeleteI love my job and I'm not Craig....so for the immature who cannot stand to read a positive comment, I am sorry.
ReplyDeleteI went to J school and have been a working print journalist for 20+ years. It is what I know and I would not choose another path if I had to do it over.
I wish everyone the best.
7:21 give your money to charity. It is better used. this blog contributed to further lay offs. Dont think for a minute it did not.
ReplyDeletePhilly news. PNI wants buyouts ?
ReplyDeleteLetter went out Monday 12/8/08.
APP is not the only paper in NJ. When it comes down to the CN vs HNT, the message is clear: Bridgewater people stay, East Brunswick people go. Most of the managers are CN people. Most of the newsroom is now CN people. The publisher is an APP person. One can only hope that the Courier News Home News Tribune operation and planning retreat that was held earlier today was fruitful. It seems to me that in a time of cutting costs, specifically personnel, that having a meeting held at a local restaurant, complete with cocktails and dinner, might be considered a bit over the top.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering, how the other Gannett subsidiaries are doing? I read the posts on the Career Builder layoffs. Clipper Magazine, a slick coupon publication bought up by Gannett about 6 years ago, actually is spinning off to specialty ad publications (Home and Decor). But sales folks in marginal Clipper markets are being told to raise and solidfy their page counts and clients by June. This will translate into replacing the reps or shutting down the magazine in that market, some like my wife have been told. Since the sale of Clipper passed the five year mark last year, company benefits have been morphed into Gannett-like insurance plans, etc., and it seems the corporate guys who sold out to Clipper may be having to answer more to someone at the top than they used too.
ReplyDelete9:07 pm: I am dealing with a comment spammer who has been stalking this blog for more than a week. I have told him he is not welcome here -- as have other journalism blogs and websites.
ReplyDeleteBut that is an almost fruitless exercise: He keeps coming back. The Blogger software I use doesn't allow me to lock out an individual reader. So, I've had to resort to moderating comments. That is frustrating to many of my readers, but I have found no other solution.
I have a question...My last day of work is January 16. Closing our doors. They are telling me that they do not have to pay me my 2 weeks vacation. I thought it would be earned when January 1 comes along. Anyone know if I'm getting another snow job?
ReplyDelete9:36 - Please give examples of how this blog has contributed to further layoffs.
ReplyDeleteTo 3:11 p.m.: What's wrong with bratwurst? It's the official food for Sheboygan, dontcha know?! And the official drink, you may ask? Ha.
ReplyDeleteGood luck all in Lafayette, LA. Hope to see you all Thursday.
ReplyDelete11:24 PM-
ReplyDeleteYour vacation is based on service this year. So if you work from Jan to Sept, you might get 1.5 weeks of your two weeks per year. Something like that.
Amen, 11:29 pm, for writing: "9:36 - Please give examples of how this blog has contributed to further layoffs."
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see those examples, too!
11:33pm - And those damn well better be Johnsonville Brats - none of that Klement's Krap, wiener races or no.
ReplyDeleteReally folks, if you get the chance to transfer to Wisconsin, do it. We love it here. With cheese, beer and brats, it's not the wurst place to work and live....
In Pine Bluff, Ark., where I started my first career, we had an annual armadillo race. The perennial winner was Fireball. He(?) was raced by Cooter Failla, a personable local plumber (or maybe electrician).
ReplyDeleteJust how does one get named Cooter? I know it's a nickname of a .... turtle, but aside from the Dukes of Hazzard, I've never heard a guy named that.
ReplyDeleteSorry, not focused on Ganet. (saving n and t cash)
11:24 - You earn a few hours of vacation every paycheck. By the end of the year, you've earned your total number of hours of vacation for the year. So by Jan. 16, you probably wouldn't have even earned half a day of vacation.
ReplyDeleteThe exception would be if you are lucky enough to be able to roll over vacation hours where you work. Then they'd have to pay you what you've got left. But I'm sure most, if not all, of us have use-or-lose hours.
Well, we have heard of Tom's Shrimpfest. Oh' but what about Margaret's big Blow Out. Both of these are expensed to company cards and the only people who see these events are those on the upper eschalon. While, I am now not even going to be able to make ends meet on the Oh' so lovely Ohio Unemployment lines - they will spending an ungodly amount of money on their social gatherings that would probably pay the salary for one of their axed employees. Plus, Ms. Margaret - I hope you are enjoying that brand new car, with weekly gas fill-ups and car washes all on the Gannett Buck..
ReplyDelete