Thursday, January 15, 2009
Thursday | Jan. 15 | Your News & Comments
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116 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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frist
ReplyDeleteI'm whipped.
ReplyDeletedon't take it personally
ReplyDeletethere is irony here
sites with anonymous comments and loyal audiences entice commenters to be the first to comment
not sure where or when it happened for the FIRST time, but someone in their haste to be FIRST mistyped it as FRIST
check comments on DailyKos and you will see this
it is a sign of love an appreciation
nothing else
Jim has worked his butt off for us once again. Please, please, please, click the link to donate. Even $1 can keep this a thriving place for what is surely to unite us here more frequently in 2009.
ReplyDeleteeven Google is announcing layoffs:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alleyinsider.com/2009/1/google-announces-layoffs-goog
I was fired recently for b.s. reasons. I was also well-documented enough that Gannett settled for 12 wks. pay provided that I not sue. They proceeded to fight me on unemployment benfits (big drama at the state hearing, etc).
ReplyDeleteGannett lost.
If you ever get to the point of no return, do NOT quit. You're better off getting canned.
In hindsight, I did as well as many people who took buyouts. The grief involved wasn't much worse than continuing in that hellhole, as current events demonstrate.
I share this to emphasize how Gannett plays. I couldn't have predicted how it would turn out, folks, so I'm not pretending to have been smart.
P.S. Jim: "Whipped?" Do tell!
What a day with all the Gannett news.............take a furlough jim you deserve it.........but please don't ask the powers that be that run gannett to make even leveled sacrifices!
ReplyDeleterome is burning and they have no plans to put out the fire...........like the citizens will sacrifice everything for the corruption and greed!
ReplyDeleteThe Fort Collins Happenings schedule I last laid eyes on was due to be complete by early March I no longer work for Gannett or anyone else but knowledge will help everyone in production and circulation
ReplyDeleteSomeone yesterday asked why hourly was allowed to break up their furlough time, when the money comes out even either way.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the net effect is the same, being able to take a 10% pay hit on each of five consecutive biweekly checks is much easier for some people than taking a 50% hit on one check.
At $10/hr, your annual gross is just under $21K, and depending upon your insurance, your take home every two weeks could be around $600. (Fed min wage is $6.55, gross $13,624. Who could possibly live on that?)
If you already eat ramen the last three days before payday, seeing $540 on your stub means you eat a lot more of it for ten weeks. If you had to take it all at once, $300 could throw your entire budget balancing act off for months, jeopardizing housing, credit, food and transportation costs.
There are quite a few people we work with that don't have the luxury of middle of the night internet access to complain about their predicament. They just have to figure out a way to keep living.
Craig Dubow's email went directly to my junk email box, to sit with the penis enlargement spam that corporate couldn't prevent last week.
ReplyDeleteAdd your own joke here.....
Furlough NEWS FLASH:
ReplyDeleteCovering for Larry St. Cyr while Larry is furloughed will be another incompetant Gannett executive...
Dan Donaghy to the rescue!
Someone earlier questioned how much time it took the employer to make a 401-K match. Here's some IRS information I found. Hope it helps.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.irs.gov/retirement/article/0,,id=135260,00.html
Try on some good news ... c/o David Sterman from RealMoney .. his POSITIVE story (gee, wonder how many of our business sections will carry this - nah ... let's share only HALF the story like we always do ... )
ReplyDeleteFit to Print: Survival in the Newspaper Industry, Part I
* ByDavid Sterman, RealMoney Contributor
* Tuesday January 13, 2009, 3:00 pm EST
* Yahoo! Buzz
* Print
Related:
* Gannett Co., Inc.
(Editor's note: In part I of a two-part look at the struggling newspaper industry, Sterman takes a deeper look at the prospects for Gannett. Part II will examine possible major changes ahead for New York Times.)
Over the holidays, I heard from many family members and friends about their preferred methods of staying up to speed with the news.
All seemed to agree that weekly news magazines such as Time and Newsweek seemed to be losing their relevance, moving too slowly in a world that has ever-shortening news cycles. Others noted that the Internet keeps them informed, but acknowledged that there is still a large credibility gap between journalism and blogging. A few others noted that their local papers in cities such as Minneapolis or Miami were losing their ability to broadly cover important events as they continue to gut their newsrooms.
All seemed to agree that The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and USA Today still manage to cover the world with respective foci on business news (WSJ); international and domestic politics and policy (NYT); and consumer-friendly sports, entertainment and "light news" (USA).
As the WSJ is squarely in the hands of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. , investors need to stay on top of the ongoing trends at New York Times and Gannett , publisher of USA Today. While many investors have concluded that these publishing powerhouses are facing a mortal decline, their obituaries have been prematurely written.
In effect, the problem for The New York Times and USA Today is not their relevance but their inability to monetize their brands in a world where "news wants to be free." However, remedies are at hand.
To be sure, their revenue pictures are likely to look even more dire in the near term. The pronounced slump in advertising has hit newspapers especially hard. Of all forms of media, only newspapers derive more than 50% of ad revenue from the financial, retail and auto industries, according to Credit Suisse.
Ad Exposure to Financials,
Retail and Autos
Credit Suisse
estimates
Yet even as industry pressures build on all newspaper publishers, Gannett and New York Times have two key advantages: national brand recognition and "relatively" strong balance sheets. These should enable them to start taking market share in major cities that are on the cusp of losing strong local publishers.
That is rumored to be the case in Seattle, as Hearst seeks a last-minute buyer for the Post-Intelligencer. Seattle will still have a local paper, the Seattle Times, but that too is said to be under strong financial pressure.
Tribune and McClatchy , which publish local papers in 30 of the largest U.S. cities, are also facing tough financial choices. A number of the papers involved may survive if the bondholders take control of those publishing companies, but further trimming of coverage -- and relevance to the community -- seems inevitable.
That's where The New York Times and USA Today come in. These newspapers may start seeing circulation gains in some of the markets where the local papers have lost any tangible readership interest. Call a friend in south Florida and ask about the local paper to get a sense of what I mean. Any major retrenchment by a local publisher is an opportunity for expansion for these national papers.
For Gannett, the prescription is simple: Stay the course. Management has been taking a series of steps that should eventually find appeal with investors:
* A steady pay-down in debt. Long-term debt/equity has fallen from 71.8% to below 45%. Ongoing debt payments should push that figure below 40% in 2009.
* Cut costs at the same pace of revenue declines. Headcount reductions are reducing the impact of falling sales, and weakening demand for newsprint should lower that key expense over the course of 2009 as well.
* Don't write off the broadcast assets. Gannett owns and operates 23 TV stations, 12 of which are NBC affiliates, and all of which still contribute a considerable amount of cash flow.
* Strengthen online presence. Gannett took advantage of the financial distress at McClatchy and Tribune by recently increasing its position in CareerBuilder.com above 50%. USAToday.com reaches 25 million unique visitors every month, and a number of Gannett's 129 other Web sites have strong local market share.
Weakness at many Tribune, Hearst and McClatchy properties creates a clear opportunity for Gannett. The company can aggressively target new subscriptions from former devotees of these weakening local papers. Yes, newspaper circulation is shrinking, but Gannett has a chance to pick up a larger slice of that smaller pie.
An investment in Gannett certainly brings risk. Sales likely fell 8% to 9% in 2008, and will probably fall another 5% to 10% in 2009 as well. Per-share profits for 2009 are likely to be only half as large as profits posted in 2007, an unsettling prospect for a company that has $3.8 billion in debt maturing over the next four years.
Despite the scare that gives investors, it's precisely the catalyst for a rebound in sentiment towards the company's ever-weakening stock. Gannett will likely generate around $1 billion in EBIT next year, even assuming wrenching revenue declines, and that cash-flow generation puts the company in good stead to refinance those debt burdens and remove any medium-term repayment obligations.
To build confidence in the solidity of its balance sheet, Gannett should radically slash its $1.60 annual dividend, which offers an absurd 20% yield. By cutting the dividend in half, the company could still offer a robust 10% dividend yield and save $180 million each year. Though tempting with shares so cheap, ongoing stock buybacks appear foolhardy right now, especially when the company should be hoarding cash to go after weaker competitors even more aggressively.
Per-share profits are likely to slump to around $2 in 2009 and 2010. But with shares trading at around $8, that represents a pretty cheap entry point. It may be a hard case for rebounding earnings, at least until the economy recovers, but the yield on the stabilized cash flow (albeit at lower levels) is still hard to ignore when fixed-income yields are so low.
Part II of this column will examine the prospects for New York Times, which also looks a lot better than most newspaper publishers. The challenge for the "Gray Lady" will be to throw out the longstanding playbook and willingly embrace new approaches.
Does anyone else besides me think that the week-long furlough will be used as a tool to evaluate who will be cut in the future?
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely day in the world of Gannett. And while I just checked and it is about -8 degrees in the town of Hell (Michigan), nothing seems to have changed around this company. And I still have to take a week off without pay.
ReplyDeleteSo much for the saying that things will change when Hell freezes over
I figured out what to do on my furlough week: re-rip all my CDs to a better format and reorg my music library. While I'm calling recruiters about another job, of course.
ReplyDeleteAnybody else?
Hello, I was fired from Gannett for reasons others than the one I was given around the times of the last layoffs.
ReplyDeleteI'm am trying to gather up as many former employees as possible before
seeing an attorney about filing a lawsuit on our behalf.
I'm choosing to remain annoyance for now, but I have told Jim my name, what I did for Gannett and where I worked. I want to remain anonymous out of concern of what Gannett legal would do if they learned my name.
I understand if you want to remain anonymous for now, but please
include your story and a legitimate email address where I can reach you.
So, to sum up, if you had been fired wrongly or if you know of a
co-worker who has been fired wrongly, please send me an email at
WronglyFiredbyGannett@gmail.com
Thank you and I will keep everyone posted on whats happening
UPDATE: This is the third post. So far I have had 12 former employees email me (more than I expected) and am close to going to an attorney. If you are an attorney who can offer advice on a class action lawsuit, please email me at the address above.
A poster last night shared that another price increase is coming to Cincinnati. Are they talking about raising single copy higher than 75 cents or is this going to be a hike in home delivery, etc?
ReplyDeleteAre there any other papers out there who have this on their radar yet?
Jim,
ReplyDeleteas soon as I land something permanent I'll send you a small stipend.
keep up the good work, my friend.
Former Gannett editor
You say yes, I say no.
ReplyDeleteI say stop and you say go go go, furlough.
I say goodbye and you say furlough
Furlough Furlough
You wonder why I say goodbye, You say furlough
Furlough Furlough
You wonder why I say goodbye, You say furlough
Evan Ray to the rescue!
ReplyDeleteNo,no. Michelle Krans to the rescue! Yeehaw!!
ReplyDelete10:12 am:
ReplyDeleteCorporate mandated HD price increases in 2009. Local papers have varying increase amounts and effective dates.
This headline appeared this morning on one of the company's sites.
ReplyDeleteHow save are our schools?
My guess is this furlough is going to happen every quarter this year. Does anyone have confirmation on this? And are there going to be raise freezes this year too for all employees? Still more layoffs to come? Any solid word on this?
ReplyDeleteA lot of employees are now reading this blog. The furlough info came out Friday and everyone was asking their managers about it. Thats why they had to come out with it so soon. They can't hide everything from us now!
I know of a reporter who was hired yesterday by the Cincinnati Enquirer and she was told by the top editors that all these layoffs were merely an attempt to "get rid of the slackers and dead wood" and replace them with people who work hard.
ReplyDeleteFirst they implement the unpaid week by quarter, then by month until it is over for Gannett.
ReplyDeleteAt the Courier post we've watched as many of our coworkers have been laid off and now we've been forced to take off with no pay for a week. The lifeblood which is advertising is the biggest joke. Our advertising department is like a big party in that part of the building. Over recent weeks and months a good number of the so called sales reps spend the day sitting around doing nothing. Some of the people over there are more occupied with arranging for parties and other nonsense including engaging in all kinds of personal stuff instead of getting off their asses and selling to keep the place going and keeping jobs for all of us here. Theer are at least a half dozen in that department who should have been laid off years ago but still remain here doing next to nothing. It is way past time to clean out the sales management and get some action! Everyone is wondering why the publisher has continue to let this continue while the ship is sinking???!!! Our newspaper cannot keep going if there is no money coming in to support the paper. If sales doenst make the numbers they should go and go now. Too many "manager" types here who are a waste.
ReplyDeleteIf you are exiting the company, examine any releases they may ask you to sign. If you believe you are owned unpaid overtime, have an attorney review any releases given to you to preserve your rights on any potential claims. I knew someone who supposedly had an attorney contact HQ regarding beaucoups of well documented overtime and it was resolved quietly. It is said GCI won't ever admit there was unpaid overtime; they will call it something else.
ReplyDeletePeople in Palm Springs were baffled at why The Desert Sun is being asked to take the same furloughs in the first quarter as the papers back east. While this might be a slow time for you, it is our busiest time of the year. Publisher Rich Ramhoff, in his meetings with staff yesterday, basically said that that point was made forcefully to the powers that be in McLean, and it didn't change their decision. A perfect Gannett anecdote. Cookie-cutters for all!
ReplyDeleteI threw up last night.
ReplyDeleteThis is only the beginning. It's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
11:20
ReplyDelete"I knew someone who supposedly had an attorney contact HQ regarding beaucoups of well documented overtime and it was resolved quietly."
If they actually did this, it is reprehensible. If followed through under FLSA *ALL* non-exempt employees who worked under similar conditions would have received backpay, for up to a period of 3 years, at triple time.
You were sold out, my friends.
And actually, filing with FLSA while you are still employed might not be a bad idea, as, you see, an employer is now allowed to retaliate. I think this might give Gannett pause about facing yet another lawsuit.
11:16, you hit it right on the nose with regard to the sales dept at C-P.
ReplyDeleteThe AD has been useless since Day One, and it's surprising she has managed to stay afloat for such a long period. Would have thought by now she would have transferred across the river to be with her "mentors."
I've seen other companies implode just like this. The low-level employees always get caught in the crossfire, while the higher-ups get their golden parachutes.
ReplyDeleteHere's a thought:
When you walk out of the building, make sure you weigh a little more than you did when you came in.
And set up a Craigslist account.
Does this mean the rumored February layoffs are off the table? The memo from Dickey said this is a way to avoid layoffs, so it seems this means there won't be any this quarter, right?
ReplyDeleteIf 11:09 is correct and a furlough comes every quarter, isn't that the same as about an 8 percent pay cut? If so, it would be the quietest pay cut ever. Maybe they should just make everyone donate a buck every hour or something?
ReplyDelete"Misery loves company" is the mission statement for the Gannett Blog. I always feel more depressed every time I log on. I hoping one of these days I read something that helps lift my spirits.
ReplyDeleteYou think no layoffs? Think again! We work with the lowest of low-scumbags.
ReplyDelete12:04 pm: To clarify, I never said the cuts planned by early February would require layoffs. I've always (I think) referred to these as payroll cuts. And these furloughs accomplish that.
ReplyDeletehey annon 12.04 don't trust nor believe anything from management and the gannett elite they are trying to save their own ass not yours! Prepare for lay-offs too.
ReplyDelete12:04: "The memo from Dickey said this is a way to avoid layoffs"
ReplyDeleteI think it said it was a way to minimize layoffs.
Minimize being subjective. "We planned on laying off 12% of the workforce, but thanks to everyone taking a payless week off we now we only have to layoff 11.5%!"
So gannett bigwigs want the little folk to make sacrifices, but I don't remember them offering to share bonuses with us during the good times.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying watching this company go down in flames.
No, they are still working on layoff plans. I know from those who know that the plans are still being put together, and read closely the the q&a they put out yesterday:
ReplyDeleteQ. Does this mean there won’t be any layoffs this year?
A. The goal is to reduce the need for layoffs, but that decision entirely rests on what happens with revenues during the rest of the year. No final decision has been or will be made at this time.
My personal opinion is that the extent of the layoffs will depend on how much GCI posts a loss on its 2008 revenues, which we will know in a couple of weeks. You also need to read that year-end report very closely, because it will tell you how much of a cut is coming.
Does anyone know what the statute of limitations is for claiming unpaid overtime, either through private civil suit or through DOL Wage and Hour?
ReplyDeleteJust a comment: instead of making employees take an unpaid week off, why don't the papers eliminate the Monday or Monday/Tuesday print products and just have online editions? Certainly within a year far more money would be saved.
ReplyDeleteHere's the burning question about these furloughs.
ReplyDeleteRemember that Florida babysitter job opening that popped up on the official Gannett jobs site a few months ago? (They must have filled it since someone seems to have rapidly yanked it down after only a day or so.)
Is the babysitter (remember, that posting appeared right on the site and instructed applicants to follow the same procedures as other jobs)they hired going to have to suffer a one week pay cut or is that one of the essential jobs?
I routinely hear stories of advertisers who are no longer contacted once their old sales rep is reassigned/or gone.
ReplyDeleteToday alone, I heard of two that spent in excess of $100k. Is this not big enough for tools like Bergin leading the charge? I would think not. But, given too much time watching him act, and many dance for him, my guess is the focus is truly gone. That, and those left aren’t allowed to do what they do best, so they don’t care. I do, but I got fed up and left Gannett’s OC/publisher ranks…my concern here is how Gannett continues to damage this industry by its willingness to sacrifice it all for more profits.
Someone at Gannett really needs to think about the messages their sending to readers, advertisers and employees, and act. Investing in its core business – which at last check was still newspapers, even if it means a short-term profit hit would be a nice start.
Alan Mutter says the furloughs saved 600 jobs, but that is only for this quarter. What will Corporate do when this quarter ends and is just as dismal as was the last quarter of 2008? I don't think 600 is enough to make that much of a dent in GCI's cost structure, and Corporate soon will return to the slash and burn routine.
ReplyDeleteNo one has suggested canceling newspaper subscription for the week they have been furloughed. In fact I think every employee should cancel their subscription to the newspaper for two weeks in March.
ReplyDeleteJust an Idea
This posted today on CareerBuilder in a search for zip code 54401.
ReplyDeleteJob Snapshot Location: US-Nationwide Employee Type: Full-Time EmployeeIndustry: Sales - Marketing
Broadcasting - Radio - TV
AdvertisingManages Others: YesJob Type: Sales
ManagementEducation: 4 Year DegreeExperience: At least 5 year(s)Posted: 1/14/2009Contact Information Contact: Gannett Human Resources
Description
This position is located in Little Rock, Arkansas
GENERAL SALES MANAGER - Today’s THV (KTHV-TV) is reviewing candidates for General Sales Manager of this market-leading and Gannett-owned CBS affiliate in Little Rock, AR. THV and its new GSM will continue to enjoy the benefit of top ratings and revenue performance in a definitively customer-centric approach to multi-platform selling. She/he will have access to the latest marketing tools and technology as well as wide market acceptance of a well-developed brand and online/on-air products. We are seeking a GSM who will further advance our multi-platform and digital selling efforts. Individual and team leadership skills are imperative as is the ability to work together with other department managers on THV’s executive committee. A detail-oriented communicator with previous sales management experience and a college degree are part of the right fit. THV is an exceptional and cohesive team where both product and sales prosper in a family, yet focused, atmosphere.
Has anyone talked to their CPA about tax implications of being on furlough. There is some mention of it under 6.752.2 Adverse Actions in the tax code and in the bulletin 2004-39. However it is far too complicated for my small brain.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to deduct this time away from work? There seems to be a major difference if it is above or below a 30-day furlough. Thanks.
Hey - anyone in NJ remember those inclement weather letters that we all received a few years back? In the event of a huge storm storm or other natural disaster that caused the closing of major roadways, we were supposed to carry the letter from HR, and hand it over to the state trooper when we got pulled over for driving when the state closed the roads. It stated that we were "essential employees". Funny, when it comes to 4 ft. of snow, we are called "essential", but when it's time to take a week off without pay, we are not. Rather convenient.
ReplyDeleteEssential in NJ? If you wear an apron.
ReplyDeleteanon 2-22 greta idea!!!!! I alreadt quit my paper!
ReplyDelete2:12 --
ReplyDeleteI think he said for the last 12 months, not the quarter. Maybe that's wishing thinking.
Layoffs are coming. Count on it! The Academy Award winning performance by Publishers/Editors/Directors etc. are second to none. Don't bother working hard. If you're not liked your out!
ReplyDeletequit my paper!
ReplyDeleteWhat will be Gannett's gain by not having to provide a 401-K match for the week the employees are off work?
ReplyDeleteDo you really think the Center for Excellence could handle thousands of one-week only cancellations? And do you think business offices or the Shared Services Center or whoever keeps up with payroll deductions could handle it if furlouged employees canceled home delivery---but just for a single week?
ReplyDeleteI'm hearing that salaried employees (I'm not one) are being required to take their unpaid week in March. Could this be (A) a way to cook the numbers; or (B) a way to determine the mix of salaried vs. hourly employees to face the next round of layoffs? Or maybe this is being ordered only at my location.
ReplyDeleteLast 12 months are history. That was last year. The furloughs are for this year, this quarter, because it is clear the quarter won't be any better than the 4th quarter. Under stock rules, they cannot account these savings made in 2009 back to 2008. This all makes me wonder how disastrous was the 4th quarter. Must have been really incredibly bad. Layoffs still a live issue.
ReplyDeleteHave the 4th quarter revenue numbers been announced yet?
ReplyDeleteSave your money that week. Cancel your subscription.
ReplyDeleteJoe Duffus to the rescue!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry to be giving NJ a worse name, but my specific question from yesterday was graciously answered, but the point of the question was really not addressed.
ReplyDeleteI took a VOLUNTARY BUYOUT in May and did not qualify for unemployment benefits in NJ because I was told that it was salary continuation and not severance. OK...I am now at the
end of salary continuation and I will have a telephone interview with NJ Unemployment next week because they say I voluntarily left my job. My job was not replaced and non-voluntary layoffs followed.
Has anyone in NJ already gone through this scenario---and how did it turn out?
When they get around to the Harvard Business Study of the demise of the Gannett Corp what has been allowed to continue in the Cherry Hill ad department will be front and center. Leaderless, effortless, souless and absolutely NO ACCOUNTABILITY - what happened to talent, performance and hard work in this company? I used to look forward to coming to work. Rome is burning Walt and it's tough out there - you should have a devil of a time finding a new job - stand in line at the Walmart ...
ReplyDeleteMEMO to Ad Department - Make more sales calls, make more sales calls, make more sales calls - guess what? you'll make more sales. Is it hard? yes Impossible? No
ReplyDeleteAnother suggestion make 3 extra sales calls a day - if you make 12 on average make 15 - get off your butts and work harder before there is no work for any of us!
Retailers need more customers HELP THEM - it pays to advertise.
5:44
ReplyDeleteYou must be one of those blind Ad Directors from NC.
Why don't you make some calls. The problem is not the ad reps the problem is everyone is scared to go out on a limb for newspaper advertising. You can get a full color magazine ad on the cheap these days that people keep around the house and open several times. Newspapers are thrown out or used to line litter boxes the same day.
The ad staff is working hard---the economy is bad, people are not buying the retail goods, and the products that Gannett now puts out are inferior, newsprint where it use to be glossy, products not being distributed and don't forgot that ads on newspaper websites don't really work --let's see one report over 500,000 impressions 12 click throughs probably all accidental. Don't blame the sales staff, this is Gannett's fault entirely.
ReplyDeleteDon't know how it is for all the states, but you can collect unemployment if you take the whole week off straight in Arizona. Flood HR because I hear they are dodging any inquires about it.
ReplyDeleteDon't know how it is in all the state, but you can collect unemployment in Arizona if you take the week off straight. I hear HR has been dodging questions about this though for some reason.
ReplyDeleteIf you're pointing the fingure of guilt at Gannett remember there are 3 fingers pointing back at you. When did you quit making any effort? When it got hard? When management didn't seem interested? when was the exact time? Take some pride in yourself some professionalism - don't wait for management to come up with all the answers. You have one of the greatest marketing tools available - The Daily Newspaper - If an retailer places an ad today offering products at a good price - people will be waiting for him to open his store tomorrow (if he or you do nothing then that is exactly what will happen nothing)- forget about magazines,TV, Billboards, Direct Mail - advertisers want results and you have the most powerful local medium ever - stop making excuses make 20 calls tomorrow and share with all of us your success. I'll be on the blog tomorrow night at 7PM EST. I know you can do it.
ReplyDelete5:44 -
ReplyDeleteWith respect, are you a moron?
I'm in the newsroom, but one of my friends is an ad rep who's pounding the pavement and on the phone all day long. NO ONE is buying ads. Retailers, service companies, hotels - all are cutting their own budgets and don't have a fucking dime left over for advertising.
If you're in a market with any sort of competition, from a weekly or whatever, you'll be undercut 5 times before finally nailing down the sale, and by then the paper is going to lose money on that quarter-page ad.
To blame hardworking ad reps for not selling ads is near-criminal. (It's OK to blame the incompetent ones - I'm not defending the slackers.) Everyone's in pain in this economy. Newspapers are just the canary in the coal mine.
Also: To make 15 sales calls in an 8-hour day is nearly one call every half-hour. When do you propose the ad reps process the forms, check the faxes, reply to asinine e-mails from their supervisors, take care of the tearsheets, travel to in-person appointments, handle ad proofs or go to the bathroom?
STFU.
Harvard Business Study of the Courier-Post? What are you smoking and where's mine?
ReplyDelete3:39 and others:
ReplyDeleteput your paper on vacation, you can do that thru your web site--just ask someone in circ what your password is. Then no one has to do anything to start/stop/process payments. No one in the payroll office will have to do a darn thing. I imagine if you are "quitting" your paper, if you want to re-start it again in a week you will have to go back to HR to get the employee rate....just do the vacation stop, unless you don't give a damn about your co-workers, then quit then sub already!
Let us not forget the production departments that are responsible for putting the ads together effectively and correctly. Nevermind the outsourcing to India. They do a good enough job; it's production service department's job to send, receive, proofread, make corrections/redesign and send proofs out in a timely fashion. Errors are made. Proofs don't go out/go out late. Why can't production services get the ads done right? One would think that with the lighter workload, all the ads would be perfect! And where exactly is the accountability? Ad Directors, Retail Ad Managers and Production Managers MUST make everyone involved in the advertising process accountable for doing their best job ever.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about advertising but I know circulation and we are dropping subscriptions like crazy. Not because we doon't have big ads in our paper but because we do not do redeliveries anymore, the paper is getting smaller everyday, our "local" news is crap noone wants to read about, we outsourced customer service, etc...
ReplyDeleteI have a friend in advertising who works her but off trying to do everything she can to make outrageous goals to get a measley bonus to supliment her already cut pay to make her mortgage. She was forclosed on a cuple weeks ago.
I don't think we stopped trying. I think we all try hard to keep our customers so that we have a job.
The fact is the "Titanic" is sinking despite our best efforts.
I now not only face a week long furlough but may come back to a lay-off because there are rumors we our being outsourced to another printing/distribution company.
How anyone can make comments that employees are not doing enough is beyond me. I am insulted as I am sure many are. My work ethic is about me not this terrible company I work for!!!
Heads up, NJ: You can only collect unemployment if you take 5 consecutive days off. If you take a day off here and there, while you're lessening the blow per paycheck, you will not be eligible to collect.
ReplyDeleteThey should have told us that up front, but they didn't.
This piece of shit company is gonna see how the papers respond to these cuts and still get a paper out.Then the bastards will have more layoffs so don,t bust your ass,put out a piece of shit paper cuz thats what corporate wants.Fuck Gannett treat them like they are treating us. Everybody bitches how they have gone the extra mile to get out a good paper
ReplyDeletefor what to get treated like this
A Harvard business study of the Courierpost?? Ha! It would be more like a Mad Magazine study. Sure the economy is tough, but it is sickening to watch what DOESN'T go on in the advertising department. The place is the laughing stock and stomach turner of the company. Yeah there are some people here who do work and put forth effort, but so many of us are disgusted by those (especially the management) who are a joke. The place is like a country club populated with either people who have something on someone and are still there after many years, or a group of "friends" hired by the incompetent director who apparently is allowed to keep the party going. More time is spent planning for and ordering out lunch than doing any productive work in the place. It's enough to make you want to throw up when we allthink how many good people have been hurt because the publisher keeps these total losers around. If the economy is that bad, get rid of the useless people and save the money. Wake up!!! Why does this continue?????????? The rest of us are required to keep producing at our jobs even though the economy is bad and we have fewer resources and we are reminded that we hav to produce or we are out of here.
ReplyDelete4:02 PM - I'm exempt and can take my week anytime between next week and the end of period 3. That might be a local call.
ReplyDelete4:50 PM - Duffus? Give me a f'ing break! Just another "The Web is going to save us" corporate weenie.
ReplyDeleteHey 5:44 ----since you're so good at telling other departments what to do, I'm wondering if you're applying the same metric to your current role at your newspaper, what was that again? Reporter...Copy editor???? Are you upping the number of things you do, or do you have to take two and a half days to research and rewrite everything you do..
ReplyDeletewe're just curious. Oh and if you are in the newsroom, perhaps you should spend your time there working, rather than posting to the blog on company time. I'm just sayin....
As a former Gannettoid who has moved into sales (in radio) after being laid off in June 08, let me tell you what a typical sales persons day is like.
ReplyDeleteYou spend at least 2 hours a day cold calling prospects to get appointments. Normally, you can get 1 appointment for every 10 calls. So, if you make 40 calls in 2 hours (which is normal) you get 4 appointments.
If you make 8-10 appointments per week, that's anywhere from 320-400 telephone calls a week, in 8-10 hours a week.
A typical appointment is 30 minutes to an hour, plus your travel time. So lets say you spend 15 hours a week on sales calls and travel time .
If your closing ratio is 20% (and that is a pretty normal closing ratio) that's 1-2 sales a week.
The sales managers also expect you to do least 1-2 hours a day of face to face cold calls to businesses between appointments. Let's say 10 hours a week.
That will leave you 5 hours a week to take care of all the paperwork and proposal and reasearch you have to do, and yes, even collections. (Because if you don't get the money, you lose the commission and the company takes it out of your check.) And that's only if you work 40 hours a week. Lots of sales people work close to 50-60 hours a week just to handle all the paper work, production requests, emails, etc.
Yes, there are lot of sales people who are just "order takers" and wait for the phone to ring, and just loaf around the office.
But, believe me, the majority of the sales people are busting thier asses to make budget and feel HORRIBLE when they don't. Missing budgets means someone could lose a job.
It doesn't make it any easier that the jokers at corporate have royally F***ED up the company and are about to drive Gannett out of business. So don't blame the company's problems on lazy sales people. They aren't the only ones to blame.
8:25 PM - Exactly what my site does, no re-delivery. Add to this, COE is one of the dumbest (RTC, 2AdPro, GMTI are others) to come out of corporate.
ReplyDeleteA friend called to cancel his subscription and they didn't even ask him why he was canceling.
Shit, when we had a circulation call center on site, if you called to cancel, they worked you for 5-10 minutes to keep you as a subscriber!
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ReplyDeleteHey Jim,
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you own any stock, but for shits and giggles, why not ask for media credentials for the 2009 shareholders meeting?
:)
Courier Post / Mad Magazine what a hoot! They don't deserve the credit
ReplyDeleteMy idea for the cover.
LUNCH TIME-SPOON FEEDING THE AD Director.
5:30,"SORRY TO GIVENJ A BAD NAME": If you took your buyout in bulk, you cannot collect UI. If you took it per 2 weeks say, with health, at the terminus of that period, you are entitled to UI. Call it a buyout, BUT, UI considers it "continuation pay", and when that ends, you are entitled to benefits.
ReplyDeleteLarry St Cyr is so 2008!
ReplyDeleteThis is 2009.
All together now
Evan Ray to the rescue!
Thought I had it bad. Cherry Hill sounds like a zoo.
ReplyDeleteJust do your job as professionally as you can with as much enthusiasm you had five years ago - we'll all be better off.
ReplyDeleteThere is always someone who will sell for less - where would Apple be if they had your attitude?
ReplyDeleteMemo - To ad staff - It's a tough job in this economy - so just stop making any calls and those advertisers who call you hang up. Is it time for lunch yet?
ReplyDeleteHas the Courier News vacated its Rt. 22 building? I'm hearing that Gannett is looking to vacate other properties it owns and either lease or outright sell the buildings/land.
ReplyDeleteGannett is a company like any other. They are working to dig out of the economic mess from the big wig offices.
ReplyDeleteThe ContentOne inaugural pages are pretty good (pun alert). They are saving some work. Our ad team rolled up their sleeves. The circ team is understaffed, but planning well for the big week ahead. The production staff is coping. Who did I miss? Who is left?
The corporate ContentOne Web site? The jury really is out on whether it'll help local page views. Anyone talk about that much here?
Most readers will head off to CNN, USAT and the networks on this one.
Our editors aren't invisible, but they do seem worn out.
Getting through the furloughs is a nasty mess, but what are you going to do? Who is hiring? AJC, Seattle, Denver, Detroit are in trouble -- Chicago and Miami too. What are you going to do?
Do what you can with the job you have. Give your all to a job that can pay you back as it feeds your passion. We need the money in a paycheck and this really won't help (we know that right?), but we also know being a journalist is not a get rich scheme.
If sent to the street, you can talk about what you accomplished in tough circumstances in your next interview. Staying focused on the job willlet you hold your head high if the axe comes.
This is from the inside of a newsroom.
We have a "white elephant" for sale in Cherry Hill, Any takers?
ReplyDeleteThe new facility of the CN will be called Lebanon. It is west of Bridgewater near Alandale. "THE HOME NEWS AND COURIER NEWS ARE ABOUT THE MERGE". Stand by for the Secacaus, NJ printing co.
ReplyDelete1:32 - it's 3 years
ReplyDeleteMemo to Cherry Hill Ad Staff:
ReplyDeleteLunch Time? Starts at 11 ends at 2 Does she want Bologna or Bologna and Cheese. Mustard or Mayo. Roll or White? Wait change that to pizza meatlovers dream.
Just curious? The advertisers must know how bad it is in Cherry Hill or do they? This behavior must show.
ReplyDelete9:43PM... Thanks for your kindness in answering--and for the good news! If you ever ID yourself, I owe you a drink or a doobie!
ReplyDeleteThanks again!
To 9:56pm
ReplyDeleteObviously you don't understand, the advertisers are not calling--even at Christmas time, there were no call ins or messages left when I was out. I have never seen it like this--ever. Businesses think twice before they spend a dollar, just like we do now.
Believe me if the business is there the ads reps will go after it.
The Morristown building is up for sale; has been for quite a few months now. We will be relocating to an office park supposedly in March. We also know that not everyone will be relocating.
ReplyDeleteJim:
ReplyDeleteSeriously, if you are in sales... and think that you can sell something... do you really think that you'll work for a newspaper?
All of us are looking for work. If the economy improves, the dollars are not going to flow back to the newspaper. We're going to end up in other industries. Newspapers don't pay enough for hunters to go get the money. We used to just sit tight and take care of our gravy accounts, and they don't exist anymore. Great salespeople will sell something other than print.
The drain on the talent pool is significant. Newspapers used to pay people to sell space, but those days are long gone.
It's over.
Star Tribune files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Holy CRAP !!!!!
ReplyDeletehooray for capitalism and unbridled greed!!!!!! Everyone put your weekly pay into the poor "Ceo"s pockets they don't make enough money!!!
ReplyDeleteHawaii is exempt from the furlough..........interesting! There are exemptions how bout that, makes you wonder who else!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHawaii got an individual memo from craig saying they are exempt!!!!
ReplyDeletedetroit is exempt too!!! pattern? Who else is exempt? Do some homework jim!!
ReplyDeletegannetts british employees are exempt! hmmmmm!
ReplyDeleteInteresting website watch the video it states gannett is only going to make projected 6 billion dollars in 09 instead of 7.4. I feel sorry for the rich people of gannett............right! check here http://www.nowpublic.com/tech-biz/gannett-newspaper-employees-told-take-week-work
ReplyDelete9:48 PM wrote:
ReplyDelete"Thought I had it bad. Cherry Hill sounds like a zoo."
Yup. At least no one is crapping on the floor at my paper.
Yet.
The new facility for CN is in Somerville, the county seat of Somerset County. It is 3-4 minutes south of the Bridgewater location and no where near Lebanon or Annandale. The CN and the HNT are already somewhat merged, but they are still printing two separate papers.
ReplyDeleteSounds like hubris doesn't end at corporate. Detroit is too busy and has too much on their plates to schedule a furlough.
ReplyDeleteGive me a f'ing break! They're bleeding cash and partly responsible for this mess at a company wide level.
Phoenix isn't doing great financially but a) we're still profitable and b) we REALLY ARE busy. We've got a football team in playoffs, a major golf tournament, spring training and that's just sports. Cramming more than 200 weeks of unpaid time off (the number of people I think we have left in the newsroom but it's probably more) into 10 weeks is going to be hell on supervisors and leave the rest of the staff staggering.
Shutter Detroit. How much would that save.