Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Tuesday | April 7 | 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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First bitches!
ReplyDeleteTara Connell is trying to push out Kate M. Also, Jennifer Carroll is going to give Tara a run for her money!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAs a 50 year old ex-gannetteer that got the boot after 20 years service this past December, I would NEVER go back if called. My trust and loyalty stopped the day I was asked to leave. It was the best thing that has happened to me. I started a whole new career and just love it. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete"By "these layoffs," I'm referring to a specific round driven by the start of the second quarter."
ReplyDeleteWell, Jim, I challenge you to substantiate that claim. What's so special about the beginning of the quarter and who whispered this special news into your ear? Do you think Moon was laid off??
4/06/2009 8:21 PM
Since I don't understand why Tuesday was created so soon, especially by a left coaster, I'll just re-post this in Tuesday in case it was an attempt by Jim at mis-direction.
10:27 -- What are you talking about?
ReplyDeleteThere were reported layoffs at several Gannett properties last week. The number now is above 200 people.
In most people's eyes that would be acceptably identified as a new round of layoffs. New, meaning not a continuation of the December round because people were not being continuously layed off en masse in January and February.
Are you really concerned about the semantics? Would it make you feel more comfortable if Jim reported "continuing layoffs as a result of continued interest in cutting expenses."
I just don't get where you're coming from.
10:27 Maybe Jim is on vacation and rather than stay up late to change the date at the appropriate time for us East Coasters he did it early. Or maybe he just wanted to go to bed early and was tired of all the complaining, or maybe... Even if this isn't the case please stop for a second and listen to yourself. Ask the question in your head and then, if it sounds reasonable, ask the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteWe are all dumber now for having listened to you.
"Jennifer Carroll is going to give Tara a run for her money!!!!!"
ReplyDeleteAn old cassette boom box could give Tara a run for her money...
Jim, you need to keep a "job elimination" running total for the next several weeks. Between the situation at Pensacola and with all of the consolidations of copy desks and rumors of eliminating circulation departments. It's worth documenting.
ReplyDeleteHow many buildings are currently listed for sale? Pensacola, Iowa City...are there other buildings at other sites that have lost their production operations and would make sense to move into "office space"?
For the non-believers and those wanting proof, it's there....these are not rumors. Buildings are up for sale. Makes sense.
I just checked out glassdoor.com after not looking at it for a couple of months. It was great to see so many people, at so many different sites, tell the truth about what a lousy company Gannett is. One of that site's great benefits is that people can anonymously post their salaries, so you can see if you're grossly underpaid for what you do for Gannett and compare similar jobs with other publishing companies.
ReplyDeleteto 10:43 PM
ReplyDeleteDon't let the corporate suits who have been assigned to come here and cast doubts and rhetoric worry you so. It's just a pennies worth of corporate speak to attempt to disarm those watching and weeding through the muck and finding the tasty bits.
The truth "will out" as they say.
And just for a repost:
ReplyDeletehttp://tiny.cc/3ZZyI
2009 Rate card USAT
In case anyone wondered about ad prices...
10:27 pm: You can debate semantics ("round" vs. continuous layoffs) or timing (end of first quarter/start of second quarter) all you want.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the point? We've now documented more than 200 layoffs in the past week -- that's not rumor -- and I expect more this week, as soon as this morning: Tuesday. And some could be brutal.
Where my Moonies at?
ReplyDeleteEven after the big layoffs coming up at the Journal News the same 7-8 do-nothing editors will still have their jobs, sitting in their offices watching TV all day as they always do while the paper collapses right outside their office walls.
ReplyDeleteGuys, earnings are coming out on April 16 @ 10:00 am EST. I would like to personally encourage you all to log in and check it out. This should put to rest some fears as we all move forward. To access the conference call, dial 1-800-822-4794 at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled 10:00 a.m. start of the call. International callers should dial 913-312-0690. The confirmation code for the conference call is 9412955.
ReplyDeleteI think that there has been a lot of panic among the troops. I really think you all should look at all the facts. Yes, times have been bad but we are moving to a better position. Management is not evil. They care about what is happening and are taking the hard measures to move us to a strong position for the future. Change is always tough but without it we cannot adapt and survive. The idea is to make the right changes, not just the easy ones. I think that is what we have been doing. Time and this earnings call will tell.
On a side note, I would like to recommend a book. “Necessary But Not Sufficient,” by Eliyahu M. Goldratt. It’s a little dated but I think it is very insightful.
Bad day in Reno coming up.
ReplyDeleteHold onto your butts.
Monday was abnormal, It feels like Tuesday is the day.
Just a "hunch" of course.
Jim, who is this 2:28 am? Also, why has the stock been going up latly? Is there a turnaround going on?
ReplyDeleteOK, Jim, if you don't like semantics how about some real investigative reporting to put things in context.
ReplyDeleteWhat if you actually gave us some historical data on layoffs? Go back for, say 20 years, month-by-month or even quarter-by-quarter. I'm sure that would be interesting to a lot of people. Then we could see when layoffs were a dribble and when they came in "rounds."
If you really want to get creative, do some statistical comparisons off monthly or even quarterly layoff trends to the GDP. It will be quite interesting to see how closely these things fall with reccesions. Here's aother comparison: run the quarterly for 20 years and compare it to the national unemployment rate. Give us some snapshot charts.
The point is, none of this means anything if it is only used to bash Gannett. Sure, the company does a lot that is BS but I suspect there are trends at play that trancend any individual company stupidity. Man up and show us something real rather than always just stiring the pot with your anger.
Great post from 1:23 on Monday: "Binghamton employees neither need it nor asked for it, but would like to keep their jobs (at least for now)."
ReplyDeleteSo Binghamton employees now have to do three times as much work for the same amount of pay. And the reward for this is the newspaper will be first in line for layoffs when a new round of cuts come.
7:22 am: You wrote, "What if you actually gave us some historical data on layoffs?"
ReplyDeleteLayoff data may exist for the nation as a whole, (although I've never seen figures like you're describing in any Bureau of Labor Statistics reports).
But layoff data broken down by individual enterprise does not exist in any public database that I know. Indeed, to the best of my knowledge, Gannett has not had significant layoffs prior to 2007.
Folks...at ease!
ReplyDeleteThere will be large scale layoff's beginning of the 3rd Quarter.
The small layoff's you are hearing about are very targeted in specific areas with a lot of overlap.
We will not see anymore "layoff's" this quarter as it is too complicated for our HR\Payroll systems to process a layoff and a furlough.
Stay tuned for the last week of June as the deck chairs will be rearranged.
Here's a story that Gannett's Corporate office has been buzzing about for days -- and not exclusively because of its content. How else to explain why Tara Connell took precious time to speak to a college newspaper?
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/dnzhs6
“I think the business model needs to change,” Marsh said.
ReplyDeleteGee, ya think?
Blaming Binghamton comments:
ReplyDeleteNobody in Ithaca or Elmira blames Binghamton workers for the consolidations. But please don't complain about having extra work to do. Your extra work used to pay my mortgage.
They announce the Best of Gannett winners today, so nothing bad is going to happen. Relax.
ReplyDeleteAnd 2:28, I want some of what you're smoking. I guess the best way to get rid of panic among the troops is to get rid of the more troops.
Dear 2:28 am,
ReplyDeleteThe issue here is that Gannett management may be doing what they have to do or can do to "save" the company, but what they are not doing is drilling down to find out that there are way too many incompetent people being kept around by moron management (who also need to go) because of ass kissing and protection. The level of incompetence in the local management rolls is massive, yet these idiots stay on and keep jerks working at the local papers because the management needs people around who cover for the manager's incompetence. There are many examples of this all around the country. It really pisses of people to see people kept on board even though they aren't producing enough to make their salaries justified. Example: sales people who are not bringing in enough revenue and have done so for a long time but are kept for "some" reason(s). Why? How about the editors mentioned earlier who sit in their offices and watch TV all day? Good people have lost their jobs and some will lose their jobs in the near future while this continues.
According to Paulson, technology may not necessarily dictate the future of newspapers.
ReplyDelete“Imagine if Gutenberg had invented a digital modem rather than a printing press and that all of our information came to us online,” Paulson said. “Further, imagine if we held a press conference announcing the invention of an intriguing new product called the newspaper. I can see the headlines now: ‘Newspapers threaten future of Google.’ We can dream, can’t we?”
“The point of all this is that we shouldn’t be selling newspapers short — or lose sight of the qualities that make American journalism so critical to our democracy,” Paulson said. “We’re in the middle of the most challenging period in the history of journalism, but I do believe that newspapers — ink on paper — will be around for many years to come.” Paulson said.
Ken is such a visionary. Something he probably learned will the Rock 'n Roll reporter at Ft. Myers after getting his law degree.
9:22 am says
ReplyDeleteExample: sales people who are not bringing in enough revenue and have done so for a long time but are kept for "some" reason(s).
____________________________
What part of "declining ad revenues" do you NOT get?
Salaes managers mark up sales goals far above what the market can support, in an economy where businesses are cutting back on marketing budgets in order to simply stay in business.
Many Sales managers DO recognize the need to keep the sales staff in tact if for no other reason than to keep the relationships with the advertisers strong. When the economic turn around comes they WILL buy again. Other managers aren't so smart, and HAVE cut their sales staffs so far to the bone, that even strong relationships have been forever wounded, and those ad dollars are NEVER going to come back.
Bringing in new hires later, swapping out seasoned sales professionals for greenhorns every 6 to 12 months, or restructuring the departments to reassign different reps. is hurting what revenue streams that still exist.
The problem is within the profit margins Gannett "expects" to operate under. And those are decisions that are made in McLean, and implimented on the local level.
Usually, they do layoffs on a Monday because it has something to do with
ReplyDeletepaying less compensation than if they layoff on a Friday.
FYI cobra subsidy.
ReplyDelete"Now is the time for employers to comply with a little-known provision in the new economic stimulus law, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed into law on February 17th. Employees who are involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 are eligible for a COBRA subsidy.
The subsidy is equal to 65 percent of the monthly COBRA premium for the employee and his or her dependents for up to nine months. The subsidy applies to medical, dental and vision benefits but it does not apply to benefits funded through a medical flexible reimbursement account or cafeteria plan.
Individuals who were terminated on or after September 1, 2008, who qualified for COBRA but declined coverage, now have the right to choose to be covered-with a government-paid subsidy of the insurance premium. Employers must notify qualifying employees who declined COBRA coverage that they now have the right to choose to continue coverage.
An employer's notice must tell eligible individuals they have 60 days to elect COBRA coverage. If they do so, under the new law, the premium subsidy ends after nine months or when they become eligible for health insurance coverage from another employer or enroll in and are covered by Medicare.
Employers must use a federal government issued model notice. Notices must be sent to eligible individuals within 60 days of the enactment date of the new law which is April 18, 2009. In addition to the regular COBRA notification the employer must also inform the employee of the new subsidy rules, qualifications and reporting obligations.
Model notices can be found on the Department of Labor's website at:
www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRAmodelnotice.html
Eligible individuals will now be responsible for 35% of the COBRA premium. The remaining premium cost must be paid by the employer, who then can claim a tax credit against wage withholding and payroll taxes to cover their paid portion of the premiums. Employers should use the updated Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Tax Return, to report their COBRA premium assistance payments.
This subsidy phases out for individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $145,000 or $250,000 and $290,000 for those filing joint returns. Individuals with income in excess of these amounts are not eligible for any subsidy and will be required to return the subsidy to the government when they file their tax returns."
having heard nothing from gannett about this, i emailed Roxanne Horning (Sr. VP HR Gannett)yesterday.
received this response:
"We're going out with a mailing next week which will provide instructions on how to elect the COBRA subsidy. The good news is if you're eligible, it can be retroactive to March 1st.
If you have any questions after you receive the mailing, feel free to contact me.
Tom Burgum"
THIS IS HUGE since my current cobra premium is equal to one weeks unemployment check.
8:04 Jim, I got a Your search - http://tinyurl.com/dnzhs6 - did not match any documents. from your link.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who have found new work after the layoffs - what type of work are you in? PR? Teaching? Freelance graphic design? Marketing/sales in another field? Health care?
ReplyDeleteI'm looking to leave Gannett, as are most of my co-workers, before the ax falls on us. I've been trying to match my particular skills - reporting, editing, design, writing - to jobs outside of journalism, and am finding that there's very little out there in my region, let alone my state.
Employers are in the driver's seat these days with so many super-qualified people out there, and they're looking for very specific things - "five years of experience in Web-based communications," "three years blogging," "ten years in corporate public relations or internal communications," "two years' classroom teaching experience required," etc. But maybe I'm not casting my net wide enough or thinking about it in a broad enough way.
Any suggestions?
http://tinyurl.com/d788lg
ReplyDeleteGannett announces private exchange offer...
This may be the reason for the stock rebound.
I second 10:19's request. How did you get a job in another field without having a lot of experience doing that very thing? So many employers are looking for people with very specific experience, and you're competing against a lot of people who have it. What's your secret?? :)
ReplyDeleteThere isn't always light at the end of the tunnel. Some people are fortunate to survive and even thrive after layoffs, while some aren't. Everyone has different circumstances and are at different stages of life and career. For anyone to assume that life after Gannett is going to be grand is simply incorrect. So I wish people on this blog who are lucky enough to do well after leaving Gannett would stop declaring that their dismissal was the best thing that ever happened to them. It just makes the rest of us rather uncomfortable and projects an ideal that isn't backed up by statistical facts. The fact is, most laid off Gannett folks are struggling. Please don't paint the picture that being laid off is anything to aspire to or hope for. It can turn into something positive, but in this economy, it most likely won't. Even with all of Gannett's problems, working is better than not working right now, particularly when you reach a certain age and have certain responsibilities in your life. To say things are great after being let go is bordering on obnoxious and is a tad bit cruel. It serves no purpose. If you want to give hope, you can offer suggestions and tips that worked for you. But please no more general declarations that being fired is a great thing. It ruins lives in many cases. Be a bit more sensitive, please.
ReplyDeleteFurlough Round 2, Day 3...
ReplyDeleteHaving read so many posts that discuss how Gannett showed no loyalty to me so I'll never show loyalty to them.
You really need to stop living in your fantasy world.
The goal of Gannett is to make money...lofty journalistic goals like shining a light on government, being a voice of the people, etc. is a distant second to making money.
If they need to jettison you to improve the bottom line, they will.
In the long run, the only person you can count on is yourself.
That's why you should always look for ways to improve your employability and keep stashing the cash for that rainy day.
2:28 -- Is your post supposed to be satire? It's difficult to tell because it sounds just like something that would come from management, but it's so clearly delusional that one can't take it seriously.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure you're the same person who posts similar things on a near-daily basis and I keep trying to figure out if you're taking a stab at humor or if you actually believe what you're saying. I hope it's the former because it's better to be a bad comedian than completely out of touch.
10:14 pm Read your comment quickly as "There is light at the end of the carpal tunnel..." Appropriate for the workload Gannett folk have been shouldering of late.
ReplyDeleteTo: 10:54.
ReplyDeleteI have seen anyone say that getting laid off is easy and that I hoped to be let go. What separating does is allow you to exam where you are and what other opportunities are out there.
Most of us do not look at other things to do when you are busy working 12-16 hr days for an unappreciative company.
It took a year for me to get a new permenant job. I was temping and able to do very well temping. You just need to stay positive and be available to take what is out there.
There are jobs in the market you just have to find them.
I live in MI and there are jobs even here too.
Why is it that any post that contains anything positive in regards to Gannett is ridiculed and dismissed?
ReplyDeleteIs it so hard to understand that those still working for Gannett are simply thankful that they have a job and don't want to bite the hand that buys the groceries and pays the mortgage?
Must this blog only deal in drama and hate and discontent?
10:54 -- I think the people sharing their success stories are just trying to provide encouragement to others. Of course, you are right that few people come out of a layoff better off than they were before.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm sure the folks making these posts were not trying to be insensitive.
The ones that I have appreciated most are the people who say, "I got layed off and found a new job paying 30% off, but I'm far happier."
I'm still working, but I'm so miserable in my job that those posts give me hope. If I got layed off I think I would be able to pay a job, as long as I agreed to work for far less than I make now. And those folks are convincing me that the pay cut might not be as painful as it looks on paper.
11:30 -- I think those posts are dismissed because people see the writing on the wall.
ReplyDeleteTelling me that things are really looking up for the company while my co-workers are being layed off left and right is insulting. Frankly, I don't care if Gannett makes billions if it can't at least promise me a stable working environment.
I still work for Gannett and I am not going to thank the stars simply because I've been allowed to keep a job that I've performed at a very high level for more than a decade.
With the furloughs, increasing cost of health coverage, suspended pension and other GCI cuts, I am working for considerably less this year than I have the past two.
It's the "at least I have a job" thinking that is allowing corporations to drive this country into the ground. Craig Dubow isn't saying "at least we have a company." He's trying to increase company profit margins in the midst of a Depression that he is adding to by signing off on hundreds of pink slips. He also took a massive bonus when, perhaps, he should have said, "at least my base pay is $1.5 million."
The board isn't saying, "Hey, let's try to keep as many people employed as possible while we ride out this downturn." It cuts left and right and then brags about remaining profitable at a time when many companies are losing money.
In short, the wealthy people running this organization feel entitled to make make mass amounts of money no matter what is happening around them. Even when they make poor decisions, they feel entitled to be compensated for making those decisions.
So, why shouldn't employees feel entitled to maintain their job status when they have done their work well for years?
If things, indeed, are turning around for Gannett it's because of its continuing plans to cut expenses by consolidating business operations and cutting jobs. Why am I supposed to applaud that? By the time the company goes through these so-called "changes" most of us probably won't work for it any longer.
That's why the "good news" about the company is so readily dismissed.
That and the fact that the so called good news has no real basis in reality.
Example: Our stock is on fire.
Reality: It's still trading at less than $3 a share, and few serious investors would even think about making newspapers a major part of their portfolio. It's become a stock that you toy with because there is no longer any perceived value.
I am a realist. It's nice to have hope after a layoff if it's based on something substantive, but the odds of succeeding (in every sense of the word) after being let go are dismal right now. I am happy for those that do succeed without having to go through too much loss, but honestly, their good fortune doesn't translate into getting me all hyped up to be fired. They might have spouses with good jobs. They might be of an age where going back to school is an option. They might be fit and healthy or not have family members needing assistance. But for many of us over a certain age, our jobs and career provided more than an income. We aren't really rejoicing that we are no longer able to provide those things for the people we care about. We aren't pumped up to lose our homes of skip our medications. Those are things that are much more likely to happen after a job loss if one doesn't have a safety net. The success stories are the rarity.
ReplyDeleteStatistics prove that only a small fraction of those who have been laid off in the last year have found work. Some not only lost income, but they lost health care, retirement funds and other benefits which aren't so abundant in those "happy jobs" people claim to find post-Gannett. Try telling your doctor that you no longer have insurance and then see how wonderful that job is in the mall.
The evidence does not lead me to believe that not working, or being underemployed is better than being employed in the profession you worked hard to get into and maintain. Sorry, I just feel being jobless or underemployed is far worse than anything Gannett can dish out to those still employed. I know Gannett treats some people horribly, and maybe in the worst of cases, there might be a silver lining to leaving. But to be put out like the garbage late in life for no damn reason -- I just simply fail to see how that is a good thing for most people, particularly in a dying industry where there aren't other similar jobs to pursue. Once you're out, you're most likely out for the remainder of your working life. The three or four decades you put into newspapering mean nothing on the outside. It's not like being an attorney and getting laid off. You would still have the opportunity to be an attorney elsewhere. For for newspaper people, there are no other newspapers hiring. You can retrain or try to find something where some of your skills can transfer. But remember, you're now competing for those jobs with thousands of other people, many whose skills are far more targeted to those industries.
Don't even get me started on how employers view anyone over 40, let alone 50 or 60. Age discrimination in the workplace is so rampant that it's amazing a movement, similar to the Civil Rights movement, hasn't formed. People need to take to the streets over this! I don't think legal action alone is going to do a thing to improve the situation. The companies have found loopholes in the laws. Everyone gets old, so this is an issue for everyone. Why it doesn't get more attention is beyond me.
The few post-GCI layoff success stories are nice to hear, but aren't anything I want to hang my hat on. If given the chance to have cancer or not have cancer, I would take not having cancer, despite all the breakthroughs in treatment and wonderful stories of healing.
I welcome the encouragement. I think the people who explain their paths to success after Gannett provide much more of a service than those who simply state that losing their jobs at Gannett was a terrifc thing. Unemployment in these times is nothing to be taken lightly.
I have been with Gannett for five years, all at my current property. During that time, I've seen dozens of people leave, some voluntarily, some not.
ReplyDeleteI would say that 98 percent of those people ended up in much better positions, financially and otherwise, once they left the company. They were able to find jobs that let them use their talents in new ways and appreciated their contributions. They were less stressed and able to spend more time with their families and pursuing outside interests.
Some of these included taking less pay, but not a significant cut.
Granted, I live in an area of the country that is not as economically depressed as some others. But, people, there is hope. You just have to be willing to think outside of journalism and consider parlaying your other interests into something worthwhile.
A perfect example: A man in our advertising department was laid off after nearly 25 years of service during the December round. For several years, he had been doing minor house repairs on the side. He is now doing that work full time and is making almost as much money as he was with Gannett.
So, there is hope. Not that I expect many people on here to be positive, but it's just my two cents.
11:47- Well said! Hey corporate, Dubow, what do you think about those comments?! You should be listening to your employees, we're helping keep this company afloat too. Give us some credit and respect! You should appreciate what we're doing, not punish us with furloughs and pension/pay freezes.
ReplyDeleteWith the condition of the economy and company, NO ONE SHOULD BE GETTING BONUSES!!!
Excellent post, 11:30! I couldn't of said it better myself! Yes, why didn't Craig turn down his bonus or donate it like that one CEO did. You know why – GREED. Poor and simple.
ReplyDelete11:30 -- I think those posts are dismissed because people see the writing on the wall.
Telling me that things are really looking up for the company while my co-workers are being layed off left and right is insulting. Frankly, I don't care if Gannett makes billions if it can't at least promise me a stable working environment.
I still work for Gannett and I am not going to thank the stars simply because I've been allowed to keep a job that I've performed at a very high level for more than a decade.
With the furloughs, increasing cost of health coverage, suspended pension and other GCI cuts, I am working for considerably less this year than I have the past two.
It's the "at least I have a job" thinking that is allowing corporations to drive this country into the ground. Craig Dubow isn't saying "at least we have a company." He's trying to increase company profit margins in the midst of a Depression that he is adding to by signing off on hundreds of pink slips. He also took a massive bonus when, perhaps, he should have said, "at least my base pay is $1.5 million."
The board isn't saying, "Hey, let's try to keep as many people employed as possible while we ride out this downturn." It cuts left and right and then brags about remaining profitable at a time when many companies are losing money.
In short, the wealthy people running this organization feel entitled to make make mass amounts of money no matter what is happening around them. Even when they make poor decisions, they feel entitled to be compensated for making those decisions.
So, why shouldn't employees feel entitled to maintain their job status when they have done their work well for years?
If things, indeed, are turning around for Gannett it's because of its continuing plans to cut expenses by consolidating business operations and cutting jobs. Why am I supposed to applaud that? By the time the company goes through these so-called "changes" most of us probably won't work for it any longer.
That's why the "good news" about the company is so readily dismissed.
That and the fact that the so called good news has no real basis in reality.
Example: Our stock is on fire.
Reality: It's still trading at less than $3 a share, and few serious investors would even think about making newspapers a major part of their portfolio. It's become a stock that you toy with because there is no longer any perceived value.
4/07/2009 11:47 AM
11:31. Encouragement is fine. But I think people who have been out of work for a long time need a tad more than a pat on the back or a rare tale of success from someone else who has lost their job. Those things are fine, but remember, these people are now losing their houses, cars, retirement funds, saving, etc. They are trying like Hell to get back on their feet, applying everywhere, but it is very difficult to do with so many circumstances working against them. What the employed don't always understand is that the unemployed need tangible solutions and practical assistance, not just words of encouragement based on nothing more than hope or some rare success story. The unemployed need jobs. Real jobs. They need them sooner rather than later. They need friends and respected colleagues in hiring positions to hire them and not just forget that they are out there in the black hole of unemployment. They are looking for concrete solutions, not just "hang in there...it will all work out because it worked our for me." When someone tells me I am better off without my Gannett paycheck, I just want to scream. When someone on this blog thinks it's a caring thing to state that they are glad they got laid off, it makes me cringe. I often wonder if the people who say that were really let go or they are just disgruntled people still employed, trying to make things sound even worse than they are at Gannett. For anyone who has been unemployed for more than a month or two, they know how tough it is in the job market now. Even those lucky enough to find something, or who have the time and resources to reinvent themselves, can't deny that this is a very difficult period to be looking for work in any field other than health care, education and the government. If you're coming from a newspaper career, it's even harder. While the auto industry gets all the press, at least cars are still being built. Five years from now will there be newspapers? And will whatever replaces newspapers be open to hiring those who did work in print? I doubt it.
ReplyDelete2:28 - i simply DISAGREE!!!
ReplyDeleteSO STRONGLY. i really wonder about your post. if you agree with the decision making process that has been going on at gannett, then you must not be one of those in the trenches working at or previously for gannett. corp's decisions are knocking the foundation out from under their newspapers. the newspaper i was laid off from was in the top 10 in profit margin in all of gannett for 5 straight years and it didn't matter. many cuts/consolidations/layoffs later and now it is barely surviving. i don't mind positive posts but yours sounds like it came from a cult leader or a robot - and i mean that sincerely.
10:19 - i have to tell you that it is not good news out here. my skills are transferrable to many different industries and i owned a successful retail business prior to gannett - however, all large employers in my area are not hiring, they are laying off. businesses are not expanding. recruiters have almost nothing to offer. unless you do something that immediately affects revenue (sales), there are virtually no legitimate jobs (be very careful of work at home scams or process at home jobs!!!). management is being eliminated in all companies around here. i never ever thought i would be unemployed for 7 months, NEVER. i am applying and have applied for many many jobs.
i have not found it rosey out here BUT i have thought a lot about it and i have to say that i am still glad i no longer work for gannett. it had become intolerable for me and i'd rather scrape by for now than go back there. BUT that is a decision everyone must make themselves. for me - i am better off facing a terribly uncertain future than the past i had with gannett. i do not say these words lightly, i fully understand what i am saying, i am not being flippant. i have sold my car, my jewelry and have my house for sale.
good luck to all past and current employees.
Read the Business Wire release, which explains what GCI is trying to do with its debt. Essentially, the game plan is to stretch out the repayment from 2011 to 2015. That would indicate to me they are worrying they may not have the cash to pay off when the debt comes due in 2011. But my question is why creditors would want to do this, in light of the credit markets today and GCI's steadily declining revenues. Unfortunately, they rarely announce if these rescheduling efforts are successful or a failure. http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.aspx?Feed=BW&Date=20090407&ID=9766291&Symbol=GCI
ReplyDelete11:47
ReplyDeletethank you for your post. many good points.
in my experience successful businesses weather the thin times by accepting lower profits until times improve. this is called sustaining a business through the hard times. usually the top person (owner) makes a LOT less in lean times while employee's pay remains the same. not so in gannett.
again and again i am left to wonder how top execs can be awarded bonuses when the company's performance is SO POOR. either they need to accept dramatic reductions in pay or let someone else have a hand at seeing gannett through these temporary economic times. at this rate, these temporary ecomomic conditions will turn into gannett doing the permanent dirt nap.
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
ReplyDeleteGannett Co. (GCI) will give investors much higher-yielding notes as part of a private exchange offer for at least $200 million, it announced Tuesday.
The media company is offering to exchange $1,000 in principal amount of new 10% senior notes due 2015, including a $30 early participation payment, for $1,000 in principal amounts of its 5.75% notes due 2011.
It will also offer $1,000 in new 10% notes due 2016, including a $30 early participation payment, for $1,000 in principal amount of its 6.375% notes due 2012.
Moody's Investors Service said in February that Gannett's traditional ability to reduce its debt was diminishing, since its entire debt capital structure is due to mature by April 2012. Moody's cut a number of ratings on Gannett to junk territory at that time, saying continuing advertising declines and higher debt levels will limit the nation's largest newspaper chain's operating cash flow for at least two years. It lowered its ratings on the company's senior unsecured notes two notches to Ba2, two steps below investment grade.
The new 2015 and 2016 notes will be unsecured and guaranteed by some of the company's units, although it didn't say which ones.
Holders who tender their old notes before 5 p.m. EDT on April 21 will get the early participation payment. The offer will expire at 5 p.m. EDT May 5.
The company said the offer is conditional on it receiving old notes in exchange for $100 million of new 2015 notes and $100 million of new 2016 notes.
Gannett's shares closed Monday at $2.75, and were down 2 cents to $2.73 just after the market open Tuesday. The stock is off 66% so far this year amid ad woes and a 36% drop in fourth-quarter earnings.
-By Kerry E. Grace, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5089; kerry.grace@do
I noticed one of the last posters referred to "scam" work from home jobs...And God knows there are plenty of those out there.
ReplyDeleteBut, I've been working from home doing customer servicing,( travel reservations, 1-800 phone orders, etc.) for several years, pulling anywhere from $12-18 per hour...This is for legit companies.
Are the "artistic thrills" there??...NO!! :) But, it might make a good filler job until something else comes up...Low start-up, and better than minimum wage...( No benefits, aside from one or two companies though)...Just so you know...You normally have to have at least a little college, and be able to pass a background check as you will be dealing sometimes with credit cards and the like.
These companies are hiring, because a lot of US firms are bringing their over-seas call centers back home...Plus, companies are going to at-home workers to cut their over-head.
My husband is the Gannett employee, ( I use to work at the same paper before GCI bought it)...But, I began working from home so that I could have a flexible schedule that worked around family.
Hopefully it's OK to post this info, ( and if not I'm sure Jim will correct it)!! :)
I currently contract with 2 companies: Liveops & Arise
There's also a website/forum that talk about other legit work from home jobs: www.workplacelikehome.com
It also posts on any scams as well.
I know these aren't anyone's dream jobs, but they might serve a purpose for someone for awhile.
Hope this helps someone.
Jim, why not start an area, similar to the layoff numbers per paper, but instead make it an area where we can post jobs that are available.
ReplyDeleteThis could really help the ex gannett employees who are looking for work:
What the employed don't always understand is that the unemployed need tangible solutions and practical assistance, not just words of encouragement based on nothing more than hope or some rare success story. The unemployed need jobs. Real jobs
12:02 -- Good points.
ReplyDeleteThe Reno Gazette-Journal is currently laying off a rumored 30 employees.
ReplyDeleteWhy would corporate try to stretch out its long-term debt in this market? I can only assume that the Crystal Towers believes it is going to have to pay much more in interest rates in 2011-2012 when the debt comes due, if it wants to continue carrying such a staggering debt load that is currently almost equal to the market value of this company. They also do not have the revenues to meet this debt payment at this time, and likely not in the years when the debt comes due. By 2012, we will be feeling the full effects of this government bailout, with interest rates soaring across-the-board. If I held the debt, I wouldn't trade it in because I would suspect I would get a much higher interest rate by forcing GCI to the wall in 2011-12.
ReplyDelete12:02 and 12:22
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! I don't have a spouse with an income to support me while I retrain. And if I did on my own, that doesn't guarantee me a job.
Oh, I could take something that would pay the bills, but it wouldn't be the field for which I trained. That's not a good thing. I still want job satisfaction.
Yes, there are plenty of jobs. But there are so many more people looking for those jobs the odds can be grim.
However, as Andy DuFresne said in the "Shawshank Redemption,"--
"Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best thing."
7:55 AM wrote: "So Binghamton employees now have to do three times as much work for the same amount of pay. And the reward for this is the newspaper will be first in line for layoffs when a new round of cuts come."
ReplyDeleteYou got it.
9:09 AM wrote: "Nobody in Ithaca or Elmira blames Binghamton workers for the consolidations."
That's not the impression I get. Especially when there was talk yesterday of having to "prop up" Binghamton, when the situation nothing of the kind.
Sorry you're getting screwed, but it's not Binghamton workers' fault.
@1:08
ReplyDeleteReno is doing layoffs right now?
Any Idea of the departments?
30 is a pretty high percentage, isn't it?
NY Newsday: Please please put out a Westchester tab newspaper for the good people that live here. The shrinkage, redesign and content of The Journal News is hideous. I know times are tough and you guys are cutting staff too but it wouldn't take much to blow The Journal News away. They've given up trying or caring because there is no local print competition in Westchester
ReplyDelete@1:35
ReplyDeleteSo far, Editorial and Digital.
"Why would corporate try to stretch out its long-term debt in this market?"
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing, but they're probably gambling that an economic turnaround will bring back advertisers and then they'll be able to cover the debt.
Scary move in this climate.
Due to the systematic posting of disinformation here by the Zenger Miller annual bonus crowd, I would treat with healthy skepticism anything but documented layoff information. The pattern seems to be to post false but believable info, have a colleague post an ataboy, and then have other colleagues make critical posts after the tips fails to materialize.
ReplyDelete2:28 Advertisers in worse shape than we are. They are not coming back, trust me.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It IS truly insulting to tell the recent lay offs that this is a blessing in disguise and they shouldn't lose hope. It's just more of that GenX, positive thinking CRAP. Similar to when school systems started giving underachieving kids rewards "just for trying." We ended up with a whole generation of whiners who want a pat on the back just for showing up at work!
ReplyDeletePositive thinking and a positive attitude are NOT going to help you when you are losing everything you've got. All it shows is delusional thinking when there was never a time you needed reality based thinking more!
Everyone's situation is too unique to lump us all together and say "You CAN find work" or "You CAN change careers." For most of us, the wolves at the door aren't going to take a nap while we go back to school and retrain. And when you have 100's of people lining up and applying for the few jobs out there, why would they hire a 50 something person with no experience in that field? They have the unique ability right now to choose from the cream of the crop because it's a buyers (i.e employers) market.
Nobody needs, wants or deserves some fake ass, pep talk. They either want REAL examples of where someone found work OR...they just want to bitch and complain. And y'know what? WHY can't they?? If getting on this blog once in awhile and trading unemployment war stories makes us feel not-so-alone, WHY is that a bad thing? So who freaking cares if we engage in a little Gannett bashing?
We have people here losing homes, cars, retirement savings...hell, struggling to put FOOD on the table. Who the hell are some of us to deny them the satisfaction of bitching a little bit?? It's not like we can afford shrinks and unemployment support groups are probably more depressing than just staying home right now.
On another note, I just was notified by Caremark that as of April 1st, you will be able to fill your long term scripts through CVS stores instead of having to go mailorder. The short term scripts (3 months or less), can still be filled at any Caremark participating pharmacy. And, for those of you who prefer mailorder, it's still available. But I know for most of us, this is good news. Caremark mailorder isn't exactly efficient with shipping and I've had instances where it's taken 2-3 weeks for mailorder scripts to be filled.
While it's a bit of a conflict of interest (in my humble opinion) to have your prescription provider also be the sister company of a major drug retailer...at least this may speed up the refill process for some of us. I just hope for our members sake that you have one of the GOOD CVS pharmacies near you. Unfortunately, my local CVS has 3 pharmacists and English is their second (maybe third), language. I'd prefer to use someone else but this will now lock me into using CVS.
Today I got my last unemployment check from my initial 26 week benefit claim. I was instructed to continue to file my weekly claims as I MAY be eligable for the Emergency benefits. Wonder if there are any delays for this as there are ongoing delays with the retro-payments for that $25 dollar raise.
ReplyDeleteI'm a mid 40's single parent of 2 high schoolers.
While there is no mortgage, rent still needs to be paid, and so does all the other utilities and car loans and insurances.
You can just SEE the age factor in the interviewers eyes each time you go in, and looking around at the 20 somethings at all the desks in the company.
Only five interviews in 26 weeks. Not a single offer.
Jobs are out there? Sure they are, but with hundreds of others, and many who come with some skills but without the age or experience. Cheaper workforce.
To 3:02:
ReplyDeleteIt's just more of that GenX, positive thinking CRAP.
Gen-Xers aren't the positive thinkers. It's Gen-Y you're thinking of. They're the ones who get the "participant" trophies just for showing up. Gen-Xers are the slackers, remember? We're the ones, to paraphrase Janeane Garofalo, who never once asked "will there be extra credit available?"
1:47 PM "So far, Editorial and Digital."
ReplyDeleteDigital? As in "Gannett's vision of the future/banking on everything/gotta be in there" digital?
@1:47 Yes.
ReplyDeleteThe irony is that when these corporatists post misinformation about layoffs, they add to strife among the workers, which leads to a further erosion in confidence, lower morale and ultimately a decline of the news product.
ReplyDeleteThey're actively flushing their own company down the toilet. If this is the grand plan to strike back against the Gannett Blog, the empire needs a new plan.
10:54 AM and 3:02 PM have said it best.
ReplyDeleteWe do have an entire army of "cheery little nymphs" who spout the positive thinking which is insulting and demeaning to the people who KNOW better because the shit has hit the fan, so to speak, for them.
How does anyone dare tell a 60 year old that employers are hiring out there? This person has probably reached the end of unemployment benefits, cannot afford COBRA, has two years to wait for Social Security (at the lowest rate) and cannot possibly live on the raped 401k funds and the pension. Healthcare has to be some degree of any issue at this age.
Some people just don't care to understand the circumstances of those who have fallen through the cracks of Gannett!
11:47 AM - Thank you! I'm sending your posting to my boss, who doesn't understand why I'm slightly negative lately.
ReplyDelete1:47 AM and many others also said it faultlessly. THANK YOU ALL!
ReplyDeleteGannett's Planet Discover let go 9 of their 54 employees today. Interesting that PD is part of the digital division, the division that's supposed to save the company, and yet they're letting everyone go. Not sure what that says about Gannett's plan moving forward.
ReplyDeleteThe Associated Press to the rescue (or to save their own ass):
ReplyDeleteNEW YORK (Reuters) – The Associated Press unveiled rate cuts on Monday to help member newspapers reeling from declining advertising revenue and said it would sue websites that use its members' articles without permission.
Changes announced by the AP at its annual meeting in San Diego include $35 million in rate assessment reductions for 2010 on top of $30 million it already instituted for 2009.
Check out Chris:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newsli.com/2009/04/07/information-session-on-career-opportunities-in-media-at-adelphi-university/
Planet Discover is one of those tragedies that many here would recognize and find familiar. When GCI bought it in 2006, Planet Discover was a revolutionary system for making electronic Yellow Pages that are searchable. But in 2007, corporate made a monumental decision prohibiting any GCI rivals from using Planet Discover, and making it available only for its newspapers and other newspapers which don't compete with GCI TV and newspapers like the Strib and Gatehouse papers in the Boston area. There were also software problems Planet Discover couldn't resolve and GCI beggared money for development. Meantime, Local.com and HarvestInfo rolled out far more capable software that sold anywhere to anyone, and gathered a larger audience, eventually swamping Planet Discover. Today, of course, it is going down the tubes with the Strib and Gatehouse in bankruptcy or closing publications and not providing revenues. So no surprise that now come the cuts at Planet Discover. Some execs should be fired for this trainwreck, but both you and I know they won't. They will get bonuses instead.
ReplyDelete11:47, my sentiments exactly. Thank you. I see a country in big economic trouble because of this corporate think and yes the rich will get richer and the poor poorer. It is frightening for our children.
ReplyDeleteWHERE MY MOONIES AT?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete6:34 -- One of the big Reno cuts was a reporter who specialized in digital reporting. And she is very good.
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty clear months ago that the so-called leadership of this company had no idea what to do next.
That and the digital cuts you're talking about puts an exclamation point on it.
If digital is going to save us, we shouldn't be making cuts there. If it isn't we should go back to doing what we do best. The truth is nobody knows what the hell is going on.
@3:02: The heck with Caremark. There are plenty of pharmacies that will sell me my generic scrip for $10/3 months. That's a 50% savings over Caremark's "special" mail order deal.
ReplyDeleteTo give you an idea of the classly leadership in this company, a moment from Reno.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, at a time when upper management clearly knew that 9 percent of the newspaper staff would be purged,publisher Ted Power came out of exec. editor Beryl Love's office belly laughing. And we're not talking quietly chuckling or smiling. We're talking, knee slapping, make a spectacle of yourself laughter that could be heard throughout the entire newsroom.
It's good to see that he understands what these cuts mean to people's lives and that making them is at least taking an emotional toll.
This seems even more insulting to Reno folks who have made a life in the city. Both Power and Love came from out of the area a few years ago and their legacy is a vastly downsized newspaper and a significant drop in quality.
Essentially, they've been corporate hatchet men, and some of the first people to go were the community's best known columnist, two of the best known sports writers, and a number of good, upper-level editors who had lived in Reno for 20+ years.
Anyone who thinks Gannett has a stake in the communities it supposedly serves is vastly mistaken.
The publisher in Reno is a corporate Pet that doesnt care about anyone but himself. Overpaid moron.
ReplyDeleteI think they are also going to create hubs for digital along with everything else. Just my opinion, but I think my insight might be correct. No one's job in Gannett is safe.
ReplyDeleteGannett's Planet Discover let go 9 of their 54 employees today. Interesting that PD is part of the digital division, the division that's supposed to save the company, and yet they're letting everyone go. Not sure what that says about Gannett's plan moving forward.
10:17 -- That sounds reasonable, and it should sound the death knell for the company.
ReplyDeleteThe more they nationalize content, the less interest there will be because the company has layed off many of its most talented employees. And most of our digital products are hopelessly inferior when compared against the chief national competitors.
The only thing missing now is Craig Dubow sitting on Dr. Phil's couch answering the, "How's that working for you?" question.
Planet Discover is absolute crap, the person who sold it to Gannett should be given a prize for salesperson of the year. And likewise the idiot who bought it should have been fired a long time ago, and if they haven't been their boss should be along with them now.
ReplyDeleteBodner Memo Hoax update: The memo has further been dispelled as a hoax because Bodner has revealed that the hoax memo was sent to CNY-All and he has still yet to recieve it, allowing him to conclude it is a hoax.
ReplyDeleteSAMPLE CORP. PR POST:
ReplyDeleteTo all the whiners in Binghamton you are much appreciated by the company and we feel your skills and abilities were greatly under utilized in serving Southern NY and Northern Pa, by consolidating production and printing all to Binghamton now with all three papers your skills actally now serve ALL of Southern NY and Northern PA. This includes the resiliance and fearless leadership of your directors to monitor 2 additional email accounts and call the minor leagures in Elmira in Ithaca weekly.
AGAIN THIS IS ONLY A SAMPLE OF CORP PR RELEASE!
Jim:
ReplyDeleteWe do need a section on this site where we can help each other learn how to go about getting a job after umpteen years. How to identify skills. How to handle the age factor.
We need information about what's happening company-wide, yes, but we need other information as well.
I expect to get laid off any time, and it will be tough - especially since I've been trying for six months to find out information on our retirement plan, just to be prepared - no response despite repeated phone calls to corporate. Has this happened to other folks?
Didn't you hear that guy got laid off!
ReplyDeletePut your faith and hope in Jesus Christ; his love and mercy will see you through the darkest times.
ReplyDeleteI think Binghamton, Ithaca and Elmira need their own forum like Jersey.
ReplyDelete9:56, you've got that right. The Reno digital reporter was first-rate, the only one doing video. That cut made no sense. They claim it's about "seniority" but she was the most senior at that position. What a disaster ... I feel like I'm going down with the ship.
ReplyDeleteHey 11:13PM
ReplyDeleteNext time you talk to Jesus, SELL HIM A SUBSCRIPTION.
@10:25
ReplyDeletePlanet Discover only does what the higher-ups at Digital tell them to do. I've never had a problem with them or their product.
Maybe they just don't like your attitude.
Why would a company stretch out it's debt? Because high debt in these economic times leaves it less attractive to a hostile takeover.
ReplyDelete