As a general rule, newspapers and broadcasters do a terrible job of covering themselves. That's why independent media watchdogs are so necessary. Here's a current example.
Corporate announced yesterday that it will move The Cincinnati Enquirer's printing to a non-Gannett site, and sharply reduce the newspaper's size.
The Enquirer reported the news in a story. Led by Publisher Margaret Buchanan, the paper itself issued a press release. Following are the first six paragraphs of each one, with only the time reference removed. Which was the story -- and which was the press release?
No. 1
Gannett Co., Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement with The Columbus Dispatch to print The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Kentucky Enquirer in a new, more compact format starting in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Gannett is the parent company of Enquirer Media.
The newly formatted Enquirer will be 10 1/2 inches wide by 14 2/3 inches deep, have the same amount of content, and still come in sections. Home delivery times will stay the same.
The new format, which allows more use of color, has tested well with advertisers and readers, who say they find it easier to use, said Margaret Buchanan, president and publisher of Enquirer Media.
“We are able to enhance efficiency while at the same time provide consumers with the bold new product they prefer,” Buchanan said. “For local businesses who advertise in the Enquirer, it’s a reinvented print medium designed for more impact.”
The agreement means Enquirer Media’s Queensgate print production facility will close next fall, impacting about 200 positions. Enquirer Media employs roughly 715 people in the region.
No. 2
Gannett Co., Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement with The Columbus Dispatch to print The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Kentucky Enquirer in a new, easy-to-use format beginning the fourth quarter of 2012. Gannett, parent of Enquirer Media, is among the first in the country to move to this new format.
The new paper will incorporate fuller use of color and photographs, a more compact and easy-to-handle size, bolder section fronts, and inside pages that are easier to navigate.
Enquirer Media first announced last August that Gannett signed a letter of intent with The Columbus Dispatch whose facilities could more efficiently produce the new format.
The change also means Enquirer Media’s Queensgate print production facility will close next fall, affecting about 200 positions. Enquirer Media’s overall operations currently employ about 715 people in the region. Gannett chose The Columbus Dispatch because its equipment is newer and more flexible than the Queensgate facility, and requires less capital investment to produce the new paper.
“We regret the loss of local positions, and worked hard to retain these jobs within Ohio,” said Margaret Buchanan, president and publisher of Enquirer Media. “Unfortunately, it was necessary to allow us to produce a better product more efficiently, and ultimately better serve the community.
“We also understand this will affect the Queensgate area,” said Buchanan. “We will be having discussions with the community about how we can best support this transition.”
Earlier: Margaret Buchanan's boss orders a re-write.
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| Buchanan |
The Enquirer reported the news in a story. Led by Publisher Margaret Buchanan, the paper itself issued a press release. Following are the first six paragraphs of each one, with only the time reference removed. Which was the story -- and which was the press release?
No. 1
Gannett Co., Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement with The Columbus Dispatch to print The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Kentucky Enquirer in a new, more compact format starting in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Gannett is the parent company of Enquirer Media.
The newly formatted Enquirer will be 10 1/2 inches wide by 14 2/3 inches deep, have the same amount of content, and still come in sections. Home delivery times will stay the same.
The new format, which allows more use of color, has tested well with advertisers and readers, who say they find it easier to use, said Margaret Buchanan, president and publisher of Enquirer Media.
“We are able to enhance efficiency while at the same time provide consumers with the bold new product they prefer,” Buchanan said. “For local businesses who advertise in the Enquirer, it’s a reinvented print medium designed for more impact.”
The agreement means Enquirer Media’s Queensgate print production facility will close next fall, impacting about 200 positions. Enquirer Media employs roughly 715 people in the region.
No. 2
Gannett Co., Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement with The Columbus Dispatch to print The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Kentucky Enquirer in a new, easy-to-use format beginning the fourth quarter of 2012. Gannett, parent of Enquirer Media, is among the first in the country to move to this new format.
The new paper will incorporate fuller use of color and photographs, a more compact and easy-to-handle size, bolder section fronts, and inside pages that are easier to navigate.
Enquirer Media first announced last August that Gannett signed a letter of intent with The Columbus Dispatch whose facilities could more efficiently produce the new format.
The change also means Enquirer Media’s Queensgate print production facility will close next fall, affecting about 200 positions. Enquirer Media’s overall operations currently employ about 715 people in the region. Gannett chose The Columbus Dispatch because its equipment is newer and more flexible than the Queensgate facility, and requires less capital investment to produce the new paper.
“We regret the loss of local positions, and worked hard to retain these jobs within Ohio,” said Margaret Buchanan, president and publisher of Enquirer Media. “Unfortunately, it was necessary to allow us to produce a better product more efficiently, and ultimately better serve the community.
“We also understand this will affect the Queensgate area,” said Buchanan. “We will be having discussions with the community about how we can best support this transition.”
Earlier: Margaret Buchanan's boss orders a re-write.
Which was which?
ReplyDeleteNo. 1 was the news story.
No. 2 was the press release.
#1 is the news story, because in the lede they changed "easy-to-use format" to "more compact format."
ReplyDeleteNot much difference. The press release says the shutdown will "affect" about 200 "positions," while the story says it will "impact" about 200 "positions." A real story would have said that the Enquirer will be laying off about 200 workers, many of whom belong to the Teamsters Union, and would have printed comments from the Teamsters and some of the "affected" workers.
ReplyDeleteThe Enquirer never publishes real stories about itself. It will track layoffs at other companies but never any of the more than 100 layoffs it has made to a bunch of top professionals since 2008. Besides, everyone at 312 Elm Street is afraid of Buchanan and would never criticize her or even question her. Tom Callinan might have tried to counsel her in private, but the lackluster leaders now in the newsroom wouldn't even try. It is a joke as is Buchanan and her newsroom leadership. Three business editors to handle five reporters. Huh?
ReplyDeleteCinncy, no where is redundancy more prevalent than in the editing ranks at USA Today. Three business editors ain't nuthin.
ReplyDeleteGotta love the phrase "easier to use," though. Since when has "using" a newspaper been difficult? Where is this "need" to be "easier to use?" You open it up and read it. Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteGannett has trotted out this pony several times in early resizes as a totally bogus motivator. The motivator is the cost of freakin' newsprint, not the suddenly herculean chore of holding a newspaper in one's hands.
The new size, according to the press release, is 10 1/2 inches by 14 1/2 inches. This is considerably more compact than the current size of either the Dispatch or the Enquirers.
ReplyDeleteThe compact size might be "easier to use" than the former size, but neither Cincinnati nor Columbus has a mass transit system that can be the true litmus test for newspaper size, and the folding needed to be a good neighbor on a train.
When I read it, I spread my newspaper out on the kitchen table at home, or on my desk at work. Size doesn't matter.
If, in the course of configuring a new size and re-designing all of the section graphics, the Enquirer actually makes the paper easier to use, more power to them. I don't believe for a minute that this is a motivating factor for any of the papers involved.
3:54 what would the union have said "we plan to give our hard working brothers and sisters a tear's worth of dues back to help them through this difficult time."?
ReplyDelete“We regret the loss of local positions, and worked hard to retain these jobs within Ohio,”
ReplyDeleteDefine hard?
The loss of 500 plus jobs during her tenure and now the addition of 200 more says Buchanan's done anything but work hard to retain jobs.
Spin it as she always does but her actions speak far differently and those who've seen her in action know it.
Frankly, it's surprising that Gannett has tolerated her for as long as they have.