Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thursday | April 23 | Your News & Comments
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42 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 From Tucson.
ReplyDeleteCitizen still not put out of its misery - www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/breakingnews/114963.php
ReplyDeleteThe Tucson Citizen will publish at least through May 9, its owner said Wednesday.
Kate Marymont, vice president/news for Gannett Co. Inc., told interim editor Jennifer Boice that nothing would happen regarding sale or closure of the Citizen before May 9.
Gannett announced Jan. 16 that it was putting some of the assets of the newspaper up for sale and would close the paper March 21 if no buyer was found.
Negotiations with potential buyers went beyond that date and Citizen employees were told they were publishing on a "day to day" basis.
A Justice Department spokeswoman said an investigation of the Citizen's sale continues, but would not say what the department is investigating.
It is 6:37 am and there are only two comments posted, the most recent from 12:34 am. Is this a sign of disinterest or that comments are being blocked or something else? What happened to the real-time effect of the internet?
ReplyDeleteI occasionally pick up the print edition of the local Gannett paper — a free copy, of course, lying around in a lobby or a coffee shop. I enjoy finding the evidence of money-saving practices — less of this, no sign of that. And, invariably, it takes me only a moment to find a mistake in copy or some other pathetic blunder. Meanwhile, the online efforts emphasize recycling of text and excursions into trivia. As managers congratulate themselves on the efficiencies of cuts, furloughs and layoffs, the product just gets worse and worse and worse. The behavior of the company, with its consequences in print and online, resemble the behavior of someone suffering with anorexia. At some point, the self-starvation gathers fatal momentum that cannot be reversed by medical treatment or by the will of the patient. The body simply shuts down. All that remains for onlookers is to stand by and watch the patient die.
ReplyDeleteTo 6:36 a.m. and everyone else now disinterested in this blahg -- nobody ever has anything good to say so yes, Jim's rants and stir-up-the-pot rumors are getting tedious.
ReplyDeleteThis blahg is to Gannett what Fox is to the Democrats -- lopsided and lame.
8:36 -- Nice analogy.
ReplyDeleteGood thing our favorite vertically-challenged octogenarian was never a judge:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/AP/story/1013539.html
Despite the blog declining into rants, the blog is still my Gannnett source. Free speech, albeit with less editing,lives.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jim.
An interesting blog post: How to save newspapers (Or, why the New York Times should buy Twitter)
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/haque/2009/04/twitter_1.html
No posts because we all on furlough playing in a pro am gold tourney. Doing it up like gannett vp style.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know what is happening with much-decimated Gannett News Service? (or ContentOne Washington bureau, whatever it is now called?)
ReplyDeleteAt lunch today a customer of the Greenville News showed me a letter from the "credit department" of the Greenville News. The letter was complete with typos, poor gramar, a hand written correction, but no signature.
ReplyDeleteHe asked me "what kind of outfit did you work for"?
What ever happened to working smarter?
I don't know about you but I am putting my money behind Ariel Investments---Last week I was called every sort of name because Ariel increased their stake in Gannett----Well they must be brilliant--( probably getting TARP $) Gannett is as good as dead. Everything they touch turns to shit in a tractor trailer load. If you think that the Fed will rescue Newspapers, you must also believe in the tooth fairy!
ReplyDeleteKinda quiet, ain't it? Hmmmm. Do you think Jim embarrassed corporate into holding back on more consolidations after disclosing the new round of layoffs New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin earlier this month. Strange, isn't it, that there's been precious little news in the last week, including no Moon successor or Paulson successor for that matter.
ReplyDeleteD'ya think some grand strategy is about to explode when the volanic minds of the Crystal Towers emerge from their conferences? Something is going on. I can smell it, and it ain't quite pleasant.
Regarding the April 22 late=night posts on Jersey Confidential about the local paper(s) doing stories on its new office and photos of "Skippy," whoever exactly he/she is, it seems that is Gannett protocol...fill the pages about the company or its tools (managers).
ReplyDeleteClarkKentGannett@aol.com
It is now 5:10 pm and there are only 13 posts today. WTF?? Even the feeble attempt to make up news isn't working.
ReplyDeleteI hear USA TODAY just closed a big, long-term deal with Hilton for newspapers at all their rooms. Guess they are smarter than Marriott or at least must listen to their customers.
ReplyDeleteJim, you blasted out and celebrated the Marriott news recently, why don't you have this tidbit yet?
5:10 So where is the press release from GCI crowing about this alleged wonderful-if-true deal?
ReplyDeleteSound of crickets.....Silence...Just another corporate-inspired disinformation campaign to undermine confidence in this blog, I suspect.
The Hilton deal is not news. Mentioned here a month ago, before Marriott.
ReplyDeleteDuring an interview the other day, a longtime source and subscriber remarked on the recent downsizing of my paper. He said he probably would cancel the paper soon, and a little while later, complained (rightfully so) that my paper hasn't covered events the way we used to.
ReplyDeleteMy department's reporting staff was cut by 60 percent over the past year. It's obvious our news hole has been cut, too. But we're still here, in the black.
Meanwhile, our much larger competition -- which he praised -- is in bankruptcy.
I wonder if the cutbacks, furloughs, layoffs, etc., will save us long enough for them to find a cure for what ails the newspaper industry. Or will these measures just prolong the paper's death?
Unfortunately, I still care about my paper and I'm working harder than I ever have before in an effort to make it up to our readers.
I'm exhausted, stressed out and beginning to resent any co-workers who slack off, whine, or otherwise waste time.
Corporate HR was in Westchester late last week and two days this week, maybe more that I'm not aware of....mmmm....perhaps you are correct! Maybe the calm before the storm?? Any other news on layoffs??
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
4/23/2009 4:32 PM: "Kinda quiet, ain't it? Hmmmm... on more consolidations after disclosing the new round of layoffs New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin earlier this month. Strange, isn't it, that there's been precious little news....
D'ya think some grand strategy is about to explode when the volanic minds of the Crystal Towers emerge from their conferences? Something is going on. I can smell it, and it ain't quite pleasant."
I think corporate has bludgeoned us all into exhaustion. I know that I no longer really care, and just go around each day doing my job with non of the enthusiasm I once had. Too many furloughs, buy-outs, salary reductions. It is showing in the product, with uninspired copy, bland headlines, errors and spelling errors.
ReplyDeleteHow many sites are having to fill out what type of classified advertising system you are using?
ReplyDelete5:10 pm writes: "I hear USA TODAY just closed a big, long-term deal with Hilton for newspapers at all their rooms. Guess they are smarter than Marriott or at least must listen to their customers. Jim, you blasted out and celebrated the Marriott news recently, why don't you have this tidbit yet?"
ReplyDeleteI have a better idea. How about you researching this item yourself, including getting links that include sources. Then round up some good art. And write a solid link that'll draw attention. Then get ready to be blasted for being in Corporate's pocket.
In other words: Show you really want this good news published in the first place, by pitching in on my growing workload.
Let's see if I have this straight, Jim. Anyone can come on here and post a phony memo about merging papers, and you'll promote it without checking it out, but someone raises some potential good news and your requirement is:
ReplyDelete"Show you really want this good news published in the first place, by pitching in on my growing workload."
I think I see.
St Cloud Times holds big deal for customers in Sartell MN. The company used a program that a outside company provided to them called power up. They have changed the name to a new name and now are selling it to customers. The company is using a different name so they do not have to pay the fee's to the woman who founded power up. It was amazing we had more employees standing wasting time while our company tells how great we are. What is extremely funny is we continue to have less sales executives then we do assistants in the office and 4 managers running the show. Our Top dog talks about how great our numbers are. Funny we are doing the show prior to showing our real numbers to anyone from our audit. Our publisher as we all call him Big Bill Albrecht is not squeaky clean on what he tells our customers. The retail manager also I do not know what she has over Big Bill Albrecht but man she can do no wrong. She can backstab anyone and get away with it and smile.
ReplyDelete7:05 -- Right on!
ReplyDeleteProves that Jim is not interested celebrating the eventual turnaround of Gannett. Gannett is on the mend! The stock price has stabilized. This will be proved after Gannett's stockholder meeting. This blog will not survive without the negativity. Jim is fully aware of that.
Your growing workload???? Are you kidding???
ReplyDeleteOMG! Is all of NJ on furlough? Not one comment from this part of the sinking ship! Has that end already submerged???? That's what so much dead weight will tend to do!
ReplyDelete7:05 You don't have the memo, do you? Why not post it, and we will all then know it is true. Otherwise, it falls into the category of "I hear" postings on this blog, which may or may not have truth, or an element of truth. I think you are just full of it and can't prove your posting, if you want to know my position.
ReplyDelete7:05 pm: Wonderful to be in agreement! When may I expect to see your post?
ReplyDeleteI and many others are really tired of these folks who like to blast Jim and take unwarranted personal shots at his. Totally unfair and unjustified. This blog is very valuable and very good. Jim, thanks for what you've done and are continuing to do for all of us. Anyone reading this who has not contributed to the cause should immediately take the suggestion to donate some money to this blog. Thanks again Jim you are very much appreciated by thousands of us out here!
ReplyDelete7:54
ReplyDelete"Gannett turnaround"?
What has happened to suggest a "turnaround"? What have you seen recently that suggests a "turnaround"? Have you heard anything in the past few weeks that would suggest Gannett is making correct decisions that would turn things around?
Without including the investment by Ariel (during a 5 week run with the market climbing) that made a brief impact which quickly fell, what is happening to support your claim other than healthy optimism which is okay as long as it's framed that way.
This blog has been consistently right on the layoffs, right on the furloughs, right on the Tucson Citizen, right on Craig Moon's career, right on Detroit, right on the Newseum.
ReplyDeleteSo it (allegedly) missed the deal with the owner of 514 hotels worldwide.
All of the people who want to talk trash and wallow in bashing anyone who still cares and tries have pushed interest in this blog to the edge.....Jim's whiny defense mechanisms and today's ``help me with my workload and OMG!'' have pushed it off the cliff of any sense of worthiness and credibility.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dawing some things out....but Good Night. This blog needs to go dark.
"In other words: Show you really want this good news published in the first place, by pitching in on my growing workload.
ReplyDelete4/23/2009 6:54 PM"
What, you want me to donate money AND you want me to provide you with tips AND write your leads? Not on your life. This is your gig so YOU do the work. I don't care if you publish the news or not but I do think it is interesting when you don't have all the news (in all your smugness) and you don't report the good news along with the bad. You are certainly not fair and balanced but I'm sure that is not your intention. You don't provide news on Gannett unless it supports your "trash the company" mentality.
I think, like another poster said, you only want to report when things are not good and love to ignore good news.
If this news is BS you'll know soon enough and if iit's not you'll know soon enough. At best most news on this blog has a 50/50 chance of being true.
All of you doom and gloom people can bite me. Go roll around in your pain and misery!
I live in Fort Myers and now Lee Memorial Hospital, which owns 95% of the hospital beds, is dropping United Health Care on August 31st. We at The News-Press are screwed big time now. Dear Gannett has me paying almost $ 5,000 a year in benefits( which was increased in February), for healthcare that come August 31st will be worth nothing. I can hear HR now" well, you can go out of network". I say BULL s... Wake up!! the screws are turning more every day and we are the losers. Gannett has a deal, cost them less, and us more. Gee, corporate America strikes again!!. Has anyone else heard rumblings in their areas about how bad United HealthCare is and if they are being dropped by their local hospitals?
ReplyDelete6:50, I hear you. In Cincinnati, most of us are ducking down in our cubicles and not rocking the boat. No leaders here to speak of. The metro editor was a sports editor. The business editor was an enterprise editor no one could stand to work with. The ME job was eliminated after GCI shipped that pompous Hollis Towns to Asbury Park. And the boss of all bosses, Tom Callinan, says a prayer every day he survives in the corner office with the private WC.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know about the Digital Sales Reps being laid off. Was this corporate wide?
ReplyDeleteour digital sales rep quit-not making any money
ReplyDeleteRe: Cincinnati.
ReplyDeleteThe metro editor is more than that; she's the defacto managing editor (sans Towns). Under the circumstances, I can't fault her. She's holding together a leaky ship. Hope she's getting paid for it. At least Towns moved on (don't get me started on that guy).
Project editor got a safe landing in business when layoffs came down -- but the AME for business was laid off. While a seasoned editor, she really has no clue what business journalism is, except for shopping stories (note to Jim: red flag to the max). And yes, few wanted to work with her because of her heavy-handed methods. The laid off AME was a pro (and her predecessor left in disgust as the earlier rounds of the disembowelment on Elm Street unfolded).
About Callinan. He's old Gannett blood. One of Phil Currie crowd. And he's a a survivor. He probably does say a prayer every day. I can't blame him (yes, I know how many in the newsroom feel about him). But if you had to deal with Margaret Buchanan every day you'd be a nervous wreck, too. Can't begrudge him the private bathroom. Might be on the only place he can pee and cry with dignity while all this goes on.
Cuts have hit Cincinnati hard, and many know they are far from over. But like every Gannett property, no one knows what the end game is.
Who to blame? Who not to blame would be the better question. Poor strategic management inside (mostly micromanaged from the publisher's office), yes. But with a remarkable dose of heavy hand from corporate. Cincinnati has been a proving ground for a fair amount of the ill-thought-out hand-wringing that is making its way around the Gannet community these days under the mask of enlightenment.
Will the last person out please turn off the lights?
To: Jim
ReplyDeleteRe: Post from 8:58 pm
So what's the matter? I expected some clever response and you left us with nothing. It was only 5:58 your time when I left my last misive and you let it just dangle there. I guess what I and the previous poster said were true.