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Tuesday, June 14, 2011
39 comments:
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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I was just reading a piece on USAToday.com regarding people neglecting their 401(k) plans and the results. A particular line didn't sound right - turns out I had read it wrong - but the first thing I did wasn't reread the graf.
ReplyDeleteNo, I assumed that I read it right, but that I had somehow gotten into a 'paid content' piece without realizing it. So I started scrolling around, to see if there was any disclaimer or indicator that Hewitt or Fidelity or someone else had 'sponsored' the report. There was none.
It's a sad day, my friends. After literally decades of promoting the integrity of the reporting and defending against the conspiracy theorists who always believe the worst of us, in my heart of hearts, I no longer trust us either.
to 12:13 Am ,Unfounded predictors of doom ......
ReplyDeleteUnfounded ? The fiscal quarter and half year are going to be way down,that's known.When revenue is down,layoffs follow. How much more proof do you need than 3 years of one layoff round after another!!!!!
I look at the frustration in the eyes of my fellow employees. We all know we are witnessing a train wreck. The only folks that don't see it are the ones driving the train. We don't understand how they don't see the havoc their poor decisions, their lack of understanding of the realities of the business, their poor planing and their unwillingness to share in the pain is having on the rest of the organization. How do people so out of touch get in such positions of power? This will make a good management case study some day.
ReplyDeleteThere's a story on Houstonpress.com about a beer festival being oversold by 8,000 tickets. Looks like those who bought tickets through Groupon were really screwed. Here's a couple grafs.
ReplyDeleteLinebaugh had purchased tickets to the event through Houston Beer Festival itself and waited 50 minutes just to gain entrance. Unlucky attendees who had purchased tickets through Groupon were faced with the much longer lines that Rainey witnessed, however. In addition to aggravating those who had used Groupon and other discount retailers to purchase their tickets, Linebaugh says it bothered him that the Houston Beer Festival organizers were essentially penalizing those who had purchased their tickets ahead of time.
"Why punish those that actually want to go and bought their tickets earlier?" Linebaugh asked. "It should be the other way around. I was very frustrated when I saw the DailyDeal that came out a few days before the event advertising $12.50 tickets when I paid $20 per ticket."
That can't be good for business.
6:32, I'm seeing a lot of this. And it's not just with Gannett products but with the media in general. They're committing a slow suicide. Their relevancy has been replaced by sloppy, slathering marketing. To require standards is heresy.
ReplyDeleteI used to work intimately with dedicated people in this profession and in every single aspect of it, from sales, production, and writing and reporting.
Most of 'em (not all, yet) are laid off, retired or dead.
Yesterday, an anonymous poster was saying layoff lists had been sent out and were set to happen this week or next. The same person commented on John Kridelbaugh in Indianapolis. Did you mean you thought layoffs were coming in Indy?
ReplyDelete1:26
ReplyDeleteThat was me. The layoffs are coming to Indy and just about everywhere else this week or next.
1:26, which departments? And what is this related to, since you seem to be in the know?
ReplyDeleteWhere's the proof, 1:26? Either supply it, or stop with the crap about the sky falling.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if and when you are wrong, will you come back and admit it? Or will you pretend you never posted any of this? That's what happens here. People throw crap at the wall. If any of it sticks, they focus on how right they were. Jim is the master of this. But if it's wrong, then no one ever takes the fall or answers up for being wrong.
That's why this blog has far less credibility than some want to believe.
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ReplyDelete4:04, if you're concerned about credibility, reveal yourself. You an executive? Manager? Salaried? Hourly? Where do you work? I also suggest you understand the concept of crowd-sourcing. Just saying.
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ReplyDelete4:04 Be realistic. Gannett's business continues to decline while more new positions at corporate are being created. A classic move. Why wouldn't there be more layoffs?
ReplyDeleteIf I had a penny for each person who told me they were job hunting when I left G A N N E T T, I'd be rich! I feel so sorry for my friends that are still there. Keep the faith, friends. You'll find your way out soon!
ReplyDeleteA former Gannett manager, who found their way to another job, confirmed that lay offs are coming soon and "top" management will be the likely target. Only passing it on, don't flame broil me.
ReplyDeleteWhy does a business need so many chiefs or assistant managers anyway?
ReplyDeleteWaste of money obviously!
Why on earth would anyone be naive enough to think that there weren't layoffs coming? Of course they are. Gannett cannot meet any of its quarterly targets without them. Face it - Reductions in Force are GCIs most innovative revenue producer.
ReplyDeleteRegarding talk of Indy layoffs, saw this on Twitter earlier today from Indy Star's Metromix. Connection or is the print product leaving other cities too?
ReplyDelete@MetromixIndy: Unfortunately, it's true: We want to let everyone know that we'll stop publishing our print magazine after our June 23 Top Tweeps issue.
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ReplyDeleteExecutives are on the list this round of layoffs. That is what happened in Louisville and a list was created by MK in Rochester.
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ReplyDeleteARE THEY TAKING VOLOUNTARY LAYOFFS?
ReplyDeleteAny layoff info for Cherry Hill?
ReplyDeleteCurrently at another company, eagerly awaiting to watch the bloodbath from afar by GW. :)
If you are currently employed by Gannett and identify yourself on this blog, it would be a career ending move.
ReplyDeleteI agree that something ugly is close at hand. Have noted changes in the routines of VPs at my paper in the last week or so. Long closed door meetings on days which they normally don't meet. Meetings in which only the publisher, HR and finance VP attend. VPs which normally are outgoing seem very reserved and are not even saying "Hello" when they pass you in the hallway. The same actions which proceeded previous layoffs.
I hope I'm wrong, because I don't see how we can do our jobs with less staff.
It’s about time. Members of upper management should have been laid off a long time ago. My department had more managers than staff, and many of the “managers” did not supervise any employees.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to the way Gannett treats employees, a wise person once said to me--Gannett underestimates the PR value of their employees and their former employees.
ReplyDeleteSo who's getting fired out of Indy Metromix?
ReplyDelete9:40, you lost me. Are you calling for proof, or are you saying that Twitter post is proof? Halting one magazine is not proof of what people are claiming here.
ReplyDelete9:47, I need something more than your claim that something will happen in two weeks and that you have seen the lists. Why should I believe you?
Tell you what: If you post even a speck of proof, then I'll create an e-mail address where you can send the actual proof anonymously.
Ball's in your court, 9:47. Either provide some proof, or admit you have nothing. Not responding is an admission you have nothing.
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ReplyDeleteCraig, I'm not sure how your response follows what was said earlier, other than your bid to stroll down the path of Lemming Troll.
ReplyDeleteSome people here must be brain-dead. So, you're willing to buy into any rumor about layoffs, no matter what? The 30-month period of posting here and not working must be taking its toll on some people.
I've been reading this blog for a long time. But have never posted. But the truth...be told.
ReplyDeleteThere are layoffs and they will be at the end of period 6.
I've been wishing that some of the locations be sold off to local investors.
Because we know that you can make a good livin with 7 to 10% profit.
But a corporation this big and the times.
Beg to differ...
Good Luck to all!
Can anyone confirm the salary level(s) above which people were furloughed this quarter? Does it vary at all from place to place? I made the depressing discovery today that nearly everyone in my department (I work in the newsroom--sorry, Local Information Center--of a Gannett paper) was furloughed this quarter, and if they had to make $80K+ to get furloughed, they're making nearly twice what I am. Granted, many of them have 20-30+ years of reporting experience and I only have 13, but I feel like the gap shouldn't be that big.
ReplyDeleteI understand why no one would want to post "proof" of what they know about layoff lists. That doesn't mean what they say is inaccurate. If there are going to be layoffs this week or next, is it JUST management, or are others at lower levels included? And what criteria are they using this time around, or what departments are targeted? Any additional info would be welcome. Thanks.
ReplyDelete1:13, just stop with the good old days BS (all the dedicated staff are laid off, retired or dead).
ReplyDeleteIn other words, they are (were) the people who failed to grasp the changes besetting newspapers decades ago, clinging instead to 'standards' that weren't that impressive (check out microfiche of many papers from decades ago up to the digital age -- they're terrible).
Readers have very clearly shown what they want, and a surprising number demand quality your old-timers never came close to providing.
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ReplyDeleteI've removed a number of comments, many of which were simply repeating what other people had already said. I do this so readers don't have to wade through repetitive posts.
ReplyDeleteAs for the discussion about any pending layoffs, please see my first comment in edition in this No. 3 Real Time Comments open thread. Thank you.
I have been warned by my supervisor that another round of layoffs is coming in short order. It's his understanding that we're going to lay off "regular people" -- not managers.
ReplyDeleteSuch is life.