Thursday, June 18, 2009

Thursday | June 18 | Your News & Comments

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47 comments:

  1. Oh no ... where did all of the comments go?

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  2. HEY what happen to Wednesday?

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  3. What happened to Wednesday's comments????

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  4. Jim, what happened to all of the comments for Wednesday, June 17?

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  5. Jim: why do you leave on comments like this??

    Anonymous said...
    If Gannett is planning layoffs they need to get rid of people like the Publisers wife in Reno.

    6/17/2009 11:42 AM

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  6. I couldn't afford to buy groceries this week on my Gannett unemployment check, so I ate your words!

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  7. Maybe we need to start a Gannett twitter account. No one can track it just like what the reporters are doing in Iran now. Show Gannett we know how to crowd source too!

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  8. Could it be all the comments are from trolls? Time to shut the blog down?

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  9. 7:28 -- Jim leaves comments such as the one you mentioned on the blog because they are valid.

    Reno's publisher was brought to town with his wife in tow, both making generous Gannett salaries. She has kept her job through numerous buyouts and layoffs all designed to cut expenses.

    Nothing against her or the publisher, but it's only natural that the rank and file would wonder when her position will be cut, especially when it's not clear to anybody what she actually does.

    Perhaps an explanation would result in less resentment from Reno employees. As it stands, her position seems as though it was created simply to keep an already well-compensated publisher happy. Not the sort of thing you want going on when you are supposedly cutting the fat.

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  10. 3:35 am

    I didn't think we were attacking individuals on this blog. I guess we are. There we go on a slippery slope with no boundary.

    There is no conistency here. It's about ibiza or worthless questions or comments deleted for who knows what reason. I hope Gannattoid does better managing contect and staying on point.

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  11. Jim: you're still a doll!

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  12. Jim,

    Big doings in Phoenix. John Zidich sent us a note that Gannett is selling the R&G Ranch, a property the Republic has owned since 1953. It's got a pool, tennis courts etc. No word on purchase price but it's right in central Phoenix, so the land is worth millions. Or was three years ago.

    Also rumors making the rounds that they've hired architects or consultants to survey the Republic building and see if there's room in the Republic building to bring KPNX over.

    KPNX is currently in its own building about 1.5 miles from the Rep. The problem is probably the studio. There's no cavernous room at the Republic that could be easily turned into a studio so they would have to do a lot of remodeling to create a TV studio space. Also don't know how they would accommodate the forest of antennas growing behind KPNX's current space. There's definitely no room for that at the Republic.

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  13. Star-Gazette building reportedly sold. The First Gannett Newspaper Builing SOLD....MUST VACATE PREMISIES BY 8/1....CENTRAL NEW YORK IS THE MODEL FOR WHAT IS AND WILL HAPPEN EVERYWHERE ELSE!!

    Any confirmation on this? Heard from a very reputable source!

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  14. The sale of the R&G Ranch in Phoenix is a perfect example of absolutely no foresight by management. While I admit, I do not know the price, I'm sure it's dramatically less then a few years ago when there were several offers every week by interested parties wanting to buy the property. Apparently management then, in the peak of the real estate frenzy, honestly had no idea what the future held. Okay, I understand, nobody knew how bad things were going to get but certainly management could have seen where things were heading as circulation, advertising and such were already in a decline. Knowing the Phoenix market, and the need for cash at Gannett, I'll bet the sale price was 50-60% of the many offers a short time ago.

    Regarding the TV station moving into the building, great idea! Then they could televise the demise of Gannett's largest daily and what was once the proud state newspaper of record.

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  15. I wish all you people who hate your Gannett job so much would just leave so that those of us who LOVED our jobs but were laid off anyway could take your place.

    Furloughs or not, it's a damn good job.

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  16. Well, with all the layoffs coming, perhaps they are figuring there WILL be room in the Republic building...It makes sense to consolidate, if it is doable...
    Unfortunately, the quality of the newspaper is so poor nowadays and the staff is largely kids with little experience, that in the end, nothing will save the place.

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  17. With all of the real estate sales being considered, it sounds as if Gannett is in yard sale mode, just like the people struggling to keep up with the mortgage payments on the homes they overpaid for. Asset monetization is the mark of a company in desperation mode. Only Gannett is going at it in an asset-stripping manner. It should be trying to find buyers for its papers and TV stations intact, which would make them more desirable. Gannett may be quietly looking for buyers, but it will get its best offers by hiring an investment banker to magnify the for-sale process.

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  18. Wear this to work and see if it affects your status.


    http://www.yourcompanycollection.com/chiquita/

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  19. They used to say that McDonald's was in the real estate biz. The quality of the food was secondary to the value of their real estate. It appears as though G is following that model. The value, and quality, of their newspapers (and TV stations) is secondary to the value of the land they sit on.

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  20. Is the Phoenix USA TODAY office (Tempe) is still occupied? I can't believe they haven't put the remaining few employees at the Republic.

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  21. Gannett stock has dropped 25% in the last week while the DJIA has dropped 2.5%. I don't think there's been any exciting news and Mr. Dubows medical leave was announced during the last 7 days which didn't really change the sliding trend. If the stock gets back into the $2 range and the July layoffs don't help look for the stock to be around $1 by the end of the year, especially with Q3 and Q4 ad and circulation revenues comparing to last year's election period. That would unfortunately require corporate to completely re-think all they've been re-thinking.

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  22. 11:17 Great points but you assume the Gannett decision makers have a clue. The past couple years has shown a "cut expenses, damn the product" mentality. As a result and I believe across the board, every Gannett product is less viable to it's consumers and advertisers than it was, (and continuing the downward trend).

    The trend perpetuates itself. Managers covering their butts blame subordinates, readers complain but are deemed "not true newspapers readers", online's the future but suffering as well in part as the cuts to newspapers effect them in the loss of sales people, quality content, circulation that drives online visibility...

    Sad as it may sound, if we were told Corporate had a plan to allow the company to evaporate in 3 years it would almost make sense given the trend and lack of real plans and direction.

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  23. They have a plan. CUT EXPENSES. Question, If Publishers really cared, why dont they step up and take a 20% paycut? Or why dont all Directors take a 20% paycut? This would be a big savings.

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  24. So, I'm on furlough this week. Prepping for my son's grad party this weekend and I see 6/17 7:17 pm's comment

    Anonymous said...
    HEY what happen to Wednesday?

    6/17/2009 7:17 PM

    Now, I realize that I am in a drunken, cleaning the house state of mind, but I'm wondering that very same damn thing!

    I blame Gannett! First they take half my paycheck . . then they go and take Wednesday! It's humpday for goodness sakes!

    Also, just want to say to Jim, I know the blog is going away and the countdown is on. But, I deeply respect that you: 1) Sent out the Tara note and 2) Restored the missing content. You could have just as easily let it go, honorable right to the very end!

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  25. To 4:29 PM

    As much as everyone might love to hate the publishers and directors...what would a 20% cut from them accomplish?

    As the entire business model continues to unravel and revenue shrinks, would they need to take another cut next year,too? And the year after?

    "If they really cared?" Chances are they are painfully aware that "there is no plan" and are hunkering down like everyone else.

    Heck, the Gannett publisher of the year sold her $1.3 million dollar home a year ago and "down-sized" to a mere $500K abode. That would seem, in retrospect, to be handwriting on the wall.

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  26. Why a layoff now? Why can't it wait until end of third quarter?

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  27. I agree with 4:29 what does a 20% pay cut do? However, for the the Publishers, VP's, and Directors who have 1, 2, 3 or more direct reports, one might ask if perhaps it's time for some of them to go with their higher pay. Have the VP, Directors and such do a bit more work versus meetings and save some of the rank and file where you could be saving multiple positions at the expense of one higher paid butt kissing manager.

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  28. Take a look at that SUpreme Court decision on age discrimination cases that came down today. It is going to make it almost impossible to file for age discrimination if you are laid off. Thank Justice Thomas.

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  29. Dave Brauer at MinnPost has a nice piece on layoffs at GCI-owned KARE in Minn.
    http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2009/06/17/9606/kare_lays_off_newsrooms_heart_and_soul

    note the part that he was on vacation and out of town when the local hitlers pulled the rug from under him.

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  30. Will the people at Corporate GCI who managed to worm their way out of getting canned last time please step up to the plate when the next round of cuts occurs?

    It's time to stop laying off at the units and time to cut the fat at Crystal Palace.

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  31. There are still some good people, hard working newspaper people in the Gannett locations. Unfortunately, the majority are still there because they kissed the right butts and spend the majority of their time finding ways to point blame and take credit. The upcoming layoffs which are supposedly going to hit Managers will throw the company over the edge putting front line employees closer to upper Managers who prefer to distance themselves from the front line, readers/advertisers and those employees who come in contact with the street (reality). I remember a Manager telling me they wanted me to do a presentation for them as I would do for a client. I explained I know the client well and they prefer a simple exchange of ideas with a one-page outline. The Manager said she/he prefers PowerPoint. The client doesn't matter, I didn't matter and since leaving the company, I've repeatedly been called by clients having a good laugh over the inept meetings they've had with the newspaper. The common theme- The newspaper doesn't have a clue what's important to the clients and by their demeanor and approach to business doesn't care.

    They're right and that's how companies fail in good times or bad. My heart goes out to anybody losing their jobs but some have it coming and that day is soon.

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  32. Because they don't care about you, me or the company. They care about themselves, plain and simple. If they did care they would do whatever possible to keep their workers.

    But, what comes around, goes around. If Gannett goes to an all digital model — why do they even need a publisher, VP or ad director. They don't. They will one day understand what it is like to be in our shoes.

    They have a plan. CUT EXPENSES. Question, If Publishers really cared, why dont they step up and take a 20% paycut? Or why dont all Directors take a 20% paycut? This would be a big savings.

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  33. Layoffs may be tailored to each location. Rumor here is that there will be none due to previous cost savings.

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  34. 9:32 p.m.:
    So, where are you?

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  35. 4 signs of a dying company. Pretty much matches GCI
    http://tinyurl.com/kjtp67

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  36. Regarding 1:12 question about USA Today in their own Tempe, AZ offie. You are oorrect that they have only a handful of folks working in there but they've had a longterm lease which means even if they did move downtown, they'd still have to pony up the rent. I do think the lease comes due in the near future at which time I'm sure they will have to drive downtown.

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  37. Good luck finding a job after the cuts of 7/8/09.

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  38. 11:36 a.m.: That would probably only be meaningful to Cinty people.

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  39. 9:32 is correct, each location has been given a financial goal to meet either by revenue or layoffs. Corporate doesn't care how it's accomplished.

    And if I'm right, and revenues (ad and circulation combined) continue to slip, this process will be repeated.

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  40. At our newspaper what doesn't go on in the advertising department is disgusting and this is where they need to get rid of people. There are at least 3 'supervisors' and one so-called manager who truly do nothing all day. The one to blame is the advertising director (clueless illiterate) who lets this go one. Everyone and I mean everyone should be out of the building beating the streets for business especially during times like these. Instead...personal phone calls, yucking it up,pontificating bullshit and no productivity. EVERYONE in advertisng should be held accoutable for bringing in their own personally generated revenue to justify their existence.

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  41. 11:10 -- If everyone who hates their Gannett job left, the company would be unable to function ... even if they did bring everyone who was laid off back. I think you underestimate how many people are unhappy.

    And one of the reasons we're unhappy is that they've let so many people who care -- like you -- walk out the door.

    It's obvious that there's no long-term future with this company, as the management plan is short-term. So, what's to love aside from the paycheck?

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  42. In case you missed it, the other day the Philadelphia Inquirer wrapped it's front page with a page that announced it has become the number one paper in South Jersey.

    If that is true, that is a major blow to good old GCI, as the Courier-Post has been top dog since, oh, the day after Guttenberg's press started running.

    Finally, a fitting testament to the front-office geniuses who have run the paper into (below?) the ground.

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  43. It's simple math. If it's about saving money, there are more savings when you cut 20 percent from $100K or more than $30K. And there's NO reason for the suits to get multi-million dollar bonuses as the company continues to crumble because of their poor decisions.

    I still wonder why some shops have executive, managing, assistant managing and city editors on top of a publisher. There are fewer pages and less space, so fewer stories would equal less work for management, right? Last I checked, those aren't the people having to do photo galleries, blogs, online updates and videos on top of their original job responsibilities.

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  44. For a while now, the Courier Post has been selling a 99 cent a week "for as long as you are a subscriber" deal in rural towns that don't get any coverage from news or sports.

    They've never managed to increase their numbers in these places.

    Guess if you can't give the paper away, you're in trouble.

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  45. 11:36
    Everyone should be accountable and that includes everyone of the reporters who do stories on businesses that should be ads instead of stories. If the business is there the sales staff will go after it, the problem is the business is not there. If you had a retail business would you want to be aligned with a dying business--Newspapers?

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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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