Wednesday, March 04, 2009
50 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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Come on in, Jersey-ites -- and those who love them!
ReplyDeleteAhem, it's New Jerseyans.
ReplyDeleteI think we need to send out a search party for Hollis Towns. He hasn't been seen in his bunker for days. All that television watching time going to waste.
ReplyDeleteI had a leadership role at the Courier-News about 20 years ago. The paper was expanding. The young staff was talented. There was experimentation. Risks were taken. Ideas were acted upon. There was corporate support.
ReplyDeleteBut my career has taken me elsewhere since then. What happened? What's the backstory? Bring me up to speed. Thanks.
1:32 AM, the CN was the NJPA paper of the year in 1992, 1993 and 1994. But as the organization flattened and the number of reporters grew smaller, demands on staff drove many to other newspapers or to 9-to-5 public information jobs. All specialized beats were dropped and bureaus were closed. Google some of the names you remember and you will see a few are still in the news biz. When one reporter retired after 32 years, the person with the next most longevity had 10 years and it dropped off fast after that. There was little institutional history in the newsroom and content standards dropped to the point where press releases went in as-is, tagged as "Staff report."
ReplyDeleteThere are some very talented reporters on board right now, but the organization is struggling.
What goes around comes around.I don't think NJ papers will go under.But what I worry about is if they are united were will it be.I would imagine Neptune since they cant sell the building.But what happens to health and safety with all the newbies.
ReplyDelete4:15 am: The CN was the NJPA paper of the year every year from 1992 to 1999. Then Gannett decided to change publishers and brought in one who had been a CN EE in the past. Unfortunately, he sucked as EE and he sucked even worse as publisher. He pushed out the then-editor, who had been doing a great job, and stuck in a skirt-chasing, back-slapping mealy mouth who doesn't have the news sense of an ant. The worse thing is, the publisher had no news sense, either. That's when things tanked, circulation and quality. And that's when people left in droves.
ReplyDeleteSpecialized beats, such as education, were dropped. (Nobody cares about education, mealy mouth said). New beats were created but were so poorly drawn that they were destined to fail. (One of them was called "How We Live." Even mealy mouth couldn't define what that was.) Those who held those dropped beats were told they could pick from mealy mouth's new creations, or they could leave the paper.
The line between advertising and editorial was obliterated. The publisher and EE believed that the way to stem the bleeding was to suck up to advertisers in the hopes they would spend more money. Didn't work.
Gannett eventually moved the publisher and EE to other NJ properties, but the death blow had already been delivered. The CN has been bleeding to death ever since.
... where press releases went in as-is, tagged as "Staff report."
ReplyDeleteThat's plagiarism, for you young'uns reading who may not know better. The APP does this and the news editor has looked the other way, too.
This practice is a disgrace to journalism. Even if the piece is too insignificant to reach scandal level, it is an embarrassment in the fact the real author knows no one on the newspaper's staff really wrote it.
As an editor, I once caught one of those plagiarized "Staff report" stories that was particularly shocking. It included many direct quotes from an expert source that I couldn't confirm even existed. I did confirm that the entire "Staff report" -- word for word, top to bottom -- was published online and in a professional magazine under the byline of the true author, a PR flak.
Ouch. I should have been rewarded for preventing the APP from publishing plagiarism, but instead I think I was blackmarked as a troublemaker. I received a cold shoulder from the "staff reporter" and the supervising editor, and covert praise only from my direct supervisor.
Why is it when you do something good at the APP work wise its bad.But some things that they give that-a-boys to are all high school rah-rah bullshit
ReplyDeleteMaybe someone can write a press release about the building problems, and then the story will have a chance of appearing in the paper. The "hard-hitting" journalists here can't figure out how to do the story.
ReplyDelete"I wonder if Daffy remembers he can fly."
(drops like a stone)
"Nope, I guess not."
Hollis Towns, MIA? Top places to search:
ReplyDelete10. Journalism conferences
9. NABJ/minority recruiting fairs
8. Shooting too high on job quests
7. Fending off offers to be a drill sergeant
6. Anger management schools
5. Asshole reduction schools. Bullshit reduction schools
4. Any Georgia-related sports bars in NJ.
3. Looking for reporters hiding in weeds
2. Driving around pretending to be interested in NJ
1. Taking 1-on-1 coaching on how to sound knowledgeable beyond suspicion
As things continue to decline many of us at the Courierpost are wondering why the publisher here has not trimmed down the fat in the retail advertising department where there are many hangers-on who are just sucking away money from the operation. It's like a big social club and everyone knows it. From the ovrpaid AD down to the band of friends who should have been dumped years ago. Still the most important thing in the department is taking care of personal business and planning the daily lunch menu. Everytime I walk through that area I see the same morons involved in personal conversations or planning for one kind of idiocy or another. What the hell!!!??? Can anyone explain this? If the rumors out there about more layoffs have any validity at all, then this is one part of the newspaper where overhead could be reduced without missing a step.
ReplyDelete"NEW JERSEY PAPERS ROCK"
ReplyDeleteI heard Hollis is in NYC judgeing the Pulitzers
ReplyDeleteEG- Since I was fired from the APP,I have tried to stay away from friends,not that I don't like them or appreciate them.I just don't want to get them in trouble.So help me out here.Could you tell me were thees people are now.And "NO NOT TO THREATEN THEM" Joe Cavone,Mike Lorrenca,Tom the head of maintenance,Kathy Abatemarco,Jack Roth,Skip Hidlay.I just want to know what jobs they hold now.
ReplyDeleteJoe Cavone was and is one of the "emptiest" suits in the entire NJ group. This guy slings more crap and says nothing. I attended many meetings and had to listen to him pontificate. Whenever he was speaking everyone looked at each other and just grinned all knowing what a loser! Is he still employed at a Gannett site. It would figure if he is since he's the perfect model of Gannett loser.
ReplyDeleteEG, Lorenca has a similar HR position at the bankrupt Philadelphia Inquirer; Abatemarco is still at the APP with a seemingly useless new bigshot Judy Dorsey over her, and Hidlay is publisher of the HNT and CN.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the others. I see people here posting as if Jack Roth is still in his position at the APP.
When I said that I have a copy of a report by the Cannon repair guys,I do.One of the Cannon repair guys,got a call from guess who?Joe Cavone,when he was head of marketing at APP trying to tell him to calm down about the sulfuric acid fiasco.All I can say for now, is that the repairman got real made at Joe for trying to cover up what was going on.Wile in the US Navy,the repairman used sulfuric acid for something?so he new the smell.Joe got intimidated then and cut the conversation short.Real nice guy.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteEG-If I am lying about anything that I am saying, I invite any of them to come on and debate me,though as you can tell I would probably do better face to face because as I was told yesterday! writing is NOT my forte,and thank God for spell check
ReplyDeleteJoe Cavone has been publisher at Daily Record (Morristown) since early '07.
ReplyDeleteEG-Mike L.Lost a page of a report that was real important.After twice asking in writing for it,it was found (Jim I'm doing a short version this time,don't know what I said that was bad in the one you edited?)
ReplyDeleteFor today's edition the Courier News wins the Five Crown Award.
ReplyDeleteSuppressing stories: Rutgers' bowl game trip last December lost big bucks per the school's report to the NCAA. Gannett must have ordered its papers to not print this story.
Story appearing twice: Sri Lanka cricket team machine-gunned in Pakistan. Ran in The Daily Briefing (back of A section) and the sports section (page C-2).
Missing stories: NY Giants RB Brandon Jacobs signed with Tampa Bay. The Giants are the local NFL club of choice -- not reporting that a star player left as a free agent is unacceptable.
Pimping for cronies: Rick Malwitz used his column to kiss the ass of Rutgers' new athletic director (who's a crony of football coach Greg Schiano).
Obvious mistakes getting into print: A lecture taking place on "Saturday, March 6". A registration deadline of "today, March 3". School registration "Today, March 3". All in separate items on the Community News page.
My bad on the post above -- it was Derrick Ward who signed with Tampa Bay.
ReplyDeleteJim What am I doing wrong.Twice the comments have not made it on to this page?Help
ReplyDeletecc from Your News & Comments
ReplyDeleteRe pension:
Workers terminating at the APP with more than 10 years of service might want to email APPpensions@live.com. The old Trouble Shooter has been getting relevant information about our prior pensions that Don and Jules gave Gannett to administer and is offering to keep everyone it pertains to informed.
It was not my experience that I could go into HR and be handed the information, but local HR did have to mail calculations to corporate HR before corporate HR would mail the packet. I used email to set a specific deadline for my local HR to send the data to corporate. I like to have accurate written record of how things transpire. It's the outdated, silly old journalist in me, I guess.
It figures that Joe Cavone is now a publisher. The Peter Principle once again. What a jerk he is!
ReplyDeleteMike L.I don't know how he could get a job in HR.He may have tried to hid info,that under the right to know law was supposed to be given us after asking 2 times in writing(but there is much much more to this part of the story).
ReplyDeleteEG-I swear that if I could get some writer to help me,this hole thing would make a great episode of CSI.
ReplyDelete2:02 pm and all other posters: You're demonstrating amazing participation in this new Jersey Confidential forum -- once more showing the rest of Gannett how it's done!
ReplyDeleteNow, here's a new challenge: You are all posting very New Jersey-specific news and comments, exactly what I hoped for. That means more posts that include people identified by name and title.
Whenever anyone writes a comment that includes someone's name, please know that I'm going to examine it very carefully for reasons to allow it to remain on this site.
This is not just for Jersey Confidential posters; it's for comments across all strings, on all posts. This has always been my guideline. Now, however, as the number of daily comments often exceed 200, I'm going to start enforcing that guideline more firmly.
EG: Jack Roth is VP of Production, got him self a gold ring lastyear too!
ReplyDeleteJim, senior management should be open by name to fair factual criticism or opinion, don't you think? I think the key word is "fair."
ReplyDeleteCan you give us specific boundaries?
I don't feel middle and lower management and rank-and-file should be ID'd by name in criticism, but when necessary to make a point understandable I've referred to a position that may be quasi-identifiable. Some are iffy, for example a managing editor who was acting EE and is still de facto EE.
I don't like seeing anyone being treated harshly by anonymous accusators, however, there's a part of me that thinks if they see how it feels to be on the receiving end, they would be more compassionate and sensitive in their advocacy of outrageous, slanderous remarks posted virtually daily at Gannett online sites.
Who is the best Publisher in New Jersey? Who is the best AD? How about Editor? Slim Pickens!
ReplyDeleteJim.-"THANK YOU SO MUCH"! As you can tell(and I do know you can)I thank you for putting it in writing.Thanks it reels me in,I'm kinda a Flintstone,when it comes to PCs and stuff.EG
ReplyDeleteJack Roth has always bin a good guy in my book!Never did me any wrong! I'm glad to see that he got the RING.I know he deserve it.Just hope that he don't let it scratch his guitar. EG
ReplyDeleteThe Courier News was torn down from the inside, the advertising side of the building did their fair share of damage. I was a part timer back a few years ago and quit when I saw what was going on. That ad director came from the Home News and immediately put a stop to the experimentation, risk taking and talented staff. She was threatened by anyone with a good idea and publically put down any sales rep that showed creativity and initiative. She repeatedly defended sales reps who knowingly fudged their numbers. One rep a few years ago booked $70k worth of unauthorized ads over 6 months before finally getting fired. The rep’s “customers” complained daily about their ads being run without their permission or purchase order, but the ad director refused to punish the rep since he booked high numbers. Finally, when the customers badgered the publisher enough, the rep was fired.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else recall this? The sales rep’s first name was Paul I believe.
Excuse me...pardon me....a little room here please.......Is this where the Jersey people are suppose to meet??
ReplyDeleteHey, how the Fu*k are you guys (and chicks)?
Boy it's crowded in here.
I saw old Bob Collins at over at Monmounth Park....trying to bet his shares of Gannett on simulcast races. I hope he's okay for money.
When I first started working for APP it was 1990,soon after,started getting a lot of overtime.I mean, a lot of overtime!I loved it,money was good.But I started getting sick,after quite a run,though I never took a sick day.I tried to tell my dept hd.I needed to slow down a little but got threatened with termination.Well I found out I had gotten Lymes disease,and my legs hurt so bad I had trouble standing.Another long story very very short,is the dept.hd got fired,and I got to slow down.It also took a year to even get a thank you.
ReplyDeleteWish that I was better at this,YOU SHOULD HEAR THIS ONE! and yet again I got the written proof and they know it,or I would have not gotten THE HALF HARTED THANK YOU that I did.EG
Jim @ 2.38 msg.,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your concern about names. Ex-employees are going thru some tough times right now & are more likely to blame bosses & call names out of frustration....we are all human beings. Also, everybody's experience is different. I see some names mentioned here & feel shocked because the same people have been extremely professional with me! So cut some slack guys!Take a deep breath before you hit the Publish button.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteTo:4:31 That is why I said yesterday that I go back and forth with my experiences at the APP.I really do try to like the people!I know that it must be hard,very hard to be in house positions of middle management with Bob Collins at the helm answering to the mother ship Gannett.They have to go with the flow to keep their jobs,Its us Jersey Mouths,that get fired for opening ours.But it would be nice to know,that one might have your back instead of your back-side,once in a wile.
ReplyDeleteBoy I cant stop my run on rants here Sorry.-EG
4:02pm
ReplyDeleteJust for the record, the Bridgewater PD was called in and a report was filed. They were hunting for Paul at several different addresses to issue him a summons for court. Never heard anything more about it. Maybe someone can research public records at Somerset County Courthouse.
7:01pm
ReplyDeleteYes, that is correct, the police were brought in once Paul's "selling tactics" became common knowledge outside of the Courier News. But the Ad Director wrote down his bogus ads when customers disputed their bills numerous times prior to his termination and the PD becoming involved. Paul did not rack up the $70k in one month, he was doing it over a long period of time and many credits were issued while he was still employed and receiving commissions.
The fraud was discovered well before he was fired, it had been going on for many months.
3:09 pm said "Who is the best Publisher in New Jersey? Who is the best AD? How about Editor? Slim Pickens!"
ReplyDeleteWhat would probably get response would be answer to the question who are the worst publishers, ad directors and editors. Since NJ group is so crowded with loser managment we could probably keep this blog very lively. So let's hear your votes!!!
Stock is up
ReplyDeleteThe C-N's downfall began with News 2000 and "Somersetization." I forget which started first.
ReplyDeleteWhat's really amazing about the CN is that they have just about taken over at the HNT. The staff that remains after the layoffs is suspicious and dishearted to say the least. Why is it 80% CN & 20% HNT? Because the CN is corporate to the bone, being corporate owned alot longer than the HNT and USAT was printed over at the old building on Rt.22 before the printing moved down to Freehold. These a few things I've heard and found out. Still learning everyday about the CN ways, and I don't really like this new learning curve. Just my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteGannett workers,buy lottery tickets people from NJ can win.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad someone mentioned Joe Cavone. Pompous Ass are two words that come to mind. For the life of me I cannot figure out why he was hired as our publisher. This man walks around the building and expects people to bow to him, not to mention his favorites he keeps close. He's too green to be publisher. His correct role should've been as a rah-rah in the marketing department. Very pig headed and set in his ways.
ReplyDeleteI always have and always will believe that publishers should come from an editorial background. You need them to work in a newsroom frame of mind. But then again, publishers these days seem more like accountant types. To hell with what crap is published in the paper; let's just see what extra money we can squeeze out of the advertisers. Wrong ads running in wrong sections; our weekly product being inserted into the wrong paper zones. Yet, nothing is done about it. This man should learn more business etiquette; it's kind of embarassing to bring him to meet people; the arrogance comes through immediately. If I would've won the mega millions lottery last night, I would've bought the paper back from Gannett and turned it into what it used to be: a strong, marketable, likeable paper. Now I just see it dying a long, miserable death. It's a shame, really.
4:02
ReplyDeleteThis is all I could find so far, Paul ran the unauthorized ads from April to December 2003. Customer complaints and credits from April, May, June, July surfaced way before his December termination...
Courier News (Bridgewater, NJ) - Saturday, May 21, 2005
Author: Courier News
Former Courier worker indicted
SOMERVILLE -- A former Courier News employee was indicted by a Somerset County grand jury Thursday on charges he stole more than $500 from the newspaper by filing false advertising vouchers.
Paul Joseph Zimmerman, 40, of North Plainfield faces one count of third degree theft by deception for allegedly causing unauthorized advertisements to be published in the newspaper from April 28, 2003, to Dec. 9, 2003, Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said. Zimmerman, who worked in the newspaper's advertising department, used the deceptive practice to boost his commission, Forrest said.
Advertising representatives earn commissions based on the amount of advertising they sell. Running unauthorized ads would inflate the sales figures, generating commission for the salesperson but no revenue for the newspaper.
Zimmerman faces from three to five years in prison if convicted.
b›-- b›Peter Spencer