Friday, June 10, 2011

June 6-12 | Your News & Comments: Part 4

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46 comments:

  1. For Part 3 of this comment thread, please go here.

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  2. Here's the lede of an interesting story on msnbc.com today: WASHINGTON — There is a shortage of in-depth local journalism needed to hold government agencies, schools and businesses accountable, the federal agency that regulates television broadcasters concludes in a new report.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43337502/ns/business-us_business/

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  3. Lots of posts concerning the leadership and
    lack there of. Many posts concerning the fact
    that this management crew is incapapable and do not have the skills to make Gannett a profitable,respected corporation that in was years ago.
    That being said ,all these posts will not majically change anything. Each poster should be concerned about one thing and one thing only.
    Getting the hell out ! Before they push you out!
    There has been few post this week about layoffs
    and cut-backs,does this mean thet are not going to happen .No ! The question is , when will the next round of layoffs begin and how many thousands will be unemployed !!!Focus !!

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  4. Who are the barbie twins and Ken? Give us names, who do they work for?

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  5. I see all the design hub designer positions are posted on careerbuilder.com. Wonder when this will take place to eliminate the current positions. Any idea if this will include the design of the niche publications too? (Such as moms, upscale magazine,zoned publications, etc.)If so, this would include many more people to be laid off.

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  6. Any truth to the Rumor the Craig and Gracia gave up their huge wage increases? I had heard that they realized that given all the cutbacks they implemented in the rest of the organization that allocating huge increases for themselves was simply immoral. They also felt that in was inappropriate because under their leadership the company has gone backwards not only financially but journalisticly. I was also told they also were concerned about the devastating impact that their huge increases in compensation were having on employee moral. Is this true? This would be an indication that they are not clueless, have some leadership ability, and have a heart. I hope it's true.

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  7. 9:54. That's sounds extremely doubtful. If they asked for and then accepted big pay increases during the 2009 meltdown year, why would they turn them back now, when times are better?

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  8. The duo could admit the errors of their ways, and take to the corridors of the Crystal Palace singing a Come Home to Jesus hymn, too. But somehow, I think they are going to just continue to pocket the cash.

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  9. 9:54am said "Any truth to the Rumor the Craig and Gracia gave up their huge wage increases?"

    If this happens it would certainly go against the trend corporate America has established for itself. Did Craig & Co. misjudge the effect furloughs, paycuts and vacation losses have had on employees while they lapped it up in the bonus and perk department? Gannett has no idea, no clue, how deep this has cut into employee moral. And it's across the board, blue collar and white, workers and management.

    Gannett management however, is doing what it has always done, maybe even taking it to new levels. However, the difference today is Gannett's employees have a place to go to compare notes and float opinions. This blog deserves the credit for that. Jim's forsight in starting it, even though he may not have fully comprehended the abject contempt many have for Gannett, has kept most of Corporate's decisions under scrutiny. I find it ironic that Gannett, a communcation power-house, can not communicate with it's employees. Can a company grow too big? Too top-heavy? Too insular? Sure can! Gannett has.

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  10. Way to go Gannett. Design studio jobs are posted on CarerBuilder before even telling us if we have jobs at the studios.

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  11. 9:54, that will happen when the sun rises in the west.

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  12. This would be an indication that they are not clueless, have some leadership ability, and have a heart. I hope it's true.

    6/09/2011 9:54 AM

    Not in your dream! Swine eat at the trough until it's empty.

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  13. I worked in Detroit for a number of years and watched Suzie Ellwood work(?). She is not effective, basically nothing special. Therefore, it doesn't surprise me that she has been "promoted" by GCI. That's the way it happens.

    Among the posts shown on this blog or the releases from GCI or memos distributed, rarely is "content" mentioned as being important or that the individuals are known for on the way up the ladder.

    Such a shame that GCI pays so little attention to CONTENT.

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  14. 9:39 AM they are on corporate payroll. Total waste of time and money in my opinion. Money which could be directed to helping sales reps do their jobs more effectively.

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  15. Hlllkirk bashers from the last thread: 1) Hillkirk is a typical editor - a shy man of few words but smart. An editor with the personality of an outgoing salesperson is an anomaly. 2) Rather than waiting for someone to lead you by the nose and tell you what to do, why don't you take some initiative yourself and try to affect positive change? 3) Careful what you wish for. Sounds like you have a lot of autonomy with Hillkirk and he assumes he has a newsroom full of adults, not children, who do what they are supposed to. Get a new guy in and it could be heller than hell.

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  16. How come I don't hear anything about Karen Crotchfelt in Indy? I'm concerned she hasn't won any awards lately, or given herself an award, or announced she's done something amazing.

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  17. Interesting approach to layout on the front of the Life section in USA TODAY today: when the article (a review of "Super 8") doesn't fit, just shrink the font. Simple!

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  18. Apparently GroupOn isn't all it's cut out to be, at least for the retailers. Here's one retailer's experience: http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/09/groupon-single-worst-decision/

    There's still opportunities in this market for someone to succeed, and supporting the local retailers, like newspapers used to do, is a big step in that direction.

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  19. Weiners and rubber chickens. Even a mention of Craig Dubow.

    This is what passes for journalism at Cherry Hill. So much for watchdog journalism.

    Oh, wait, she allegedly is an investigative reporter.

    http://blogs.courierpostonline.com/roh/2011/06/08/c-p-theatre-presents-the-distinguished-member/

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  20. Why is Gannett financing still spending corporate money on this failed branding campaign? I saw another branding ad on TV again this morning (Friday). They are just pouring good money on a bad project. Wake up Saleh.

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  21. As opposed to what we read about here all the time, try reading this, about the novel concept of creating a great brand by adding value. Craig and Co., please read closely:
    http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/112889/five-guys-eating-burgers-street

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  22. This branding campaign is going out the door as fast as "The Dig." What a waste.

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  23. But how do you know the branding campaign is a failure?

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  24. 9:55 because I'm sitting her looking out the windows of the Crystal Palace, and I don't see any line of advertisers clamoring to get in and buy ads in our properties.

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  25. 9:58 The only thing marching on this building are those huge concrete monsters advancing on Jones Bridge Road as the Metro encroaches.

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  26. The paidContent 50: The Most Successful Digital Media Companies In The U.S.: #12 Gannett
    http://paidcontent.org/list/page/the-most-successful-digital-companies/P14/

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  27. 11:50 Thanks. I posted about that list when it first came out in April.

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  28. 9:25, since you are the lone Hillkirk defender, ask yourself why he is not an engaging presence? Why has he doing nothing to boost morale? Why is he doing nothing to repair the broken fallout of the transformation. Why is he enabling incompetents who have turned a newspaper into a soft featured joke? Just stack up any competitor and see what they are serving up in print and on line. Delegating is fine if the right people know what they are doing. Most of John's don't. That's on him. So are most other problem issues. True leaders are engaged and are willing to problem solve. Smart or not, he doesn't seem to care.

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  29. Haven't heard much about demise of Metromix in Indy. Anyone have info?

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  30. 4:25 I just checked Indy Metromix, and the site is still up. What do you mean by its demise?

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  31. How is "Gannett Local" performing? Any legs to their concept? Any results from their efforts?

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  32. 4:25 and Jim
    It is my understanding that the Indy print version of Metromix will no longer be published. Can anyone confirm?

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  33. hearing 10-14 layoffs in july in cherry hill

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  34. Another post in this thread says, "Are there layoffs coming?" It's so pitiful to read. People are always asking that. Please listen carefully:

    The layoffs are going on all the time. At least a few quietly in Indy this week. At least one was a six-figure job. I heard of some other layoffs in the West last week. It's like roaches. For each one you see, there are many, many others.

    That's because these things are never announced unless they are part of a formal consolidation. Trust me, it's mostly on the quiet now.

    But they talk about and think about the next layoffs all the time, every day. If you are waiting for it all to quiet down, you are living in a dream world.

    How do I know? Because I used to be in on the conversations and planning. They were constant. Until I was one of them. Now I only hear because they are people I know. They call and want help to start a job search. I ache for every one of them.

    Yes, I know. It won't be you. We all think that, until we open the door and see that the wrong people are in the meeting and then realize the meeting is about us.

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  35. Nicely written post, 6:30. Have you landed on your feet? If so, how so?

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  36. 12:49, ask yourself what YOU would do to boost morale. As yourself what YOU would do when the cards are stacked against you. Hillkirk has no power - this stuff is coming down from above and there's no fighting it. He's probably just trying to ride it out until the regime changes - Hunke, Gracia, Craig. That's what everyone should do.

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  37. Where's the proof, 5:33? Without it, your statement is worthless. Offer the proof or don't waste our time.

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  38. To 6:30
    Sorry to hear ,good luck.
    The layoff comments are here because we want to know what's happening around the country.As you say,every layoff is done under the radar.There is no other way to find out what is really happening.
    I do not remember reading any recent posts about people being gone confirmed here.So what is the scoop ? People must not be posting the layoff information here and therefore they are really not known about.Jim, please urge posters to report these layoffs as they are discovered.
    If not ,Gannett will meet their layoffs goals and it will be totally covered up.

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  39. Attrition alone has reduced our payroll by 12 since the first of the year. But many more in July.

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  40. Attrition: 4 that I know of off hand at my site since q1. Rumor has it a few layoffs are about to occur. One of our top execs may be gone as well.

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  41. The staff reduction figure mentioned earlier on this blog for cherry hill is probably a bit low when you look at the state of newspaper. Still waiting to see if and when all of the nj gannett become one in some.form of new jersey today.

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  42. 7:16, Hillkirk isnt getting poor news judgement from above. He either has none, or he is disengaged from day to day decisions made by people below him. That's on him, not Hunke. As far as morale, I suppose you are right. I have to look at what I can do as a mid level manager. I guess I owe my team that much. But shouldn't I expect more from my bosses. They mostly act annoyed and happy to have survived. They seem under utilized, except for their meddling. Who is responsible for placing them in their roles if not Hillkirk? Does he even have a frigging clue that things aren't working and that product quality piss poor? This can't all fall on Hunke, the marketing geniuses and beancounters.

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  43. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  44. Hillkirk wont prevent your layoff, either. Unless you are high up the management ladder.

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  45. You can trace Hillkirk's Peter Principal rise to Hal Ritter, who promoted several people to jobs they were unqualified for.

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  46. Ah yes, many yes men (and women) were promoted at Hal's Houses of Pain. But many more careers were destroyed.

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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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