Earlier: A memo posted here by an anonymous Gannett Blog reader, and attributed to Press & Sun-Bulletin Publisher Sherman Bodner, says Gannett's three Central New York papers are to be merged into a single newspaper, with the "working title" of The Press-Journal. The memo also says plans are in motion to eliminate the Saturday edition, "while we examine the results of the hybrid print/nondelivery experiment at our sister paper in Detroit."
Anonymous@11:14 p.m. posted the text. At this hour -- it's now 3:11 a.m. ET -- I am unable to corroborate its authenticity, so consider this information at your own risk. Still, the note looks alarmingly genuine, and the news import is so high, I'm elevating this to its own post.
The memo says the other two papers that would be merged with Binghamton's are the The Ithaca Journal, and the Elmira Star-Gazette. Significantly, Elmira traces its history to the daily Frank E. Gannett and partners bought in 1906 to establish what is today's Gannett Co.The timetable appears to be short, the memo says: "More details will be coming in the next weeks as to exact timing. Please stay tuned. We'll be notifying our advertising partners of these changes in coming days, so please keep this news inside the company for now."
There's no reference to any job cuts. But the memo has surfaced amid a new round of newspaper layoffs that began this past week. Plus, a merger of the three papers would fit with Corporate's new push for newspapers to establish regional design centers. These hubs would handle page production for several publications. Corporate wants them online as early as possible in the year's second half.
Can anyone confirm this memo -- and add details? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green rail, upper right.
This makes total sense. Ithaca should have been merged with Binghamton 3 years ago.
ReplyDeletecant confirm
ReplyDeletebut that makes sense they allready merged the production department from elmira and ithaca to bing
they layout all three papers in bing
they print all three papers in bing
i remember hearing a rumor that news was merging...from elmira and ithaca to bing
there also shrinking the paper in bing sooooon
hmm where would all the advertising go?
haha interesting tid bit jim
I just love your silly notion of "a new round of layoff."
ReplyDeleteYou'll be able to make that statement for years since the bizz will be a constant realignment. I would think as a journalist that you would recognize the difference between a round of layoffs and a constant shrinking and adjusting.
When do you start your new job with the National Enquirer? You must be "interviewing by blog" since most of your recent material would certainly fit in that model since it is easier to make up things and feed the paranoia than it is to only report the truth and facts without a non-stop editorial opinion. A slight touch of truth with 90% fantasy. Enquiring minds want to know.
Something about this reeks....saturday is our heaviest auto adv day of the week next to sunday.
ReplyDeleteIt is addressed to CNY all.....yet I for one did not get this email...I am a mid level manager and have not heard of this common masthead idea.
There are also huge disparities between the numbers of ads for each site. Other than a few common open pages, making the papers the same on a mass scale is impossible.
While it is true that ad production and many news functions have been consolidated to binghamton, the grand unification theory smells like a forgery.
At least Gannett will have some more cash to work...
ReplyDeleteNewspaper property sells for $3.32M
APRIL 2, 2009
Pressconnects.com
VESTAL -- Gannett Satellite Information Network Inc. recently sold its Vestal Parkway East property to FGR Vestal LLC for $3.32 million, according to a deed filed with the Broome County Clerk's office.
The property houses the Gannett-owned Press & Sun-Bulletin. The Press announced on Saturday the sale and planned move of its Vestal offices to an undetermined location, but at the time, did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. The Press also operates a production facility in Johnson City.
Principals of FGR Vestal LLC, of Johnson City, include members of the Akel family, which owns Giant Markets.
If it's a hoax, someone spent a lot of time crafting a joke about a community of people who are no doubt living one of Binghamton's darkest days. Very low if they did.
ReplyDeleteGannett doesn't care about the people, the properties, the branding, or the work that so many good people have put into these properties over the years.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a department head for Gannett in the early 80's I was proud of it. Now I wouldn't go back to Gannett for any amount of money.
For those of you that think this is a hoax :
ReplyDeleteYour so way out in left field . They have laid off & shut down The Elmira & Ithaca facilities and staff . They have moved all production to Johnson City , printing with the Press & Sun Bulletin . Circulation has taken a deep cut on all 3 newspapers.
The Ithaca Journals Home Delivery for the Saturday's edition is down to 8,000 copies ! And just another FYI, The IJ only averages 18 Advertisements for the Saturday Edition. The Star Gazette's Sunday's Edition is down to 30,000 The Press & Sun is down nearly 50% from 2001 to 56,000. Why wouldnt they merge them ? Just this past week, April 17, they have laid off more Circulation employees.Bodner has done away with the Auto Book spoke of in previous blogs . Nearly 75% of the non- daily publications have been done away with . The only thing keeping the Production Facility alive are the Commercial Print jobs that were seriously underbidded. And- they are in threat of losing those 3 accounts as the Production Manager they transferred from Poughkeepsie would rather threaten employees with bodily harm to keep them on the clock for a 16 hour shift , and go home himself, rather than caring about the quality of what they are sending out.
I say to Mr. Bodner ... WAKE UP ! Get out of the woods!!!
You have destoyed what Bernie tried to build by closing your eyes, allowing these YAHOO's to take over the JC Facilty ! Quality used to be important . And knock knock , if you dont do something about your captains, Circulation will continue to drop, the Commercial Print will pull out !
The web cut-down is currently in progress. The papers will be smaller by the end of June.
ReplyDeleteAs said before .... The Commercial client , NYC pub, Village Voice PULLED OUT !!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete