Columbia University just announced the 2011 Pulitzer Prizes, and Gannett papers did not have any winners, according to my review of the results.
However, Matt Davies was one of two finalists for editorial cartoons in The Journal News of Westchester, N.Y. -- "work notably original in concept and execution, offering sharp opinion without shrillness." The winner was Mike Keefe of The Denver Post.
The Journal News laid off Davies last year, in a cost-cutting round that eliminated 30 jobs. At the time, he said: "I am crestfallen and angry, but also exhilarated."
Davies had previously been a Pulitzer winner, in 2004.
Today's top prize -- in the Public Service category -- went to the Los Angeles Times "for its exposure of corruption in the small California city of Bell where officials tapped the treasury to pay themselves exorbitant salaries, resulting in arrests and reforms.
However, Matt Davies was one of two finalists for editorial cartoons in The Journal News of Westchester, N.Y. -- "work notably original in concept and execution, offering sharp opinion without shrillness." The winner was Mike Keefe of The Denver Post.
The Journal News laid off Davies last year, in a cost-cutting round that eliminated 30 jobs. At the time, he said: "I am crestfallen and angry, but also exhilarated."
Davies had previously been a Pulitzer winner, in 2004.
Today's top prize -- in the Public Service category -- went to the Los Angeles Times "for its exposure of corruption in the small California city of Bell where officials tapped the treasury to pay themselves exorbitant salaries, resulting in arrests and reforms.
Wonder what Davies is doing now? Hopefully feeling more exhilarated than crestfallen these days.
ReplyDeleteAnd a big up to the team at the Journal Sentinel. It's good to see all their hard work receive such an honor.
EXPLANATORY REPORTING - Mark Johnson, Kathleen Gallagher, Gary Porter, Lou Saldivar and Alison Sherwood of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
I assume Davies submitted an entry on his own -- that is, Westchester didn't enter an employee that it had laid off.
ReplyDeleteThis says it all right here.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how talented, how great, or how productive an employee is, Gannett only cares about how much they cost.
There's no incentive in doing good work at a Gannett paper, unless you have a ridiculous amount of pride. And if you have a ridiculous amount of pride, you're better off saving that for a company that appreciates you. No matter how good, or how lousy an employee you are, Gannett will lay you off. Even a Pulitzer nominee.
It's amazing how many good people have been cut or pushed out at Westchester and its satellite offices while some highly paid folks of dubious talent remain Super Glued to their desks!
ReplyDeleteIt's only a matter of time before Westchester needs to make deeper cuts. The circulation doesn't even rate a "metro" designation anymore.
ReplyDeleteThere are still good people there, but they've lost so much more.
Anonymous said... westchester site can not cut any more staff it is down to the bone. unless they bring the people they laid off back.
ReplyDeleteThere's always room to cut more. Smaller news hole, filling Rockland editions with Westchester news, adding more wire stuff, making specialty reporters cover day to day municipal news, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd when the so-called design center sucks in Westchester, you can say goodby to layout and copy editors.
This is simply the G A N N E T T way. Corporate appears unwilling to accept lower revenue numbers, so as circulation and ads decline, the only option is to cut personnel.
There's always room to cut more. Smaller news hole, filling Rockland editions with Westchester news, adding more wire stuff, making specialty reporters cover day to day municipal news, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd when the so-called design center sucks in Westchester, you can say goodby to layout and copy editors.
This is simply the G A N N E T T way. Corporate appears unwilling to accept lower revenue numbers, so as circulation and ads decline, the only option is to cut personnel.
4/19/2011 11:19 AM
Who cares what is going on with a little tiny newspapers in the corner of the country. All we ever hear about on this blog is all about NJ crap. Let's here from other papers of just shut the F up.
Maybe the Journal Sentinel won the Pulitzer (in part) due to the fact that their journalists still work in a newsroom.
ReplyDelete