CEO Craig Dubow has just sent a year-end letter to Gannett's 40,000 (give or take a few thousand) employees. I'll boil down his 379-word missive to just 52 words: "Next year will continue to be difficult. But it also will be a year of solid management and great experimentation -- of trying new ways to deliver information in ways customers want and need it. In the end, that is what we are all about and have been for more than 100 years."Earlier: Eight words to remember on Dec. 31, 2008
So we're going to grow our digital platforms. Great.
ReplyDeleteBut not a word about television or newsprint platforms. Is Gannett completely giving up at growth in those sectors?
What a joke. What's this guy smoking? Solid management??? At my newspaper (Poughkeepsie), top management is a joke. Delivering information in ways customers want and need it??? Our readers have been (justifiably) complaining how much crappier (and thinner) our paper has gotten. I think this company needs to "experiment" by cleaning out all the clueless execs and bringing in (or at least, retaining) smart, innovative people who care about giving our readers the best product possible.
ReplyDeleteI am the GREAT CORNHOLIO ! I got more "TP" for my bunghole
ReplyDeleteHe also said, "We're profitable." What a shock, despite the pain of the layoffs on many good people.
ReplyDeleteHere it is:
Dear Co-workers:
As this painful and difficult year closes, I wanted everyone at Gannett to know how much I appreciate your hard work, support and concern for our business. We could not have come this far, through these tough times, without the willingness of everyone here to give this company their all.
I want to assure you that relative to our media peers and many other industries, Gannett is transforming and leading the way. We are profitable, and our debt is moderate.
Gannett is in this position because of your hard work and sacrifices and because we made and executed on tough decisions throughout the year. We managed our cash and our debt. We've decided what to buy and what not to buy. And we've made the toughest decision of all: to keep expenses in line with revenues.
I know, as well as anyone here, that the decision to layoff employees is unpopular and wrenching. But acting as we have allows us to move forward in this recession and support the mission of our newspapers and TV stations while positioning ourselves for the digital future.
We can do this because we have a solid strategic plan. We are executing on it and we will be prepared to move quickly when the economy improves.
Our plan is to grow our digital business in a way that takes full advantage of our local strengths and our national footprint. The plan is about making smart acquisitions and partnerships such as becoming the majority owner of CareerBuilder; buying out our partners in ShopLocal and merging it with PointRoll; investing in Mogulus and 4INFO; and rolling out our internal and external digital ad networks.
Our plan is about innovation, such as the bold step of changing the newspaper paradigm in Detroit or launching ContentOne, which will change the way we share information throughout the company and with vendors.
Next year will continue to be difficult. But it also will be a year of solid management and great experimentation - of trying new ways to deliver information in ways customers want and need it. In the end, that is what we are all about and have been for more than 100 years.
Thank you all, and my best wishes for a brighter, happier new year.
Here is the vision and mission statements for Gannett straight from Gannett.com:
ReplyDeleteVISION
Consumers will choose Gannett media for their news and information needs, anytime, anywhere, in any form.
MISSION
To successfully transform Gannett to the new environment.
We will provide must-have news and information on demand across all media, ever mindful of our journalistic responsibilities.
Don't you find this so inspiring?
Yes, and I am sure in was painful for you, too, Mr. Dubow. Tell us about how your family's Christmas was ruined because the breadwinner is on unemployment.
ReplyDeleteA colleague of mine in the information center said to me, and I agreed, "Craig Dubow is not my co-worker."
ReplyDeleteHe forgot to mention that little Ripple6 deal and the marketing research focus, didn't he?
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