Jim Hopkins was 50 years old last year, when USA Today owner Gannett Co. offered him a buyout after more than two decades as a reporter and editor. He joined a wave of aging journalists kicked to the curb, often replaced by younger, lower-paid workers deemed better at new technologies like blogging.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the bottom line.
Within a year, Hopkins had used free Internet software to create a blog that effectively hijacked employee communications of a Fortune 500 company: Gannett itself. Only yesterday, Gannett Blog recorded its one-millionth visit since the site's public launch 17 months ago. This month alone, it drew more than 42,000 unique visitors, viewing another 361,000 pages, a new Google Analytics report shows.Hopkins spotlights the new challenges employers face as growing numbers of "citizen journalists" harness cheap technologies to level the playing field between management and workers. More broadly, his story is a cautionary tale for a time when Corporate America is shedding millions of workers -- in some cases, too indiscriminately.
Yesterday, Chairman and CEO Craig Dubow reportedly conceded that the blogger had forced fellow directors to consider whether he violated company ethics rules in his handling of $40,000 in still unaccounted-for Gannett Foundation grants. In a webcast conference aimed at about 42,000 employees worldwide, Dubow said directors dismissed the blogger's allegations, without formal public notice.
That followed Gannett's confirmation of another blog report: Its newspaper division president was competing last week in a golf tournament where amateurs pay up to $25,000 to play with a PGA pro. Bob Dickey's headline-grabbing appearance at the Palm Springs, Calif., winter resort came just days after he threatened the Tucson Citizen with shutdown, and ordered thousands of other workers on unpaid furloughs, Hopkins wrote.After the report, Gannett said Dickey wrote a check to the company so he could participate in the events. But it was too late: His Bob Hope Chrysler Classic play date made the nation's top newspaper gossip column, the New York Post's Page Six -- plus leading media industry blogs Gawker and Jim Romenesko.
Today, Dubow's webconference began just minutes after Gannett shares closed at $5.77 -- plunging 16%, after Gannett surprised Wall Street in its fourth-quarter report with another unprecedented, multibillion-dollar write-down.
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One thing I don't like about being a self-employed blogger: marketing, which often means writing posts like this one, designed to get Gannett Blog's name in the mainstream media.
ReplyDeleteGo for it, Jim. In blogging, I think you are allowed to be part of your own story. (Think Jarvis et. al.)I hope you get lots of attention for your work.
ReplyDeleteYou know Jim, if you preface anything with "In this economy..." you can do whatever you want.
ReplyDelete'Although I'm a serious journalist, in this economy, I need to market my talents as well..."
'While we appreciate the sacrifices of our employees, in this economy, it wouldn't be prudent to suspend the dividend...."
'Normally I just screw our employees, but in this economy, I've lately enjoyed the attention of farm animals as well ..."
It's almost patriotic to do stuff that you normally wouldn't do, except "in this economy".
Not a thing wrong with the piece, Jim - it's very accurate. The thing about blogging is that posts get "peer reviewed" in real time.
ReplyDeleteWalter Abbott
The "don't like" thing is common with some humble journalists.
ReplyDeleteSilly to do that to yourself, however. You are confident in your abilities, why not let people who don't know you have a taste of just exactly how well you write and how what you write can shake things up.
There have been times in the past 30 years when the newspapers I worked for had great stuff to sell but did a terrible job of letting the world know about it.
It is as if we are only an alloted number of "Extra! Extra! Read all about it" moments.
On the Internet we don't have to worry about newshole and if we're proud of our accomplishments, we should be able to toot our horns as loudly as we please ... or bring out a whole brass band, for that matter.
I was fist pumping about the foundation money item in the bizcast. Well done.
The word is the most powerful weapon, their is, no matter where it is shot out of.
ReplyDeleteThe board may have cleared Dubow’s highly-questionable actions – after the fact, and perhaps even Dickey’s.
ReplyDeleteBut, given what’s been going on in the company of late, their actions show a great lack of character and integrity. And, if people have little else, shouldn’t those attributes matter most.
Great example their setting for employees, let alone current and future leaders of this company…not.
I'm so proud of you, Jim, and the work you are doing.
ReplyDeleteSo, funny story, I was laid off in August, and last week I got a letter in the mail from Gannett, saying the company has determined I am no longer considered a highly compensated employee, and can now put up to 50 percent of my income in the 401(k).
Thanks, Gannett. Why don't you twist the knife a little more while you're in there.
DID DICKEY'S USE THE COMPANY JET FOR HIS GOLF TRIP IF SO HE SHOULD WRITE A CHECK FOR THAT ALSO SO AS WELL AS ANYOTHER COMPANY MONEY HE SPENT ON THE TRIP.
ReplyDeletelove the update - i hope this pays more than $11 an hour soon.
ReplyDeletedude - we are constantly told of the wonders of new digital journalism. if a blog like this with a million viewers can't generate $24/yr. then I guess the lid is blown off that lie.
Bob Dickey's $25K golf playdate is just the sort of "let them eat cake" mentality that has lead to the downfall of many before him. If he had that much money to throw around to go play in the sand like a child, obviously he's way overpaid and needs to go. This pig has fattened at the trough for too long.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we all should demand itemized proof of how the golf tournament "helped" the company. If it truly was a "networking" opportunity, then let's see the results. Considering many of us wouldn't even have known about GOLFGATE without you, perhaps we can take it a step further. And Jim, you should be an example for all downtrodden employees of big greedy corporations. Let's see blogs about the big Wall Street firms, about government big boys who continually screw the people. Imagine the possibilities.
ReplyDeletegolfgate? I like puttergate better!
ReplyDeleteI saw where Gannett beat analysts expectations. You would never know it from reading here. You would know about the mundane stuff though.
ReplyDeleteActually Dickey flew commercial according to Jim's original story.
ReplyDeleteOne note - I do know that when someone uses the corp jet for personal use, their portion of the cost is added to their gross income as taxable income.