Following is the text of a memo News Department Vice President Kate Marymont (left) distributed yesterday, on a reorganization of Gannett News Service.Jan 26, 2009
To: Gannett publishers, editors
From: Kate Marymont
This week we begin a series of changes at Gannett News Service. These steps are part of Gannett’s ongoing transformation from a print-centric company to a full-service multimedia company.
The next stage in that evolution is the creation of ContentOne, which will team new technology with journalists to deliver news and information where, when and how readers want it. It is cross-divisional, and is in the development stage.
This requires substantial restructuring.
Some of Gannett News Service’s functions will move to the new ContentOne. These decisions were based on a survey of your needs.
The corps of regional reporters in the D.C. bureau will continue.
Surveys showed that you rely on some custom content, such as the World/Nation page and the “Yes” section. Those also will be maintained.
The most significant change will be in a streamlined content-sharing operation. Advances in technology will allow faster, broader sharing of information across the company. That will require different jobs going forward.
As the first step toward the new structure, we are offering a voluntary severance program for all GNS employees. Details are being shared with GNS employees today.
If this offer does not result in a sufficient number of volunteers, involuntary reductions will be necessary.
You will see changes in your contacts with GNS, the kind of content that is shared, and the news budgets that are produced. I will keep you informed as this unfolds over the next few weeks. Details will have to be worked out as we go through the voluntary severance and, perhaps, involuntary severance.
Your budget for GNS will stay the same for the time being.
Please understand that ContentOne is being developed. Technology is being reviewed; structure is being debated. It will be developed over the months ahead and information will be shared throughout the process.
Gannett News Service has a long tradition of service to your newspapers and Web sites. Our goal is to retain that while we contemporize the sharing of content across the company.
Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Incredible. They are draining money from the community newspapers to pay for USAT, and now they are going to drain community newspapers to pay for ContentOne. What do community newspapers get out of this? Nothing. A one-sized fits all nation/world section and a features section made in McLean, and money taken from operations to pump up some new uncertain technology that has yet to be developed. What a disaster.
ReplyDeleteThis is great news for Gannett competitors.
ReplyDeleteKey words ...
ReplyDelete"your budget will remain the same."
It is the old doing more with less routine. I can't determine if ContentOne is an excuse for layoffs, or a real new innovative technology. I think it is an excuse.
ReplyDeleteLove these secretive projects.
ReplyDeleteContentOne.
Infomation sharing across the company, yet we don't really have any information to share about it, across the company. At least not with you, the "little people".
Even though this will be the way you do your job in the future, you will have NO input on it's functionality.
Only a few local directors will know the path we are taking. You will notices odd requests. Strange little projects. Some automation here and there. It's just prep work for this new infrastructure.
Layoff lists for 2009 have already been created
Brought to you by the folks who developed News 2000.
ReplyDeleteHow did that work for retaining old readers and attracting new ones?
I wonder if Marymount feels as though she was named captain of the Titanic AFTER it hit the iceberg?
ReplyDelete12:48 PM - Actually, the key words are Your budget for GNS will stay the same for the time being.
ReplyDeleteCould this woman say any less with so many words?
ReplyDelete