Laptop: MacBook Pro. Glasses: Melissa Eyewear, $40; also available in apple green. My two layoffs: Gannett, October 1991 and January 2008. Been there, done that -- got the T-shirt.
Monday, August 18, 2008
8:21 p.m., local time, Ibiza: Live-blogging a layoff
Laptop: MacBook Pro. Glasses: Melissa Eyewear, $40; also available in apple green. My two layoffs: Gannett, October 1991 and January 2008. Been there, done that -- got the T-shirt.
21 comments:
Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."
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Food? Beverage?
ReplyDeleteIn addition to all of the carnage today ...
ReplyDeleteAt 2:28 EDT, GCI is down $1:07 to $19.58 on a volume of 3.45 million shares.
In other words, the layoffs have really turned the stock around.
Thanks for rising to the occasion, Jim, and reporting the hell out of this. The blog gives me comfort.
ReplyDeleteBreaking a good story...
ReplyDeletePRICELESS
Poor Sparky. Only two weeks left and Jim is busy blogging.
ReplyDeleteWere names announced at any papers today? Or was everyone just left to wait another day?
ReplyDeletePoughkeepsie's were announced today.
ReplyDeleteHey Jim, got coffee?
ReplyDeleteNo word yet in Cherry Hill.
ReplyDeleteStill waiting for the axe to fall in Asbury. Suspense is overrated.
ReplyDeleteStill waiting for the axe on APP HNT and Courier News. By the way i heard the advertising department will have sales meeting this Weds. They are bringing a motivational speaker for all that are left. They have no brains at all.
ReplyDeletein honolulu we were told the company wide layoffs would not affect us. here is the text of an email sent by the publisher:
ReplyDeleteAloha
As you all know we are facing difficult times in our industry coupled with a weakening economic forecast for Hawaii and the nation. We are not immune from these changes and will continue to face numerous challenges on a daily basis both in our business and personal lives as we navigate through these times.
Here at the Advertiser we are keenly aware of the impacts of these issues as we have already seen reductions in our workforce driven by these economic forces and we continue to work diligently toward more efficient operations in an effort to avoid more in the future. That said, the combination of economic, industry and efficiency factors combine to create the winds that fill our sails. While we do not control the wind, we do set our sails toward the future as we navigate these troublesome times.
Also, because of these continued shifts and the ensuing economic erosion within our industry I wanted to personally inform you of Gannett’s U.S. Community Publishing Division decision to reduce its workforce across all levels of operations. While no one at the Advertiser will be directly affected by this new round of reductions, it will mean 1,000 fewer positions in that workforce, which could require approximately 600 layoffs company-wide. This is difficult news to deliver and there are no good times nor easy ways to do so. Moreover, I wish I could tell you this will be the end of it, but that is not possible, given the current state of the economy and the newspaper publishing industry.
These overall company job reductions are not a reflection of individual effort but rather one of the times in which we work and live in this industry. At this time every effort has been made to minimize the impact on content creation and sales capacity.
As we at the Advertiser continue to navigate these turbulent times future economic conditions will dictate the possibilities of any further staffing reductions. I will keep you informed of any and all changes that affect our products and our people.
Lee Webber
President & Publisher

The Honolulu Advertiser
605 Kapiolani Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Honoluluadvertiser.com
Phone: (808) 525-7440
Fax: (808) 525-8685
Des Moines is having its monthly employee rally Thursday. (Layoffs are supposed to be finalized by Wednesday.) This month's theme: "Our Junk is Your Treasure."
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, the committee that thought up the theme probably had no prior knowledge of the layoffs. They just want to get rid of some of their old rally decorations. But what delicious irony, to follow up a layoff with "we're getting rid of junk!"
So from this date forward it behooves all of you to just consider yourself laid-off. This way you may take a proactive stance and begin to prepare for round 4, round 5, etc. The writing is on the wall and you would be fool to think you will be spared. Save money. Redo your finances. Rewrite your resume and send it out. Get some training. Secure health benefits elsewhere. Do whatever you need to do to adjust and if you still find your job secure 1 year, 2 years, etc. down the line, so be it (I won't say great, that's up to you). Don't play the role of the victim, it's not professional and it's not good for your well-being.
ReplyDeleteRalph Briggs, Quality Control Analyst, was told this morning at the Des Moines Register. He is over 50 and is worried about his chances in this economy. He had to leave within 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteTo the best of my knowledge, no news yet in Montgomery. But if anyone knows different, please post.
ReplyDeleteOn the Des Moines QC analyst being let go. As long as the position is not filled, or filled by someone much younger it's unlikely that this would be a basis for discrimination. Very few papers in Gannett have the position so if it is not filled there's no case.
ReplyDeleteI just want to say a big thank you to Jim for helping us through this. You're a good man for doing this. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we truly appreciate you for giving us a voice on this blog.
ReplyDeleteStill no word on who's gone at the Lafayette (La.) Advertiser.
ReplyDeleteExecutive editor is out of the office the entire week, so either she's avoiding having to break the bad news, or the newsroom (err information center) is being spared this first round of cuts.
Any employee with a "quality control" title should pack their bags now. Gannett has been doing away with these workers starting in April 07 after the RTC rolled out to the news sites. I worked with Ralph for many years... Good guy and I wish him the best
ReplyDelete@11:27 p.m.: Thank you!
ReplyDelete