Executive Editor Alan English of Louisiana's Times (left) took the top news executive's job at Georgia's Augusta Chronicle yesterday, three months after publicly bemoaning Christmas layoffs at the Shreveport paper. It's unclear whether English's job will be eliminated; Shreveport's story doesn't say. The Georgia paper is owned by Augusta's privately held Morris Communications. English had been Times executive editor since 2004, and a Gannett employee since 1990. He's at least the second executive editor to bolt in the past week: In a budget-cutting move, Mississippi's Hattiesburg American named managing editor Dan Davis to replace Kathleen Williams, after her job was eliminated.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Shreveport: Top editor quits; GCI's second in week
Executive Editor Alan English of Louisiana's Times (left) took the top news executive's job at Georgia's Augusta Chronicle yesterday, three months after publicly bemoaning Christmas layoffs at the Shreveport paper. It's unclear whether English's job will be eliminated; Shreveport's story doesn't say. The Georgia paper is owned by Augusta's privately held Morris Communications. English had been Times executive editor since 2004, and a Gannett employee since 1990. He's at least the second executive editor to bolt in the past week: In a budget-cutting move, Mississippi's Hattiesburg American named managing editor Dan Davis to replace Kathleen Williams, after her job was eliminated.
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When using this Interwebs thinggie, the "search" function on websites is amazing.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009903170338
No mention of successor.
Remember these "guys" are on the inside. Gannett has told their execute editors to find other jobs. They will not be replaced. The positions are being eliminated.
ReplyDeleteDamn, Jim, I found the blurb about English just by....wait for it....scrolling down just a little bit!
ReplyDeleteLazy ass.
Thanks for pointing me to the story!
ReplyDeleteToo bad about English. I once worked for him and think he's a good guy.
ReplyDeleteWonder if Gannett is going to consolidate management of its Gulf Coast papers since it has eliminated two Gulf Coast executive editors?
Can anyone explain to me the difference between an executive editor and plain old-fashioned editor? We have a whole host of bureaucracy that is unfamiliar to me, including general manager who is something like a publisher. I thought it meant more autonomy, but obviously the Crystal Towers is calling the shots.
ReplyDeleteWhere I worked, the executive editor mainly edited copy, snapped a few pictures every now and then, wrote what I would consider credibility - busting advertorial pieces and created a blog that looked like something written by a middle school student. (I this and I that). Was not at all surprised to see someone had the wisdom to eliminate that position recently.
ReplyDelete"They will not be replaced. The positions are being eliminated."
ReplyDeleteSo why would they jump ship now instead of getting the separation package and benefits?
It all depends on how long they've been with Gannett. A package for someone who has been an EE less than 10 years is minimal, I've been told.
ReplyDeleteMorris Communications is an awful company. I hope he got a big raise.
ReplyDeleteJesus, 11:58, where did you work, the North Pole? Re. "Where I worked, the executive editor mainly edited copy, snapped a few pictures every now and then"
ReplyDeleteNo, mainly what the executive editor does, in between kissing up to corporate and rolling out the next version of renaming the newsroom, adding "mojos" and being "hyper local" about "first five graphs training," is pass thing on to the managing editor, who in turn passes the buck to the assistant managing editors (plural) who pass things along to the metro editor (and sometimes the online metro editor) who in turn meet with the platoon of "assistant city editors" who then all gang up on the pair of reporters in the newsroom to produce a web newsbit, a web update, a story for tomorrow, a weekender, a couple of pieces while they are out on furlow and a long-term "watchdog" piece.
Who said the company is top heavy ...
Amen, 2:25. I used to work at a Morris paper. However, I wasn't "down on the plantation" (read: Augusta, company HQ) so I'm not sure how much more cozy of a spot it might actually be over any of its other revenue centers, er, I mean, markets.
ReplyDelete2:52 said: However, I wasn't "down on the plantation" (read: Augusta, company HQ) so I'm not sure how much more cozy of a spot it might actually be ...
ReplyDeleteI was and it's not.
That may have been true before (although it really wasn't true everywhere...) but it is not true since December. Since the layoffs, our EE has no choice but to work many shifts on the metro desk, edit lots of copy, write headlines, coordinate photo requests, proof pages, write editorials, handle all performance reviews and anything else that comes from the corner offices, and work some weekend shifts. I can say many things but I cannot say EE isn't working.
ReplyDeleteEnglish was one of the best editors in Gannett. He was passionate about the business and absolutely focused on trying to make his paper better despite Gannett's cutbacks. It's a big loss for the company.
ReplyDelete5:58
ReplyDeleteGannett is about big losses. There are a lot of good people from all departments have been shown the door dispite their dedication to Gannett. GANNETT IS ALL ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE and some executives. Even our site with a 15% to 18% margin is not safe. Gannett is faststead on destroying good journalism and good local newsaper operations. I say loose the publishers and all directors and let the mid-level managers run the sites with a strong business manager and a strong editor.
I also worked with Alan for 3 years. This was before he was promoted, Gannett lost another great person. He loved what he did and always worked well with other departments. he truly wanted to give the readers what they wanted and wanted to do all he could to grow the audience.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteEnglish clearly was in over his head. Nice guy, but he had nothing to prepare him to be the managing editor, much less editor.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with 12:32. Nice guy but in way over his head. He talked a lot but never really said much and that frequently just caused a bog of confusion - which might have been his goal.
ReplyDeleteThey have replaced him though with Africa Gordon Price from Tallahassee. She used to work in Shreveport as education editor and then an AME, I think. But she's been gone more than she's been there and hasn't done anything as far as anyone can tell. Which is about what they would have gotten had they promoted from within - a lame figurehead.
The word on the street is that Gannett has obviously found a way to make more money by running the gulf coast papers in the ground rather than save them or sell them. The copy desk hub that ended up in Monroe, LA has a whopping 5 people signed up to output 5 dailies across the state. Can't wait to see that little trick. The markets throughout Louisiana are so ripe for a quality independent. I'd love to see someone take the chance/challenge.