The flagship newspaper employs the most Gannett reporters with national news "beats," so any writer's departure resonates across the company -- especially if their jobs get eliminated. Now, just as healthcare reform is heating up again, medical industry reporter Julie Appleby is leaving after 10 years to be a senior correspondent at Kaiser Health News service, National Journal says, citing Covering Health blog. The news service is funded by the Kaiser Family Foundation. USA Today spokesperson Alex Nicholson had no comment on possible changes in White House coverage, or in Gannett's Washington bureau, National Journal says. But USAT isn't advertising to replace Appleby, National Journal says.[Photo: Covering Health]
The brain drain continues. Moving to ContentNone.
ReplyDeleteSaw USAToday for the first time in a long while. Was on a business trip with the paper deliver to my hotel room door every morning.
Eating breakfast took longer than reading MacPaper. Not what I remember under Curley and Mazzarella.
USAT has lost some of the brightest reporters, editors and creative folks in the business. Some left on their own. Some were actually forced out, which is just mind boggling, not to mention demoralizing to those of us who remain. It just leaves me shaking my head every time I hear of someone else leaving, wondering how a national newspaper can ever compete with such a depletion of skill, talent and old-school work ethics.
ReplyDeleteThe paper's chiefs purposely gutted many of the things it once did very well. Allowed buyouts and layoffs of all the people who should still be there during these troubled times while leaving in place some of the most incapable people you'll ever see in a major newsroom at a major newspaper. Some saw the writing and left before they could be kicked out or relegated to some ridiculous job. Some have been so damn down about all the good folks who are no longer there that they are frantically looking to get out.
ReplyDeleteThis is just one example of that. Once the economy picks up, many more will leave. You can't run a flagship paper with the people who are now in place on the front lines. I can't tell you how bad things have gotten there in the last year or two. There is little written or visual journalism taking place at USA TODAY. All bets are on digital, but that's a whole other disaster story for another time.
Jack Kelly to the rescue!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete3:59 pm. Sorry about that! I just removed your comment. Based on my guidelines, here's why:
ReplyDeleteI scrutinize every comment that includes names, job titles or other information that could identify individuals where they live or work.
I'm more likely to remove comments about individuals who aren't "public" -- that is, better-known people like your publisher, group president, and on up the line to CEO Craig Dubow and the board of directors.
This isn't a new rule, or one just for this thread. Now and then, I try to explain why I edit comments, so everyone can better understand my decisions. This is one of those times. Thanks for your patience.
I think "spokesman" Alex Nicholson is a female.
ReplyDelete10:10 am: Ooops!
ReplyDelete