Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday | Jan. 25 | Your News & Comments
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57 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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Hello!
ReplyDeleteHas, that other project you been working on Jim, been going? The one I believe with former Gannett's Frank Vega?
ReplyDeleteJust curious Jim. Why aren't you blogging about the buyouts/layoffs offered to newsroom staff at GNS, who were exempt from the recent furloughs? Word is they're shutting it down to make room for Content One...buyouts take place this week.
ReplyDeletermichem: I think you misinterpreted a comment I wrote earlier. I'm not working on any projects with him.
ReplyDeletermichem: Why are you so paranoid about non-issues? What is wrong with you? Clearly you need something else to fill some of your free time.
ReplyDeleteFound a home for you once you get your "payment for life" from Big G - check out 2845 Broadway St,
ReplyDeleteSan Francisco - it's up for sale and looks cozy for you and Mr. Sparks.....
http://tinyurl.com/cfllzy
Guys, Gannett is planning on another week off without pay for the second quarter....beats a layoff anyway
ReplyDeleteDid anyone hear that they are closing the DIG? I heard that Michael Maness and Laura Ramos are out searching for jobs within Gannett.
ReplyDeleteI always thought the DIG was a waste of money. These two individuals have become glorified trainers.
It is hard to find anyone who is a fan of the DIG except for Dubow and Martore (which I guess that is all you need to stay alive in Gannett).
Jim,
ReplyDeleteYour blog needs to have real-time posting and responding. It is too slow and not exciting. People like to post and have immediate feedback from other posters.
You need to lift the moderation. This is getting stale.
Anybody hearing anything about the Feb. layoffs?
ReplyDeleteQuiet in Ohio, but I know they're coming. Not sure how many or when.
The editors here are writing about the complaints in the size of the paper but one keeps saying the product is healthy.
I understand this being a former employee, but it comes across as a mixed message to the average reader.
They try to explain it, but it rings hollow to most folks in these parts.
6:25 AM wrote to Jim: "You need to lift the moderation. This is getting stale."
ReplyDeleteIf the a-holes would keep away from here with their comment spamming, Jim would not need to moderate.
I was not a fan of the days when the comments were full of off-topic garbage and nonsense (from one poster in particular).
Thanks for doing the extra work, Jim. Sorry you have to, but a few people ruin it for everyone.
Jim
ReplyDeleteI have a guestion for you what was your motivation to start this blog against Gannett. Did they fource you out as they have so many of the rest of us. I really like this blog and I think it is a nice forum to get word out. In fact you are the one that got the news out about Lay-off and they had to rush to tell everyone. I have researched other companies to see if they have blogs and it seems like Gannett is the main one and I thought it was just our MN location that was so bad it appeard it is the entire company. Have they ever tried to shut you down. Great work and thanks for the great blog. I will send a few bucks your way as I think this is great what you are doing.
I also agree with this poster. Lets set the blog up for real time and have everyone use a character name or something. This way you are a lready a memeber. Have self watch if we see something we hit a button that turns the comments into the moderator. It would be nice to see who all the comments are coming from is it the same over and over or different areas.
ReplyDeleteI think the below has a point.
Jim,
Your blog needs to have real-time posting and responding. It is too slow and not exciting. People like to post and have immediate feedback from other posters.
You need to lift the moderation. This is getting stale.
5:32, do tell.
ReplyDeleteWe're still reeling from the effects of having everyone off for one week in such a short time span in the first quarter. The reporters can write fewer stories but production folks aren't getting fewer pages to produce (even though we've scaled down recently).
From the FAQ: Q. How will my furlough be scheduled?
A. Furloughs will be scheduled so that normal operations can continue without interruption during the furlough period.
That's bullshit and freakin' impossible.
Hey 5:32:
ReplyDeleteWhere did you hear that? Although it doesn't surprise me, it's disheartening.
I agree on the furloughs, although this will be the first time I've had a whole week off in years. I'm taking furlough in March, and taking a census bureau employment test in February. They are looking for temporary workers for prep for the 2010 census. With luck, I might have a temp job with the census to keep me busy and earning money during my unpaid time off. Call 1-866-861-2010 to see if there's jobs in your area.
ReplyDeleteOn layoffs in February, I was hoping the furloughs would take the place of that. Also, what do you make of the talk with Craig Dubow coming up Jan. 30?
ReplyDeleteIf there's another furlough in the second quarter, or any other quarter this year, how do the newspapers then give people their vacations and get the work done. I know that my production-related department would be unable to get its work done some nights if we have more furloughs, and have to give everyone all their vacation weeks by Dec. 31 -- we once were able to let people slide a bit of vacation over to the following year, as long as it was used in the first month or two. That's no longer allowed.
ReplyDeleteJim, your somewhat right about misinterpreted, about what sources inside your circle told me. In so far as what 2:47 wanted to know.Who said, that what Frank Vega does is a non issue, for me.
ReplyDeleteWith my vacation time and current furlough time,and maybe more to come, I am starting to feel like a goverment employee with all the time off I am gonna get
ReplyDelete@ 6:23: closing the DIG? Wherever will I get my free coffee mugs?
ReplyDeleteUh, that's what it's for, right?
OK, assuming the worst-case scenario, if everyone's forced to take four weeks off per year, that means, for long-timers, they will be gone from the office TWO MONTHS out of the year. For our understaffed office, that will be decidedly ridiculous. For me, it's seven weeks.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I can look at the furloughs as preferable to a layoff or just a simple 8 percent pay cut or whatever (at least with furloughs we get time off). On the other hand, there will be more understaffing almost every week of the year now, as I bet at least one person will be gone due to furlough and/or vacation every week.
Jeesh.
Still no word on the "finance project" timetable? Anyone been let go out of those depts. across the board? Thought I had heard that Accts. Pay. was set to go in Jan. and this month is almost over. Still quiet on that front?!
ReplyDeleteDo you have the C-N's new address in Somerville? I assume the C-N is renting space. Just how are left in the editorial dept. there these days?
ReplyDeleteI was taking a look at the yahoofinance message board today and couldn't remember a time when I saw so many negative comments about gci. I think we should start taking bets on when the board will release DuBow and his golden parachute. From a practical business perspective his plan is failing and you can't just blame the economy on this one. The newspapers are starting to falter much quicker than they likely would have. Gessh, keeping people on the payroll because they pen a blog that most readers don't care about or make interactive projects that don't make money does not make financial sense.
ReplyDeleteIn order for Gannett to flourish in the digital world it needs to discover one or more "big ideas". The company has yet to accomplish that goal.
Seems that 11:59 and I had the same idea. I've already applied for the part-time census job. If nothing else, it's a great opportunity to stash some money away for the coming rainy days.
ReplyDeleteCN will be at 92 E. Main St., Suite202, Somerville
ReplyDeleteWow 2:48, C-N doesn't even have a street address to call its own. They go from a 40,000 sf building down to an individual office. Good luck to the 12 people who will be working out of there.
ReplyDelete12:58 -- Stop whinning.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like it quit! Nobody is begging you to stay around....or anyone of us.
"If there's another furlough in the second quarter, or any other quarter this year, how do the newspapers then give people their vacations and get the work done. ..." 12:20 pm
ReplyDeleteAnswer: Do it the Dickey Way and take your golf vacation early!
5:32 AM: Where did you hear about more furloughs in 2nd quarter? Is this a rumor or has anyone seen this in print? What about 3rd and 4th Q? They say furloughs are to stop layoffs, but do you really believe them? I can't afford a pay cut every paycheck, and a lot of us have 4 or 5 weeks vacation to take! No one will be in the office to get work done! Sales will go down if sales reps are on furlough.
ReplyDeleteI think the furloughs are so the CEOs can get their bonuses. And Dubow needs his $7 million bonus too. I can't wait till their bonuses are posted. There might be riots.
"About what sources inside your circle told me." -- rmichem
ReplyDeleteCareful Jim. He's on to you. He's got sources in your circle.
5:32 no they aren't. You are making it up. Don't listen to them folks. It simply isn't true
ReplyDeleteThere are no furloughs scheduled for the second quarter. The dude is lying.
ReplyDeleteHere is a quiz; What big shot finance guy got tired of putting in a full day and brought his lackey in from the field to help him in McLean?
ReplyDeleteI ran across the following column today (link at the bottom of my post), written by one of Gannett's more clueless executive editors. It looks like the EE in Lansing has a fancy for collecting old newspapers, but what really struck me as interested was the lede on the column: "While there is no doubt we are in the throes of a digital revolution, it may well be our traditional print products - newspapers, in particular - that generations from now continue to commemorate momentous events like the inauguration of Barack Obama." Guess this whole Internet thing is just a fad?!?!?! "Generations" from now ... WTF!?!?!
ReplyDeleteThe column goes on to ironically provide an explainer on preserving copies of newspapers in a cost effective manner ... no kidding. Then it makes a big plug for readers to buy "extra" inauguration newspapers, even if they "trashed" their home delivery copies. Sounds like Lansing might have over anticipated demand and run too many copies.
The lead of this column is reflective of the passive-aggressive clash that is now occurring between DuBow's plans to reinvent the company and folks at the director level. For me, this reflects a very public acknowledgement by a Gannett boss that the ultimate future is in traditional newspapering, not digital initiatives and new sources of print. I love the printed word, but even I realize that most printed newspapers will cease to exist in the next decade.
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/
article/20090125/COLUMNISTS04/
901250662
Hey 4:07 ... the furloughs weren't intended to "stop" layoffs. Dickey's note said "to minimize layoffs."
ReplyDeleteThis was posted Sunday at Cincinnati.Com on the blog of the Xavier University men's basketball beat reporter, Shannon Russell:
ReplyDeleteAs some of you might know, Gannett has implemented a mandatory, five-day, unpaid furlough for all of its employees. That includes everyone at The Enquirer and, as of Monday, me. The furloughs have to be taken by the end of March (otherwise I'd gladly wait until basketball season was over). Luckily, I'm able to split up my days over the next two weeks and will not miss any games. Reds reporter John Fay will be filling in on the beat for a few days this week; I'm not sure who's helping out next week. I've been covering XU for 13 games now and have begun to get quite comfortable in my new environment, so I'm not looking forward to an interruption. But I appreciate all your comments on the board and hope you will continue to post. Catch you all Wednesday at the Charlotte game.
Not everyone who is concerned about the loss of at least one week's pay is whining. By the way, I think my co-workers would be very upset if I quit...because I probably wouldn't get replaced, and I'm a very hard worker.
ReplyDeleteI do feel for some HR folks. They're not all bad. I like the ones in Lansing. They've been very helpful during difficult situations. They're just doing what they're told to do.
ReplyDelete....I think the furloughs are so the CEOs can get their bonuses. And Dubow needs his $7 million bonus too. I can't wait till their bonuses are posted.
ReplyDelete$7 million bonus? What are your reading?
1:36: You ARE the company. So why don't you take some responsibility for coming up with some "big" ideas?
ReplyDelete--
"In order for Gannett to flourish in the digital world it needs to discover one or more "big ideas". The company has yet to accomplish that goal."
your co-workers would be what? why would anyone care if you quit? my what an ego we have. what an idiot
ReplyDelete11:16 wrote:
ReplyDelete"From the FAQ: Q. How will my furlough be scheduled?
A. Furloughs will be scheduled so that normal operations can continue without interruption during the furlough period.
That's bullshit and freakin' impossible."
Bullshit, yes. Impossible, no. Parse the sentence, and you'll find that the key word is "interruption," not "change" or "affecting other workers." In other words, they'll bust the rest of the page designers' butts to continue to get the paper out. They'll demand more from reporters to fill the paper. etc...
No one's promising that the folks left standing won't be affected. All they're promising is that readers won't notice much of a difference.
And if you believe they won't, I've got a golf course in Arizona to sell you...
It's not ego, it's reality. We simply can't afford to lose too many more people in our office.
ReplyDeleteRE 7:51
ReplyDeleteYou forgot that the product will suck, too. All wire, a few quickly pulled together local longish briefs, a picture or two and that's it. And whatever news is there was on CNN or HDL yesterday. I sorry that's harsh for those producing it to hear but they know it. That probably just makes it worse.
The real loser? Whoever subscribes or made the mistake of buying that day's paper in the rack. But you can't fool them for long, they will just quit wasting the money.
any news at Couier Journal grape vine says it's for sale
ReplyDeleteI can't believe GCIU 619 in Louisville ok,d the furloughs,whats up with these unions
ReplyDeleteI really dislike 2AdPro. Why? Because having them around enabled our management to be able to lay off artists. In my department, we had a great workflow. We didn't need to send more than a few ads a week, even though we were urged to send more. And we were proud of that. We did great work at a healthy clip. Now we are forced to send many more ads to make up for the lost coworkers and furloughs.
ReplyDeleteSo instead of losing our jobs because of the ads being outsourced, we're outsourcing ads because we lost our jobs.
Watch out, web ad designers - they're pushing their Flash and Rich Media ads in February.
Now if they'd only use more than just Times New Roman font.
As a layoff victim, I am not sure what the hysteria is over a furlough. Sure, it's not a good thing. But by comparison, I would have taken a furlough or two over being laid off. You guys don't really understand how bad the job market is right now. I have searched high and low for employment, and can't even get a call back from a potential employer. I wish this blog would focus more on those of us who got booted from Gannett and are about to lose our homes, sanity and hope. Losing a week's pay hurts but losing a career is far more serious, particularly if you are in your mid 50s and have never done anything else other than newspaper work. I really wish Gannett would have shown us a bit more loyalty for all the years of hard work, low pay, working nights and holidays...and let us finish out our careers. Many of the papers are still very profitable, so I don't understand why Gannett decided to do this to us. I feel I was still a major contributor and functioning at a very high level.
ReplyDelete6:53 - You ARE WRONG. I am NOT the company. I got booted in a previous layoff. And, I did in fact come up with some big ideas that made the company a LOT of money. But the traditional thinking EE who made the decision to boot me didn't care. So now what? Any thoughts more clever thoughts on being part of the company? You management types are so funny ... you don't get that you have let a lot of talented people go in favor of satisfying the "average is good enough" mentality of this company. Shame on you and your ignorance.
ReplyDelete5:25 - It sounds like at least one EE is a bit cynical of DuBow's plans.
ReplyDeleteJim: If you DO NOT meet your quarterly goals will you be putting yourself and/or sparky on a furlough?
ReplyDeleteI will be happy to take another week off without pay to keep my job and health benefits. It is so much better than watching people crying leaving with boxes. This is happening everywhere — not just Gannett. I know it's tough, but we still have jobs, unlike our past coworkers. I will take a week without pay again and cut båck on things I really don't need and continue to apply for jobs. We need to stick together and try as much as we can to be grateful we have the jobs we have. Yes, Gannett is evil and does not have our best interests at heart, but we shouldn't think about them. We need to think about ourselves and our families. We have a job. We have health benefits. I for one, dont want to be in the unemployment line waiting for a check that doesn't cover my bills. It could be a thousand times worse. Lets continue to do what we do best and take pride in the fact that we are good at what we do. Do it for the employees not the employer. We can all pull together and do this. It only takes a few of us to make a difference. We can succeed.
ReplyDeleteEveryone! It is what it is.. or is it? We don't know for sure what will happen next day, next week or next month. But we know this: we still have a job. It may not be as pleasant as it was years ago, but it is a job. Sure the 5 days no pay will be tough, I personally don't make much at my position, but I'm able to break up the 5 days over the next 9 weeks. My first two days are approaching back to back within the next week. But during 2 separate pay periods, so it won't be too bad. It's not good, but it could be worse. Breath... keep cool and make it through another week. That's all you can do for now.
ReplyDelete7:51, I am 11:16. Thanks for parsing! and no, I do not want to buy a golf course.
ReplyDeleteAbout those readers not noticing a difference. Ha ha ha. I know what you mean; I'm almost afraid to go out in public.
12:50 p.m.
ReplyDeleteSorry you may be losing your DIG coffee mugs.
Can I interest you in a Metromix keychain?