Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday | April 21 | Your News & Comments
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49 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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Stocks will wrap the day around 3.05.
ReplyDeleteI'm from corporate and I just wanted you all to know that it's snowing in Wisconsin today, but we'll have 75 degrees on Friday.
ReplyDeleteNow, do you believe me because I say I'm from corporate, do you believe me when I say I'm from corporate, or do you believe me because you live in Wisconsin too and you're smarter than the average Gannettoid?
Peace out, my friends! Hope we're still here when the snow flies again.
Stock at the bell might be lower then 3 but I hope not
ReplyDeleteHunke is golden. His paper wins the Pulitzer after bringing off a major switch in publishing operations that is saving big bucks for GCI. The stars are all aligning in his path. So when do we expect Hunke to be crowned as the new Craig Moon? Will it be soon, or after a few months to allow Detroit to settle down?
ReplyDeleteAll Hail Hunke. Vale Hunke.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI heard from a good friend in the snowy part of this country that he is working on a special project with Michael Maness. Something so big that only a special few (thousand) people in Community Newspaper know about it.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I hear, they are going into non-Gannett newspaper markets (like Hearst and Media News markets) and they are building a competing digital newspaper.
It gets even better. If they are mildly successful, they will then move into GANNETT markets and displace our papers!!!
Apparently he is setting up a blogger network to reduce the need for journalists.
Oh, it gets better, guess who this all reports into????
Gracia Martore...as someone on this blog astutely refers to her as the "bean counter".
Gracia Martore, Manager of...
1. Finance
2. PR
3. Content One
4. Innovation!?!
5. CEO
I hate to say it but, we officially have the lunatics running the asylum!!!
NYT just reported a miserable quarter. But for the rest of us, the Times says it sees nothing in this quarter that is reversing the extent of ad loss. What that means is that Q2 is going to be as bad as Q1. Truly miserable times.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, an otherwise intelligent comment from someone who said that they were from corporate stated that future layoffs were only in the discussion stages, but nothing had been decided.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction is, are they CRAZY?? Please, management, get out of McLean, put on your everyday clothes, and come visit the offices. Read the papers. Talk to the workers. Part of me would love to see a huge unionization effort to counteract this insane thinking, but it's really not necessary, because the workforce is already ON STRIKE. Reporters barely write stories, and when they do, they're at high school level quality. Scores of managers ignore calls and e-mails and perform minimal duty. This is actually more hurtful than if there were a strike, because the readers only see the slop and don't understand why. MANAGEMENT: you can not cut your way to back. Every cut kills the quality, which the readers are reacting to by canceling subscriptions. You are worsening an already horrible situation. Work with your workers. Morale is well beyond any all-time low. How about coming up with some significant new ideas? There are financially successful media out there, and I'm not talking about the New York Times.
9:15am...I heard about the Maness project too and I think it is a joke. No need to worry about it, he is a certified failure and a good suck ass to Gracia.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletethree words for corporate.. Local, Locla, Local.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI think getting the spellig wrong was the point! (Get it?)
ReplyDeleteI was once at a seminar where Mike Maness spoke and said the last home delivered newspaer would be delivered in November of 2011, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was involved in a project designed to ensure that happens.
ReplyDelete9:34, you are ABSOLUTELY right when it comes to management. I can't count the number of times when sources have approached me with complaints about managers not returning phone calls or emails. Managers aren't the ones who actually have to go out and face the public and answer those kinds of questions. It's the reporters and photographers who have to handle that.
ReplyDeleteI know the managers are under a tremendous amount of pressure and many work long hours, but if a reporter can get in trouble for not answering phone calls or emails, the standard should be the same for managers.
9:55 I always thought it was "Loco, Loco, Loco."
ReplyDelete9:34 -- You are SO right ... and this wasn't always the case. I've seen terrific, highly productive reporters turn into terrific, barely producing reporters. And the non-responsive managers go all the way up to the executive editor position.
ReplyDeleteIt's so clear that everyone's job is in danger and that job performance has nothing to do with layoff choices that there is no incentive to work hard. I figured out a long time ago that I'd be happier doing just enough to get by than working my ass off only to resent it when I get laid off.
Oddly enough, the power is starting to shift to employees as well. Local managers know they won't get the money to replace people when they quit, so they are inclined to keep even low performers. After all, someone who works have as hard as the average employee still works 50% harder than nobody at all.
Management has allowed this company to reach a critical state and I'll be shocked if it survives another five years without being split into many pieces.
Of course, that's not managements concern. In the corporate world there are actually rewards for running a company into the ground. They're not as handsome as the rewards for building a company, but they are rewards nonetheless.
show how stupid Mike is - Newspapers are not going to stop printing and delivering right before christmas - how about July 4 - Mike
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteZzzzzz. Think I'll go check out a Moms' site to keep me awake. Lively stuff going on here, Jim.
ReplyDeletewhy is setting up products in communities that we don't currently server a bad thing?
ReplyDeleteCuz we barely are serving the communities we are in?
ReplyDeleterather than remove other people's blogs you had better close out the webiste.
ReplyDeleteSeems like Gannett is just sort of waiting around for the Olympics to come back every two years so that the company can promise a wealth of advertising, but then reveal innovative explanations for why it didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is that since I've been on a well-known social networking site, EVERYBODY I know is on it, and they post and check their pages constantly. I rarely, if ever, check either my email or any news websites anymore.
ReplyDeleteCan't Gannett figure out how to make use of that phenomenon? And I'm not talking about Moms Like Me. They need to be hiring some technology and marketing wizards. Is that too out of the box for them or what?
This company is dead becaue they fail to INNOVATE!
I wonder what Craig Moon is doing on his first few days of being retired. Is he really spending time with his family?
ReplyDelete@2:50 - so what your saying is that any initiative that doesn't serve an existing site should never move forward?
ReplyDeleteRe: Anon 3:00 AM. You were darn close. $2.99. As Maxwell Smart used to say "Missed it by thiiiis much"
ReplyDeleteInteresting take on why Hollywood portrays journalists as the ultimate protagonist.
ReplyDeletehttp://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2009/04/journalists-in-movies-why-does-hollywood-still-love-em-.html
Spring Partners Launches the springpad for Publishers Channel Program
ReplyDeleteGannett Co., Inc. launches Louisville’s DerbyCityBride.com Wedding Planner as part of a new personal organizer platform
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spring Partners today announced a springpad for publishers co-branding program that gives publishers a new communications channel to attract and engage readers with the springpad personal organizer. Co-branded springpads make publisher and advertiser content and offers portable and useful, extending the publishers' brand into their readers' daily activity, event and project planning.
Gannett’s first co-branded springpad, the Derby City Bride Wedding Planner, is a free online notebook to help Louisville brides plan and manage their entire wedding experience.
“Our readers view us as a trusted resource for wedding planning in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area and we are always looking for ways to make that experience even better,” said Elaine Huot, VP Digital Media/Marketing, of the Courier-Journal. “We think our readers will find the Wedding Planner springpad to be a useful addition to DerbyCityBride.com’s already popular wedding news, photo galleries and access to creative ideas and recommendations.”
The Wedding Planner springpad is designed for brides and their families who are increasingly using online resources to plan, manage and share information about their big day. Some of the Wedding Planner highlights include:
Ideas and inspiration - clip, save and share ideas from the web
Checklists - flexible task and shopping lists come pre-filled to help get you started
Guests - create or import your invite list (it's integrated with Facebook), track RSVPs and gifts
Seating - build and manage your seating chart and meal selections
Vendors - select and manage your vendors
Google Gannett and Spring Pad
ReplyDeleteSpring Partners Launches the springpad for Publishers Channel Program
ReplyDeleteGannett Co., Inc. launches Louisville’s DerbyCityBride.com Wedding Planner as part of a new personal organizer platform
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spring Partners today announced a springpad for publishers co-branding program that gives publishers a new communications channel to attract and engage readers with the springpad personal organizer. Co-branded springpads make publisher and advertiser content and offers portable and useful, extending the publishers' brand into their readers' daily activity, event and project planning.
Gannett’s first co-branded springpad, the Derby City Bride Wedding Planner, is a free online notebook to help Louisville brides plan and manage their entire wedding experience.
“Our readers view us as a trusted resource for wedding planning in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area and we are always looking for ways to make that experience even better,” said Elaine Huot, VP Digital Media/Marketing, of the Courier-Journal. “We think our readers will find the Wedding Planner springpad to be a useful addition to DerbyCityBride.com’s already popular wedding news, photo galleries and access to creative ideas and recommendations.”
The Wedding Planner springpad is designed for brides and their families who are increasingly using online resources to plan, manage and share information about their big day. Some of the Wedding Planner highlights include:
Ideas and inspiration - clip, save and share ideas from the web
Checklists - flexible task and shopping lists come pre-filled to help get you started
Guests - create or import your invite list (it's integrated with Facebook), track RSVPs and gifts
Seating - build and manage your seating chart and meal selections
Vendors - select and manage your vendors
Big Bill Albrecht states we have some great things to show our customers in the next few weeks. Not sure what our inflated readership numbers that are not true. According to our website we have a readership of "To maximize your marketing dollars and reach the largest potential customer base,
ReplyDeleteadvertise with Times Media in print and online. By utilizing both the print and online
products, you can capture an audience of over 67,687 readers every weekday" Not sure how this can be but Big Bill said it so it must be true.
11:58 am
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, there's fear in everyones' eyes.
Reporters barely write stories, and when they do, they're at high school level quality. Scores of managers ignore calls and e-mails and perform minimal duty. This is actually more hurtful than if there were a strike, because the readers only see the slop and don't understand why.
ReplyDeleteWell, as the saying goes: You get what you paid for.
9:15am...I heard about the Maness project too and I think it is a joke. No need to worry about it, he is a certified failure and a good suck ass to Gracia.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you on that one. Maness hasn't established anything world-moving yet - why should this be any different?
They finally put him to work??? ROFLMAO!
4/21/2009 3:50 PM
ReplyDeleteSaid,"Can't Gannett figure out how to make use of that phenomenon? And I'm not talking about Moms Like Me. They need to be hiring some technology and marketing wizards."
They are trying to hire technology wizards. Didnt you see the job posting for a florida web programmer? 30 grand a year was the offer price. I would love to see the "alchemy" they get out of a 30 grand a year web programmer. Can anyone in Florida report on the progress and rational behind hiring a 30 grand a year web programmer. Maybe you need a web programmer, but whats the point if you are not going to pay above poverity to get one?
I cant help myself;
$30,000 a year programmer to the rescue!!!!!
Disclamer: I am a former programmer for a gannett newspaper. I made more the 2 times that even at Gannett. I left on my own and found a job making even more then that. I hated Gannett when i was there and now that I am gone I can see how really really bad they are to work for. I was at Gannett so long that I thought all companies have no respect for their employees. That is not true. If you are still working at Gannett do yourself a big favor and just leave. I dare you to find someone that misses working there that is no longer there. (maybe someone that is old, bitter, washed up, and has no skills. I dont believe in this age discrimination at all. You can make your own opertunities. I have heard some stories on here about laid off workers that are older, bad health, and other issues. I feel very bad for them, but I dont blame the companies they are applying to for not hireing. Why would they want the issues. They know right away that any training would be wasted due to them leaving shortly after they start to get good. Also, they know right off the bad that they will be calling in sick a lot. They also know that they would have all sorts of issues in and out of work that would spill into the workplace. Why would a company want to bring someone like that in. A company has to make money not just hand out charity. I understand that you are in a bad situation but maybe you shouldnht be working anyway. Take disablitiy, but dont expect some new office to put up with all the special needs just because you want a check. They want someone that can do the job.)
Ok, let me have it. I know that was mean and insensitive but I was hoping for a dose of reality. If you cant do the job why would someone feel obligated to hire you. WTF
3:50 PM -- The simple problem is, Gannett management has the attention span of a fly. If it does not have an ROI of 15% or a margin of 35% within 15 seconds, forget it.
ReplyDeleteSo, we're going to launch competing Web sites in locations where we already have struggling Web sites and split the lack of revenue between the two until they both fail? Have I got it straight?
ReplyDelete9:07
ReplyDeleteI am almost 50 and have called in sick maybe twice in almost five years.
Well put 9:07. I got a call from an insurance salesman today trying to sell insurance extending my life insurance after I quit. I asked him if it was free, and he said nothing in this world is free. I said my life insurance is free from my new employer. He said your lucky to found another job. I said it wasn't luck it was merit, I was qualified and I got a huge raise, so obviously I left on my own. There are bigger and better things beyond Gannett, quit spending all day bitching on here about the hammer falling and find something. Unless you are stupid enough believe the garbage they put in the papers!?!
ReplyDelete9:07 PM... It's hard to tell if you are the same prick who regularly writes mean and uncaring comments on this blog-- or if you are a new shmuck copying the other dude. At any rate, you are both very disgusting examples of an attitude LOVES employees to have UNTIL they are no longer giving the company 200%. At that point, your sorry asses propel out the door just as fast any any other employee's. Hope they get a photo of it!
ReplyDeleteNational advertiser circulars are now online at most sites. It will either kill circulation numbers or no one will care. I think the people who browse the circulars on Sundays rather look at them in print than online, but maybe I'm wrong. I think the Gen Xers already look at them online.
ReplyDeleteHere is the link to the circulars online:
ReplyDeletehttp://circularcentral.shoplocal.com/courier-journal/default.aspx?citystatezip=louisville+ky
Now I wonder if customers will continue to receive them in print.
Alert: Gannett Broadcasting:
ReplyDeleteD.C. First in Line for Free Digital TV On the Go, but Technology Isn't Ready
By Cecilia Kang
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Washington area residents could soon get "American Idol" and "30 Rock" on the go through a pilot program to bring free mobile digital television to cellphones and other wireless devices.
But seeing "Oprah" on the commute home comes with a caveat: Currently, there are no commercial mobile devices capable of carrying digital television broadcasts.
That did not stop the nation's biggest broadcasters from announcing yesterday at a trade show in Las Vegas that they would roll out the service to more than two dozen television markets by the end of the year, beginning with the District.
Broadcasters said wireless devices will be available to Washington area residents to purchase when service launches late this summer; several vendors such as LG, Samsung and Dell yesterday displayed prototypes of cellphones, notebooks and automobile entertainment systems outfitted for the real-time programs.
The move into wireless technologies demonstrates the broadcast industry's push toward new revenue streams as traditional advertising money dries up amid the recession and as more people turn to the Web for their favorite TV shows. Broadcasters are able to carry their shows over more platforms as more stations convert from analog to digital signals.
"The addition of this service will make broadcast television practically ubiquitous and engage customers in a lot more places, wherever they are and whenever they want," said Dave Lougee, president of Gannett Broadcasting Group.
But some analysts question the demand for such a service, especially one that would require the purchase of new equipment. Some said the best way to reach customers would be for broadcasters to partner with major wireless carriers. AT&T and Verizon, for example, could offer their large number of subscribers phones capable of receiving the service. Carriers, however, have held back from such partnerships, saying they would watch to see more details on broadcasters' plans.
"We've seen a stronger-than-anticipated take rate of watching video on multiple screens beyond the TV and PC. The appetite around being able to take that viewing experience with you is strong," said Matt Davis, of the technology research firm IDC.
Shows will run real time on wireless devices with commercials. Broadcasters also plan to incorporate shopping over the Web, subscriptions to additional services and on-demand services -- the fastest-growing segment of paid video entertainment.
"We are only limited by our imaginations," said John Eck, president of NBC TV Network.
Local stations participating in the tests include Fox's WDCA-DT, CBS's WUSA-DT, Ion Media Networks' MPXW-DT, NBC Universal's WRC-DT, PBS's WHUT-DT, and Gannett's WUSA-DT, which airs CBS content.
Open Mobile Video Coalition, an organization that represents major broadcasters, said 28 television markets broadcasting to 38 percent of U.S. households have agreed to launch the free mobile digital television programming after the District. Among the cities are New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston and Atlanta.
Some wireless network operators already offer paid video to customers through digital television providers such as Flo TV, a subsidiary of Qualcomm. Analysts said some carriers might be reluctant to back a service that could compete with their own offerings.
9:07 is tedious but has one thing right: If you leave Gannett, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!
ReplyDeleteWHo the hell would plan their wedding through a Gannett website?
ReplyDelete9:07...u are so right. I'm at the second largest of the Gannett sites and it is amazing how impossible it is to get web development resources...both because most have moved but more important...the really good ones moved on because of the workload....and unreasonable expectations....Hope ur doing well Adam!
ReplyDeleteThere are some positions...web developers and Oracle DBA's, which you need to care and feed and pay special attention to. Gannett never, never, never, never got it.
Their response was FU.
Am so longing for the PNI wild days vs. the feet in concrete Gannett Admin.