Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thursday | Nov. 27 | Got news, or a question?

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.)

72 comments:

  1. Happy Thanksgiving to all who are working or who have worked.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It would suck to work on Thanksgiving today and then get laid off next week.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I truly wish everyone who has posted here a happy holiday.

    The vitriol that's been exposed is awful in some ways, but not so much in others.

    I spent 20 minutes being angry and insulting, and just a few deleting it.

    How about this: Please, please, please bow out if you're not in it anymore. Many of us love it. If you don't, than do something, anything else.

    If you stay because of personal security, you're a thief stealing from someone else's life. Every person who is laid off, every person who is not hired because you kept a spot warm has been stolen from -- by you.

    Don't steal. That's just bad.

    Just go. And reap the joy of letting others succeed, or fail, behind you.

    Your pension, 401K or job security isn't worth your soul.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1:58 You really think people are wanting to stay in gannett for job security? Have you lost all touch with reality? And the pension? Hasnt that been frozen? What would the point be in staying for a frozen pension? Its not going to grow and you already have own your share of the pension if you leave. Your 401K? every company has a 401k. Why would someone stay for a 401k? If you leave you can take it with you. None of the reasons you gave are reasons to stay. You can take the pension and 401 k with you. I dont understand your point at all.
    Also, people dont love working for Gannett. Some people are scared not to work for Gannett but noone loves working for Gannett. Give me some reasons to work for Gannett! What does Gannett have that makes it a top place to work? This should be funny.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 2:17 a.m.

    Some people do love working for Gannett. And my point is if you don't, than don't.

    What I love:

    -- Tiny papers would be so hopelessly lost without the backing of a big company. Do you really think family-owned newspapers could provide the capital to buy cutting edge technology?

    -- Diversity efforts. Yes, some managers have hopelessly screwed it up, but the concept is solid. If you don't reflect the community in the newsroom, you don't in the news you report. Those who hire for quotas are terrible, but those who seek out truly talented journalists who better reflect the community should be commended.

    -- Lean staffing. Yes, we're undergoing layoffs, but it could have been much, much worse. Do you have colleagues at Knight-Ridder? No longer. Tribune Co.? Not much longer. Lee? The death-knell has sounded. We never did boom or bust.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 2:38 - So you buy into the stratagies that are in place? Do you think we are doing the right things?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I need something simple to say to get through to JIM and others. This is th beginning.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 2:43

    I do buy in.
    I think print -- in the daily format is dead.
    I think online is lively, engaging, interesting.
    I also think there is a false conflict between print and online.
    Good content is good content, and frankly, you can create more of it online than in print.
    Who ever saw a compelling photo gallery, video or audio clip in print? No one! And who among us spends more time reading newspaper print than online?
    Why are we fighting the very habits we engage in our own lives?
    This isn't so terribly threatening unless you're terribly change averse, and so many print people are.
    The most annoying part? Most of the people who are pushing for an aggressive and intelligent online strategy are far, far, far more read in print than the print defenders.
    To prove it, I'll challenge you: Let the horde come up with a series of questions about history, politics, the First Amendment, AP style, current events, what have you.
    You and I identify ourselves privately to Jim.
    Let him pose the questions.
    I guarantee I'll smoke you, just as most online-oriented journalists would their print-defender counterparts.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I offered some free "STUFF" up but MR. JIM (that was my late dads name) was too busy and or tired.
    I understand; but isn't everything 24/7? These days? I know I am a young 40 but shit man is my realm that outdated?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Trust me PRINT WILL NEVER BE DEAD!!!
    It might get smaller in Circ for a while but I Gannetty it will be needed real soon come the 2nd GREAT depression!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ok anyone want to hear real business plan of right now Gannett??

    I can’t just through it out there or post the actual documents but EVERYONE deserves a warning (even the piece of shit asshole bastard mother fuckers I work with everyday)!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Print will never die, you're right.
    But as a champion of online, I'm saying we have to recognize what makes sense in print, and what makes sense online.
    The gulf is not so wide.

    All right, I'm to bed.

    Happy Thanksgiving, all.

    I wish all the good souls on this blog a happy holiday free from anxiety.

    ReplyDelete
  13. No anxiety! Just trying to help! As I do have the information that would hurt so what do I do with it?
    Do I through my livelihood under the bus or do I keep quiet?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Do people really want names of layoff victims on this blog??
    If so how would you protect yourself and family?
    While doing a service to the people that work for corporate America?
    All being prior to it actually happening?

    ReplyDelete
  15. TO 3:24 AM

    If you have it release it. The truth will always be better than the rampant speculation that permeates this blog....I would expect some kind of solid backing to your statements...anything else is just more heresay and rumor mongering.

    ReplyDelete
  16. more bomb blasts in India today, i hope 2adpro is safe... we have live ads over there

    ReplyDelete
  17. I just put the turkey in the oven and...

    I'M BORED!

    I wish I could go into to work for a couple of hours. No, really, I'm not kidding. I love to what I do!

    ReplyDelete
  18. 7:05am Was EVERYONE at your NJ site who volunteered accepted???

    ReplyDelete
  19. 7:30am Yes, but that's not saying much there weren't very many. You could count on one hand from what I understand.

    ReplyDelete
  20. When the APP was family (Plangers) owned they always had the state of the art equipment and were ahead of the curve with technology,along with keeping everything in top notch working condition. They were not AFFRAID to spend the money because they knew that in order to make the money you had to spend it!The moral was by far alot better then it has ever been since being taken over,because they did little things that Gannett eliminated like having free coffe/tea.
    And thru all of this they always made money.Maybe some years they didn't make as much as they liked but they made it...

    ReplyDelete
  21. I want to know, that's for sure. Even though I am half hoping that I will get laid off, the anxiety is still driving me crazy. My productivity is off by a factor of 50 percent. This was not a smart managerial move.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Happy Thanksgiving to all of us. Thank you, Jim, for this blog. Thank you, Sparky, for sharing Jim.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

    I'd like to pass on a little encouragement to my former newsroom folks. While I left Gannett a couple years ago, I must say that the skills I learned there put me in good shape on the outside.

    If you've learned just a little about the Web, multimedia, magazine, layout and design, writing, editing and managing budgets -- which i did -- then you're pretty damn well prepared for the outside world. I've moved up pretty quickly in my new field because I know a little about everything, and I'm especially good on deadlines.

    And one other plus -- my current boss is a micro-managing bitch that has my co-workers and staff pissed off all the time. However, she's barely a blip on my radar because I've dealt with much, much worse while working with newspaper managers. She's easy to me.

    I may have a spot open in a few month or so and I'll definitely favor journalists because they know how to work hard and on deadline. I'll come back and post it here if the job does come open.

    Good luck to everybody, whether you get the pink slip or not.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Have a happy Thanksgiving, Jim, Sparky and the ducks!

    I've barely been able to work this week. I haven't even been making many interview appointments next week, thinking that I'll just have to call them up and explain that I can't come because I've been laid off and will be starting at Wal-Mart in two days.

    1:58 p.m.: I love working for my newspaper. There's so much untapped potential in the newsroom, it's scary. The area we cover is rich in news. But I hate working for Gannett.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Happy Thanksgiving Jim & Sparky!
    A prayer of appreciation to you for your many hours devoted to the blog this past year!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Those who think there's no hope for independent newspapers in small and medium-size communities are either too young to know or too old to remember.

    The GCI paper in our medium-size community hauls $1 million in profit a month out of here, even with wasteful spending on top-heavy imported management and corporate-style perks. GCI is, literally, robbing this community.

    A locally-owned operation would be satisfied with less loot and therefore would be able to have a staff that could truly cover the community.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Happy Thanksgiving ?
    Today is the day we get together with family and friends to give thanks for things that we are thankful for.
    Should I Be Thankful for:
    7 restless nights since a week ago today Asheville Citizen-Times Publisher Randy Hammer said we are consolidating our production departments with our sister Gannett paper, The Greenville News, 63 miles away, in South Carolina. 60 jobs were eliminated in Asheville, some of the employees laid off are transferring to new jobs being added at Greenville to handle the extra work, mainly press jobs. For mailroom employees, we were offered a limited number of Part-time mailroom jobs avg. 20-25 hrs. a week at $6.50 hr. I'm going to drive 2 1/2 hours round trip in good weather, double that if there's snow or ice, to work part-time. Yeah that will pay for my gas, but what about my mortgage, utilities, and food for my family? But I should be thankful for the offer, right?
    With hindsight I wish now I had stood up for everyone affected that day and asked Mr. Hammer why everyone that had been previously laid off that it was effective immediately. In some cases, HR was there at 9:00 am to inform them that their position had been eliminated and they were packed up and gone before lunchtime. Why were the Production jobs not handled the same way? Why? Could it be that they needed all of us to produce the biggest Thanksgiving paper ACT has ever produced? I should have said, “You expect us to bust our asses to get you through the heaviest work load of the year and then show us the door.” We all should have said, “HELL NO, let Greenville do it.” you’re going to screw us, no we are going to screw you and we should have gotten up and walked out. But Gannett had already thought that out. As outlined in our Severance Packages “This severance is contingent upon your working through 01-04-09 with perfect attendance, except in the case of sick time that is supported by a Doctor’s note.“ How Clever. Gotcha.
    I'm thankful to live in a country where I have Freedom of Speech.
    Now I choose to exercise that right!
    Talking to friends and family I'm amazed how many people have not yet heard about their local paper being printed in Greenville, and all of the people that are losing their jobs here at the Sardis Road Production Facility. It’s time I start a movement to make sure everyone in Western North Carolina knows what is happening and how Gannett is treating me and my hard working co-workers. The story was printed at the bottom of our local news section page. I've seen us give front-page treatment to stories with much less impact. This is a story about a local company that been a fixture for 123 years in WNC shutting down an entire production facility and laying off 60 workers in the midst of a downed economy, and it gets bottom-of-the-page, inside section only. WLOS-TV had only maybe a thirty second snippet concerning this event. Could it be Gannett only wants minimal coverage about this story?
    I think its time WNC stands up to Gannett and sends a message that WNC will boycott ACT and will not purchase a paper until Gannett rethinks their decision, and gives us our jobs back so that it will benefit Asheville NC not Greenville SC. Our last edition is 01-04-09 that will be printed here locally. What a shame. I’m sure everyone at ACT never thought that their hard work, dedication, and pride in a job well done would have ever ended like this. So I guess today I should be thankful that I had this opportunity to work with a very dedicated group of people that I’ll greatly miss working with much too soon. Happy Thanksgiving

    ReplyDelete
  28. 8:59 -- Thanks for the encouragement. I'm curious about what field you got into?

    ReplyDelete
  29. 9:36 - Public relations

    ReplyDelete
  30. Here's what I'm thankful for: That I was able to practice journalism back when it still was supported as a profession and still served an audience of readers rather than a bunch of greedy corporate barons and stockholders.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Bloggers,
    Happy Thanksgiving! Now for the turkey...

    You are all living in the past. I thoroughly enjoyed the post by Anon 2:38am and 2:58am. Beautiful.

    Does anyone of the worn out journalists on this blog (including my friends in NJ) actually believe print will live beyond the 2010? Come on. Take a look at the writing on the wall.

    1. The average age of a newspaper reader is, well, old 50+.
    2. The individuals you need to attract to your newspapers are online with RSS and blogs (like Jim's), news aggregators, Facebook, etc.
    3. Even the library is dead (how many times have you had to drive and pick up your child from the library? Rarely. Google is where they do their work).
    4. Online websites (even our newspaper sites) are growing in audience and time spent. Online tells a better story.
    5. Opposite of #4, print circulation is declining, advertising is declining, readership is declining, journalism is one dimensional.
    6. Jim's blog is better online than it is in print. He couldn't afford to print this. Not at the paltry $5 you cheap bastards are sending him (btw, I have only sent him $10).

    This list can go on, but I too want to enjoy Thanksgiving. You all need to reflect on what the future will and can be (we know it won't include newspapers). Why not write about it and actually do it. You all missed the boat on the internet.

    Stop living in the past. Stop talking about what it was like in 1970's and the 80's. You were all so mighty and powerful telling people what they are going to read. Now, you are powerless and still clinging onto the past. It is sad to see such smart people be so delusional.

    Please enjoy your Thanksgiving. I am glad I am not at the office today writing this as Jim has made this blog so un-enjoyable now that Corporate is looking at everything on our computers!!!

    Sleepless in NJ (the real & original)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sleepless in NJ (the real & original) to the rescue!!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Brilliant 10:10am

    ReplyDelete
  34. 10:06am Sleepless in NJ...Thank you for reminding us just how pathetic we are as print journalists.

    I fully expect to get laid off next week as my manager has already told me it is not going to be good for me in 2009.

    She also told me that Gannett Corporate IT is all over our machines and hunting down blog posters.

    I wish I was geared for digital, but I am too old (52) and I think I will go work at Wal-Mart where all washed up journalists end up.

    Thanks for the encouragement Sleepless in NJ. Yo suck!

    Jim thank you for the ride, but I will never visit this blog again. You suck too (and more than just Sparky).

    ReplyDelete
  35. 11/27/2008 10:06 AM
    Okay, you louse stop using my moniker! I guess you think you are pretty smart, perhaps you are. But your a heartless creep! I will no longer post on this blog. You can go to cyber hell! Sorry Jim. I really enjoy the blog and know it has a great purpose. Keep up the good work. P.S I never write long rants, like this heartless fake!
    - Sleepless in NJ!

    ReplyDelete
  36. In NJ and apparently our IT guy said corporate had to perform some "tests" on our files.

    Anyone else seeing this too?

    ReplyDelete
  37. Jim,
    You suck and so does this blog. I am not sleeping in NJ because I cannot take the smell coming from the pollution. I am also worried I will be fired like the rest of my lame-ass colleagues in NJ. Especially my fowl mouth. This is not a long post, so it must really be me. Jim I love to suck like you too.

    - Sleepless in NJ!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Will the real Sleepless in NJ stand-up...You both are losers. Go write a story or deliver a paper or put more ink in the machine.

    Jersey does smell.

    ReplyDelete
  39. To the sleepless in NJ @ 10:06 AM:
    I know Sleepless in NJ and you are not HE/SHE. You "borrowed" their handle once and trashed Jim, fellow Gannett employees and blogmates. And when the real Sleepless tweaked their handle, you stole the new one to continue your rant of disharmony and discord. That's not quite defamation of character but that is quite unethical if you are a journalist. My Sleepless is a person who cares for the job and busts butt to do the best job they can and stays out of the politics of the blog. The writing style is so different from yours. You insult me by taking my friends handle to wreak damage upon this blog. And worst, you've chased her away from here, a blog that is open to all Gannettiods as well as former ones. I may be dating myself but you deserve it - YOU ARE A BUTTHEAD!
    Dangerman

    ReplyDelete
  40. I beg you to knock off the gay stuff. I could care less about your orientation and think referencing it on this valuable blog lessens the value of the product. What you're doing is so important. That's why I stop by for a look. Stay on topic, please.

    ReplyDelete
  41. 11/27/2008 10:46 AM

    Thank you ad you were great in bed last night. I loved the way you smell. it is so Jersey.

    - Sleepless in NJ!

    ReplyDelete
  42. From Dangerman and the now defunct sleepless in NJ.
    I am sorry about this Jim. This sleepless thing is so bogus. I want to apologize for the mistaken identity issues. that seem to have cropped up here. Sleepless does appreciate the time and effort that you have placed in the blog and they have no animosity what so ever towards you or other bloggers. These people who do this only shame themselves and are very lonely people who don't have a real life, like we do. They live for their job and their rants against the company, and nothing else. They are very shallow, empty people indeed. I will continue to use the soap box you have generously provided to share ideas and information like an adult, not like some 8 yr olds around here who post when Mommy & Daddy aren't around. You would think that they would have parental controls on their computers to discourage this.
    NJ is nice but NY is better.
    Dangerman
    PS - Jim, thanks for the Soap Box. You Rule! :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. So much for this to be a slow bloggin' day! And it's not even noon on the East Coast...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Is it true the pressroom manager at APP is leaving?

    ReplyDelete
  45. Regarding the new position of corporate news designer:

    To quote Mario Garcia, a remarkable designer from Miami:
    "Cosmetics won't revive a cadaver."

    ReplyDelete
  46. 11:37, earlier this year there were talks (not rumors) about contracting out the entire Freehold Township printing operation.

    The five dailies and the 20 weekly shoppers would be contracted to other facilities.

    The reasons for this:
    -- real estate tax savings (they are damn high on the Freehold property);
    -- ever increasing production employees' salaries and benefits (some of the job shops use leased employees at a lower cost);
    -- better economies of scale when printing is operated by a larger organization.

    FWIW, the only company capable of handling all of Gannett NJ is AFL -- which has two plants, one in North Jersey and another in South Jersey. AFL has been doing the booklets, like the APP real estate shoppers, for several years now. And, AFL has its own transportation fleet, advanced mailroom, and in-house post office.

    ReplyDelete
  47. 2:38 AM – Please share the cutting edge technologies that you believe are unavailable to family owned newspapers versus Gannett? I’ve worked in the senior ranks of both and that experience causes me to disagree. In many instances they have it sooner, implement it faster and can even jettison some when it’s not meeting specific needs and/or ROI goals.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I vote for any "you suck more than just Sparky" type emails to be removed from this blog as quickly as possible - these types of individuals do not deserve to be seen by many or any - let's not condone this type of behavior. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

    ReplyDelete
  49. 3:15am--You must work at the Journal News. KM TO THE RESCUE

    ReplyDelete
  50. Only two people have volunteered at the Arizona Republic, too. So, as you can imagine, anxiety is running high. Many people have been scouring job ads, putting their names out there to sources and former sources, checking into other fields, etc. But Arizona is in bad shape, what with the housing meltdown and now drastic cuts at ASU and a hiring freeze in state government. An earlier posting mentioned working at Walmart--that is not too far off the mark, though some people are hoping for Trader Joe's. It is really awful out there, just awful. And, when decent jobs are posted, say in PR or media relations, there are HUNDREDS of applications.
    And those who survive this round know that next year there will be more layoff waves. Survivors should start pounding pavement now, while they still have a paycheck, and cut back on everything but necessities to add a little income padding.
    To those who get laid off, you have my sympathy. I am in that boat now, and save for a 9-week temp gig that paid me 1/3 of what I was making, I have been unemployed 3.5 months.
    You all have my good thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I also want to add that I am probably going to be fired next week and I enjoyed my time at Gannett. This blog has done such a good job at keeping us losers up to date on what is useless information that created drama and hysteria.

    My fellow friends in Jersey white plains and wilmington, you are all a bunch of "has beens". You cling on to this blog as your only salvation. Pick yourself up and go get a job in Dunkin Donuts like me.

    My good friend Sleepless in NJ is also going to get fired for being such a wank.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you all. And thank you for corporate and their IT software that is now monitoring what I am writing. I love you Craig Dubow and Gracia. Do not let this blog get you down. You are two fearless leaders that I and the rest of New Jersey employees look up to.

    Dangerman

    ReplyDelete
  52. Has anyone noticed that the blog volume is really low today. It seems like there are three people having conversations on this blog.

    Loos like Jim has done a great job scaring everyone away not that corporate can read our computer files!!!

    Nice job Jimmy!

    ReplyDelete
  53. 2:00 - I am embarrassed to be one of the few actually on this today - I think it is actually a good sign that most people are enjoying this day with their families.

    ReplyDelete
  54. If someone does have a list of who is being laid off - I say - put it out there!!! Maybe those of us on the list can maybe arrange other means of employment over the weekend or Monday, Tuesday. I know it's probably not going to be THAT easy - but at least it'll be a head start and maybe an end to the anxity and I'll be able to get some turkey down without feeling like throwing up. Please let us know!
    Happiest of Thanksgivings to all!!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. 2:08 - my guess is they have intentionally kept these lists hyper tight so they could go after any leaks

    ReplyDelete
  56. To all of you posers and bashers:

    It's Thanksgiving. Grow up and act like adults. You bash Jim for having this forum, you blame him and claim corporate is tracking everything you do, but you're still here, spreading your vitriol.

    But, typical of so many folks here in Jersey, you blame everyone else for your problems instead of putting on your big boy pants and manning up to your own shortcomings.

    I love Jersey, I love my job, and I despise what Gannett has done to newspapers in the last five years. I don't think print is dead yet. I do think the Internet has a lot to offer.

    If you hate this blog so much, go away. We don't need you and your disgusting comments. You are worse than even the most intense Gannett-haters on here.

    To Jim, Sparky and my compatriots who are awaiting what happens next week, best wishes and here's hoping that the outcome is better than we all fear -- whether we get laid off or not.

    ReplyDelete
  57. 2:15 - amen

    ReplyDelete
  58. 2:15pm...Get a life you little loser. I am sure you will be on the list to get thrown out and you can hang out collecting tolls on the turnpike.

    Happy Thanksgiving.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I bet you Craig Dubow is carving the turkey right now, thinking how nice it is to layoff another 3,000 employees from Gannett and let them suffer in the cold.

    I am sure he is enjoying his candied yams and his fine wine, while we all worry for our lives whether we will be able to afford a pair of winter boots.

    I am sure his family is enjoying their time together as my family is all wondering how I am going to support them.

    Happy Thanksgiving Craig.

    ReplyDelete
  60. @2:00, Get a life, today is Thanksgiving most people are with their families not on this blog. No one was scared away, wait until next week when you see record numbers on this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  61. 2:28 a.m and 12:04 p
    I agree, 12:04. And 2:28 --- small papers need big papers to lead them around? Are you nuts? There are tons of small chains and family-owned operations across the country doing some fine journalism and have been for years. And I think they'd actually have more money to spend on the local operation (tech, too) because they wouldn't be sending some of the profits to the higher ups. I've said it before, if I had the $ to invest, I'd start a small weekly right now. The local G-paper's numbers are so low, ad sales so low and, more importatly, disenchatment with the paper by the residents and business community, I think a weekly would do well. I've even looked into it a bit. The start-up costs are low, but impossible.

    ReplyDelete
  62. 7:31, You are dead on. Small local weeklies can be started up without a ton of cash. There is a guy that use to work for the Westchester paper that started up two weeklies a little over a year ago and they took off and now I think he is up to four. And they are getting a lot of the mom & pop businesses that can't afford the rates of the daily as well as a big chunk of the local restaurant business. Keep looking into it, I know times are tough but it can be done.

    ReplyDelete
  63. To my former colleagues and friends in Reno, Happy Thanksgiving and I'll be thinking of you all in the next few weeks. Don't despair -- you are smart and talented and can survive whatever comes your way. Good luck, and God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Print won't die anymore than radio died when TV came on the scene. It will need to be reworked, but it won't die...unless, of course, papers like USAT keep laying people off. Do you think anyone is going to want to work for any paper that lays people off even during profitable times? That's what USAT is about to do -- stain its reputation by making 20 innocent employees stand on an unemployment line. Wonder what the J schools have to say about that?

    The only thing that is going to kill newspapers is very short-sighted and deceptive decisions like USAT apparently has made.

    Print will survive, but it won't be at places like USAT that practice corporate cruelty.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year is what I always would be telling my family, friends and co-workers this time of year. I still will but it is a very sad and hard time for the people who work in production at the Asheville Citizen Times. The news that we are shutting the doors Janurary 4th has been devestaing to all the hard working production employees and also their families. I know that there isn't a more dedicated and hard working crew than what you have at Sardis rd. We all work together and I think that shutting our doors is one of the biggest mistakes you will ever make. I feel very deepley for all the hard workers and their familys especially at Christmas time. I really hate that this is happening and I feel sick about it but I guess there isn't nothing I can do. I did want to express my feelings though. The Asheville Citizen Times has been one of the best that I know and has the most dedicated workers that I have ever seen. They take so much pride in what they do and they won't let it go out the door unless it meets their very high standards. This whole situation makes me very sad because I know that we have one of the best newspapers around and some of the most dedicated workers around. I have to commend the mailroom for being so on top of things and the pressroom also. The paper is a team effort and it takes all departments to make this work. I don't think I have ever seen a more dedicated, hard working crew than what I have seen at Sardis Rd. Everyone from pressroom, mailroom, building, dock workers, etc. are some of the best and most dedicated people I have ever seen. I want to say that I have enjoyed working with everyone through the good and the bad. I feel very blessed to have worked with such great and hard working people. I am truley sad about the shutting down at Sardis and I wish I could stop this whole thing but I can't. These people are some of the most hard working, dedicated, and loyal people that you would ever meet. I am very sad at what is taking place but I wish everyone at the production plant the very best and I hope God will bless you and your family this holiday season. It has been a pleasure working with you. I wish everyone the best and take care. The Asheville Citizen Times at Sardis Rd is a team that can't be beat. Best wishes always.

    ReplyDelete
  66. The economy is being blamed for everything from global warming to the Yankees missing the playoffs. Gannett is using the bad economy to clear the decks. Some but not all papers are suffering equally from the economic downturn. Yet Gannett is using this opportunity to slash and burn across the board. And we're suppose to not blame them because other companies are also doing it.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Has anyone heard whether there were any volunteers for the USAT layoff??

    ReplyDelete
  68. To The Faux Dangerman @1:54pm,
    Nice try but I don't work in NJ. Sorry! Thanks for playing. Better luck next time. Maybe I will see you next time I am in a Dunkin' Donuts in NJ. Maybe I’ll even put a tip in your tip jar. Let me know what store, so I can stop on by.
    I respect the opinions of all who post on this blog, even those I may disagree with, except for the young whelps such as yourself who only prove how juvenile you are by how you act on this blog and towards others here including Jim Hopkins. I thought I had left idiots of your ilk in junior high. I guess some people just refuse to grow up. Can’t help you there.
    Jim does provide a forum for us to keep ourselves informed. He doesn’t deserve all this negative bashing that is going on here. He needs to be supported in his endeavor to provide a place for all us to exchange information, things that Gannett and co. doesn’t tell us. He deserves our thanks. If you insist on bashing on him and this blog, then start your own damn blog to spread your message. . Anyone with a Commodore 128 can do it these days.
    Dangerman
    PS: If you are worried about corporate and their IT software monitoring what you are writing, then maybe you shouldn’t be posting on this blog while at work. I don’t, I’m smarter than that. I just sorry that you aren’t. But then, maybe that’s the reason you’re working in Dunkin’ Donuts, makin’ the donuts!
    And if you think that I have any love for Craig Dubow, and Gannett, you don’t know me very well. But I must say that imitation in the most sincere form of flattery, but not by you. And if you are going to post such slanderous trash under my name, please spell-check and scan for punctuation. It helps!
    Again, The one! The only! The original! Accept NO imitations!
    Dangerman

    ReplyDelete
  69. 10:06am Libraries are not dead. They stay current. SInce the spring library use is up 10 percent or more. There's a story for you. We wrote about it.

    ReplyDelete
  70. 1:41 a.m.

    Libraries indeed are seeing a resurgence in use. But one of the biggest drivers of patronize is computer use and multimedia borrowing.

    Yet another sign that the push to online is the right push.

    This always comes down to the same point: Examine your own media habits.

    We keep consuming more and more media online, turn more to the excellent multimedia available to us for entertainment and information, but balk at tailoring our skills and our focus on the very things we use ourselves.

    It's like we're the owners of a PDA company blinding pushing the benefits of the technology -- as we call, e-mail, instant message and schedule our days on our cell phones.

    I love print. I love the smell of ink on paper. I love the feel of a newspaper in my hands.

    But not as much as I love the immediate and deep content I can get online.

    We have to make the leap. It's going to cost us a lot of staff -- the revenue model for print simply doesn't support the online model, as well all know.

    But we'll have smarter, faster, more accurate and more committed journalists putting out the news. If there's fewer of them doing it, it's not the worst thing -- too many just aren't that good.

    ReplyDelete
  71. This is 3:05

    Sorry, didn't mean "of patronize" in the first sentence.

    Focus on the message, please. And let's not turn that into a condemnation of how the Internet produces sloppiness.

    ReplyDelete
  72. 3:05 AM
    PLEASE don't tell me you're a reporter.

    If you are, you might want to check out some definitions for words like:
    -assumptions
    -intuitive leaps
    -critical thinking
    -bias
    -opinion
    -faulty logic

    That should get you started.

    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.