Sunday, March 01, 2009
Sunday | March 1 | Your News & Comments
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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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Good morning, Craig.
ReplyDeleteI've seen people posting wondering if Gannett is going to buy this paper or that property, but I have to wonder - are they in a position to buy anything right now? The investors are bugging out and the recent debt downgrade means that borrowing money just got a lot more expensive, and a lot more difficult as well. I wouldn't think the company can really afford to acquire anything right now. I'm no business major, so I could be wrong here. If so, educate me. But that's just what I see right now.
ReplyDeleteLarry St. Cyr to the rescue!!!
ReplyDeleteHe is coming back from furlough and we all missed him dearly!
Save us Larry.
When is Gannett going to buy Phila. papers. That was the plan for a long time back.
ReplyDeleteGCI is in no position to make any major purchase. It is more than $4 billion in debt, and faces major refinancing in two years. Because of the debt downgrade, that will cost more in terms of higher interest rates. They had an opportunity to buy the Philly papers when Knight Ridder sold itself to MNI, and they did not. The Philly papers are bankrupt and walking zombies. Why buy dead papers even if the money was available?
ReplyDeleteI think the next step for GCI will not be expansion, but drastic contraction as the lowest-performing GCI newspapers will be either sold or folded by the summer.
I see phantom stock is the equivalent of common stock. Why is it reported as phantom stock? What does that really mean? Anyone know how people or companies benefit by reporting it this way?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of lowest-performing Gannett papers, this is what the Sunday Courier News missed ...
ReplyDeletePaul Harvey has died at age 90
Obama government to continue Bush-era policies re the "War on Terror"
New England Patriots trade QB Matt Cassell to Kansas City (he played last year when Tom Brady tore up his knee)
NFL free agent signings, notably DT Albert Haynesworth (Titans to Redskins) and DB Brian Dawkins (Eagles to Broncos)
The Sunday C-N did find room for 3 canned sports columns along with pro-government fluff.
The only properties that Gannett will be buying are those in which corporate officers have large personal stakes. Wait... didn't we do that already?
ReplyDeleteBut the C-N had three coupon inserts, value of the ones I clipped exceed the newsstand price. That's a bargain I can't pass up. Paul Harvey? I read that last night on several web sites, same with the NFL moves. Geez, don't you get it -- newspapers are not the prime news source for the public anymore.
ReplyDeleteCan I write off on my taxes the loss of pay due to Furlough or a possiable paycut
ReplyDeleteGannett won't be buying anything newspaper like in this environment. The debt load is too big. It would be a seller but there aren't buyers out there.
ReplyDeleteAfter the next round of layoff's (about 3,500 or so) that will occur in the next quarter, we will see a decline in posts to this blog. I also know we are in for another furlough.
ReplyDeleteI hope this blog can stay alive, even with the impending layoff's.
I spoke to some of my former Gannett friends who are now unemployed and they said prior to being unemployed by Gannett, they would always visit this blog. Now, they "could care less" about Gannett or "give a shit" about this blog.
Jim,
You need to keep this community together.
I heard a bunch of top executives are taking their furloughs this week and are all flying down to Myrtle Beach to go golfing. Isn't that illegal according to the Gannett furlough laws? I wonder how much of that will be billed to Gannett?
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteWhat is up with the Form 4's that were all filed on Friday?
I don't believe that there was ever a plan for Gannett to purchase the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News even at the time that KR was forced to get rid of them and other papers. Right now, some former Gannett (Courier-Post) suits are working for the current owner of the two Phila newspapers. Mark Frisby was publisher at the CP and Jim Gregory was the cd there. A ad director who was and is a Frisby ass-kisser (as well as some other things I won't post) And, the company that owns these Phila papers just filed for chapter 11 this past week.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the Courier Post, their Sunday edition was fairly respectable today in terms of advertisements. Looks like they created a special section that they sold to bring in local retail advertisers. Our newsroom staff did a good job providing the editorial to support this effort although lots of non-local created material.
ReplyDelete11:54: I think there's some fascinating stuff in those Forms 4 that got filed late Friday night.
ReplyDeleteI've finished my research, which involved building a couple of spreadsheets to place all those numbers in context.
Please look for something first thing Monday -- if not later today.
Nobody cares Jim.
ReplyDeleteIt's old news. Most of these things are worthless stock options. Big deal.
I care.
ReplyDeletethe courier post will be sold
ReplyDeletein a year and a half.
JIM
ReplyDeleteThe Buffalo News announced today it is going to offer buyouts (minimum 60-k)to each person accepting and layoffs to reach their goals...
Chucky, you have no idea what a community paper is about, so please take your aluminum foil hat and go away.
ReplyDeleteFirst!!!
ReplyDeletewoah, long night in Jersey
That's good timing, 11:53, if they just got their bonuses.
ReplyDeleteSan Antonio Express laid off 135 people this week......more newspapers threatening to close or closing, folks time to bail. It was a fun ride whil it lasted, but the ride is over and the industry (not just Gannett) is beyond life support. I will always hold a special place in my heart for Gannett, there are things I would have never seen, done or have if it were not for Gannett.
ReplyDelete11:53,
ReplyDeleteIt's not "illegal" because there are no "furlough laws."
They took the company fleet of jets to Myrtle Beach, along with some of their favs. It's an outrage.
ReplyDeleteThe only gossip about the Philly papers comes out of Cherry Hills. No one else in Gannettland is aware of any grand schemes to buy the Philly paper. Besides their mentor, twp of the worst managers in the history of Gannett, Frisby and Gregory, now work for the Philly papers. These two Bobby Collins cast offs will kill off the philly newspapers.
ReplyDeleteJUST WANTED TO SAY GOODNIGHT ALL !
ReplyDeleteAND "NEW JERSEY APP ROCKS "
Tisk Tisk once again I must tell you that NJ APP sucks.If you would only do your homework.The aria 51 print shop fiasco,witch may not have affected you personally.But here is one for you,did you know that there is BLACK MOLD in the duct work of your building? again do some investigation before you tell us how NJ PAPERS ROCK.UFO
ReplyDeleteUFO - I think you've been drinking your own bathwater.
ReplyDeleteMy own bathwater,well at least that would be be cleaner then sulfuric acid fumes,or respiratory trouble from black mold spores RIGHT,so whats Gannett doing for you?
ReplyDelete8:48 I would bet that you are not a reporter are you?Drink my own bathwater,you might be better off drinking my bathwater then breathing the air at APP Neptune.UFO
ReplyDeleteNo, thankfully I can say that I am NOT a reporter.
ReplyDeleteWhat's Gannett doing for me? They're paying the bills. And I am thankful for that every single day.
Ya I was thankful for 18 years.Then came the real shock,when I found out just how much they cared for the almighty dollar (bottom line)and NOT THE HEALTH AND SAFTY OF ANY YONE! I only hope that you are in a safe building or out on the road.
ReplyDeleteUFO - I commend you and your efforts of past. Yes, I smelled the fumes every time I visited the mother ship in Nept. The fumes are sickening in the back of the building. Please keep informing, if not warning those still breathing that stank air there. I thank God I visit their only occassionally and worked there only a few years.
ReplyDeleteIf I was still working for Gannett,I would be worried for my health,because they will cut corners to help Corporate and show how in hard times they can save money,and at the same time not care who gets hurt,or sick! REALY BLACK MOLD IS HURTING PEOPLE IN NEPTUNE.UFO
ReplyDeleteWhat really gets me made is,they made this cleaning person mop up acid and metal dust,I said something to somebody at the time.Do you know what I was told,she will never know she doesn't speak good English.This girl had a right to know just what she was doing,and how it could hurt her.Just because she did not speak good English does NOT GIVE GANNETT THE RIGHT TO EXPOSE HER AND NOT WORN HER! As far as I am concerned the right to know LAWS are BULL SHIT !!!!!!!!!!!UFO.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who's trying to claim a building is unsafe should stop, as it's a waste of time.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be ignorant people who will respond that you are making it up. Many of these people are failed journalists who never could learn to have an open mind on any issue.
It's yet another sign these layoffs are not as terrible as people want to claim. Good people are being let go, but we are also shedding stupid drones whose only future was keeping a chair warm.
I would say, to the people who would say that I'm making it up.There is no better proof then pictures.Witch I have plenty!It will not matter until someone higher up gets sick and then finds out why,oh boy then send lawyers guns and money.UFO
ReplyDeleteBack to work tomorrow after being on furlough for a week. Now I have to bust my ass to make up for it. Add to that, PFPS is going to kick in on Friday.
ReplyDeletePFPS - Post Furlough Paycheck Syndrome. It's like PVS - Post vacation syndrome but without the pay.
:(
heard a bunch of top executives are taking their furloughs this week and are all flying down to Myrtle Beach to go golfing. Isn't that illegal according to the Gannett furlough laws? I wonder how much of that will be billed to Gannett?
ReplyDelete3/01/2009 11:53 AM
Don't know where you get your info, per Flightaware.com, no recorded activity for N200GN at either Myrtle Beach Airports from Thursday to today and no scheduled arrival Monday.
"There is no better proof then pictures.Witch I have plenty!"
ReplyDeleteWhere are these pictures? How does someone get to see them?
"Yes, I smelled the fumes every time I visited the mother ship in Nept. The fumes are sickening in the back of the building."
Why is this just coming out now?
UFO isn't drinking his bathwater, 8:48 PM. And don't be rude.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard that about toxic mold, specifically, but I'd not doubt it. In the newsroom, we frequently ponder why we get headaches there and not at home, and why respiratory problems are so much worse there than at home.
We figured it was somehow related to how the building was designed to have no direct ventilation. No one can open a window.
But whatever is going on has been an obvious health issue for about three years, by my observation. And despite the law requiring it, APP doesn't staff a nurse on the main site. The suits think having one at the press plant (sometimes) meets the full-time nurse requirement for all of us, but the buildings are a half-hours' drive apart, so I doubt it really complies.
"But whatever is going on has been an obvious health issue for about three years, by my observation."
ReplyDeleteAnd how is this just coming out?
Journalists -- they are cowards who are destined to be spit out the bottom of the employment industry. Now we need several people to post about how the whole issue is being made up.
What law requires a company to have a nurse on site??? Is this a NJ thing?
ReplyDeleteSo UFO, if you have proof of this black mold in the APP building duct work, why haven't you brought it to the attention of Neptune authorities? Show them the pictures "witch" you have.
ReplyDeleteBitching about it here does nothing. If you are truly that concerned about your co-workers, take your evidence to someone that can do something about it, or shut the fuck up.
Good morning, fellow Gannetteers!
ReplyDeleteStart the day with a song in your hearts and good feelings in your heart. When this falls flat on its fact as any such action with the NJ Papers will, let them know in every subtle little way and in the tone of every answer and the apathy to any new idea they present-- THAT NJ MANAGEMENT SUCKS FAR WORSE THAN THE NJ PAPERS!
This approach has seemed to work for the royal workers in the Crystal Towers, so let's try it here.
Know that this wisdom has carried many von Beaverbottoms through bad times in companies actually much worse than Gannett. Oh, that's not quite true. They were sweatshops and labor camps.
It would be an outrage if furloughed execs took the company plane because people on furlough are not company employees. They are unemployed on furlough days.
ReplyDeleteHowever, they are perfectly welcome to hang out together. That would just be a group of folks with no affiliation to Gannett hanging out.
When you are furloughed, you have been laid off. It's just a temporary layoff.
Gannett has zero control over what you do on the furlough period unless you decide to walk onto a Gannett property. Then they can boot you.
Larry St. Cyr is a piece of sh#$.
ReplyDeleteHe is as WORTHLESS as Dumbo!!!
12:17 AM Monday, I don't think this news of toxic mold in the APP ventilation is news just coming out, as you say.
ReplyDeleteFormer EE Skip Hidlay, now publisher at the HNT, was the supervisor for facilities and feared for his life, literally, because of some escalated conflict with a former employee. We had armed off-duty police officers patrolling all doors multiple times.
The word-of-mouth has been that at least one of these times, including the day we were all marched out per fire alarm while bomb squads and sniffing dogs scoured the building, was related to an employee who was fired for trying to bring authorities in to inspect serious health dangers he felt were in the building.
I haven't seen evidence that the federal OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has been to the APP. I think the circumstances are serious enough they should.
And, yes, the journalists are cowards. We all are afraid for our jobs. We've seen the ME and the publisher target for layoff those who think too much and those who talk about it. We can afford to be laid off, maybe, and collect unemployment and severance, but we can't afford to be fired and have $0 income.
"I haven't seen evidence that the federal OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has been to the APP. I think the circumstances are serious enough they should."
ReplyDeleteSo, did any one of the cowardly journalists report the problem to OSHA? I believe you can make those reports anonymously, you know, just as you post anonymously here.
Lots of cowardice. Few solutions. Typical for journalists.
A nurse on site? WTF? I can't even find a freakin' bandaid at my site.
ReplyDeleteOk so here we go,my name is Ernie Gant,I worked for the Asbury Park press for almost 18 years,I am the one who got fired for trying to get something done at the paper.I do still have the pictures,The day that I was fired I told Skip that I would not go back to the print shop until I got to talk to someone on the Board Of Directors.The print shop was not safe.Over the time that the floors were put on to the building,there was trouble with the drains for the bathrooms from up stairs.Raw sewerage came up from the grates on the floors,and each time this happened they would make the maintenance guys use Clobber Drain cleaner to fix the problem.The trouble is this product was made to use in a specific way,1 you don't pore 93% sulfuric acid into standing water,2 besides a reaction to water the acid does not act well with metal(Print shop were this happened was the old metal shop!,3 they were only supposed to use a little THEY USED EXCESIVE AMOUNTS of this product well out of the range of the manufacture warnings,4 you are not supposed to use this stuff wile people are working in the area!The funny thing was, that when I was trying to make people aware of the Gannett papers had dune stories on this exact thing.So when I mentioned this to Bob Collins,I was told no one would care,and after talking to the Monmouth County board of Health and OSHA,You know what he was right,SO I TRIED IN ONE LAST MEASURE TO GET SOMEYONE TO LISTEN AND I WAS FIRED.I never threatened anyone But I got hurt AND THEY KNEW IT ,WHY DO YOU THINK SKIP WAS SCARED.but THEY NEVER TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT GOT SICK UPSTAIRES WHAT THEY WERE EXPOSED TO,I DID.I am not a righter so this is only the short of it YOU SHOULD HEAR THE REST!Anyway I just think people should know. So that is it I am not anonymous I am Ernie Gant UFO!and I will swear to this in cort witch is what I realy want to do THANK YOU.
ReplyDeleteSo why didn't you go to court? The company is not supposed to retaliate for OSHA complaints.
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't the alleged journalists following up on this? I realize 80-90 percent of them are ignorant and want to claim you're making this up, but that still leaves 10-20 percent who might have the ability to pursue this.
Just posting about it here in this sea of sewage is not really helping the cause.
I did as much as I could to get to court.At the same time that all this was and has bin going on I was fired and I can not collect unemployment due to my health,I have applied for disability but since have lost my house kids and my car I have not given up,but I will admit the wind has left my sales,do you know who could both myself and all the other people who got sick?
ReplyDeleteThey are not supposed to retaliate BUT THEY DID I scared them,look what Skip thought,don't you thin that Bob Collins was just as scared,after all who paid for the armed guards GANNETT that should be looked into also don't you think?
ReplyDelete10:50 AM Monday, I don't know anyone in the newsroom who has any first-hand information to report to OSHA.
ReplyDeleteAPP management has been nervously tight-lipped about the whole thing that led to the armed officers.
Facilities and shop operaters in Neptune have access to information OSHA would need, not the newsroom. I wonder if the deficiency of some blue-collar types' to communicate their concerns effectively impedes finding the right person to listen.
The lack of word skills doesn't mean they are wrong, stupid or imagining things. I'm grateful they spoke up. Let's hope speaking up here may be the key that starts the ignition.
word verification: feariz
2:51:
ReplyDeleteSo the hard-hitting journalists can't investigate the matter?
I guess they're waiting for a press release to rewrite. Or they're still claiming he's making the whole thing up.
I wish that I had more Gannetters to help me,If there was a reporter from another paper who wanted the story,BOY I can give it to them (and pics too)
ReplyDelete