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Saturday, January 14, 2012
40 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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http://pleasantville.patch.com/articles/pleasantville-home-engulfed-in-flames#video-8876292
ReplyDeleteHow is TJN in Westchester going to compete with the Newsaday Westchester website when they can't even compete with Patch.com
The Patch video of a devastating house fire in Pleasantville blows away the lame attempt of a spot news video posted by lohud
I am sure there are some positive things taking place at USA TODAY. Let's see if we can make a list.
ReplyDeleteI'll start:
1. $5 million deal with PGA
2. Exclusive with Tebow
3. USAT's ipad app
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletePatch Rocks!
ReplyDelete11:08 Regarding that Tebow interview, it turns out that an exclusive conversation with Tebow doesn't yield much. Still, you can't find out unless you ask. Here's how USAT's Jon Saraceno summarized the interview:
ReplyDelete"The cordial, media-savvy former Heisman Trophy winner surrenders very little regarding his personal life beyond perfunctory, sometimes well-rehearsed answers that reveal little. He is good-natured, polite as he scrambles from questions he prefers not to directly address."
The 2011 year end final Financial Report is just less than 2 weeks away.
ReplyDeleteIt can't be good as there seems to be an increasing amount of intensity and stress among upper management.
Does anyone sense the same?
Are there any areas of expense that can still be cut?
It seems as though every site is already cut to the bone.But I guess we have been saying that for years and they still found people to eliminate.
11:30: Patch lost $100 million for AOL last year. Don't expect them to be around much longer.
ReplyDelete10:19am- They'll still be around for a while at least. And don't come knocking on that door when you're let go.
ReplyDelete12:33: I give Patch no more than a year. No advertising, crappy content, failed concept. So go ahead and enjoy your $24,000 a year Patch job for a few more months.
ReplyDeleteCount me as one of the "Patch is doomed" contingent for all the reasons cited above. It shows us just how hard it is to make money in the digital realm. It takes more than content, it takes compelling content. Lowest common denominator stuff won't work. That's what neither AOL
ReplyDeletenor Gannett understand.
Among the three national dailies, NYT is first with a staff byline on yesterday's Mediterannean cruise ship disaster.
ReplyDelete11:08. Ok, I'll bite.
ReplyDelete4. Staff continues to leave, but they can usually get a majority of USAT-bylined pieces into the newspaper.
5. Seething resentment of the continued hiring of worthless VPs and senior VPs has not led to a strike.
6. News has at least one person covering Congress.
7. Money manages to put out a section without a banking reporter in the middle of the biggest banking crisis since the Great Depression.
8. We can sometimes get a graphic in the paper with few days' notice.
9. Most people show up for work, despite utter distrust of management.
This is fun! Say, how much money has that iPad app earned?
Here's a guy who gets it!
ReplyDeleteFrom today's NY Times...
"Lloyds Chief, After Medical Absence, Turns Down Bonus"
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/lloyds-chief-turns-down-bonus/?scp=3&sq=julia%20werdigier&st=cse
Let's continue the USA TODAY list
ReplyDelete10. A completely clueless marketing department lead by Sandra Micek and Laura Del Greco. Oh yeah and let's not forget the Great Maryam Banikarim.
11. Employee set against employee by a structure that includes competing SVPs and more channel conflict than the Middle East.
12. A CEO who continues to ask "what are you going to do for me?" rather than "what can I do for you?'
13. A publisher and GM who make no contribution to the product whatsoever.
14. The most confused, disorganized structure ever assembled. And one that will probably change in 6 months.
15. A brand completely devoid of leadership at every level.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteI am 6:47 from yesterday, and believe me when I say to you and everybody else who may read this, calling her a dragon is very kind considering the alternatives I had in my bag.
On another note, you calling me out on the dragon title did nothing to hide her identity, since she is the only female department head.
My rather long winded posting was to show, that even with poor or no leaders, we still manage to get a product out the door each and every day, and that can only be credited to the good worker bees who are left.
Again, have a nice weekend all!
12:55 leave the GM out of this. She is reaching out to lots people and brings a new sense of team to USAT.
ReplyDeleteI'd bet most of the anti marketing leadership comments come from marketing folks who are pussed they can't stay home 4 days a week and hide.
ReplyDeletePissed they...,.
ReplyDelete5:38 Nope. It's from the people who work hard and are appalled at the way marketing management treats -- well, everyone. No wonder so many USAT marketing people have found good jobs elsewhere.
ReplyDelete5:38 that doesn't make sense. No one in news or finance knows Laura Del Greco or Micek. Nope it's unhappy marketing folks who were used to beiby left alone to do whatever they wanted over the last few years and now are being held accountable. They don't like it pure and simple. I mean it's not like marketing did my h over the last several years. Other then Cannes what were the major marketing accomplishments that Micek and company have disrupted?
ReplyDelete6:37: Why, Micek & co. came up with "News that's real." Pure marketing genius at a price tag well over $1 million when you throw in salaries. Good thing they're holding people accountable! Look at the benefits we've reaped so far!
ReplyDeleteAll: I'm hearing more rumors of buyouts -- yes! -- in addition to or in place of layoffs in the weeks ahead. That would be a significant change from what's happened since 2008.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else know about this?
3:50 answer the question. And get your facts right. News that's real didn't cone from a consultant. It did t cost any thing in outside money. See you have no facts just venom.
ReplyDeleteJim if it is true I can't wait to see how you and your pals put the negative spin on the program. Anything to draw eye balls right?
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ReplyDeleteWhy would they do buyouts when they don't have to? Unless this is tailored to older workers and this is a way to unload high salaries. Are they that savvy? Great way to unload a lot of dead weight, too.
ReplyDeleteOf course, they lose a lot of talent as well. Like they give a damn.
16. The vapid John Hillkirk isno longer in charge of the newsroom.
ReplyDelete@Jim: Sudden, unannounced goodbye party in Shreveport this week for the assistant controller. No mention at the publisher's meeting a week ago. Generally we get a heads-up at those when a key management person is resigning, retiring or moving to another Gannett job. Just a note from the publisher's office about a goodbye cake for the employee. Definitely not a layoff, but maybe a buyout?
ReplyDeleteJim. Buyout options coming. Two week pay. Only for some. Florida Today will lose more good people.
ReplyDelete1:02 I will have my "crappy job" long after you have lost yours. And you're more than a little off on the salary. Remember- don't come knockin'.
ReplyDeleteOh, please, let me be old enough, let the buyout be comfortable enough, and let me be out the door before anyone realizes how much they don't know about what I do.
ReplyDelete17. verticals.
ReplyDelete18. Hunke and Ellwood.
19. Rudd Davis and each and every proven leaders.
7:23: The market research behind "News that's real" certainly did cost a great deal of money. And if Maryam & Co. came up with "News that's real" then the price tag is easily $1 million or more.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note: One of the many reasons "News that's real" is lame is that it's a wordier way to say "Real news." I thought USAT prided itself on being concise.
Perhaps Corporate could license Cheryl Lynn's 1978 disco hit, "Got to be Real." USA Today: It's news that's (got to be) real!
ReplyDeleteU.K. retailer Marks and Spencer reportedly licensed it for a campaign of its own.
Here are the lyrics:
What you find-ah
What you feel now
What you know-a
To be real
What you find, ah
(I think I love you, baby)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you, baby)
What you know-a
To be real
Ooh, your love's for real now
You know that your love is my love
My love is your love
Our love is here to stay
What you find-ah
What you feel now
What you know-a
To be real
Ooh, your love's for real now
You know that your love is my love
My love is your love
Our love is here to stay
What you find, ah
(I think I love you, baby)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you, baby)
What you know-a
To be real
What you find, ah
(I think I love you, baby)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you)
What you know-a
To be real...
8:29 you are making it up. They did not use a consultant. Sorry. Next bit of fiction?
ReplyDelete9:41 -- Personally, if I had made up that idiotic slogan, I'd blame a consultant. Unfortunately, you're lying. They relied heavily on paid consultant research before they arrived at this little gem.
ReplyDelete1:18 I'm sorry but I can't let your blatant lie go unopposed. There was no consultant. Didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteSo what's worse? Buying a stupid new tagline off the advice of a consultant or coming up with the tagline on our own?
ReplyDeleteEither way....we're stuck with the same crap.