Thursday, July 09, 2009

Thursday | Your Layoff News & Comments

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83 comments:

  1. The cluess NNCO VP is the right-hand of God so to speak and is in Newark.

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  6. Springfield

    5 from advertising (4 ppl 1 open position)
    2 from accounting inclduing controller
    5 from newsroom (2 ppl 3 positions)
    1 creative artist
    1 dock worker

    maybe more

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  7. Mr Zidich, Publisher, Arizona Republic, just a quick note, could you please ask your people to use spell check and possibly write in English perhaps using complete sentences and such.

    Especially online, would be nice to see good grammar.

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  8. So much for THAT twerp. ;)

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  9. Thanks Jim....

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  10. Thanks Jim

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  11. 8:19 Totally agree!!!

    I never even try to read AZCentral anymore. It's painful.

    And Jim, thank you too!!

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  12. 8:16, little meaningless people like you often throw barbs at those hurting because it's easy. My guess is you're some spineless waste of time nobody would notice in a small crowd. At the end of the day, you're stuck with you and that means everybody's better off.

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  13. Does anyone know who were cut in Zanesville, Coshocton and Newark?

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  14. Thanks for taking out the trash Jim:)

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  15. It's up to 5 now at Statesman Journal (Salem, Ore.):

    1 editor
    1 copy desk
    2 classifieds
    1 driver

    A staff meeting began at 5:15 PDT, more info likely to come afterward.

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  16. Jim,

    Sorry if my response to that Twerp was offensive, but all his comments in part six and the ones in this section were a little too much to take with the number of job losses today. I was a December casualty.

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  17. 8:09 - I think that selling off the small papers to local ownership would be the kind thing to do. Or it would have, if they hadn't already consolidated services so much that the papers would have to rebuild their entire workforce and infrastructure... how many small gannett papers don't own presses anymore? Still, I think it would give them a fighting chance at survival that Gannett can't.

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  18. Jim... planning on riding this one out, or shutting down early? Either way, it's been a great ride... best to you.

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  19. Gary Watson:

    Are you coming back?

    The past seems so nostalgic at times like these. Everything was so much classier back then.

    Signed,

    Hopeless in Poughkeepsie

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  20. AZ REPUBLIC REPORT: The numbers are in and, as usual, the straight white guy over 40 took a bath--luckily not with the ME :)

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  21. Not much Leadership or Class shown by Gannett Executives today.

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  22. Hi, I was released from the pressure-cooker which everyone knows is called "Gannett". I'm sorry to have my career end this way. I hail from the Asbury Park Press, may it rest in peace. I would like to know where Joseph Murphy was today. The department of which he managed was hacked to death and he was no where to be found. Good old VP of Production Jack Roth, looking shiny as ever, was the one to dish up the sorry news to the many hardworking, dedicated people who were let go (Kasten not included). So where are you Joe? Oh that's right. You forgot your dick and had to go back home to get it. Too bad you did not find your spine. All I can say is that you are one unfit manager. How can a man not be there for such a heavy event? Even though I have no respect left for you at all, it still would have mattered to me if you were the one to convey the news of my termination. As usual, you were missing in action.

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  23. In Salem cuts are 2 editors — 1 that did weeklies, 1 on the copy desk; features desk is disbanded to distribute those editors into the now vacant spots

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  24. 1 more today at The Newsleader in Staunton, VA.
    YESTERDAY: 1 Retail Sales Manager,1part time Classified,1 night time PrePress (composing) TODAY: NIE (Newspapers In Education) person...more to come

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  25. I quitely fart every time I walk past the office of my editors and publisher. No one seems to notice. Probably because they're rarely there.

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  26. I still see lots of questions about "where's Detroit" here. We're still in Michigan but we took the hit a couple of months ago so they didn't get us this time. About 130 with 22 Freep, 10 News and the rest Partnership/Agency. For some odd reason we always seem to be out of cycle with every other property.

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  27. In Salem, was it for the Today products. The weeklies editor was an open position.

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  28. With all the cuts in Cincinnati does this mean that Buchanan will now be responsible for getting her own lunch, groceries and errands or did she still save some staff to do that for her?

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  29. Here's a Jim Borgman from 1998, never published, but circulated in the Cincy newsroom, made about the time a big banana bomb went off.

    It manages to sum up my feelings eleven years later.

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  30. Thanks much for all your hard work, Jim. Enjoy La Vida Loca in Ibiza!!

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  31. All: It's 3:08 a.m. where I live. I'm signing off.

    Unfortunately, I'm going to have to hold all comments still in the waiting queue until Friday morning. Some creep has been lurking about, posting taunting comments designed to make you feel even more miserable than you already do.

    I think I've captured all the big numbers available at this hour. But there are plenty of sites that haven't reported any layoff or job cut numbers. And I have very incomplete information for many others.

    So, please keep posting fresh figures overnight; that will give me a head start tomorrow -- my last day as your chief Gannett Blogger.

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  32. How'd Lafayette, Ind. do today?

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  33. Gannettoid publisher was laid off??????????? OMG!!!!!!

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  34. 7:48 pm

    Don't know which nj you work in but we lost managers today.

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  35. Jim,
    16 cuts in Poughkeepsie on Thursday with additional cuts to come next month (about 15?) when they create the "production hub" at the Westchester Journal News.

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  36. Green Bay is wrong...5 in the newsroom, 19 overall with affiliated dailies included. (list says 3 right now)

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  37. Any theories on why Cincinnati got hit so much harder than the others?

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  38. tallahassee democrat-16 staff laid off, 10 empty positions closed--out of 258

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  39. Sad day at the Daily in Salisbury, Md. we lost 30. In that 30 were some good, hardworking people. Once again Advertising was barely touched. There's a couple of ARS's that play games all day long. One classified manager that probably doesn't put in 32 hrs. a week and yet he survived. Some of the cuts don't make much sense when you have these yahoo's doing zilch all day.

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  40. In Asbury Park, when that no talent coward Hollis Townes and his sidekick Gary Yes axed the overpaid people making 11 bucks an hour did they at least turn the movie theater TVs off? Those clowns did a great job today. Who is the publisher of that sinking ratship now. Has Townes harrassed any of the ladies there? We know he aint doing any work.

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  41. We're now hearing 8 at Statesman Journal in Salem, Ore.:

    1 community editor
    2 copy editors
    2 classifieds
    2 production artists
    1 driver

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  42. I never thoughty that I see a post longing for Garty Watson.

    The Borgman cartoon on the Onsite is priceless.

    "Gary Watson:
    Are you coming back?
    The past seems so nostalgic at times like these. Everything was so much classier back then.

    Signed,

    Hopeless in Poughkeepsie

    7/09/2009 8:37 PM"

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  43. I can't believe that Big Bill Albrect in St Cloud Still can't figure out how to get rid of the dead weight. This guy could not come in out of the rain. He has and continues to take out those that we need. This ship is so Top Heavy when is Gannett Corporate going to come in and fix what this guy is doing. Sales are Rosey Please Bill retire or come out of your office more then 2 times a day and open up that dame office door and see what is really happening. Why do we need so many in marketing. Why do we need three managers in the advertising area. Why do we need a special sections person that does nothing. You amaze me. I guess that is why I'm not in the chair you are.

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  44. APP news room, gone are:
    1 sports writer
    1 photographer
    1 entertainment/feature writer
    3 magazine writers
    1 feature editor (unsure of his exact title.
    These are unofficial tallies based on observation.

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  45. One other thing. When is the big day for the presidents rings. All the managment and Mr Dubow should get one with a lump of coal in them is it not coal that makes diamond over time. Well look what Gannett officers have done taken the diamond and turned it to coal again. Amazing what a few hundred can do when they do not listen. One thing I'm gald is I didn't let them tattoo that Gannett logo on my fat ass.

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  46. cant believe they let one of the best sales people they have left in lansing, this will be a huge loss and what will become of the magazine that this person grew from nothing? Jodway, no one wants to hear how sorry you are, because EVERYONE, except the publisher, knows you are a useless piece of shit...glad i left in Dec!!! by the way, how are the dinners you have been having at Dusty's Wine Cellar with your family on the credit you are suppose to be giving to advertisers?

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  47. Hey Gannett Ritchie Rich here I'm willing to Buy a few of your papers for pennys on the Dollar and fire all the dead weight build them back to what they had been such as the WI ones and I will sell them back to you. Run them and take all my blog friends here over to that island that Jim talks about with all the money I made off you saps and buy them all a remember the Gannett blog ring with a few saphires them. Once it is all done and I wine and dine all my friends and have a gannett size party and play a few games of Dickey golf with my blog friends. I still will have enought money to live on as I know how to run a business but my bosses would not listen to me when I told them the stock fell from 89.00 8 years ago. I was not smart it was the economy. If they had one smart person in that company they would be canning the top managment who are a part of the good ol boys club. good night and if Gannett accepts my offer of one penny for every dollar I will call im and we will open the blog back up for a grand old we brought gannett back reunion. I hate to say it folks I see them bankrupt within two years.

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  48. There's way more than 7 at the Asbury Park Press.

    I think there were that many or more just in the newsroom, and apparently IT was hit per the reference to Murph, above. Classified and marketing still had dead wood, and I doubt advertising was unscathed.

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  49. Names from Nashville:

    http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2009/7/9/itennesseani_follows_through_on_job_cuts

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  50. Re: Transitional Pay for Arizona Republic. Apparently an arrangement was negotiated with the State Labor Board to allow the "a little over a hundred," according to Ziddich, (113) employees layed off to collect unemployment while receiving the company's "benefits" (note: NOT referred to as "severence").
    They will have to report weekly to Unemployment and show proof of their efforts to regain employment weekly. The unemployment office will convey their reports to gannett. Once they actually DO find a job there is no more money given by either establishment.
    This means, a 32 year employee goes on unemployment, 3 weeks later they find a job, that employee has received 3 weeks "severance" in return for 32 years of dedication.
    Very sad.
    My question, though, is what about people who had some really measly 2nd job just to supplement the embarrassing wages they were making at gannett? Do they not get ANYTHING?
    My info is not firsthand, but IS from a very reliable source.

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  51. I've never posted to this blog but I wanted to say thank you. We may be in the news business but this company is bad about communication. Nobody feels good about what happened today. Moms and dads - and longtime news veterans - were given pink slips while the rest of us, those lucky enough to still have a job, were left wondering what that job would look like. Some of us found out today those jobs are changing - what we signed up for 1, 5, or 10 years ago is no longer an option. I'll get up and go to work tomorrow because I have a job to go to but seeing so many others walk out the door - some leaving news for good - it's impossible not to worry if next time it will be you or I or the person in the desk over who has worked here since I was a college freshman. The uncertainty is awful, for those who wake up tomorrow with no job and - even - for those of us who wake up tomorrow and go to the same Gannett property for one more day.

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  52. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports on its Web site that 49 have been let go (with 15 jobs left open).

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  53. Jim, you have been a blessing, and we will miss you. Take care!

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  54. 14 at PoJo total, so they say. front desk. ast. editor. Internet. graphics. creative. to name a few. 4 total from news. sad sad sad day. and not much hope to go around. more talk of the production hub with more jobs in limbo. rumors about building being sold.

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  55. Jim,

    Thanks for your hard work and dedication to keep us informed. We couldn't have done it without you.

    Take care, live life, have a blast.

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  57. Thanks for the memories, Jim! It's been a good ride.

    I'm still employed...for better or worse...but still looking for a lifeboat.

    My count for Nashville is 24 known, but the total is expected to be 35. (Those others have not been identified.)

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  58. Rochester, N.Y., 49 jobs, 15 open positions.

    http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090709/BUSINESS/90709032/‘Democrat+and+Chronicle++cuts+64+jobs

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  59. Whoever keeps asking for the "official memo" from Wisconsin regarding the shifts, eliminations, demotions, whatever... of publishers/general managers - there hasn't been an official memo sent out.

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  60. To 7/09/2009 8:43 PM:
    You a rude dude/dudette. Joe is okay guy, he probably was in Toms River. Those two gals down there were let go today. Just doing his job. Shame on you. It is what it is. We need to move on and get over that place. Being nasty and vindictive is not the solution. I guess you have to find that out for yourself. Sure Jack had to give the news, he should. He is the head of production, it should be his job. I never want to know who you are. Because I would lose all respect I have for you. Enough is enough. Time to move on.
    Kathy PB -one of the many gone from ADS

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  61. sorry make that 16 at pojo, as reported on web site.

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  62. Holy crap, Jim - I don't know how you do it. It just took me nearly two hours to get through all of Thursday's comments!

    After having read the majority of them, some thoughts:

    I guess Corporate thinks that copy desk chiefs and assistant editors and the like are "mid-level managers." But targeting higher up the chain would have been better - and less disruptive to the process of putting out a paper.

    Also, the Crystal Palace WILL lose people. It's just not happening this week. After Hunke decides where to slice, it'll happen - should be by the end of July.

    Question: How many papers are losing their niche in-house-produced magazines? I saw Cin Weekly is gone, and 4074 at APP may or may not be gone but lost staff. Any other mags that are disappearing that anyone can name?

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  63. I must say, the process in Lansing's newsroom today must've been the most horribly managed in all of Gannett.

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  64. For what it's worth, the Army Times newspapers based in Virginia were spared any layoffs this time around. Elaine Howard, the publisher here, sent out an announcement Wednesday to that effect, but warned that more "changes" could be necessary depending on the way things go from here on out.

    I think what saved us is we were shifted to Gannett Digital several months back. Newsstand sales and other things have remained the same or gone up slight at most of our papers this year, so I think corporate opted to keep our structure intact.

    On the other hand, another round of furloughs will go over like a fart in church. Here's hoping the bottom stops falling out, for all of our sakes.

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  65. 30 let go today at The News Journal in Wilmington, Delaware.

    4 were let go yesterday.

    More to come on Friday.

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  66. Dear 7:33 p.m. from the previous thread,

    You suck.

    Sincerely,

    A colleague

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  67. Let Go in Phoenix - here is the total scoop and some interesting info to come. Severence: Gannett through an outsourcing company TMC makes up the difference between what you receive from unemployment and your regular pay for a total of 1 week for every year of service up to 36 years (thus 36 weeks). This is accomplished all through a very easy website and you are able to receive both unemployment and the extra pay at the sametime because a special trust was setup and APPROVED by the state and federal government. Nobody wants to be let go, but they didn't have to do anything and more than likely the next round will not be as generous. You can still get your benefits through COBRA which is subsidized by the Federal Government at 65% so if COBRA was $1000/mo it is now only $350, not bad considering your not working and good luck finding full medical coverage on your own at those rates. Future information: and this is from a very reliable source, Gannett will be implementing various layoffs of varying degrees every quarter over the next 2 years, so if mgmt says they don't know anything (and I mean Senior Mgmt VP and above) they are lying to you. Also Gannett is in an extremely precarious financial situation and these layoffs are the only way that they can make the finances work. So of you mention; well Gannett makes money why lay people off.....Well the answer is that Gannett is very likely going to be posting revenue losses by the end of the year and will not be able to meet the debt obligations with in 24 months. Laying people off is there only option because there is no plan and know how to do anything else, too many wrong decisions were made in the past to now correct the future. It like skin cancer, catch is early and it is a minor scar, ignore it and invades your body and kills you.... Gannett now is like the patient that he was maybe 2 years to live. So consider yourself lucky if you were let go today, I know I feel that way, because each quarter is only going to be progressively worse... Don't take my word for it, but remember and mark my words.

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  68. Jim;

    Hope to survive pending cuts at USAT, because I'm among the ones who will eventually let go to offset the high priced dead weight and a--kissers who will remain. Everytime I see one of them w/o a seeming care in the world, it makes my stomach churn.

    I didn't always agree with you and you're tactics. But I think you should be proud of what you've done the past few months. Thanks for all of your work.

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  69. Let Go in Phoenix - here is the total scoop and some interesting info to come. Severence: Gannett through an outsourcing company TMC makes up the difference between what you receive from unemployment and your regular pay for a total of 1 week for every year of service up to 36 years (thus 36 weeks). This is accomplished all through a very easy website and you are able to receive both unemployment and the extra pay at the sametime because a special trust was setup and APPROVED by the state and federal government. Nobody wants to be let go, but they didn't have to do anything and more than likely the next round will not be as generous. You can still get your benefits through COBRA which is subsidized by the Federal Government at 65% so if COBRA was $1000/mo it is now only $350, not bad considering your not working and good luck finding full medical coverage on your own at those rates. Future information: and this is from a very reliable source, Gannett will be implementing various layoffs of varying degrees every quarter over the next 2 years, so if mgmt says they don't know anything (and I mean Senior Mgmt VP and above) they are lying to you. Also Gannett is in an extremely precarious financial situation and these layoffs are the only way that they can make the finances work. Some of you mention; well Gannett makes money why lay people off.....Well the answer is that Gannett is very likely going to be posting revenue losses by the end of the year and will not be able to meet the debt obligations with in 24 months. Laying people off is their only option because there is no plan and know how to do anything else, too many wrong decisions were made in the past to now correct the future. It is like skin cancer, catch it early and it is a minor scar, ignore it and invades your body and kills you.... Gannett now is like the patient that he was maybe 2 years to live. So consider yourself lucky if you were let go today, I know I feel that way, because each quarter is only going to be progressively worse... Don't take my word for it, but remember and mark my words.

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  70. For any of you who were still trying to be supportive of GCI, this latest severance plan -- if you want to call it that -- should convince you once and for all that these people are bastards who never cared about their people. And health benefits run out at the end of the month no matter how long you worked for them!!!! Why don't I hear more outrage about that?

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  71. There was 6 layoffs Thursday at the Journal News in Westchester, 5 from the pressroom. so much for August.

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  72. Anything on Oshkosh, anyone?

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  74. mansfield informed 7 packaging employees that the 17th is their last day.

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  75. I cannot believe that no managers were let go in the Salem Advertising Department. The AD brilliantly attaches revenue to their desks so it seems they are worthwhile.

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  76. The newspapers that are consolidating copy desks are laying off people related to the consolidation separately from those being laid off for the overall layoffs. This is going to confuse the numbers a bit.

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  77. Alexandria: 7

    1 from IT
    1 from admin support
    3 from advertising
    2 from press room

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  78. Info on the NNCO papers, from Gannettoid:

    "by Guest on Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:52 am
    mansfield news journal told 7 packagers that their last day is the 17th today. also all full time people in the packaging department are now part time.

    reason for waiting till the 17th is because starting the week following all our sunday & saturday packs for the 5 core papers we do are going to be done by cinci and the same goes for newark. so this means nnco will no longer handle prepacking for our weekend editions! Live inserts and store copies (prepackaged & shipped from cincy) only."

    This info lines up with reorganization rumors/available details.

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  79. Just 2 questions http://kaenie.com/genres/

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  80. After 30 yrs of faithful service at the AZ Republic, my husband received the 'dreaded call' around 4:30pm Wednesday..this is the thanks he got for his loyalty, honesty, dedication and dependability. How many times has he gone in to work for a colleague who habitually called in sick with a 'hangnail'; how many times did he drop everything, including scrapping dinner plans with me, to go in to work on short notice? How many times did he work 2 weeks straight without a day off? Oh, the colleague who always called off sick? She's still there. Screw you Gannett..I hope all of you upper management people enjoy your bonuses and stock options at the expense of former 'slaves' like my husband. But we are going to be alright, because my husband will find a job with a company that is worthy of his loyalty, not some crappy outfit like yours. You did him a big favor. Bitter? Yes, I am bitter..and Mr. Pulliam is spinning in his grave...I believe the count at the AZ Republic is 104..middle management mostly..thanks Jim, for doing this Blog..

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  81. 15 in Reno. 1 in pressroom, 1 in ads, 3 in newsroom (librarian, assistant Op-Ed editor, custom publishing editor); 4 home delivery assistants and 1 CSR clerk out of Circulation, 1 dock supervisor, 1 production supervisor, and 1 long haul driver.
    I'm not sure of the departments for the last two employees.

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  82. omg. content one has a facebook page.

    guess who's NOT listed as a "fan"?

    tara connell. LMAO.

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  83. I know of seven by name in Greenville, including a couple of lower-level manager types. Gossip is the building-wide number is in the 20s, but I don't know if that's accurate and/or if that includes vacant positions not filled.

    1 from editorial page
    3 from information center/newsroom
    1 from maintenance
    1 from ad production
    1 ad territory sales manager

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