Saturday, May 02, 2009

Saturday | May 2 | Your News & Comments

Can't find the right spot for your comment? Post it here, in this open forum. Real Time Comments: parked here, 24/7. (Earlier editions.)

34 comments:

  1. flipity flopity floop

    ReplyDelete
  2. Word from my analyst buddies over on Wall St. is that Gannett has had new people calling to "check in" on the people watching Gannett. This blog has been mentioned in conversation, and on at least one occcasion it was referred to first by the Gannett PR hack.

    ReplyDelete
  3. http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/2009/04/28/job-application-for-ceo-of-gannett/

    check that link out.. guy wants to beat dubow!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Speaking of leaders...
    "A layoff is a failure of management. But the people who usually pay for that failure are not the ones responsible for it."
    -- Jack Stack, CEO of SRC Holdings Corp., in latest issue of Inc. Magazine
    http://www.inc.com/magazine/columns/numbers.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. This should be posted on each thread!

    " Have you been watching IP addresses? You should be able to get a good idea of where these comments are coming from and block that address, with the right software. "

    Right, then Jim could become his own big brother. He could be just like the thoses he is trying to attack and discredit. Come on, give us some censorship. Let us know we can never tell what will be published and what won't be published - just like right now.

    You control the horizontal, you control the verticle. You can't control what goes in but you can sure control what we see. That's why you have to provide blog owner approval.

    Until this blog has real names attached to each post it will never have credibility because no one can tell the source of anything. Of course, I'm sure that would dramatically cut down on comments but it might increase funding if that truley is your purpose. Hell, if everyone really cared tha would be willing to register and pay a subscription rate up front for the right to participate. I might even be willing to pay for that. At least it would be a subscription and not a donation.

    I challenge you. Show everyone if this thing has legs or not.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Richard Michem5/02/2009 8:04 AM

    7:36 practice what you preach. Where is your real name? Coward!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anon 7:26 AM – Everyone understands the issue, even more so given the increase in distracting content, but doing what you suggest misses the essence of this blog.

    The valuable information that has come first through this blog would have only come if it were not for people’s ability to remain anonymous. And, given the quality of information that some very reputable sources have shared it’s highly likely that they’d be terminated soon after should they be foolish enough to sign their name.

    The fact that you’ve chosen not to take your own challenge on even an innocuous post such as this is not lost either.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jim:
    My only problem with the questions you asked Craig & Co is, I think you should of addressed the situation reguarding the Boards decision to give Bonus' no matter the amount,When they are expecting everyone to take furloughs and salary freezes even as the company shows a profit

    ReplyDelete
  9. Has anybody out there heard of any more furloughs for the next Q? I've been on furlough since Feb. 2and IT SUCKS!!!!!!!!

    Oh yeah. Jim, you rock

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous said...
    Anon 7:26 AM – Everyone understands the issue, even more so given the increase in distracting content, but doing what you suggest misses the essence of this blog.

    The valuable information that has come first through this blog would have only come if it were not for people’s ability to remain anonymous. And, given the quality of information that some very reputable sources have shared it’s highly likely that they’d be terminated soon after should they be foolish enough to sign their name.

    The fact that you’ve chosen not to take your own challenge on even an innocuous post such as this is not lost either.

    5/02/2009 8:16 AM

    Give me a break. Why should I be the employee that does so if everyone else doesn't? Hmm?

    I don't see any valuable information coming from this blog, just a lot of speculation that anyone can and does invent. How do we know what is real and what isn't? For that matter, how do we know how much propoganda is placed here by Gannett for whatever reasons? We don't, which is my point.

    This blog isn't here to serve us. It is here to serve the owner. That said, I'm very unclear on the real purpose of the blog. If it was simplified with a subscription then the real people could be on here and it could be real people that show they care by purchasing a subscription. Until then I will be anonymous like all the rest of the still employeed. If I'm ever not employeed by Gannett I won't be here because I will no longer care.

    That's the essence for me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The essence is that corporate power addicts like Gannett are afraid of the truth and want to intimidate their employees and others from sharing what is really going on. The demands for names on blog posts might be credible if Gannett followed the same policy...they don't.
    Those who possess power will do anything to hold on to it including active suppression of the rights of the people. Chase this flack hack out of here.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anon 7:26 / 9:00 – You sound paid, I mean peeved.

    I could enlighten you on the many valuable stories and insights that this blog broke through “crowd sourcing” employees but you sound like you’ve already made up your mind. Those of us who’ve been reading, contributing and benefiting from the solid info and commentary about this company that’s been provided know the value well. And, despite the noise created by many lately to divert it, it’s still there when something of note breaks. Albeit splattered with comments from those with another agenda in mind.

    And, seriously, do you really think people will share material info under their real name without retribution? Again, you won’t even though you write strongly about it; hence you likely wouldn’t even if you paid.

    So, sorry to share, but given your rants you sound like you have your own agenda to fulfill. One maybe not to far from the folks creating unnecessary noise, but don’t worry many know how to filter it out to find value.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The mighty mite corporate goons now drinking in the Gannett worker bee saloon here already know this, but no one is stupid enough to criticize or second-guess the company in their real name. We workers are just like the oppressed people of Myanmar, Tibet, Cuba, North Korea, Iran and every other dictatorship out there, country or company. Gannett sorely needs a glasnost to create the culture of successful companies. With its current culture and governance, Gannett will never become a Most Admired Corporation or Best Place to Work. Then again, it doesn't care to be.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jim,
    I too find it very curious that suddenly the tone of this blog turned horrible. The truth at each site is the same: You cannot speak the truth about what is going on, you cannot say someone is not doing their job, you must go around with a smile on your face, or you are written up, the stupid idiot ideas the company comes up with you must jump through hoops to make work, get on the band wagon or find a new job. You cannot complain about how this company has totally destroyed good newspapers. The moral is in the toilet. Only the a**suckers are happy. We are ALL looking for other work. I think corporate is behind the attacks, everyone has always known Jim is gay, suddenly everything turns hateful? Come on people, use your brain. Corporate doesn't want us to know anything, and this blog is the only place we can go to find out anything at all.
    Good work Jim.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am the great Cornhoolio. I am the oppressed masses yearning to break free from the tyrany of the creature known as Gannett. I must hide in the wilderness. I am so afraid since this thing called Gannett cares about me and wants to eat me.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've seen comments here at least two times about new furloughs. What gives? Who knows what is going on and can share with the rest of us?

    ReplyDelete
  17. FURLOUGHS? What Gives? They saved 22 million the first quarter on furloughs. Do you think those greedy f**ks are going to give up another 22 million? They will have furloughs as long as they can. Remember, they have to pay for Shalalala's gas somehow.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have a serious question about "furloughs."

    I have read on this blog since December that there are "federal laws" that set guidelines on what can and cannot be done by an employee and employer regarding furlough days.

    For instance Gannett employees are told they cannot read emails, take phone calls, visit the office or do ANYTHING work-related while on furlough.

    NOW... my news company has been mandating furloughs and there is NOTHING of the sort being told. In fact, people on furlough have been called by the managers at the newspapers, they have checked emails and in some cases, they have EVEN WORKED on furlough days because they did not want more than one furlough day in a pay period, but felt they still had to be at the newspaper. That includes me...

    NOW, I have called and talked to Wage & Hour people in my state and federal, and NO ONE has any information on any actual LAWS or state/federal guidelines on furloughs.

    If anyone out there knows of a specific STATUTE or federal law regarding furloughs, PLEASE post it on this sight.

    I was told when I called the state Wage & HOur Division office that what Gannett "mandated" about furloughs was by their own choice, NOT by any federal labor law.

    Unfortunately, it appears that other newspaper companies are not as strict about furloughs as you are at Gannett.

    Can someone PLEASE post an actual law that might protect us workers as we enter another round of furloughs??? HELP!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. From the WSJ:

    Buffett Sees ‘Unending Losses’ for Many Newspapers

    OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett has long held himself out as a newspaper man. As a child, one of his first jobs was delivering newspapers. An Omaha newspaper Berkshire owned, Sun Newspapers, won a Pulitzer Prize in 1973 based in part on a tip Mr. Buffett provided. One of Berkshire’s biggest investments in the 1970s was the Buffalo News, which it still owns.

    Buffett toured the exhibit floor prior to the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting
    But his view on the future of the newspaper industry is dismal. “For most newspapers in the United states, we would not buy them at any price,” he said in response to a question about whether he would consider investing in newspapers. “They have the possibility of going to just unending losses.”

    The problem, he said, is that newspapers were once essential to the American public. As long as newspapers were essential to readers, they were essential to advertisers, But news is available in many other venues, such as the Internet, which means a dramatic drop in advertising revenue.

    Berkshire also has a substantial investment in the Washington Post Co. He said the company has a solid cable business, a good reason to hold onto it, but its newspaper business is in trouble.

    ReplyDelete
  20. 11:23 am could not be more right!

    Gannett HAS ruined many good daily community newspapers. However, Gannett has ALSO ruined many good newspaper careers. Too many to mention, I am afraid.

    This company, especially the last decade, has ruined many, many careers of good journalists. Unjustly fired, discouraged, beat down, oppressed, deceived.

    All these Gannett corporate culture destructive mandates against creative, independent thinkers and quality journalists (the very people thaT make GREAT newspapers byt are hated by Gannett) were fired, laid off, quit or beat down by snearing, smug, snide, surly, vile, vicious, hateful, little piss-ant dictator-publishers. That was especially true in Wisconsin and I am told in Indiana and Ohio papers.

    So yes, careers have been ruined.

    Back in 2001, I was only a day or so from being fired by my vicious little piss-ant publisher when I quit in disgust. My career was ruined by this short little dictator with no soul or intellect.

    This company is pathetic, and yes, I will always carry a grudge and hatred for all things Gannett and always hope for its ruin.

    As you can imagine, I've been a happy women these last few years.

    ReplyDelete
  21. 1:30, I don't think there are any federal laws governing furloughs. What you're looking for are the basic wage and hour laws of your state. Usually, that means if you work, you get paid. For an exempt employee in most states, if you work at any point of a week, you have to be paid for the full week.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I for one am not a coward--I use my name--and I state that the Gannett brain-deads have to get a life and cure the illness. I can only speak of the Journal News in Westchester, New York as I worked there for twenty four years. It is a bloody joke with awful , incompetent people running the show. The VP of Operations was let go from the Asbury Park Press years ago--but he brought his inept management skills to westchester county and now the Journal News is sinking so fast it is considered a joke in the industry.I guess stupid people in Virginia just love stupid people in Westchester. I also have to state that Gannett is above 4 dollars--wow---I give that three whoops, as it is a far, far,far,far cry from 90.00/share.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Todd, you are a coward as I don't believe for one minute that is your real name. I work in Westchester - have for many years - so please refresh my memory as to who exactly you are.

    Regarding the VP of Operations. Better check your facts, sport. He wasn't "let go" from Asbury Park.

    Quit spouting trash as if it's factual.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I really wish all of you that hate your jobs and hate Gannett would just quit, so the ones of us that were laid off and want to still work for Gannett might be able to get a job.
    I do not agree with everything Gannett does, but as a former dept head that worked for several locations I can say that not all sites are bad.....there are a few bad publishers but most are good.
    So quir whinning abd quit.
    Jim, I value and appreciate your efforts as I your blog has been the source for some good info. Too bad that some people are messng with it.
    Please keep up the good work and if I am ever fortunate enough to get a job back in Gannett I will even pay you for your efforts, just can not afford it right now.

    ReplyDelete
  26. On the future of furloughs: do the math for yourself. To go back to a full schedule, corporate would have to find $22 million from some source to make up the salary increase. Now look at the economy, and you see that ad revenue is not going to increase anytime soon. I don't know why corporate doesn't confess and say the furloughs are now permanent.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Warren Buffett? Newspapers? OMG

    He was right about the dollar! (He wasn't)That big ConocoPhillips stock purchase was a brilliant move. (It wasn't)So obviously the guy's a visionary!But go ahead, cogs, and wallow in your misery, if that's what you feel like doing.

    ReplyDelete
  28. "Warren Buffett? Newspapers? OMG

    He was right about the dollar! (He wasn't)That big ConocoPhillips stock purchase was a brilliant move. (It wasn't)So obviously the guy's a visionary!But go ahead, cogs, and wallow in your misery, if that's what you feel like doing.

    5/02/2009 6:23 PM"

    Yeah, go ahead and selectively mock Warren Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway is currently sitting on a $19 billion pile of cash and has made hundreds of billions of dollars for its investors over the years.

    You want to selectively cite one of his moves? Try PetroChina. His investment in that company recently made an estimated $6 billion in just over two years. In you're keeping score that is enough to buy all of GCI six times over.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I heard from a high placed person that they will all meet later this month and discuss the possibilities of furloughs and other cost-cutting measures. My impression, when the person was pressed, was these furloughs may not be practical in the coming quarters because of summer vacations and then holidays. No one would be around to put out the papers. But the person did admit, as some of you hit on, barring that, the revenue isn't up so cuts have to come somewhere. My bets are on more layoffs and consolidations or even wage cuts, not more furloughs. What I know for sure is that decision hasn't been made and won't be until the least the end of this month but likely June. Until they decide, it's all speculation.

    ReplyDelete
  30. 8:53 - What do you mean you've been on furlough since Feb. 2nd? 3 months?

    Where do you work and how does your furlough tie in with the 1- 2 weeks the rest of the company is experiencing?

    Do you have an expected return date?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Plain and simple….
    If you do not like how Jim runs the Blog, or the way he asks questions or uses a microphone….
    Shut the fuck up! It is his blog, Go start your own!
    I did not like his presentation either, but I could not have done any better. At least he had enough guts to stand up there. I think when people put someone down for a poor presentation; they feel better about their own shortcomings. However, they most always strive to look good at someone else’s expense.
    What I have found being with Gannett over 20 years, there are many people that will complain how things are done. Nevertheless, they never do any better.
    Everyone who has ever worked for Gannett has benefited from Jim’s Blog from the start one way or another. Bottom line is... If your not sending Jim any money... you really can't complain.

    ReplyDelete
  32. To save money why not eliminate paid sick days? Employees use them sick or not. When employees just choose to not show up everyone else has to make up for them.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous said...
    I heard from a high placed person that they will all meet later this month and discuss the possibilities of furloughs and other cost-cutting measures. My impression, when the person was pressed, was these furloughs may not be practical in the coming quarters because of summer vacations and then holidays. No one would be around to put out the papers. But the person did admit, as some of you hit on, barring that, the revenue isn't up so cuts have to come somewhere. My bets are on more layoffs and consolidations or even wage cuts, not more furloughs. What I know for sure is that decision hasn't been made and won't be until the least the end of this month but likely June. Until they decide, it's all speculation.

    5/02/2009 7:36 PM

    Here we go. I drop a few furlough mentions and rumors and the mill cranks up. We should just make a list of every possible thing that could happen in the world of Gannett, get it out there and then we can prove just how prophetic this crowd-sourcing blog can be!

    As for 9:56 pm, what's the matter? You don't want me to play with your toys if I don't play the way you want? Want me to take my things and go home? Did I hurt your feelings?

    I simply asked what this blog has actually done for people. No one can give me a specific answer. Also, if you can't do something like stand in front of people and ask a realstic question as the leader of the blog, you shouldn't even try. If nothing else, have someone else do it. Spend the security money on that person. Failure to garner respect on that stage will be difficult to overcome.

    ReplyDelete
  34. @8:44 AM — 7:36 here.

    You do not have to believe me. But I reported what I heard firsthand from someone who is in the decision-making role. Not "my editor says," or even, "my publisher thinks..." This was higher. And that person said furloughs are not practical in the coming quarters, and we should expect other cost cuts instead. I only posted to point out those rumors about furloughs are, at worst, panic-inducing lies or, at best, speculation at this point. The decision has not been made yet and won't be for several more weeks.

    ReplyDelete

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."

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.