Thursday, March 12, 2009
Thursday | March 12 | Special Proxy Watch Edition
We're on high alert for the 2009 proxy report, disclosing annual pay to CEO Craig Dubow and others; it is due any moment. Please post proxy and other comments, below, in this open forum. (Earlier editions.)
163 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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Well, it looks like Jim Hopkins is using what he learned from moderating the posters here to start a new consulting business.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thetotaltransformation.com/
Good luck with that Jim.
(you know its just a joke)
12:10
ReplyDeleteI don't see the real resemblence, if that's what you mean.
Jim is a far happier guy than this one looks. Now Jim in a decade or two could be the swimmer photo from earlier.
From the NYT:
ReplyDeleteThe Gannett Company, the largest newspaper publisher in the country, eliminated more than 8,300 jobs in 2007 and 2008, or 22 percent of the total.
I didn't realize the number was so high.
This company needs to reassert itself to the proper decade! Republican reganomics is dead and so is the high overhead and beat the unions and lower the moral of employees with triple layers of managers and drive out the talent! To this day At the "Arizona Republic" we enjoy Mutiple layers of management that only work for six hour stints and are half the time cruising the internet and act like that everything is "honky dory". When , if we the profitable newspaper of the many failing of Gannett, are then going to learn and get with the new way of being corporate that all the triple layers of "TOP heavy and overhead" will not keep Gannett or "the Arizona Republic" exempt from cuts!!?? My biggest fear, they will kill the goose that lays the golden eggs with biggest profits! Because there are to many yes men that won't buck the system and will listen to the corporate AND RUN THIS PLACE INTO THE GROUND!! They in this town are to scared to give up their supervisors that only work six hours and get premium pay for eight but expect everyone else to sacrifice! SACRIFICE starts at the top and disgruntling the lower employees and f@@cking them is only going to lead to you getting f@@cked. MEANING THE BLOWBACK TO THE COMPANY. Helluva plan corporate.............keep up the good work and hire more bosses and don't forget the cameras you smucks!!Keep up the overpaid management all the way to BANKRUPTSY!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteA lot of large papers are like the "Arizona Republic" way to many people doing a whole lot of nothing and the unions shops are always the worst.
ReplyDeleteI am talking about the management ........the union is overworked but not defiantely overmanned!! 2.49 you might be talking about jersey but not arizona.
ReplyDeleteMatter of fact the unions are the only bargaining unit that gives a person a fair wage without the yearly dismal , nitpicking reviews that so many people are demoralized with without raises!! That has happened for the past eight years while corporate made their bonuses and raises. Now the economy has tanked because they have stripped the cost of living increases from the middle america people and housing bubble has burst and now we are screwed as the common worker. Your eight hour workdays and lunches are the benefites you need to thank the common labor unions in the early last century that earned this standard of living that you benefit from instaed of talking against the unions you should be thanking them my friend. You look into history and maybe you will enlighten yourself unto the many of working benefits that you get from those people that fought back in the early 1900's that earned your so many rights that you talk against with ill disrespect!!
ReplyDeleteAlso alot of newspapers aren't making the profits that "Arizona Republic" papers are! It is the biggest circulation in one shop for gannett.....besides "USA TODAY" which is printed in mutiple shops ! So please next time you want to put your two cents in know the the f@@ck you are talking about chump! I truly hate ignorant people.........many of them around!
ReplyDeleteWe seem to have a similar problem in Fort Collins with way too many levels of management and not enough worker bees. In the newsroom, we have 12 editors/assistant editors, 11 writers, eight copy editors and two photographers.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need to do is knock some of these editors back down to reporters, cut their salaries to save some money and improve our content with enough people to actually work and less to play on the Internet all day.
Furloughs and layoffs will be announced TODAY.
ReplyDeleteTODAY?
ReplyDeleteProof?
Meanwhile, now that we've all seen the list of 10 newspapers most likely NOT to survive, can we possibly create a list of the 10 most likely to survive?
Why is Gannett fabricating an intetional loss in Detroit? Freepress & News broke? Yet in the pressroom where full and partime postions paying apprxamately 50k per year are being eliminated 70,000 per year managers are being kept to fill the postions? Broke? Padding the books? You tell me. What is being planned in Detroit? A shudown to break the unions? Banrkuptcy? A dissolving of the joint operating agreement so Gannett's other local papers can be printed in the big house? Is there really no plan "B" Mr Hunke? How many months before the truth shines through?
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 3:14 AM
ReplyDeleteUnions shops are always the worst, way too many managers to watching the union bastards. You guys are over worked? Now that is a bunch of BS......fair wage for doing nothing, well at least half doing nothing....come on dude get your head out of your a**
Just curious.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that just about every day some yahoo posts a comment that Gannett is ammouncing more layoffs, furloughs, etc today, next week, this week or whatever. I have seen these posts for the past couple weeks, yet no major announcement.
I used to depend on this blog for news about Gannett, but it has turned into a blog of false "news" and complainers. What gives? How do we get it back to a source of reliable news?
To the moron who keeps posting the false reports of "major" announcements.....get a life or better yet get back to work and help the company make some money.
4:55
ReplyDeleteif this moron makes the same prediction everyday, eventually she may be right. Then she can tell everyone "I called it"
I agree to much of the sky is falling, this week this day that day, but I think something is in the works but until I hear it from Gannett I won't lose sleep just yet. At work I just try to stay on top of the game, keep things moving and stay positive most of the time.
ReplyDeleteI think someone from corporate is posting fake furlough/layoff announcements here to discredit Jim and this blog and to dissuade us from reading the comments.
ReplyDeleteI trust that if rumor of a pending announcement has merit, it will come to Jim via email and he'll follow up on it.
Yeah, the Zengerzombies are here.
ReplyDeleteJim can probably check his hit counter stats and probably see where they're coming from, which ISPs and their locations. It would be interesting to see that information.
Unions?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the US Constitution assure every person the right to assemble?
So to bash unions is to be un-American, IMHO.
It come down to the chicken or the egg argument about unions. The argument is clearly answered by simply looking at history. Greedy owners of big companies squeezing the workers till the workers fight back by organizing unions.
Yes, once established, unions can be as bad as any organized group of people. But look at the nature of human beings for the source of that problem, not the unions itself. Throughout the the history of the world there have always been people who sit on the backside while others worked.
What I find fun about Gannett is how management seems to bloat management about the same as unions bloat the work force by protecting slackers.
On any given day while working on deadline getting the next days paper out the door, some middle manager would saddle up attempting to explain that he has a project from 'corporate' and somehow I was suppose to drop everything to help him, when it was quite clear that this manager hadn't a clue how to do his job. Some managers have no idea how they get in the way of production.
Jim, what happened to your sources? Any word on that March 16 rumor? Something does seem to be brewing, unfortunately. I'm praying it's just furloughs.
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 7:55 AM
ReplyDeleteWell said, each paper has its slackers and some poor managers which should be dealt with, I am a manager and have been one for the last 10 years and I have been in many many meetings wonder how some of others in the room made it there, I have done my share of eye rolling but life goes on.
I have also had to deal with some of the unions, I really don't have a problem with the Writer's Guild at all, but the production unions are another story. They are a bunch of cry babies, I have seen all the presses stop in one plant just because a non-union worker walked in or had touched something the union felt they should not have touched, just a bunch of BS like that is wrong.
Eric Sass, writing for MediaPost this morning says:
ReplyDeleteMoody's Investors Services has introduced a new hall of shame-type feature, "The Bottom Rung," listing companies with a credit rating of B3 or lower, which it considers most likely to default on their debt in the next year. No surprise--the list of 283 beleaguered companies--basically, the bottom 15% of the portfolio of companies tracked by Moody's, updated monthly--includes a good number of newspaper publishers ... In the collapsing world of newspapers, Moody's identified MediaNews Group as a high-risk candidate for default, along with three smaller newspaper publishers: Freedom Communications, GateHouse Media, and Morris Publishing."
I see this as a sign of hope because Gannett isn't among the bottom rung companies.
Over 40?
ReplyDeleteIf you're an older worker, consider a bull's eye painted on your back:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Story?id=7042634&page=1
Because that's how The Company, Inc., rolls.
9;04 That is a list of deadbeat media companies, and yes GCI is not on the list. At least, not yet. But both S&P and Moodys downgraded GCI's debt, meaning it is heading in that direction.
ReplyDelete12:24 I saw that, too, and wondered how they came up with that figure since GCI claims it now has 41,5000 employees, compared to 42,000 last year. I don't understand the difference, unless GCI has been growing some parts of the company (digital) at the same time it has been laying off or buying out the legacy portions.
ReplyDeletesome good news. the unsung hero awards have been announced:
ReplyDeletehttp://finance.yahoo.com/news/Gannett-announces-winners-of-bw-14615966.html
Good news. But why in the world don't we hear this from Gannett. We have to find out about it from this Blog or from another news source.
ReplyDeleteFaber on CNBC this morning ripped into Gannett, saying local ads have collapsed by 50 percent for newspapers and TV, and that Internet ads have slowed dramatically. He pointed to GCI's $400 million debt, and was skeptical that GCI's $700 million in EBITA can hold.
ReplyDeletecorrect $4 billion in debt.
ReplyDelete"Good news. But why in the world don't we hear this from Gannett. We have to find out about it from this Blog or from another news source.
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 10:02 AM"
That's because it's public relations propaganda.
"See? Look! Gannett is OK!"
The subtextual point is that The Company, Inc., actually cares about the work people do.
This'll probably show up in the Ganneteer. Or not. Don't want to praise the slaves too much, you know...
Gannett/Tara C. do a poor job of communicating with its employees. The true test is today: Unsung Heroes. Even good news can't be disseminated because the structure doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteAs for the earlier poster saying, "I won't lose sleep just yet," you shouldn't ever lose sleep. If you work hard and you're learning/honing new skills, you're going to be fine.
Have confidence in yourself!
Arazi,
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea what you are talking about: the structure to disseminate this news does, in fact, exist.
It was posted on the company intranet AND the press release was distributed via the e-mail (which ANYONE can sign up to receive).
Sorry Arazi, but in environments like these, even the best of employees are being given the boot.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't seen it, then you're not as plugged in as you should be.
OK. Company intranet means nothing to me because I work outside of the office most of the time.
ReplyDelete(I'm one of the workers who actually works.)
When I'm in the office, I don't have a computer at my desk. Cutbacks.
I just now checked my Gannett email, my official conduit to GCI, and there is no message from corporate.
Thanks for playing, though.
As for "the best of employees being given the boot" ... I didn't say we'd all keep our jobs.
ReplyDeleteI said the hard workers and innovators are "going to be fine."
Fine with GCI? We shall see.
I stopped worrying several months ago. I'm happier and more productive than ever.
"If you haven't seen it, then you're not as plugged in as you should be.
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 10:44 AM"
Another Zengerdroid.
If you were unaware of your condition, then you are not as aware as you should be.
Happy motoring, droid.
I am 32, and still paying off $30,000 in debts left from university loans. Now I am sitting at home on my furlough week, and wondering where I go from here. I don't make a lot at GCI, but I once loved this job, and loved reporting. No more. I am shattered, scared, and wondering where to turn.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started as a local reporter, I spent most of my day gathering news, reviewing court papers, sitting through meetings of government officials, or monitoring politcal events and community meetings. I gained a lot of local knowledge about how this community worked.
But two years ago, the brains that run this newspaper began to implement changes "to take us to the Web." My reporting day involved writing shorts for Metromix and Moms sites, etc. Because of newspaper space reductions, my stories were cut to three grafs and put on D-3, stripped of any context or detail. There has been a noticeable shift from quality to quantity, and editors don't really care what goes in the paper. Today we rewrite press releases and do phone interviews rather than go to meetings. We make damn sure at every opportunity that references in stories are made to bargain sales at advertisers like Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware, and to keep references to Wal-Mart out of copy. At our information center, we went local-local, but that didn't mean more community news and more local reporting. It meant stories that are advertorials. Features now are spiked unless they have some link to advertisers or new Hollywood movies.
The newsroom rumor is we are losing money, and the paper is awfully thin. I am glad to have a job, but with furlough time on my hands, I am sitting here wondering if it is worth it anymore. I think we are all wasting our time.
Another day of whining by people with no skills. These people planned to camp out for a career in newsrooms, but now those dreams have been shattered.
ReplyDeleteThe people who hired them did them and the company a disservice. The company racked up losses and saw few gains, and the workers without skills now have to run for cover in a difficult economy.
Their lack of writing ability will be exposed very quickly, just as it is on this blog on a daily basis. I mean, we have "writers" who cannot bang out a complete sentence to save their lives. How were these people ever hired to begin with?
11:58am said "Another day of whining by people with no skills."
ReplyDeleteBut YOU seem to be here just the same, reading, posting, not doing your job like you're telling other people that they're not doing theirs!
I'm not a manager, but at the AZ Republic Gannett is sticking it to it's managers just as it's doing to workers. I wouldn't want to be a manager for anything right now. The nail that sticks out gets pounded down!
Do you remember the days,when News Papers helped keep things on a little more even keel.When you were proud to display PRESS on your hat!
ReplyDeleteEVERYTHING SHOULD BE OK NOW !! IM HERE!!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how well Gannett's web traffic has been growing? Is it still growing by leaps and bounds like it was before everyone converted to Publicus and the standardized design template?
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering how many of these knee-jerk, get-rich-quick schemes actually improved traffic. It seems like the sites are more fragmented, cluttered, slow loading, ravaged by intrusive ads, and difficult to navigate than they ever were - a stark contrast to news sites such as Reuters and CNN.
Has the explosive growth slowed, flatlined, or decreased as a result of these mandated changes?
Unions suck, they marginalize everyone. If you are good you deserve the money you earn, if you aren't then you don't. Unions just keep everything great for everyone, when in fact the only people making money from unions are the lawyers that run them. I agree this company has too much mgmt at the local levels but you can't tell me you wouldn't do the same job for the same pay if you had those gigs. You should have stayed in school longer instead of settling for a blue collar grunt job and let some union lawyer argue your pay instead of earning a degree and getting it yourself. Yes this company needs to go in a different direction but being pro-union just proves you gave up a long time ago. Because you are mad at the mgmt for sitting around and collecting big paychecks, when in fact that is exactly what your union dues go to, an overpaid lawyer that does nothing and collects your money. So in fact your argument about mgmt is somewhat hypocritical.
ReplyDelete12:37 PM
ReplyDeleteCheck your assumptions please about skill level and union jobs. Chances are, you got your early education from people who worked under collective bargaining agreements.
Leave to Gannett to be up with the latest news on its own corporate website.!!!
ReplyDeleteNOT!
The unsung heroes was on the web, but ironically, not a word - yet - on Gannett's own site? I'm sure it will be up later today... maybe...
But apparently, there sure is no sense of any urgency to provide information fast and efficently... hey wait... wouldn't a thing like "The Internet" be a cool idea?
Maybe someone should pass along this revelation to corp.
How pathetic. And how glaring is this of how far this so-called "information" company has sunk?
Interesting that Gannett is laying off people but is still advertising for job openings . . . 37 open positions as of today on CareerBuilder. . .
ReplyDeleteCan anyone confirm that the executive editor position in Hattiesburg has been eliminated?
ReplyDelete12.37 you don't have a clue about unions! Our money goes to lawyers? Yea right! I have never seen one lawyer negotiate one contract in my lifetime! The lawyers are always on the company side. You sound like some snotty nosed kid that thinks he is going someplace with gannett..................hahaha see you and your dashed dreams at the finish line!
ReplyDelete11:39, my advice is to stop sitting around pining for the old days. Use your furlough time to get out there and find something else to do. Think of your time off as a gift. Gannett doesn't deserve your talents any more. Don't let them use and abuse you and keep you down.
ReplyDeleteI know from experience that it will be the best thing that ever happened to you when you leave this company. Good luck to you.
Re: 11:39
ReplyDeleteGood advice indeed!
Hattiesburg exec has INDEED been cut!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know about Gannetts poliys on hiring temps to cover a person furlough leave? Doesn't seem like it saves much money if you hire temp help.
ReplyDeleteFeel the love in this thread...
ReplyDeleteFeel the panic...
All of this nonsense couldn't happen to a bigger bunch of Zengerzombies.
"I know from experience that it will be the best thing that ever happened to you when you leave this company. Good luck to you.
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 1:01 PM"
This is absolutely true.
The sooner you understand that The Company, Inc., doesn't love you, the better off you'll be. The debt-capitalist corporate model is dying as we watch. Time to relocalize.
In my opinion over the next 5 years GCI employment will drop from 42,000 today to 10-20K.
ReplyDeletePlan accordingly.
Look you don't have to be a genius, read some history on what happens when technology makes a product obsolete. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disruptive_technology
If you want to save your company figure out what companies like Western Union or you'll end up like the buggy whip industry.
Be proactive instead of complaining and spending time on this board.
I totally agree.
ReplyDeleteThe company, and the people who run it, don't care about you. That's OK if you know that going in. Emphasize the great things about your gig and do work that's up to your standards.
It works for me!
... as if "spending time on this board" and being a proactive employee are mutually exclusive endeavors.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Craig!
Earlier Gannett Blog item on Fort Collins Coloradoan indicated that the paper has 250 employees. That hasn't been true for years (probably taken from Gannett's website). Truth is in a story today about the shutting down of the press and resulting 48 jobs lost. Here's the paragraph with the true number:
ReplyDelete"When the press is closed, the Coloradoan will have about 110 full-time employees, a 45 percent reduction in staff since January 2007."
So, take with a grain of salt any information you see regarding how many people are employed at various sites.
I don't think anyone posted this yet, from Wed. news release:
ReplyDeleteMcLEAN, VA - Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) will provide a live Webcast of its presentation at the March meeting of the Media and Entertainment Analysts of New York, the company said today.
The Webcast will take place at approximately 12:45 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, March 18, 2009.
Hey Jim!
ReplyDeleteI just sent you $20 - so you can get 10 shares of Gannett stock! I remember when it hit 90, and my publisher at the time said I would be stupid to sell because it was going to hit 100. not. He's no longer with the company either!
Keep up the great work! My husband and I are no longer Gannettoids - I left on my own a while back, he was laid off last year - but we invested a total of 50 years with the company. Hard to totally let go! We are very happy and have a life for the first time! (Jim - I owe you a picture of my ring!)
And you who do not like Gannett Blog or Jim, my advice is don't read the blog. Duh.
Layoffs must be coming. The same people that suddenly wake up from doing nothing and start to work so it appears that they are useful to the company are now trying real hard to get noticed. But what have they done in January and February? They are part of SOGD (Save Our Graphics Department)
ReplyDeleteWow, an almost 50% reduction in forces in Fort Collins, and all after just building and opening a brand new building just a few years ago. What wasted money and space. Great foresight Gannett.
ReplyDelete@1:04 p.m. -- Meanwhile, managing editors' positions are supposedly going to be eliminated when they're vacated.
ReplyDeleteHmmm ... who'll be running newsrooms? The senior reporters?
Fort Collins is making good money, no way close to losing money. The internal destruction was eagerly begun by Christine Chin who couldn't cut staff fast enough. Gannett's furlough program is a joke especially when a loaner is brought in to fill for key staff being furloughed. Payroll, travel, hotel and rental car far exceed any savings from being furloughed.
ReplyDeletewhat a other EE postions eliminated besides the report about the one in Hattiesburg? anyone know?
ReplyDeleteSome managing editor positions and the people in them SHOULD be eliminated.
ReplyDeleteWho the hell needs executive editors when all the marching orders come from Dubow & Co.? Most exec eds are between a rock and a hard place: They might want to do some serious journalism and might have some great ideas, but they have to follow orders from above. Since that's the way things are, might as well dump all exec eds and reinvest the money in actual workers.
ReplyDeleteWhy have an AME in charge of Graphics and Web Design, when all the web sites are formatted and there is hardly any graphics in the newspaper or on the website?
ReplyDeleteThere are days when I read this blog and feel I am back in Paris during the French Revolution, and watching Madame Defarge doing her knitting as heads rolled. Yes, off with their heads. So let's roll out the EE's across the company and get it over with.
ReplyDeleteNEW RUMOR ALERT!!!: March 18th is D-Day. At LEAST 5 papers will be closed. Everybody will be required to work one hour less per week. Copy editor positions will be consolidated under a new plan (not sure exactly how this works) over 500 layoffs expected, but the are reconsidering fortunately. Instead, they are going to ask those making over $100,000 to take a 10% cut and those making less to take a 5% cut. Those making under $42,000 will see no cut. At union papers this will be a challenge, but with the threat of layoffs, they probably will concede. If situation gets worse, Gannett will be selling or getting rid of any paper deemed not profitable and turning those it keeps into online only sites (Seattle folks)
ReplyDeletePlease don't feed the trolls.
ReplyDeleteMy old managing editor Zengerbossie once suggested I read "Atlas Shrugged" and she was serious.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ginandtacos.com/?p=1305
Seems like there are lots of Randians in the Gannett power structure.
Anyone else get that feeling?
I don't wish ill on any hard-working Gannett rank and file. However, I am laughing my ass off at the arrogant idiots allegedly running the company. The ones who unceremoniously showed me the door, at the age of 43, after 14 years on the air, and told me my "numbers" weren't good enough. Well, back then, when I cashed out, my Gannett stock was worth $87 a share! Thank you Jesus! for getting me outta there while the gettin' was good. I just feel bad for all the poor bastards who will be let go with their 401k's in tatters, at -- 1.99 a share! It wasn't the rank and file who did it, it was the greedy management and now they are getting what they deserve. Why don't you folks cash out all that stock now, retire and live the good life down in Florida -- in a trailer park. What goes around, comes around. I'll put Dubow et al in the same category as Bernard Madoff -- he "made off" with your money, Gannetteers, and should face the same sentence and a lifetime of shame.
ReplyDeleteIn the last round of layoffs at the Arizona Republic, BOTH managing editors were bounced, including one who had been promoted only a couple months prior. So now we have an editor and vice president and an executive editor, then five thousand directors. Nutty.
ReplyDeleteI've just renamed this post, Special Proxy Watch Edition. That reflects the imminent public disclosure by Gannett of the newest proxy report to stockholders, showing how much it paid CEO Craig Dubow and the other top execs for last year.
ReplyDeleteI've left Gannett but while working there was always struck by the high management-to-reporter ratio.
ReplyDeleteI think this helped keep creativity down at Gannett -- managers where always overly enthusiastic about corporate dictates and led like sheep to bad journalistic practices.
I think some management has been nicked by the rounds of layoffs at the company, but am not sure that there's not still an imbalance
Anyone have a better idea?
Jim,
ReplyDeleteWho cares what they got paid. Shouldn't employees just all work together and try and turn this company around? Are you attempting to create a class warfare between management and the employees? Seriously, if this is all you have, you should just close this blog down. How immature of you.
So, big deal. All these guys (and gals) got paid millions. I just care about me and my family.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to post today's "URGENT!" on Gannett's stock. My hopes for the future rise and fall on those important daily posts!
anon 5.30 go ahead stick your head in the sand, while the capatins of the ship take all of the booty and abandon ship with their golden parachutes. Gannett must really love you as an employee! Quote," I only care about me and my family". Now there's a self centered statement. You should be asking........ Do you think "gannett" cares about you and your family?
ReplyDeleteHey Jim question for you and I hope you answer this question because you seem to never respond. Why dont you try to get all the Gannett employees to rally around another. Every new post on your blog is bashing a new person at Gannett. So you got laid off a couple years ago and now you are getting back at Gannett. If you care about the employees still here why dont you help us not put down the company who pays for my food and families heath care??
ReplyDelete5:30 p.m. you are right on. And regardless of recent layoffs, there is still an overload of managers. My theory as to the reason why is that managers are salary, and can work 50 or 60 hours a week, while the hourly toilers dasn't get overtime. Of course, some managers at my place of employment don't do shit, and in less than 40 a week, but those that do make up for it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anon 5:30p. I mean, it is interesting and something I would want, but I am not sure hyping the salaries of these executives is even meaningful to employees. I just want to keep my job and help contribute. In this day and age, I think we need to be less abusive and more positive.
ReplyDeleteThere are families devasted with the loss of innocent lives with the murderer in AL. We don't need anymore rage here or anywhere in this company.
5:50p you are CORRECT. Jim is a bitter blogger and this blog only cares about taking people down and ripping down any shred of hope. Jim is an instigator and people fall for it all the time.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see people starting to fight back this rhetoric. People should be proud of the work they do and their collegues (regardless of who they are and how much they make).
ReplyDeleteJim, maybe you can find other things to blog about instead of how much money people make and what perks the have. Who the fuck cares? Seriously.
5:50 pm: You have simply contributed to the very problem you identify. On your next visit here, please: Instead of whining about all the complaints, offer some of what you seek.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a correction on your comment: I was laid off in a voluntary buyout on Jan. 11, 2008; it was not a straight layoff a "couple years ago."
Wow 5.30 and 5.50 are the same poster agreeing with thier previous statements........trolls
ReplyDeleteThe same people that pay Jim $20 to support his blog are the same retards that buy The National Enquirer at the supermarket check out counter. They care about nonesense because they are too weak to admit their own problems.
ReplyDeleteI agree with those who believe all management is stupid and all rank and file employees are smart. I once had a friend who was smart but then he got promoted and he got dumb.
ReplyDeleteI think Jim is weak and has problems. Gay man needs love and the fact that USAT fired his ass and "fell out of love" with Jimmy, he is upset and needs a little stroking. He also needs to feel powerful and dominating so he continues this silly blog. He doesn't feel good about begging for money and won't admit his blogging job just isn't cutting it.
ReplyDeleteToo bad jimmy :(
It's nice to see the cool aid drinking management have decided to participate in the dialogue on this blog with their foolishness. Good try, but no dice. Gannett is an evil company now being driven into the ground by a bunch of incompetent, overpaid drones who worry only about themselves. The majority of the "community" newspapers owned by Gannett have been drained dry and ruined. Sure the world has changed and so has the way people get their news but Gannett cares only about money for the select few. Finally the institutional buyers of Gannett stock have seen the light and many have bailed out. The recent small short-term uptick in the stock market in general is the only reason that Gannett's stock has moved into positive territory at all. This blog is valuable and will continue to be so. Jim Hopkins has done a remarkable job providing an outlet for the thousands of frustrated (and screwed over) Gannett employees present and former and stock holders too.
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 6:25 PM - Angry homophobic asshole who continues drinking the Gannett kool-ade
ReplyDeleteThree cheers for jim!!!!!!I pray for the demise of the management trolls that love to pick the cheese from their feet!!
ReplyDeleteI totally care what the bigshots are making. I'm looking forward to seeing just how totally out of line it is with reality.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people out there keep repeating the "pay for performance" mantra. Well, how many of you out there - stockholders, employees, ex-employees - think Dubow and Matore deserve one damn nickel for their "performance"?
I totally care what the bigshots are making. I'm looking forward to seeing just how totally out of line it is with reality.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people out there keep repeating the "pay for performance" mantra. Well, how many of you out there - stockholders, employees, ex-employees - think Dubow and Matore deserve one damn nickel for their "performance"?
During contract negotiations in Indianapolis, the company is demanding Guild employees take a 15 percent pay cut.
ReplyDeleteI know Jim personally and he does have problems. I am actually a bit surprised by his behavior. Jim seriously find a job. You are making a fool of youself. You are so much better than this.
ReplyDeleteJim does seem desperate. I like the blog, but for the wrong reasons.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you call people who go where they don't like the people, talk about subjects they have no knowledge, and prove every time they sit at the keyboard that more of us need editors than have editors?
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, that would be you whiny fuckers. For chrissakes, if you don't like swimming, don't come piss in our pool.
"I know Jim personally and he does have problems. I am actually a bit surprised by his behavior. Jim seriously find a job. You are making a fool of youself. You are so much better than this.
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 8:03 PM"
Playing the "disgruntled or worse" card on Jim, I see.
Zengerbossies perpetuate the self-loathing: It's what makes Gannet such a great company!
How lame and weak you droids are. When you get the axe, you'll have nothing left...
"Too bad jimmy :(
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 6:25 PM"
Typical ad hom, last resort of the weak and fascist Zengerbossies.
It would appear that the "manager" zombies have networked and are swarming the blog.
ReplyDeleteS'all right. Just wait a while and they'll need to suck some more high fructose corn syrup and fall into their nightly torpor state. No need to fear the undead.
;-))
Wait, someone is defending paying millions of dollars in salary and bonuses considering the performance of the company for the last year?
ReplyDeleteAnd we should ignore that performance when most of us are stockholders, for however short a period?
I don't care if these posters are the top management trying to deflect a proxy fight, or trolls trying to start an argument. There is no better group of people to discuss the performance, leadership and pay of the CEO than the people who directly see the results of his decisions.
-Publisher called a mandatory staff meeting for tomorrow. Of course management lips are sealed.
ReplyDelete841 - if it's a mandatory meeting, everyone in your building knows about it. Give us a little more, at least what state you are in.
ReplyDeleteWhy hasn't USA Today named an editor yet? Is there just too many managers there to justify adding yet another during these troubled times or does Gannett have some other reason for not filling the position?
ReplyDeleteI am not a big proponent of the paper needing to fill the top spot. God knows the last few editors did virtually nothing. Some actually did damage through their negligence. Nonetheless, it seems odd that a paper as big as USA Today doesn't have an editor.
3:45 a.m. -- You may be right. It might be time to shift some of the middle managers to hourly.
ReplyDeleteBut here's why Gannett won't do it: I am a middle manager in a small newsroom -- what would be called a "city editor" in the actual world.
I left work at 7 p.m. today. I arrived at work at 7 a.m. today. This happens about 3-4 times a week, with 10-hour days for the rest. I eat lunch in front of the screen - daily.
I edited somewhere north of 15 stories/briefs/etc. for Friday's paper, sent 12 of those up to the Web, wrote a story, talked with callers to the newsroom, went to three meetings (light day), called some sources to confirm facts in stories, edited some of the weekend stories, managed six direct reports (story conferences with two) and two "corner office" editors, proofed a couple of maps, and did some advance writing for the weekend (I have a beat). Then I blogged.
Buck me down to an hourly reporter spot and I'm fine with that (hell-ooo life!). The pay cut that goes with it won't balance the 18-20 "free" hours they'd be losing every week.
Doesn't compute - Dubow is better off with me where I am. At least I hope so.
There are some good, helpful posts about Jim today.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Jim, get some counseling. Obviously you're broken-hearted and brain-dead.
You could and should get help for those problems. Likely it will take a long time before you see much progress, but that's OK. You've probably failed often, but learn to move past that.
8:55:
ReplyDeleteSounds like you need to work smarter, not harder.
Why do I care what Dubowe makes? It means nothing to me.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that if he wasn't CEO, someone else would be. Maybe Moon or Dickey or Davidson.
Moon would make about the same as Dubowe, Dickey probably a little less because of less experience. Davidson probably more because of the exchange rate.
Bottom line, they'd all make the same, or about the same. And if they went outside it would be a lot, lot more. Just look at the deals we write about in the paper.
So get real, who cares what they make. It is irrellevant.
Get ready for layoff's you piece of shit union losers and shitty reporters. Your jobs are going good bye!
ReplyDeleteClass warfare doesn't work anymore. Try and find a job with "Newspaper Reporter" as your experience. Pricks!
Good luck. You have been outsourced to bloggers.
You can stick your 1st amendment bullshit on a piece of toilet paper and wipe your asses with it.
Dickey is going to throw your asses out. Get ready for a big announcement you scared pussies.
I love seeing fear in these lazy ass posters.
Heaven could only hope that they would go outside and make more. Obviously, if they haven't, it's because the market doesn't want them any more than people want our stock.
ReplyDeleteIrrellevant.
Really.
Like spell check.
Some crap on here is just crap. We all agree on that. However, now and then there's a gem.
ReplyDeleteAs for Jim... At times he goes over the edge, actually way over the edge. Again, there are times when he does great reporting. Example, the Gannett Foundation stories.
Hell, without this blog I would not have known:
1) Our pensions are not 100% safe
2) That there's a genius somewhere in corporate finance on loans.
3) We'll make it until 2011 at least
Wow, Jim, looks like you've struck a nerve. Management is running scared. Kill the messenger and all that.
ReplyDeleteThis tells me all I need to know about this fucking company. I now officially hate Gannett, too. I hope they do sell off my paper; I'm sure there are some locals who could scrape together the money to buy it.
Truly, the personal attacks on Jim, the homophobic rants, the overall tenor of these trolls if illuminating. You all have fun in the shell of the crappy company when the rest of us have moved on, voluntarily or otherwise.
3/12/2009 12:37 PM...this is for you. My Dad was a union leader that fought very hard for union benefits in the 50's. He especially believed that health insurance was important to union workers and their families as well as the company he worked for. Healthy people are more productive. Why did he fight so hard for insurance? My sister, when she was 18 months old, was in a coma from encephalitis and suffered brain damange. THERE WAS NO HEALTH INSURANCE TO PAY ANY OF THE BILLS. There were just big bills. My Dad saw the way lack of health insurance affected his standard of living and the increased financial pressure and wanted to save other families from the hardship. So, 12:37 p.m., before you belittle unions...all your damn benefits at Gannett have come through the hard work of union leaders like my Dad. My sister's devastating illness lead to my Dad's leadership role. So, 12:37, you can simply go to hell!
ReplyDelete"You could and should get help for those problems. Likely it will take a long time before you see much progress, but that's OK. You've probably failed often, but learn to move past that.
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 9:00 PM"
The only mental illness I detect here is in your post, 9:00 p.m. Narcissistic self-loathing with perhaps a touch of megalomania, probably with a little OCD mixed in, just to make it fun? There are plenty of meds out there that will help you feel better, Zengerzombie. I think your generous Gannett plan covers 20 visits a year to a mental health care provider. Use them, you bitter ape.
Gannett needs to start charging all these online sites to use their news reporting. I cannot believe the company has not thought of this. Do a google search and see how many of our articles are used. Even if Gannett charged a nominal fee, can you imagine the revenue.
ReplyDeleteAlso Craig, if you are reading this, I did my own focus group with friends, and you know what I was told — no one wants to read the local news online. They want the paper in their hands. They will go online to read articles from The New York Times, but the local news they want delivered to their door to enjoy with their morning coffee. Newspapers are not dead. Concentrate on local news and you have your market share. Put the rest online.Also, think of all the other uses of newspapers; something to wrap your crabs in, line cages at animal shelters,potty train your puppy, put on the floor to build your child's project for scouts, start a fire with. The list is endless. I can't imagine a world without newspapers.
Actually, Jim needs the 20 visits. This blog is likely a creation that stems from the hostility inherent to gay men who find themselves unwanted and unemployable.
ReplyDeleteHe would likely be a dream -- in a non-sexual sense -- for any psychiatrist because he'll need loads of therapy, far more than the 20 visits.
Someone will get rich from untangling that mess of passive-aggressive, self-loathing, homosexual anger within his soulless, brainless body.
"I can't imagine a world without newspapers."
ReplyDeleteYes, but I can imagine a world without the skill-less drones who thought they could camp out in a newsroom for a career simply because they believed in a warped, dying ideology.
It will be a far, far better world, at least for everyone who is ready to evolve.
I feel bad for your sister. Sorry dude, but I still think unions are bullshit mobsters.
ReplyDeleteThey are a waste of money and don't represnt shit anymore.
"So, 12:37 p.m., before you belittle unions...all your damn benefits at Gannett have come through the hard work of union leaders like my Dad. My sister's devastating illness lead to my Dad's leadership role. So, 12:37, you can simply go to hell!"
ReplyDeleteUnions are worthless and encourage stupid people to claim they are not the problem.
You are too wrapped up in your tear-jerking example to see this. Open your eyes, and embrace the future.
Wendall Van Lare will fuck up all the unions.
ReplyDeleteIs Tara Connell a lesbian? I am and I think she is hot.
ReplyDeleteIt is both unfair and juvenile to criticize Jim Hopkins for freely dedicating so much of his time on this blog. Without it, we would not have a clue about what is going on-- even in our own newspapers. To criticize this man for the minor imperfections on this blog is truly self-defeating.
ReplyDeleteWhile the rest of us might use the time in a futile pursuit of new employment, Jim is SERVING all of us. We probably owe Sparky a great debt of gratitude for enabling Jim to do this.
When the homophobic crap starts on this blog, attempted bullying takes on an ugly face. Those who attempt to play the sexual orientation card don't realize how many of their co-workers they are disenfranchising!
Some are just not willing or ready to "come out"-- but we read what you write and hear what you say. We will not forget your bigotry.
Sent to you from workers at every Gannett site in every location still operating.
"... the hostility inherent to gay men who find themselves unwanted and unemployable...
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 9:55 PM"
Obvious projection.
"We will not forget your bigotry."
ReplyDeleteThe goose bumps are too large right now.
"We probably owe Sparky a great debt of gratitude for enabling Jim to do this."
Is his name really Sparky? This is better than the movies.
"Obvious projection."
Nope. It's a conclusion based on years of observation of people similar to Jim. It seems to be one that is hitting a nerve with many here.
Realize it, and realize it now: If you are pinning your hopes on Jim Hopkins, you are not hitching your wagon to a star. He is destined to fail and to fail hard.
9:55 and 10:04 it appears you folk are the ones that are f--ked up.
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 10:03 PM
ReplyDeleteUnions had a place at one time, and yes I thank your dad for the things he did.
But the unions now are not the same as long ago, I have seen first hand the lazy asses at work, I would love to see them strike, I will cross right over the line and step in on any given day!!
"I would love to see them strike, I will cross right over the line and step in on any given day!!"
ReplyDeleteNo, you won't. You'll hide with your penis between your fingers, just as on any other day.
4:13 p.m. ....
ReplyDeleteOMG, me too! When she told me to read Atlas Shrugged, I thought she was kidding. She wasn't. She got laid off so I dont have to worry about a pop quiz...
9:55 PM--No psychiatrist specializes in "homosexual relationships." If your wife is a graduate of some Bible college in the South, admit it. None of those people are psychiatrists because they are not smart enough to get medical degrees first.
ReplyDeleteIf she truly is a psychiatrist of any merit, how could she remain married to a person of your obvious lack of intellect.
Please Zengerbossie, may I have more expired Pepperidge Farm cookies? Will it be Chinese or Pizza tonight?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete"4:13 p.m. ....
ReplyDeleteOMG, me too! When she told me to read Atlas Shrugged, I thought she was kidding. She wasn't. She got laid off so I dont have to worry about a pop quiz...
3/12/2009 10:22 PM"
4:13 here...
No way! So it wasn't just me. I'm glad you're still getting paid, at least, for what that's worth.
When mine suggested the book, I gave her a befuddled nodding stare, something like one of Jennifer Aniston's neutral blank looks in "Office Space."
It only got better after that, in an Office Space kind of way, after that. Good times...
Lots of Randian turds lurking here.
I dont disagree with that at all.
ReplyDeleteI should have said Rick Warren bobblehead dolls.
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ReplyDelete"anon 5.30 go ahead stick your head in the sand"
ReplyDeleteJim likes to put his head in the sand.
He also likes it when someone eats a lot of those Pecan Sandies, and then he can put his head in pecan sand.
OVERHEARD: You think seeing those people cry at the Rocky Mountain News was bad. Wait until tomorrow. HUGE layoffs to be announced at noon tomorrow. You'll probably read about first on editor&publisher first though. Gannett has set a target of 30% layoffs. They will be combining presses wherever possible. Copy editing will be done mostly at a central hub except for sports. So say goodbye to most of your copy editors.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to be a very sad day tomorrow. BE PREPARED. If you are a non-union shop expect layoffs to already be worked out. Bring a box! Seriously
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ReplyDelete"If you are a non-union shop expect layoffs to already be worked out. Bring a box!"
ReplyDeleteAsk a female co-worker if you can fill her box.
I have nothing against Republicans. I have voted Republican. George Bush is a category all unto himself. But out of respect for Jim, I will watch the political references.
ReplyDelete"Realize it, and realize it now: If you are pinning your hopes on Jim Hopkins, you are not hitching your wagon to a star. He is destined to fail and to fail hard.
ReplyDelete3/12/2009 10:18 PM"
FAIL worse than Gannett and its fascist little Zengerbossies?
I seriously doubt that.
Jim's already won, judging from your anger at him. He'll die a happy man in 30 or 40 years knowing he did the right thing and everyone here who understands that truth will always appreciate him for his work. He's got much bigger balls than you do.
You, however, will get chopped in the next round of layoffs, eventually get caught sick with inadequate insurance coverage, all your money will be taken by the "health care" system, and that'll be it for you, with nothing but a few ignorant anonymous angry blog-thread posts as your legacy.
Very sad, very sad.
is this is what its come down to? Useless posts that focus on sexual choices and b.s. about layoffs that are meant to scare people?
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of time. Pointless. Let's focus on the bigger picture, people.
"You, however, will get chopped in the next round of layoffs, eventually get caught sick with inadequate insurance coverage, all your money will be taken by the "health care" system, and that'll be it for you, with nothing but a few ignorant anonymous angry blog-thread posts as your legacy."
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I'm already prepared for those events. Yes, something unfortunate could happen, but right now I have plans in motion.
That's because I wasn't clinging to some outdated, dying ideology where I could romanticize about the way newspapers used to be while expecting the chain to give me a career.
Most people here don't seem to be in that situation, though. That is what's very sad.
Remember that in the future when you are lecturing people. Jim is destined to crash and burn; he will take you down with him.
"Let's focus on the bigger picture, people."
ReplyDeleteThe bigger picture is that many people who never should have been hired into newsrooms are there. Let the chain prune out the people with no skills. Let it evolve.
Go away troll!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you 10:13 p.m.!
WOW!!...I'm not sure what to say.
ReplyDeleteMy husband works in a Gannett mail-room ( obviously a union mbr.)...Neither of us have finished college, but have worked hard to see that all 4 of our kids have a chance at a degree, ( with 2in college now).
I assume the bulk of people posting on this blog are journalists, in advertising, accounting, etc., and have at least some higher education...But, if the level of intellegence and verbal ability that's being posted on here is a indicator of what a college degree gets you now, we could have saved a lot of money by encouraging the kids to go to trade school instead.
Geeeez, my high-school educated only, husband has about 100% more class in his little union pinkie, than a great many of the people posting on here today.
Wow. The gay-bashing trolls are out in force. You really did hit a nerve, Jim. And I love the comment about anyone who'd donate being the type who'd buy the National Enquirer. To the person who made that comment, have you seriously looked at any Gannett website lately? Between the "Hot Dads" contest and the Metromix slutfest, the National Enquirer may actually be a step above anything Gannett is producing. And don't give me the crap about working to improve things. I made my suggestions on things to improve the website. I was first ignored, then later ridiculed. And then I got out to a place where I get to do good work and make suggestions and have influence on what the company does.
ReplyDeleteI come here to defend the people who are still trying to fight the good fight, despite the efforts of Dubow, et al. People who still try to put out a good product, who still work their asses off trying to fill it with advertising, who still believe that newspapers matter, even if Gannett has become irrelevant.
"Geeeez, my high-school educated only, husband has about 100% more class in his little union pinkie"
ReplyDeleteSo he does his work the right way, unlike many union members? Shows up for work?
And let me guess -- his union pay scale is far above his education level, skill level, and work value.
Yes, we need to emulate him, and keep the nation mired in mindless, overpaid wage-earning jobs for as long as possible.
Realize this: You have been allowed to get more benefits than you are worth. Simply accept it and shut up. Don't dare to lecture anyone.
"People who still try to put out a good product, who still work their asses off trying to fill it with advertising, who still believe that newspapers matter, even if Gannett has become irrelevant."
ReplyDeleteSounds like you need to work smarter, not harder.
Good luck with that.
Ooops, sorry for the double post...Not sure how that happened!!
ReplyDeleteJim, I would be very happy to see you start zapping the poisonous trolls who are trying to overhwelm the blog with their assaults on you.
ReplyDeleteI know you are reluctant to eliminate criticism aimed at you, but your real readers should not have to wade through the phony arguments started by these guys (or more likely one guy).
That kind of poster only wants to drive the legitimate audience away by turning the comments section into a mud pit. They add no value, and as a subscriber I will support you completely if you take a more aggressive stand against them.
@10:56 PM Ew.
ReplyDelete@10:52 PM Congratulations on the achievements you and your family have made.
Dan Nakaso to the rescue!
ReplyDeleteRE: A lot of people out there keep repeating the "pay for performance" mantra. Well, how many of you out there - stockholders, employees, ex-employees - think Dubow and Matore deserve one damn nickel for their "performance"?
ReplyDeleteWho says they didn't have a good year. Compared to others in their groupings they had a great year. People think that since they did some things people don't like they are dunces. Well, who would be better?
Yes everyone knows, CA paper. I wish I could tell you more, but like it has always been, no communication from management.
ReplyDelete8:41 -
Stop feeding the trolls. This is a blog about GCI. Don't get distracted.
ReplyDelete"So he does his work the right way, unlike many union members? Shows up for work?"
ReplyDeleteHe's missed 4 days in 28yrs...And he's done it with quiet dignity. ( Or is that a foreign concept?)
"Realize this: You have been allowed to get more benefits than you are worth. Simply accept it and shut up."
Uhhhhhhhhhh, OK, whatever you say big boy!!
"Don't dare to lecture anyone."
As if, I'd ever DARE to lecture anyone so high up in the Gannett hierarchy as I'm sure you are.
Forgive me if I digress a bit, ( and I hope I don't offend), but...
EAT SHIT AND DIE!! :)
The comments tonight are a clear indication of why this company is in trouble.
ReplyDeleteHaving this amount of immature minds working in tandem could never succeed at anything but failure.
The comments tonight are a clear indication of why the company is in trouble.
ReplyDeleteThis amount of immature minds working in tandem can only succeed in failure.
To 5:50,, 6:03, 6:12 and the rest who want to see more rallying on this blog . . . .
ReplyDeleteDo it.
If you think posting rallying cries and "attaboys" will turn Gannett around, do it.
If you can't think of anything to rally behind maybe you need to rethink your premises.
"EAT SHIT AND DIE!! :)"
ReplyDeleteNon-clever union response. It comes with the territory of earning pay beyond one's education, skill level, and job importance.
Make that non clever union SPOUSE reponse.
ReplyDeleteJust dumbing down to make sure you got the message!!
And yes, it is wrong to feed the trolls, but sometimes it's just too easy!! :)