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Friday, January 27, 2012
93 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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4:33pm...USA is ALWAYS behind on everything. You change a location on manifests, it takes weeks for the manifest to catch up. You change draws on a location, it takes at least a week to change. Why would changing their own "player" listings be any different?
ReplyDeleteThis is my first post. I have been following commentary from current employees and ex-employees (of which I am currently one of). It took a couple months of searching, but I landed a job in the same industry (advertising), although not a newspaper. What you need to realize is this–the longer you stay employed at Gannett, the deeper you will sink into a state of numbing regarding your sense of self dignity and worth. Ever so slowly and imperceptibly, with each month and year of employ there (and the compounding indignities you endure from superiors with demeaning comments and belittling posturing), you surrender your worth and sense of self-value. I realized it in only a few months and was able to save myself from this hidden poisoning of the spirit. Run, while you still have independent thought.
ReplyDeleteI set a New Year's resolution... to stop reading the Gannett Blog. I am employed at Gannett and am generally a positive person. I have learned that the more time I spend on this Blog, the worse I feel. Conversely, the more time I spend thinking positively and offering ideas, the better I feel. And truthfully, my work and my relationships at work have improved. And, my life at home has improved because I am happier when I come home. But I made that conscious choice.
ReplyDeleteIf you think there isn't another company out there facing difficulties, you are mistaken. We are not alone. But, what separates us from the rest is this Blog that breeds mistrust and paralyzes positive action. Do something positive. Share your ideas. Make a contribution. If you are unhappy, keep in mind your next employer will ask the same thing of you. Put your guard down and open your mind that we are at a critical crossroad... and it is time to be part of something special. Even if you have to create it.
So, stop wasting your time reading this Blog. Grab a friend, go for coffee and think of an idea. Be critical of what you see and challenge ideas to improve. Take pride in what you do and invest time to learn where we are going. Ask what your role is... if you don't believe in it, go somewhere else. But don't make your assumptions from this Blog!
This Blog will only make you paranoid, skeptical and unhappy. You deserve more.
Just because you're paranoid don't mean there ain't somebody after you.
DeleteA lot of people going to the Superbowl from Gannett. Apparently the Indy Star has reserved "DOZENS" of seats for the Sr. Executives from corporate to attend the pre-party and Superbowl game.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that Ms. Martore, a HUGE Patriots fan has invited several family members to the game. Many of us are certain that this is on Gannett's dime!
It looks like Ms. Martore has learned a lot from Mr. Dubow. I think we should do a further investigation. The corporate jet is warming the engines up and getting ready for the Friday night flight to Indy!
Party on Gracia. I can't wait to see you at the Playboy and Maxim Superbowl Parties!
Also:
ReplyDelete1. Rudd Davis has been fired and is no longer at USAT.
2. Russ Schafelberger (another BNQT and Rudd croney) is leaving.
3. Pointroll is being sold to adgregate knowledge.
4. CDO David Payne is most likely leaving after upcoming analyst presentation.
5. Gracia is starting to question Maryam B's abilities. Watch for some changes there after bonus payout.
6. Bonuses will be paid at a lower rate this year with smaller equity grants. (that one is for you Gracia ;)
Health insurance update: Had a regular doctor's appointment yesterday to monitor a certain health condition. The appointment annually involves a couple tests. Discovered that tests previously covered by BCBS are not covered by United HealthCare, the insurance we were forced to switch to after losing BCBS. Add several hundred dollars to out of pocket costs. So much for all the talk about Gannett's preventative health care policies. Rather: Reduce benefits and raise fees is the Gannett prescription.
ReplyDeleteJust how much is GCI shelling out for Martore, friends & family to attend Super Bowl?
ReplyDelete12:49
ReplyDeleteYou just don't get it. Plenty of us worked hard, came up with good ideas, challenged others... and were tossed aside by Gannett. You can't argue for engagement by employees when you treat them like disposable commodities.
You have this blog because you deserve it. When you take pride in your workers, perhaps your workers will take pride in Gannett.
12:49
ReplyDeleteYou must be living in some bullshit dreamworld.
No,not every company is constantly hanging the layoffs possibility over your head. Not every company has forced furloughs every year. Not every company has 1 employee doing the work that formly was done by 2 employees or more.This used to be a fun,uplifting and rewarding business to be in.Going to work was enjoyable.Gannett changed all that for thousands.
Enjoy your layoff,12:49 and then see if you feel the same way.
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ReplyDeleteSomeone said we can't go two weeks with out Wave2 Obits going down? Try two days. Didn't work last night, had to jury-rig it again.
ReplyDeleteYou know, a lot of us read GannettBlog because Gannett Co. - like it or not - is a bellwether for the news industry. And where the news industry goes, so goes the democracy.
ReplyDeleteI have not worked at Gannett for two decades. I don't read this for the petty sniping at executives I've never heard of. The decisions this company makes, the people they hire or don't hire, all determine the legacy and future of the press in this country.
If Payne is really on the way out, that really tells you gannett has no future, digital or otherwise
ReplyDeleteJim, could you recap the Rudd Davis saga? Some of us only paying attention on peripheral level. Where did he come from? What did he get promoted to? What was he fired for?
ReplyDelete10:58 doesn't sound like a corp-funded poster to me. If GCI is paying him, they should ask for their money back.
ReplyDelete12:49 though ... Yeah, that's classic corp sunshine speak: Ignore all of those automobile wrecks surrounding you and get back to work, people!
So much for keeping your New Year’s resolution 12:49 AM, that is unless you excluded posting comments, which is too funny!
ReplyDeleteYour comment that all should be “critical of what (they) see and (to) challenge ideas” is too as Gannett’s culture hardly values that practice. In fact, this company has excelled in creating one whereby it’s punished, a key problem why Gannett continues to “lead” this industry from behind, well behind.
I often said what 12:49 expressed: That I hated to read the Gannett Blog and how it made me feel. I soon realized, however, that it was a reflection of the company. It wasn't the blog that was making me feel bad, it was the company.
ReplyDeleteI further discovered that since Gannett has ended more positive ways of communicating (such as the daily Executive News Summary and the monthly Gannetteer), the blog was the only way I could truly figure out what's going on in this company. True, I've discovered that only about 70 percent of what is posted is accurate. But I have found that more often than not, the blog accurately forecasts some really, really big stuff (for example, the early retirement buyouts, which I know will be announced soon) that helps me prepare and align my thinking. One of the great functions of Executive News Summary was knowing the comings and goings of Gannett employees; the Blog know is the only source of that information (hell, the last time we laid off folks, we didn't even tell our own company who was leaving, causing all of us to have to figure it out on our own through awkward phone calls ("hey, just calling to see if you are still with us") and keep personal lists and rosters.
The bottom line: Do whatever makes you happy. My bottom line: Forewarned is forearmed. While you must always consider your sourcing, I'd rather have 30 percent bad info so I can get the 70 percent that's good.
From the previous thread:
ReplyDelete"By the way, many GCI repoters finally got smart phones a few months ago after corporate started offering a stipend. Gannett withdrew the monthly stipend this week, sticking reporters with 2-year contracts and doubled cell bills they wouldn't have had without corporate's stipend offer."
Is that really true? If so, it's the shittiest piece of corporate douchebaggery I've seen on this blog yet.
You're not going to hear a word about Rudd Davis from anyone. Banikarim slapped the mum order on all of us. You're not going to get a word out of Heidi Zimmerman since she's all about duck and hide without all that Ed Cassidy PR spin in the past. Expect some significant and high profile legal action from Mr. Davis against David L Hunke and Gannett.
ReplyDelete8:53, new posting style and new material, please. I knew you'd be fouling this thread with your usual stuff before I got to your post. Yes, you are that predictable.
ReplyDeleteMyBoss is BACK! S/He is clearly "in the know". Pointroll is falling apart and Gannett is looking to get rid of it before they have to pay out the executives there another $20 million dollars.
ReplyDeleteDavid Payne himself has admitted that he is on his way out.
Maryam is a waste. Maybe they should bring back Robin Pence since they still have not settled her lawsuit!
This is a wanna be. But enjoy the delusion.
DeleteA number of BNQT staffers are out including the GM and several others
ReplyDeleteIf Payne is going to be gone, what happens to that guy who used to work at CNN...Mitch Gelman, I think, who was brought in by Payne?
ReplyDeleteTo 8:00 a.m. Double check your coverage. I had United Health and they have a habit of charging deductibles on procedures that are covered 100%. Perhaps they figure if they get away with it a few times it is worth it. I had to appeal three times when they charged me a deductible for my colonoscopy. Finally got a letter from them admitting their "error" and that a payment would be made. Kept that letter on the fridge. If not mistaken, most preventive procedures are covered 100%.
ReplyDeleteThere are many competent journalists at Gannett who could handle pence's job with ease and honesty. Why not tap someone from USA Today?
ReplyDeleteIf Gannett just rants to spew b.s., just have Maryam do the job. She isn't doing hers, and having flak run through Heidi Zimmerman is a waste of time.
Let's stop manufacturing crisses we dont need. Make hires where they are needed, not for flow chart or pipe dream.
Develop a team of crusty reporters to start looking at which media properties have experienced editors who know how to use the web. Get some names and forward them to whatever crew is seeking a new editor or editord. If that means calling competitors at the NYT or WSJ, swallow your pride and realize the product needs to get better.
Within the newsroom, throw out the remenants of the disasterous reorganization. Assemble and train all teams to think digital first, then print. People have to know why that is important going forward. If we need more of a wire service mentality, cherry pick some writers and editors from Ap and Reuters who know pressure cooker deadlines.
Finally, let's look at some consumer product marketers with brand and distribution experience. Are we reaching out to as many people as we can?
At the risk of stating the obvious, speculation about the circumstances under which Rudd Davis left the company are just that: speculation.
ReplyDeleteThe same is true for any talk today about Chief Digital Officer David Payne.
For those who have not been following this saga very closely, including 9:39, Davis came to USA Today with great expectations.
He had started an action-sports site, BNQT, when he was reportedly just 24. He then sold it to USA Today in January 2008.
By summer 2010, when Publisher Dave Hunke was planning a big USAT reorganization, Davis -- then just 30 years old -- had become something of a darling within Hunke's inner circle.
Young, West Coast-based and a Gannett outsider, he represented the new generation of technologists that USAT and other newspapers need to prosper.
Hunke appointed him to a new position: vice president for business development, where he was to work closely with the newsroom on developing content that appealed to advertisers. That was controversial because it was seen as weakening the traditional ethical divide between the business and news sides.
It soon emerged that Davis -- with no relevant background -- had been put in charge of negotiating bulk USAT sales with major hotel chains: the valuable "Blue Chip" program.
Then, just two months ago -- in what was clearly a sign of support from the top brass -- Davis was promoted to a new position over a new unit: president of the USA Today Travel Media Group. He was to report to the deputy publisher, Susie Ellwood -- a position she has held since June 2011.
Ellwood is seen as Hunke's likely successor, so her actions are closely watched.
Now, it appears, Davis is suddenly gone, under circumstances shrouded in mystery -- to the public, anyway.
What has happened to this high-flyer, who vaulted so quickly to USAT's top ranks? That's the current drama.
"My Boss" is just guessing on most of the above, as usual, but it is true that Rudd Davis is gone.
ReplyDeleteNo one is saying why or how, but it is a shocking development.
To clear up some misconceptions, the hotel project he spearheaded remains very alive.
As for David Payne leaving, there is no indication at all of such a thing, especially with a major relaunch of the usatoday.com website in full development.
One other thought: It is surprising how much anti-Barakim rhetoric fills this blog day after day. After all, she does not run the company, pull the strings or have nearly the sway her critics allege.
She runs the marketing department, which has influence but not major power in the scheme of things.
What appears to be happening here on the blog is a, for lack of a better word, marketing campaign against her.
I suspect it is a small cabal of foremr USA Today marketers, perhaps some who were eased or forced out, using the only techniques they know, marketing, to portray her as some kind of corporate devil.
It is just the marketing department, everyone. Why waste everyone's time here lambasting her, unless it is a personal veneetta, which it very much appears to be.
Just wanted to say that, as a bemused observer.
As for Rudd Davis, there undoubtedly must be a major story there.
Maryam gets tarred with the "It's all within reach" craptaculousness, whether or not she deserves it.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, she deserves all the praise 'n glory for "On The Road" - too thin and infrequent to be useful, always with the main visual imagery not of OUR brand, but hers.
I don't know anything about stipends for reporters/photographers who buy their own smart phones. At my site, that was discussed a year or more ago and ruled out. I'm not sure why they decided against it, we're still using 4 year old dumb phones. (Except for editors who never leave the office - they've got Blackberries and iPads that they use to text each other during news meetings.)
ReplyDeleteWe've been told the iPhones and iPads will be rolled out to "content creators" in February. At one point it was early February but since they're still working out how to configure the phones, who needs what apps and training issues I think the release date might slip a little.
I wish some of the bloggers would steer away from negative discourse. Some of these postings are disgraceful. People complaining about what type of free phone they received from the company... Are you people for real?
ReplyDeleteI think the creation of blog is in itself a good idea... to create a journal of events during the print to digital transition. But, unfortunately, people have used it as a platform for defamation of character(s). I think we should steer clear of the personal attacks, and use this blog as a traditional “journal”.... Record how you feel about the changes... what are you going to do to deal with the changes in a healthy manner.
My problem with MB is the wasted research and costly outside consultants for Gannett. And still no plan. Couple that with rah rah Hunke's merry bad of USA today incompetents and one has to shake your head.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind under his watch, we have lost 25% of circulation and many advertisers. Beterans are walking outnthe door. At a time when he is bloating upper management with obscure hires and mysterious duties. More confounding: they will be showered with bonuses for their fine work.
Criticism of Barakim's performance is fine. But to blame her and the marketing folks for everything happening, as some people do here, is idiotic and childish.
ReplyDeleteIt smacks more of a vendetta than valid criticism.
There are several former angry marketing folks who can't move on.
Delete12:51,
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have no vendetta against Banikarim other than she and her entire department is all talk and zero action. The On The Road e-mail the the greatest form of internal self-promotion I've ever seen. She'll leave this company in the next year when a TV gig opens and take all the other TV people with her.
Digital is supposed to be the future of USAT, right? Then why have we hired so many TV people?
ReplyDeleteHunks....wanna take a stab at that one?
Banikarim is yet another example of Gannett thinking that style is more important the substance. Davis is another example. When you find people that know what they are doing, like David Payne they get frustrated and leave. Payne was one of the few rays of hope I had for the management team.
ReplyDeleteto - 1/27/2012 8:00 AM - double check which lab you use. BCBS perferred labs are not used by United.
ReplyDelete12:21 pm You can't fix a problem if you refuse to acknowledge you have a problem. Unfortunately members of Gannett management label disagreement or constructive criticism as negative. Are you a member of management?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this is a passion topic or not, but this Florida Today "news story" is pretty interesting. It's about a community car wash to raise bail money for a kid accused of four felonies: attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, driving without a license, and fleeing or eluding.
ReplyDeleteYou can read it here: http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120127/NEWS01/301270030/Community-s-car-wash-goal-Raise-bail-money-Melbourne-teen?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
Anybody know anything about this development?
ReplyDeleteGannett Buys Sports Websites
The Wall Street Journal
January 25, 2012
By RUSSELL ADAMS
Gannett Co. acquired Fantasy Sports Ventures, a network of independent sports websites led by TheBigLead.com, underscoring big media companies' focus on online sports news.
The deal, terms of which weren't disclosed, could make Gannett's USA Today Sports Media Group one of the five biggest properties online in a category dominated by Yahoo Sports and ESPN.com.
USA Today over the years has built its red-bordered sports section into one of the most recognizable national brands in sports media. Still, Gannett has struggled to build a relevant online sports audience for advertisers. In 2011, USA Today was the ninth biggest sports property online, attracting an average of about 10 million unique visitors a month, about one-fifth the size of Yahoo Sports, according to comScore.
In contrast, FSV was the fifth-largest sports property online by traffic last year, drawing an average of 18.4 million monthly unique visitors, according to comScore.
FSV's network includes HoopsHype.com, Baseball-Reference.com and TheHuddle.com as well as a number of sites focused on content for fantasy-sports participants. In the summer of 2010 it acquired TheBigLead.com, a general-interest sports blog with a particular focus on media. All in all, FSV comprises hundreds of sites.
A year ago, Gannett hired sports-media veteran Tom Beusse to run the USA Today sports group and figure out a way to expand its footprint online. Mr. Beusse, previously the president and chief executive of radio syndication company Westwood One, started by combining USA Today's sports audience with that of Gannett's more than 80 local newspapers and 23 broadcast TV stations, as well as sites such as HighSchoolSports.net.
"We were acting like 105 little companies instead of one big company," said Mr. Beusse.
What the sports group still lacked was depth of coverage of individual sports to match its geographic reach, Mr. Beusse said. Gannett had been an investor in FSV for years, and the two companies began discussing a bigger deal shortly after Mr. Beusse started in the job.
FSV, founded in 2006 by former NFL digital chief Chris Russo, has taken a different approach to growth than most of its competitors. Rather than hire a stable of big-name writers to go head-to-head with deep-pocketed companies like ESPN, Mr. Russo's company has cobbled together a network of hundreds of small, independent sites focused on particular sports or topics.
Mr. Russo said most of FSV's roughly 30 employees will remain with the company, though he will stay only through a transition period of about six months.
Mr. Beusse said he expects the acquisition of FSV to more than double the traffic to the USA Today sports group.
"We're taking the opportunity to act as big as Gannett is in the sports space," Mr. Beusse said.
2:01, I am not a member of management. There is a difference between constructive criticism and cynicism. Perhaps you should reflect upon the matter before dismissing my advice. How many years have you worked for gannett, and how long have you bitten the hand that feeds you?
ReplyDeleteYou're right out of a Dickens novel, 2:57 ... Bitten the hand that feeds you? Because Gannett leadership is so altruistic and benign that they pay us these lofty salaries out of the goodness of their heart? Oh, let's all be sooooo grateful for the opportunity to 'feed' at the trough of Gannett everyone! Woo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteNevermind that it's actually Gannett brass feeding at the trough of its workers, ready to eliminate jobs by the hundreds if it means maintaining their remarkable generous RIF bonuses.
Give it up, 2:57. If you're not paid by management, you should be.
12:21 - I wanted to offer a response to the "People complaining about what type of free phone they received from the company... Are you people for real?"
ReplyDeleteI know reporters at my site who use their own smart phones - even made the decision to get smart phones - so they could do a credible job as journalists covering meetings or court cases with live tweets, uploading video, etc.
It's not a free phone that people are complaining about not getting - its critical tools of the trade.
3:30,
ReplyDeleteA laptop with wireless-anywhere capabilities is a better tool than a smart phone. I would say that your laptop is a critical tool. An iphone would be an added benefit, but it's certainly not critical.
ok 12:21 pm I'll bite. Are you making fun of the HR department?
ReplyDeleteA smart phone is useful if you need to play Angry Birds while waiting for NewsGate to display the last two sentences you typed.
ReplyDelete"You know, a lot of us read GannettBlog because Gannett Co. - like it or not - is a bellwether for the news industry...."
ReplyDeleteWell, keep in mind that you don't hear from the majority of employees on this blog. Just the handful of disgruntled ones, like the creator of this blog, who post over and over, and the few who try to infuse reason into the vitriol. You can certainly read the styles of the posters and know who's back over and over. But it's entertaining, and once in awhile insightful. My guess is that employees at the properties you don't hear from aren't as disgruntled as the ones you do. Cincinnati must be a hellhole for instance. So discerning readers get it. The rest will never be happy.
3:04,
ReplyDeleteYou are not held at any company against your own will. If you feel there are better employers out there, you should explore your theory. Go... see what's out there. Life is about exploration and experiences
Your comment is in complete contrast to the moral lessons of Charles Dicken's literature. Dicken's characters had little to no choices regarding their stations in life. Those characters represent a time in which people were confined to the “social-levels” in which they were born into... Their actions had little consequence in guiding the direction of their future. You on the other hand, have all the freedom in the world.
4:40 PM,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, and you seem like a "good chum" to have a "virtual beer" with. I'm raising my beer glass to you... Cheers!
4:55 I'm sure offers are falling at your feet in an economy where long-term unemployment and downward mobility are the new normal. Please don't be so harsh toward others who are beaten down every day and trying to pick themselves up and find employment in a sane, dignified workplace.
ReplyDeleteOur site always offered stipends, but I hear those are going away. No word on if we have to put up for the data plans on these fancy new iPhones on the way...
ReplyDelete5:17,
ReplyDeleteI think your perspective is askew. This universal era of long-term unemployment and downward mobility, is exactly why an employee should feel grateful towards an employer.
3:04 PM,
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is that RIF also means “reading is fundamental.” You may want to try picking up a book, someday. Maybe you should start with a Dicken's novel.
4:40, I think there are more than a few disgruntled people on the website. Perhaps the complaints sound similar because they address woes that are deep and widespread. Perhaps many people are sickened by memo after useless memo, detailing half baked initiatives or off the wall new hires. Perhaps long time Gannettoids are looking at their company shares, which once were at $90 and paid a dividend of around a buck. And maybe some here are among those who no longer work for Gannett, most not by their choice. 20,000 jobs lost in a half decade. Furloughs and salary freezes have impacting thousands more.
ReplyDeleteMore than a handful of us are saddened by a string of big salaried, out of touch leaders, old and new, who havent a clue about turning the company around.
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DeleteAs we all know the best time make a career move is while you are employed.
ReplyDeleteFor me the search took 6 months and I approached the search as a part-time job.
I scheduled hours (evenings and weekends) to perform searches, create cover letters and update my resume for each position.
In 6 months I applied for 90 positions, had 6 phone interviews, 3 on-site interviews, and accepted an offer.
In the end it was worth all the time and effort.
5:49,
ReplyDeleteThe world economy is in turmoil. You should research the historical data on other stock-prices, over the last few years, and you will notice that “down-slide,” was widespread throughout the stock-market. The story of falling share-values and downsizing, is a story shared among the majority of companies (not only Gannett). I wouldn't be so quick to say that the leadership isn't trying during this difficult time. I think they have more of an incentive to try. And, how could you honestly know what their efforts and obstacles are?
I'm just amazed that you think these financial-woes are isolated within Gannett.
Define grateful @ 5:31 as an unscientific poll suggests too many GCI suits do so from a condescending perspective; i.e. save your opinions and just do what you’re told without question, else if don’t like it, leave.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, GCI should be grateful for those who stay as it’s lost too many talented, hard-working people from corporate on down because too many lead with that attitude.
What GCI’s leaders need to do is ask themselves this: Why would someone work for you?
Great companies get it and IBM’s outgoing CEO is someone who used it as one of his four guiding principles because he knew the answer directly tied to IBM’s success and value. GCI’s will continue to decline until it figures out why people should; likely at an accelerated rate once this economy improves.
6:13, the vast majority of public companies did not lose 90% of their value, slash the shareholders' dividend, cut nearly 40% of their workforce AND manage to keep the same executive management team largely intact.
ReplyDeleteYou can probably count the number of companies with that profile on one hand. You can count even fewer that continued to hand out bonuses for non performance.
Does Gannett risk losing any executive if it cuts salaries or eliminates bonuses? Doubtful.
How you can tout the company line with a straight face is beyond comprehension.
5:55,
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful advice. I have been unemployed for almost six months. I have four degrees, three of which are from the Ivy-league. I have my down-days in which I feel decimated. I was targeted by my immediate peers, who have since met their own demise. But I have to say, I am still thankful for the overall work-experience that I had at the Gannett company. I wish Gannett every success in the future, as they weather a changing industry in a tumoltous economy. Thank you, Gannett, for the years of nurturing my career and skillset.
oops... I meant to say "tumultuous" economy.
ReplyDelete"...An employee should feel grateful towards an employer."
ReplyDeleteYou mean, like an uneducated peasant serf to his king?
Surely that's how Gannett treats its employees: Be grateful, you undeserving nonperson thing.
A rational person would think a healthy employee/employer relationship would be more symbiotic, as a lot of the thriving, successful employers even these times maintain.
Then again with Gannett these days, there's no room for symmetry when out-of-touch, top-down arrogance is a business model.
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ReplyDelete7:28 said, "There are several former angry marketing folks who can't move on."
ReplyDeleteThat's what I suspect, too. And as ex-marketers, they know how to flood the zone with the same negative crap day after day.
There are a lot of problems at USA Today, but Maryam and Sandra are not among them. As for their critics, time to move on, people.
Heard a lot of bad things about this new medical plan. Now they are forcing physicals every year and testing various blood work. What the hell is going on here? Obama Care at it's best. Keep taking those large bonuses and giving furloughs out. Then explain to your employee that you only made 10 million this year instead of 12. That's the real problem. Guess what, their is no one to stop you so keep going strong and stepping on the little guy. It will all catch up in the end.
ReplyDeleteWow. Total full-court press of the corporate poster effort today/tonight, attempting to make us all genuflect before our corporate leaders and just be thankful to have jobs and, oh by the way, pay no attention to those same leaders fattening up their bank accounts based upon the number of employees they can cut this year.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to admit: This poster is more urbane and skilled than the typical "Jim is crazy/wrong/losing his touch" one that usually pops up on weekends. But the perspective is still just as twisted and corporate-tied. Nice job, Gannett corp folks. Must have increased the posting fee to get this kind of talent, huh?
9:06 pm Agreed. I look forward to their journal entry for tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThe corporate posts are a bit more weird in content than the day-to-day interaction with Gannett management, but the tone and attitude are the same.
ReplyDeleteIn the '60s, we had Up With People.
ReplyDeleteI think Maryam deserves all the bad "marketing press" on this blog. She has obliterated the marketing department. It's rather sad how controlling she is because Sandra could be more effective if she didn't have to run everything past Maryam. She's a bit too hands on for a CMO. Anyone with a brain could figure that out.
ReplyDeleteAnother former marketing person with an axe to grind. Big bad Maryam!!!!!
Delete1:29 - Very clever observation. Why do they only hire TV people? Sandra's latest experience was NBC but her claim to fame is Yahoo Personals.
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ReplyDelete9:06,
ReplyDeleteIf you are that unhappy you should seek employment elsewhere. I am not a corporate leader. I am an everyday average-Joe on the bottom rung of the ladder. Your rants are border line tyrannical and in a way entertaining. Entertaining, not because I agree with you. Entertaining, because no matter how much positive energy (& reason) is passed your way, you spew more word-vomit.
I'm not a marketing person but I also question what Banikarim does. I work at a small community newspaper. I don't know Ms. Banikarim or the people she has hired.
ReplyDeleteI just want to know what value they bring to my paper and and at what expense?
At a time when GCI is firing people by the thousands, it seems fare to question the development of an expensive marketing operation with little to show to date.
Why all the venom toward MB and marketing? Name the previous marketing folks and list their accomplishments. You make it sound like Maryam and company run the company. Give it a rest already. It's BORING!
DeleteIn another year, most of the new executives will be gone. I hope some like Payne and Beusse stick. They seem smart and confident. They seem to have plans. If it's not all smoke and mirrors (hunks, Maryam, heather, etc) it's possible they could succeed despite the cheap, control freak, decision phobic atmosphere that permeates the Crystal Palace.
ReplyDeleteSince when in the history of this company has anyone given so much space to marketing? Give it a rest firmer unhappy, unproductive marketing folks. No one cares
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ReplyDeleteWow the posting is all over the place recently.
ReplyDeleteI guess people are getting even more tense and stressed out because of the finacial report that comes out Monday.
There will no doubt,once again be,be a miserable report followed by,you guessed it.....layoffs.
8:08 you seem to keep positing defenses of Banikarim and her tribe and stating "nobody cares". You're obviously one of her new hires.
ReplyDeletePeople do care.
Hiring expensive empty suits when thousands are losing jobs is something everyone cares about.
You call MB and her team but you actually have no idea what they do. Just because you're ignorant doesn't mean you're right. Just for the record you don't know what the previous marketing folks did during the good times either. I think it's obvious who the real empty suit is.
Delete9:06:
ReplyDeleteIt's tempting to start with an insult, but I won't.
Try this. Look at this thread. Look at all the deleted comments. Look at all the attempts by your side to spin this into a pro-corporate plot. Look at how your side has no other argument. Look at how bitter your side sounds.
Now think about similar threads. What is the only thing missing here? That's right -- one of Jim's sketchy defenses. He must have been busy.
But make no mistake: We control this blog. We steer you into these pro-corporate conspiracy theories, and then we laugh at you. We steer Jim into raving nonsense, and then we add it to the mountain of evidence. We beat down the illiterates who post gibberish here.
Jim might decide some of the topics, but we have pulled the strings on this puppet show for quite a while. This thread is just another example.
7:16 Noted for the record.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome 10:15, congratulations on your coup. You control Jim's blog, you're the puppet master.
ReplyDeleteFor the sake of argument, we'll go along with your assertion that the magic of your words has driven Jim raving, beaten illiterates down and caused laughter at paranoia.
What's the point?
If you think you're downgrading the credibility of posts - they're all anonymous. Nobody believes posts are all true. "Nailing" grammatical or spelling errors?That reveals more about the pettiness of accuser than the fitness of the ideas presented.
I don't ask because I care about the answer. Your reasons no doubt fit in the view of your own self-worth.
Truthfully, I ask so that you and others consider exactly what your aim is. If you've decided the best way to spend your time is to berate anonymous people for their concerns on their workplace, recognize that you are in the minority.
The complaints about marketing aren't just coming from former marketing employees. It is about Robyn Pence's costly, failed branding efforts. And it is about all the vast emphasis and power that the compaany is giving Maryam.
ReplyDeleteWe don't need in house pr from her. We don't need 9 months of costly consultants providing redundant demographic studies. We don't need progress reports. We don't need puff pieces in trade journals that do nothing but serve self interests and egos.
We need a plan. Fast.