Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday | Dec. 19 | Your News & Comments
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57 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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I miss being a newspaper reporter.
ReplyDeleteAh, but you are still gathering information that people are seeking, my friend. You are still very much relevant in your field. And for that, we thank you!
ReplyDeleteReading this blog for a while, I notice that most of the conversation is about reporting and the constant cut, cut, cut mentality of management.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that you can't shrink your way to greatness.
The journalism side of Newspapers doesn't really deserve much criticism. Reporters perform a valuable service that often provides another layer of checks and balances.
The business side of Newspapers is completely unexplainable. Newspaper advertising is in permanent, irreversible decline. They have no real way of growing the print side. Classified advertising will never come back.
As they continue to shrink the amount of pages that are published every week, they may end up like the Dallas Morning News' “Briefing.” Distributed by mail.
The effectiveness of newspaper print ads will continue to decline as the number of people who read newspapers continues to decline.
So as circulation continues to decrease, why do they keep increasing their rates every year? What other business consistently offers less and charges more for it? Are they trying to go out of business?
If I'm an advertiser and depend on the results of my ads to continue advertising, what am I supposed to do when my results decline and the price of those results increases?
The real problem is that, local advertisers who rely on newspaper advertising to generate a profit, can no longer afford to do so because their results can no longer cover the costs. How long could you afford to keep advertising, when each ad that you run costs you money, instead of makes you money?
Why not make it more affordable for advertisers to stay advertising? Instead of increasing the ad prices so much that very few business can really afford it?
If you can't solve the problem of increasing the ad base, you can't solve the problem of the cut, cut, cut mentality.
4:09 has a good point.
ReplyDeleteOur weekly neighborhood sections are going gang-busters. Why? They go to every household in the target area, they have content focused on that neighborhood - no national/world, no food, no celebrity crap, etc. and the rates are half of the daily.
If people can go to USAT.com and get all the rest of the bigger picture, faster, and better - then our weekly products can give them that local local stuff that no one else can.
Why not do what we can make money at, and leave the money-losing work to someone else? If the NYT or USAT wants to deliver a world-covering paper through mail delivery, let them. We'll chuck the paper with local interest and local advertising on the driveway of every home in town.
We can make piles of money. But not by whittling down each section of the paper by a page or two. We have to rethink what we deliver, and why.
RE: Dubow "Gift" to W.C. Univ:
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 20, my Father told told me (referring to politicians), "It's easy to generous when you're writing checks on other peoples' lives." I think Dubow should run for congress.
Also I think the U.S. Attorney for the western district of North Carolina, the S.E.C., and every stock analyst covering GANNETT should investigate this.
Get over the "newspaper" reporter label. Newspapers will all but disappear during your lifetime. Figure out how to broaden your current work beyond Gannett and into something more than "my boss hates me," and you will continue your career as a news reporter.
ReplyDeleteI am the GREAT CORNHOLIO ! I need more (memo's) "TP" for my bunghole
ReplyDelete"Back in the day..." our paper went out and courted commercial jobs to print. At one point we were printing about 6 non-Gannett papers. We were pulling in millions in revenue every year.
ReplyDeleteWhy is that not now the case? Why are we closing plants instead of turning them into commercial shops?
Shortly after Marymont succeeded Hammer at Springfield, she issued a memo outlining professional principles she wanted the staff to follow. Among them, she wrote that she encouraged spirited debate, but, when we disagreed, we would do so civilly. She may not have been universally loved in Springfield, but she made good on that point, and we were better for it. This experience demonstrates that abusive behavior is not the only way to go, and that civility can be an element of professional excellence.
ReplyDeleteI am weighing in on this dialogue between those who reject abusive behavior and those who insist that screaming makes everyone stronger. For me, civility is much more constructive, and I don’t see how people would favor abuse unless that was all they knew.
That said, I am not necessarily endorsing Marymont in her current role or the current policies of the Gannett power structure. The company clearly is screwed up from top to bottom, and it’s all on them. I’m just saying that Marymont was a refreshing influence at that moment in time, at that particular place.
Some very difficult days coming up for those who were laid off recently. Try to remember your former colleagues. Most of them did nothing wrong and didn't deserve to have their careers cut short.
ReplyDeleteI just read where Gannett just appointed a "Vice President of Taxes". You would have thought that one of the room full of corporate financial executives would know how to handle taxes. It seems the only department the corporate finance department does not want to blow up is the corporate finance department.
ReplyDeleteThank You 10:04.
ReplyDelete4:09 - The Dallas Morning News "Briefing" is just another TMC product for non-subscribers. The DMN has tinkered with different version's of its TMC product for years... mail, home delivery, zip sorted, etc. They're mostly failures, but do give the paper the ability to get FSIs into every home in key zip codes. Today, Briefing is actually sent via home delivery just one day a week. Briefing is really like all other TMC products... just another way to wrap the inserts.
ReplyDeleteThe difference here is that in planning meetings, the ad staff convinces circulation that with editorial, they might be able to increase subscribers. Same dance has been going on for years.
Jim, I'm right there with you (except I miss being a newspaper editor — just don't miss the nights and the politics). The same info-specialist skills apply to online, corporate communications, PR, etc. ... but it's just not the same. To be able to walk back to a running press, to cut and paste a comma onto a flat at the 11th hour ... there's a mental and physical toughness to having to get out a credible and tangible product every night. It keeps you on your toes ... you've got to have loads of talent, skill and knowledge at your fingertips at every moment and the stamina to get sharper as the night wears on and the news breaks from all angles. Those were the days ...
ReplyDeleteGeoff
And 10:04, you're in our thoughts. But don't be defeated. You've got a great opportunity (do I sound like management or what?) You have widely applicable skills ... now's the time to turn on the sales pitch and make better things happen for yourself. Reclaim your time and your sanity to spend with your family and friends. Newspaper people have a work ethic alien to most 9-to-5ers; once you've done dailies, EVERYthing else is a bloody cakewalk ... I'll near guarantee you can start somewhere else at even a relatively entry-level position and work your way up fast, partly because you've put in the hours (and probably nights, weekends and holidays) that willl shame most just-here-for-a-paycheck types. So go get 'em!
ReplyDeleteGeoff
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI just removed two comments that appeared overly commercial in nature.
ReplyDeleteGannett rings? We need to know more. How much do profits play in? That may play into the psychology of those striving. If Ihne was a repeat winner, certainly the company would find a place for her when she does clash with a new publisher. Will Phil be called to testify? We've seen editors absorbed into corporate temporarily before. Why wasn't that done here?
ReplyDeleteHas the Courier News vacated its building on Route 22? The land is going to be sold off for redevelopment.
ReplyDelete10:47 Corporate taxes are incredible complicated and convoluted. Every large company has departments dedicated specifically to tax preparation, intepretation and minimazation. In addition to the Federal Code which is a jillion pages long they also handle the filings for all state and local. One of their significant duties is to minimize tax payments by maximizing depreciation and even structuring the company so that taxes are reduced. The most famous example is the formation of Gansat during the launch of USAT. Because USAT's looses were so large they formed a corporation that included USAT and some very profitable newspapers. The result was the greatly reduced net income for that company and reduced state & local taxes for the profitable companies that were rolled into Gansat. The tax department also alerted the company to special additions to the code that would allow reductions in taxes by combining capital spending to offset the gains on the sale of a newspaper. Tax is specialty and distinct from the general accounting and budgeting most of you are familiar with.
ReplyDeleteTo 12:40pm: Re: Courier News
ReplyDeleteThey are tentative to moving out completly in mid January 2009. Something to do with AT&T and phone/communication networking, etc. The technical stuff has to be completed first at the new office in Somerville and then the rest is small stuff (move to HNT in EB).
Peace
New tax director replaces the old one who is retiring (not new position)... and the new one probably makes less money for now.
ReplyDeleteI believe you can subscribe to the Gannett press releases so you don't have to just "hear about" them. If not, they are probably on gannett.com.
10:47 I understand what you are saying but how much understanding does corporate finance have of all the other disciplines they are disemboweling? There are specialized skills outside of finance where they have eliminated the necessary expertise. Why is it only the corporate finance department that is spared? Why do they get to replace someone who leaves when none of the rest of us do? Corporate finance has a "do as I say, not as I do" attitude.
ReplyDelete2:17. Well said. The corporate bean counters think it is more important to count the beans then make the beans.
ReplyDeleteGeoff: The encouraging advice you give to those let go is probably very beneficial for the younger workers. Those in the 60+ age range (and there are many) absolutely don't have any reason for the optimism you give. We've been put in a precarious financial situation, expected to live on a paltry retirement benefit, too young for social security, not really in line to be retrained for anything.Not able to get health insurance covering our needs at an affordable cost. Do you get the picture? It hurts even more to read your "answers" when this is our reality.
ReplyDelete4:09 am,
ReplyDeleteYou are right. But I think most papers are cutting ad prices on the print side. If they are not making changes to their rate cards they are offering discounted ads and/or packages.
I'm intrigued by the posts that have said Denise Ivey hated Virgil Smith, former Asheville publisher, and endeavored to make his life miserable. What's the backstory there? I thought Virgil was one of Gannett's Golden Boys.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, Smith was still acting as chairman of the Citizen-Times after Hammer began there, and when Ihne was fired. What, if any, role did Smith play in that episode?
You keep on getting these Romenesko hits, and I'll just read your blog in future by looking only at Poynter to see what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Virgil had anything to do with Ihne getting fired. That was all on Hammer. However, the former Publisher Green was evidently a different story. I had heard he played a large role in that situation...
ReplyDelete3:49: what do you mean by large role? Spill it.
ReplyDelete3:49: So as far as Ihne getting fired (or getting what was coming to her, depending on your point of view), as chairman of the C-T Virgil was all suited up, but standing on the sidelines?
ReplyDeleteThe question is: Could Ihne have been fired without Virgil's approval, since he was chairman of the C-T, presumably ranking higher than publisher?
After a dozen years observing Gannett, I have yet to figure out the dynamics.
ReplyDeleteFor example, Gannett determines which editors (or ad directors) are going to which newspapers. The Gannett Blessing.
But when the move doesn't seem to be working out, for whatever reason - performance or financial results - the editor is (a) moved to another paper, or (b) promoted to some corporate fantasy league position, or (c) kicked out on their ass.
There ends the Blessing.
So what determines if you're an (a), (b) or (c)? That's the part I don't understand.
Jim:
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's about time someone on the board finds out whether Larry Miller still gets his $600,000 per year for 1,020 hours of work for the company. It appears that this agreement can be canceled by either party. Shareholders and employees should be outraged if he's still getting a check every month.
If he deserves it, how does he explain what has happened to the overall financial health of the company? He will have made more than $3 million by July, 2009, in a consulting role in addition to keeping a company car, a "club" membership and Gannett Foundation money that has been outlined extensively here.
This agreement is essentially a $600,000 per year payment for non-compete. Given the current state of the industry, I can't imagine that anyone would want his help at these prices.
http://sec.edgar-online.com/2003/08/05/0000950133-03-002673/Section20.asp
It depends on how many secrets you're holding.
ReplyDelete4:37 another example of corporate finance pinching every penny except the ones the spend on themselves!!
ReplyDeleteDon't read too much into VS's "chairman" role at the C-T. This is nothing more than a token for the community and a save-face move for him. He has no role there and strictly works in "talent management" for GCI. And don't read too much into people getting rings....the inside joke among many is that this is the kiss of death. A few of them didn't keep me from getting shat upon.
ReplyDeleteThe most likely scenario in Ashe-vegas is that RH sees himself as the penultimate editor and probably just clashed with her and used the time honored pressure tactics to try to force her out. When that didn't work, she too was shat upon. If you don't believe he has a complex about women in his discipline, ask Kate Marymont about their screaming matches.
The sad fact is that "waking up stupid" (in the eyes of others) one day is a common occurrence in this company, even after previous bosses, regimes, etc., give you accolades. A ring is no forcefield.
2:31 p.m. Couldn't agree with you more. Gotta love the people trying to reassure us out there, but the fact is, all the kindness and moral support in the world isn't going to pay my rent or COBRA health benefits. I'm one of the older folks who got the boot. I have already applied for more than 20 jobs and received several rejections. All online. One rejection came a couple minutes after I filed the application. Talk about not making much of an impression. Unemployment hasn't kicked in yet. Severance practically nothing in my case. I went from being a professional to a pauper with the stroke of a pen by someone, either someone I knew at work or someone I never met. It doesn't matter. My award-winning career as a journalist is over. And that's what's killing me right now.
ReplyDeleteDear 6:08, here here! Some of us haven't even gotten the online rejections but have seen the job we've applied for reposted! And that after the automated resume scanners send emails saying, 'Hey, you may want to apply for this, this and this, too!' And then places like CNET and BNET in SF (now part of CBS Interactive - you interested jim?) posts senior editing jobs while other sites report they're laying off too.
ReplyDeleteGeoff:
ReplyDeleteMountain boy? Like to tie flies? Used to drive a pickup? Is that you?
Just love the humor of this blog, and the innacuracies from people who just throw out wild innuendo. It's quite fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen what is happening to the economy, especially other newspaper companies? The Gannett company, it seems, is going to be the last standing one.
Here's what Jim Cramer had to say about some of the stocks that callers offered up during the "Mad Money Lightning Round" Thursday evening:
ReplyDeleteGannett (GCI Quote - Cramer on GCI - Stock Picks): "No, that's a big red flag. That dividend is not going to hold up. I don't want to own any newspaper; they're toxic."
4:09AM- I disagree that "The journalism side of Newspapers doesn't really deserve much criticism." I think a lot of what is generally considered "journalism" today is complete garbage: from printing press releases verbatim, to outright stenography of interviews, no follow up questions or depth. Or....opinions masquerading as "analysis" and facts. It's not just the business side of newspapers that sucks.
ReplyDeleteSo lost in the shuffle with the Detroit Free Press and News hoopla is that Gannett just gutted the already scant newsroom at the Observer and Eccentric. Wonder if all the Freep and News reporters will be taking over the community news beat? Can't help but think it's another case of the "less important" community news reporters taking a hit at the expense of the behemoth.
ReplyDeleteDear 7:57, don't forget (facetious tone if you're not catching it) the new added emphasis, especially in Phx on alternative story forms. Those Q&A's, for example, structures like that really are one-source stories. And news from those news releases pastes so easily into grids! Who needs editors? And all this based on research that readers WANT IT!
ReplyDeleteWell, we deliver. Let's see if readers buy it.
Does anyone really believe in the future of the printed newspaper anymore? If so, why? Give me something to believe in... please!
ReplyDeleteGood news Jim, I found a newspaper reporter position in CA for you. Click my name and it will take you to the job description. I think you would be a good fit for it. Good luck!
ReplyDelete9:26 Good One Pumba!
ReplyDeleteHey 8:56: What happened at the O&E? Who's left?
ReplyDeleteWhere can I find an online directory of current newspaper management at individual newspapers?
ReplyDelete3 major cables cut in Mediterranean; Internet, phone traffic disrupted.
ReplyDeleteThe BBC reports that 65% of traffic to India is thought to be down.
It was the second large-scale Internet outage this year.
Undersea cables were also damaged in January, causing outages in India and the Mideast.
Most have the contact info listed on the help pages of each website.
ReplyDeleteBut with all the layoffs, I doubt the people left know which names to add/remove or the time to do update said list. Especially with everything else that's been thrown in their laps.
With all the layoffs and staff reshuffling of those that are left ... any sites out there where the editors have moved excellent reporters from existing beat to a different beat solely b/c that reporter's race, religion and/or gender? i.e. Hispanic reporter moved to immigration, Black reporter moved to crime/cops, etc.
ReplyDelete11:24: I can think of two options:
ReplyDelete1. Go to the Gannett Foundation website at http://www.gannettfoundation.org/. Then click on the "Grant Contacts'' tab on the left-hand side; that will bring up a list of Gannett papers and TV stations, with contact information.
2. This is a bit more cumbersome. Go to the Community Newspapers page on Gannett's website; this will give you a list of papers by state, with contact information for the publisher and the top editor.
11:33 - I sure hope that once all our ad production is going to 2adpro, we don't have any internet/undersea cable disruption with India.
ReplyDeleteBut we would never put all our eggs in one basket, would we?
It hasn't been four months, but I had a comical experience with HR. I got the axe in December. A week after my first severance check was deposited, I had received my 401(k) info, but not my pay stub or pension letter.
ReplyDeleteI called the lady who fired me. "Oh, you wanted your pay stub mailed to your home?"
"No, I'll just trust the company that got rid of me didn't screw up my pay."
And the pension letter?
"Oh, that comes from corporate. It could take 60 days (contradicting what she said the day of the firing) They're quite busy, you know."
11:47: Wilmington had one of its two courts reporters moved to an immigration/GA beat.
ReplyDelete