U.S. newspapers President Bob Dickey says he just bought "thousands" of iPhone 4s and other mobile technology gear for Gannett's 81 community dailies. Collectively, they employ perhaps 2,500 journalists, including copy editors, reporters and all other positions.
Now, thousands is an impressively big-sounding but not very precise number. Are we talking 2,000? 10,000? 20,000?
And what's the breakdown on expensive vs. cheap for a company famous for cutting costs?
Following are the lowest retail prices (excluding monthly service charges) for a sample of devices mentioned in yesterday's memo.
How many of each do you suppose Dickey really bought?
_____ iPad 2: $499
_____ iPhone 4s: $199
_____ MiFi hotspot (Verizon): $49.99
_____ iCable dock cable (Monster): $24.95
[Graphic: Dickey as one of those annoying dancing elves]
This is great news and certainly a positive step. Gannett is really getting its act together under Gracia Martore. There's much more confidence among the staff and the company's strategy is much clearer. The web is certainly first but we're not abandoning print either. The company has a much better understanding of the value of the eyeballs which access our sites and we're now starting to make money from them. Onwards and upwards I say...
ReplyDeleteThey didn't pay full price. Probably some back door under the table, deal involving a discount and ad trade for phones.
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ReplyDeleteJim has trouble with numbers much of the time. Remember when he tried to find out how many jobs were lost in Oklahoma? He finally gave up -- he never could get the right number.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that we are supposed to have purchased (or be purchasing) "thousands", yet not one of us in IT has heard anything about it
ReplyDeleteThis is great news. A huge investment but worth it. Come on 2012!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'll believe it when I actually get mine.
ReplyDeleteYou heard it here first. Thousands is a little high. Under 1,000 phones and fewer than 500 iPads. Total is well under 1,500 total units. Company is still working out distribution, training and configuring units.
ReplyDeleteIf Gannett is still as cheap and stupid as they were while I was there they probably bought a bunch of old ass iPhone2's that barley work. Stupid fucks.
ReplyDelete6:52 That would be four times the number phones I was expecting.
ReplyDeleteThe distribution of these tech-toys will probably get lost in the shuffle, re-gifted as atta-boys to favorites. I've seen Gannett buy the damndest, stupidest things, then sweep everything under the rug. Hell, all I want is some help string'n leads!
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that some iPads are being wrapped up as bonuses for the suits and gifts to the Board. As if they need them.
ReplyDeleteNo special insight, but this job posting from Lafayette Ind. paper must be related. http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1306537 "We're bringing in the latest eGizmos and iGadgets to arm our staff with the latest tools (in fact, I had to tear myself away from my iPad to write this)."
ReplyDelete2:38 p.m. - appears this post could be written by a Gannett corporate PR person trying to put a pretty spin on this. These corporate peoples such as Bob Dickey seem stuck in the thinking era of the 1980s or best 1990s when Dickey was an ad sales guy at the newspaper in Reno, NV.
ReplyDelete2:38 sounds like an intelligent, forward thinking individual who understands there are actually positive actions taking place. 2012 is going to be very different. I can't wait!!!! Merry Christmas everyone.
ReplyDeleteI worked directly for Dickey. All I remember was having the latest equipment, being involved with lots of creative programs and making a lot of money. A lot of money.
ReplyDelete7:33, I worked under him too. Although I agree, I witnessed a lot of wasteful, unaccountable, pocket-stuffing spending in Tysons.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the money for this is coming out of Gannett's excutive dining budget which Gracia canned? Fact meld at the Palace cost a lot.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how this would be spun into bad news and now I know.
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