Saturday, August 06, 2011

Note: This post is now an apology to my readers

I apologize for posting something in this space earlier today that I thought was clever, but which I now regret. I've pulled the item -- a step I've rarely taken in the nearly four years I've published this blog. I'm leaving most of my readers' comments up, however, because I accept the criticism. (I've only removed those comments that I think would continue to offend some of you.)

58 comments:

  1. Old news......not kidding

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  2. This is mean spirited. Take it down.

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  3. WTF Jim?

    Is this the level you're aiming for?

    Disgusted.

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  4. Heh he is a Mirror Award winner. Now the truth comes outf. He is an angry ass. Tell them why you are really angry with Gannett Jim. Folks it has nothing to do with your treatment. You want to dish dirt pal, tell the folks the truth.

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  5. This really sucks. Its one thing for anonymous posts to be snide and juvenile but for Jim himself to go schoolyard makes me sick to my stomach.

    Enjoy your blog, Jim. I've been a big supporter but this is too childish and pissy. Sure, you can analyze the quarterly reports and all but stuff like this undercuts everything you are trying to do.

    Go to hell. Gannett deserves a grown-up critic, not a self-loathing ex-journalist. Really low rent.

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  6. Old news here... move along. Nothing to see.

    It is a little Page Sixish... but juicy gets hits. USA TODAY knows that well.

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  7. 7:25... "this undercuts everything you are trying to do."

    What is he trying to do?

    Just asking...

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  8. Jim just jumped the shark.

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  12. Talking to all the female readers. Maybe you should think twice before you send your next $10 to this publisher who so obviously respects women. Now there is a real story.

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  13. How do you spell M I S O G Y N Y? Just kidding, NOT

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  14. Nothing ever posted on this blog has dusillusioned me more than Jim's cheap sexist shot here.

    Count me out too. I already feel cleaner.

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  15. To think I once sent you money.

    Very disappointed. What were you thinking?

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  16. What an embarrassing post, Jim. Here I am thinking this blog is our company's best informative platform because noone is willing to tell what is really going on. Then, you come out with this trash. Disappointing. Gannett should start their own blog and begin communicating in real time what is happening in the company... be honest and candid. Open communication might collapse this house of cards called the Gannett Blog. Jim continues ro compromise his own credibility with his own agenda. Gannett should comprise a way to communicate daily and erase Jim's ability to leverage his slanted, biased opinion.

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  17. Whoever said "jumped the shark" is right.

    Many of us don't mind a sharply critical platform to talk about Gannett, even if it leads to predictable ugliness. we are all mature enough to sort through such crap.

    But when Jim himself signals that personal potshots are to be encouraged, that's when things have gone too far.

    I agree with those above. I am very disappointed. A needless post by the moderator that will lose him many supporters. Consider me among the disappointed.

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  18. Also very disappointed. Never mind your news judgment, Jim -- where is your judgment?

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  19. All Jim's critics are now proven right.

    How could you, Jim?

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  20. How is anyone here surprised? We've known several things for two years:

    (1) Jim has a grudge against Gannett for many reasons. The primary reason is not that Gannett is run poorly. It's a personal one. Remember when Jim was afraid of posting his reviews? There are clues in those to his real motive here.

    (2) For some time, he has allowed and even encouraged personal attacks on Gannett executives. This has escalated quite a bit recently because Jim is a terrible moderator. People know they can post these attacks.

    (3) Jim has serious mental issues. These seem to escalate near the end of the summer. Two years ago, he had a serious breakdown, shut down the blog, and fled to an island. Today's incident could be the beginning of a similar pattern.

    (4) Expanding on point 3 -- usually when people exhibit this type of behavior in August, it's a deeply rooted fear of events linked to that time. Likely Jim was either a failure in school or targeted frequently for abuse.

    (5) Finally, this blog has always been destined to fail from within. This series of events shows Gannett Blog is coming off the rails. It's only a matter of time until the demise.

    (6) The combination of all those factors indicates the blog will be history by Labor Day. Jim might even be in treatment by that time. Let's hope he gets the help he needs. Until then, maybe he should think about stepping away for a while. The pressure is getting to him yet again.

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  21. I have to add my opinion.

    The attack above is a natural result of Jim "jumping the shark," as so aptly put by someone else.

    I have lost all respect for Jim, and he has hurt his own credibility. Very bad incident.

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  22. Stay the Course8/07/2011 9:24 AM

    Dear 2:18 - While I didn't see the original post, is it necessary for you to "pile-on" in such a fashion? "Failure at school" "Mental issues" and in the same post you ask him to post his reviews.
    Jim owned up to his mistake, took down the offending post and posted an apology on what amounts to the "front page" of the (and not buried in a small box on page 2, as most newspapers do).
    Anything remotely approaching sexism should be off limits. Hopefully this is a lesson learned, because I'm sure 2:18, your career has been perfect, without a blemish or misstep. Maybe you'd care to post your reviews as a shining example to Jim and the rest of us. And Jim is commanding such a huge salary for doing this.
    What Jim has done pales by comparison when you think of what the executives have done to the employees of this company and what this once proud company has been reduced to.
    Let's remember the bigger picture. No Jim and no blog means no information except what the company spoon feeds us. We would all do well to stay on topic in the future.

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  23. Stay the Course8/07/2011 9:26 AM

    end of graph 2 should end with "site." I'll own my mistake too.

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  24. 9:24 Just FYI: 2:18 posted their comment before I pulled down the original post.

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  25. I did not see the original post. However, I have always taken responsibility for my actions and never been afraid to admit mistakes.
    Jim deserves applause for owning up to a mistake in judgement. Good for him. Now, let it rest.

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  26. Oh, please. Jim, don't let these Gannett yahoos get to you. How some of them accomplished a hundred word essay on your two word post is fascinating for sure, but it just shows how little real work they have to do.

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  27. I missed the original post but have a ton of respect for the fact that he owned up to what he now views as a mistake. Some of you are worse than a school yard bully.

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  29. Disturbed by the post, of course.

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  30. Ugh. Hope this doesn't end with the blog being taken down in some weird, shadowy, dramatic fashion.

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  31. I didn't see the post, but Jim owned up to it -- more than I can say for many Gannett types I've encountered through the years. Get over it people ... as for 2:15's six insults -- wow, you talk about grudges and mental issues?

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  32. 1:46 That's not going to happen.

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  33. Stay the Course:

    Good try, but everything you typed is an example of the weak excuses that have enabled Jim.

    Jim is insane. We've known that for some time, but yesterday proved it.

    He's afraid to post his reviews because they would show Gannett became aware of it, too. And they would show his true motive for this blog.

    Remember: Jim is insane. This should be taken into account with his every post.

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  34. Can someone explain what was posted and what all the drama is about?

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  35. 6:00 don't you have some elderly subscribers you need to rip off? I realize name calling is part of the Gannett atmosphere but there's only so much you can fit in the day and still make money when you're running out of people to fire. You should really get back to scamming the general public.

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  36. I didn't see the original post but accept Jim's retraction and apology because I take it in context with the hundreds of posts and thousands of hours of journalism he's done here. Everyone makes a dumb move now and then. Jim: Don't let the attacks get to you. They don't come from the typical Gannettoid passing through here. That kind of animus only comes from someone with an agenda (or an assignment).

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  37. 7:28 " I didn't see the post" but I still have an opinion. And that is the problem. You have no idea what you are commenting about but I will support this guy anyway. That ladies and gentleman is the clear definition of a Lemming Troll!

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  38. I heard she called her lawyer and they were going to seek punitive damages. At the very least make Jimbo spend some cash to defend himself. Stay tuned.

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  39. The Little Rock Mafia can work this out on their own. Jim will get some Arkansas ground turkey in the mail and everything will be hunke-dory.

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  40. 7:28, you are such a stooge. Lemming Troll is the right name for you.

    8:04, normally I'd ask for proof of that. But Jim never demands proof, so I won't in this case. Keep us posted on what happens. I'd love to see Jim have a meltdown in court like he did at the shareholders meeting.

    Jim will be seeking treatment for mental issues, either voluntarily or involuntarily, by the end of 2012. Bank on it.

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  41. What was the title of the original post or what did it cover?

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  42. I've felt for some time that this blog would end with someone suing Jim, either for something he posted or something he'd allowed to be posted. "Reckless disregard" keeps popping up from j-school. And that you said something stupid about a female exec doesn't sound surprising. I continue to be amazed at the abuse you allow folks to heap on female execs, the stuff that is personal, nasty and has nothing to do with job performance. I liked this place once. I now hope you get what's coming to you.

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  43. See the interweave of the last couple hours of posts? There's probably a script at work. Who wrote it?

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  44. 10 p.m., Jim will get what's coming to him. It's just a matter of time. He and the lemming trolls will try to spin that into some sort of threat, but it's the truth.

    I know someone who had every intention of suing Hopkins a while ago. The legal advisor said the chances of winning were high, but the damage potential probably wasn't worth pursuing. So nothing happened. It was your garden variety libel that Jim usually lets slide.

    Also, I seriously believe Jim has no idea of the difference between a nasty, personal attack, like the ones on Crotchfelt, and something that's a legitimate criticism of an executive. And there are too many people here who simply did not want to work hard, so they criticize any manager who pushed them. They can do it because they are anonymous.

    All of that history is going to take Jim off the rails, perhaps soon. Anyone who pursues anything in court is going to have a mountain of evidence of past transgressions.

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  47. Furloughed Fury8/08/2011 9:10 AM

    Well judging by some of the "comments" (I am not including those of genuine concern about the content of the original post) it appears that corporate has restored the payment of O/T, since the troll patrol is clearing putting in extra hours. Don't let these clowns deter you from your prime mission Jim, shining the light of truth on the company. The "silent majority" of employees depend on your reporting.

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  48. Stop stalking me Jim!! Calling my house at 6 am is not journalism. A real journalist doesn't hide behind a gmail
    Phone number. You joke! Don't delete this post or if you decide to you should first explain to your readers what I'm talking about!!

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  49. What a day for the Jim-haters! He finally made a big mistake and you jumped all over it. You've had your scripts ready, your venom has been exposed. I didn't see the post, but I'm sure it was highly offensive to many people. So, he took it down but left the comments here for all to see. Wonder how many of us would have done the same. Stay with it Jim. Bad moment for you, but stay the course.

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  50. At least Jim's mistake didn't cost thousands of jobs and billions in lost shareholder value.

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  51. Big bad Gannett suing poor Jim over his little blog, which just happens to be critical of their company. Maybe they'll bring back Ed Cassidy to handle to PR.

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  52. Seriously, having read it, I still have no idea what the original post was about -- all six words of the title and two words of the post. I don't know why Jim needs to apologize, and even less what this troll-fest is all about. Best guess is something happened at Gannett that made the post title sting someone's conscience pretty hard. After all, people don't lay down this amount smokescreen for nothing. Dig into it, Jim, I'm sure there's some truth worth finding.

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  53. Jesus, I take a few days off and all hell breaks loose. Just remember people, if you were perfect, you wouldn't be working where you are.

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  54. If you closely monitored the posts he allows many that are sexually charged and about female executives. That's about eyeballs people. There is no excuse about allowing such moronic behavior unless it was to spur page views.

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  55. From day 1, Jim never "got it" -- that this blog is not -- and should not -- be about him. First he flaunted his sexuality. Then his travels. Always, his passionate hate for Gannett threaded through everything. Jim, no one cares. Post about the company, do reporting. Now, he posts this reprehensible comment. Weren't you once a reporter???? Try objectivity. It's been known to work.

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  56. amen...and let's not forget the "what is my name??" egotistical "look at me" performance at the annual meeting...

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  57. Craig Sevier8/08/2011 8:22 PM

    In Jim's case, see, there's the act of someone with ethics. Human. Makes mistakes. And owns up to it and, get this, corrects it. This, of course, is a concept that must be Swahili to Gannett's leadership and its faithfully whored-out cheerleaders.

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  58. Sevier....c'mon. Libelous statements are over the line. If it was you he was referring to, your claptrap would be rage. But regarding incompetence, you've got Jim right on that part.

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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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