Sunday, January 03, 2010

Week Dec. 28-Jan. 3 | Your News & Comments

Can't find the right spot for your comment? Post it here, in this open forum. Real Time Comments: parked here, 24/7. (Earlier editions.)
at
Tags:

19 comments:

  1. Anonymous12/28/2009 11:08 AM

    Wondering if anyone has received any formal memos about when ad production consolidation will happen at their paper.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12/28/2009 12:24 PM

    The following memo regarding the ad production rollout appeared on Gannettoid in November. There is also a tentative schedule posted after this memo on that site:

    From: Stephansky, Cristen On Behalf Of Ryan, J. Austin
    Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:54 AM
    Subject: Revised GPC Roll Out Schedule


    Folks

    We continue to learn volumes in Des Monies and as such have revised the previous shared schedule to be more in line with the original business plan. Please review and plan accordingly. Additionally I understand from Roxanne that she has communicated to the Regional HR Director the pay out plan for positions eliminated.

    Thought I would additionally share some bullet points on progress in Des Moines:

    Des Moines Register is live as of Nov 2nd at the GPC. Week 1, GPC produced 1000 ads for the Des Moines Register and struggled with system and networking challenges. So far in Week 2 things are much quieter with communication (getting/sharing enough information) a challenge, but meeting with DMR daily to work through and develop a plan for future newspapers also many process errors on the sites part and we have reinstated outsourcing.
    Prior to conversion, DMR had only been using ATOL (online submission and proofing tool) for about 2 weeks. Struggling with educating sales rep, but arranged a refresher training session with vendor and this was very helpful for them.
    38% of all ad materials being submitted by DMR are late against deadlines they had given us.
    Continue to struggle with networking issues and are working through with Corp IT.
    Developing training materials for future site roll outs, and creating a share-point site for materials and schedules.
    Working on best practices as well for future roll outs and also a checklist to use throughout that process
    Spent time in UK observing consolidated centers with in-house ad production and out-sourcing will be setting up visits to those sites who have already accomplished some local area consolidations such as Nashville and Wisconsin but also New York Times.
    As I had mentioned early on to the Group Presidents this will be challenging but should allow us technology to enhance our relationship with customers as well as free up time for our sales group to grow revenue.

    Again if you have thoughts and concerns please let me know,

    Thanks for all the support

    Austin

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jim Hopkins12/28/2009 1:06 PM

    An observation: Online, Gannett's ad-production workers are among the company's most networked employees!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous12/28/2009 5:35 PM

    Thanks for the post about ad production. I did see that memo but thought corporate had to give a 90 day announcement prior to eliminating the positions. There was a rumor a new letter was seen but it has not surfaced. I'm thinking Gannett is realizing that this endeavor is more involved than they once thought and that the tentative dates have probably changed.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12/28/2009 7:25 PM

    Is it true that the building in Westchester has been sold? What will become of us?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous12/29/2009 8:24 AM

    You know all this talk about 2ADpro and Des Moines makes me think back. Yes, back in the day we used to create Spec ads in-house for the sales staff to take out and drum up new business. What ever happened to that idea, It worked wonders back then through several recessions.

    At the last paper I was at, they had it backwards. The reps would go out with nothing to show and try to sell promises. People are smarter then that, they want eye candy.

    Consolidate all you want Gannett you are doomed to fail as long as you don't innovate or at least learn from the past....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous12/29/2009 9:09 AM

    somebody needs to find out more info about this ad production consolidation in 2010

    is it still really going to happen? i dont see how it can

    i imagine they have no clue what there doing but it still seems like gannett is hungry to save a buck...at anyones expense

    this consolidation is just going to push advertisers futher away, they already messed things up monetarily, by bringing in 2ad pro and cutting staff, i just dont understand how these higher ups think isolating artists and sales reps and especially the customer is going to help business

    all the revunue is in advertising
    so the most brilliant idea is to isolate artist and sales rep and even further distance your customer who spends the money...

    recipe for disaster...unless this is ultimatley what they want

    i just don't get it

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jim Hopkins12/30/2009 11:39 AM

    Confidential to Anonymous@6:25 p.m. yesterday, who left the following comment: "You do know he is gay don't you Jim?"

    Answer: No, I did not. But I'm not sure how that affects his work at Gannett.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous12/30/2009 1:22 PM

    I have a question that's a bit off topic...Has anybody heard anything about more newspapers reducing home delivery to 3 or 4 days a week? It's been a while since Detroit did it, and I haven't heard whether or not it has been successful (if there is such a thing). I've been wondering if any other sites are considering doing the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous12/31/2009 12:53 AM

    I think it would be a successful move if Gannett reduced home delivery of all its products to zero days per week. That way people could start some newspapers that actually have a commitment to their communities.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous12/31/2009 1:14 PM

    I would rather have my ads built in Des Moines than India.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous12/31/2009 3:46 PM

    To Jim, Sparky and all Gannett blog readers, best wishes for a wonderful 2010. Hopefully better, in all ways, than what 2009 brought to so many in our extended family. Especially to you Jim, hopefully you will find the success that you deserve and have earned.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous1/03/2010 12:39 AM

    Boy it's nice to see Jim and this blog back. Happy new year.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous1/03/2010 10:15 AM

    How did your newspaper handle the Christmas through New Years period? Was is unusually understaffed?
    At Cherry Hill, both Metro editors were allowed to take vacation at the same time, while Executive Editor Everett Mitchell took some "me" time in Brazil for the fourth time this year. Mitchell leaned on a couple of people for Wednesday and Thursday, but we actually had no editors in the bulding Wednesday through Sunday. Friday to Sunday was just one metro reporter without anyone reading our copy.
    Can anyone beat that?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous1/03/2010 1:37 PM

    Yes! Very nice to have this blog back!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous1/03/2010 5:11 PM

    Happy New Year Jim - I know it may be a difficult decision, but I certainly hope you keep this blog going. I've missed you dearly.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jim Hopkins1/03/2010 6:48 PM

    Thank you, all, for your kind thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous1/03/2010 9:01 PM

    best wishes in the new year for you, Jim.
    so glad the blog is back. keep up the great work.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous1/03/2010 11:46 PM

    Jim, I'm glad you're back!

    ReplyDelete

New comments are not allowed.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)