Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Feb. 20-26 | Your News & Comments: Part 2

Can't find the right spot for your comment? Post it here, in this open forum. Real Time Comments: parked here, 24/7. (Earlier editions.)

39 comments:

  1. Facebook commenting was supposed to inspire more civil reader posts.

    But you wouldn't know that from the comments posted on this USA Today story about basketball star Jeremy Lin's denying rumors he and Kim Kardashian are dating.

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  2. Lin might as well "date" her and get it over with.

    Hey Jim . . . did you see the Sunday "Dilbert" cartoon? Remind you of a particular industry? Or company??

    PS - Thanks for getting rid of the CAPTCHA.

    PPS - I guess that whole Facebook commenting thing was only about blog comments. You can still (at least here in Phoenix) comment on news stories with your old pseudonym.

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  3. Banner ad on top of Gannett Blog is for a clinical study of an antidepressant.

    How appropriate!

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  4. The ads are contextual, related to what you search as an individual.

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  5. Everyone check W 2 withholding for SS. My accountant says employer is supposed to pay 6.2 % under stimulus but worker pays only 4.2.

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  6. I really don't think the Facebook deal was meant to inspire more civil discourse; that's just what they said. This way they don't have to pay anyone to monitor the comments.

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  7. I heard folks from the Des Moines hub were in Appleton, Wisc., to show them the new computer system and talk about the "transition." Did anyone for sure find out when they get the ax? Or even who gets the ax? Been pretty mum about it all.

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  8. I've been reading this post for more then one year now, but never posted.
    The punishment inflicted on individuals (both journalists and other employees) as a result GCI of wanting to maintain and then grow top and bottom line numbers comes through in your postings.
    I know journalists and one circulation person at two GCI papers and the pain they feel is in their eyes and body language when I speak with them.
    I wonder if there are those among you who believe — not emotionally, but logically — that fighting to change GCI back to newspapers focused on journalism instead of profits is no longer a viable effort. If so, do you believe there are other alternatives that exist or could exist for print journalism in your communities?

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  9. 10:07, I had a conversation like that with someone who is pretty high up in the Gannett chain and they just don't see how they can make it a viable business. I din't think it would be that difficult. Communities are dying for the real news that Gannett no longer provides. There is definitely a need there, and I think whoever goes for it will be the winner. It's all within reach.

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  10. Jim:

    Who is Vic Borton? Did he quietly replace Rudd Davis?

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  11. There are 38 names on the USA TODAY editorial page. Presidents, EVPs, Editors, GMs, SVPs, and VPs. Not being snarky, but is there a reason that they all need their names in the paper? I must be missing the logic.

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  12. The WSJ lists 42. So we get beat on that front, too.

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  13. 11:40 Possibly, but I don't know for certain.

    To clarify, Vic is not a "he." She's Victoria Borton, whose title is general manager of the Travel Media Group.

    After Rudd Davis was promoted to president of the group, he promoted several other existing managers to higher-level jobs within the group, according to Gannett Bloggers.

    Borton may be one of them. Perhaps she's been given Davis's job, with a different title. Or perhaps she's the interim head until a permanent replacement is found.

    In her LinkedIn profile, Borton says she's been with USA Today since May 2002.

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  14. 42 is all within reach.

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  15. 9:46 a.m - Bingo! Plus, the big G abdicates to Facebook to take all behavorial and other demo info to use to push its own ads. Saves a few bucks in short run. Bad biz decision in near future and long run.

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  16. 5:13 AM I saw that Dilbert and I thought the same thing.

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  17. To 9:27 . . . do you keep up with the news? The whole federal budget debate over the past few weeks has been about the "tax cut" in the Social Security payments YOU make. That's been the case for a year now.

    This "tax cut" took the place of the "Making Work Pay" tax credit most people got in years past. All it does is short-change Social Security about $100 billion a year.

    Of course, most people realize Social Security funds are just general fund revenues for use as Congress chooses. There is no lockbox, no segregation of funds. As the saying goes, "money is fungible".

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  18. GPS- changes coming in Mid-west group. New VP of Production, Indy Star getting new Production chief, and Lafayette needs one, the former is headed to Rochester to become GM of their production Center. Can Dave Priessier VP of Production at Cincinnati, trnsfer ti Indy? Makes sense he won't have an operation to run soon? Any one got any other news regarding changes in upper management at other GPS sites?

    Happy P.

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  19. Can any one explain how Gannett is broken into groups and what are they called and what ares do they cover? I am seeing more VP appointments and wonder why we are cutting costs, but keep promoting suits to VP level status..doe's this make sense, of course not much anything doe's anymore.

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  20. Poynter, right now is having a live chat on should you take a buyout?http://www.poynter.org/how-tos/career-development/ask-the-recruiter/163648/live-chat-today-how-to-decide-whether-to-take-a-buyout/

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  21. Within the U.S. newspaper division, called U.S. Community Publishing, there are four divisions based on geography:

    West, Midwest, South and East. Each one is led by a president, who also is a publisher.

    In corresponding order and the cities where they are based, John Zidich in Phoenix; Laura Hollingsworth in Des Moines; Carol Hudler in Tennessee, and Michael Kane in Rochester.

    I have an old list of newspapers within each of these groups, but it may now be out of date.

    Does anyone have a current list?

    The USA Today group includes that newspaper plus the Detroit Media Partnership, which includes Gannett's Detroit Free Press and which handles business functions for the Freep and the MediaNews Group-owned Detroit News.

    The U.K. newspaper group, Newsquest, includes 17 dailies and several hundred non-daily print publications.

    I believe the USAT group includes Gannett Government Publishing.

    Broadcasting is, of course, its own division, although smaller, because it comprises fewer properties: 23 TV stations, plus Captivate and other businesses.

    This is, by no means, a complete list of all Gannett's properties, however.

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  23. Woah! "Each one is led by a president..." I assume Mr. Hopkins uses the meaning of the word "led" loosely, heh heh.

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  25. Preisser moving to Indy would make way too much sense. Austin isn't likely to support it. I think he'd rather lose Preisser. Such a shame.

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  26. In a not-so-shocking move, the Cincinnati Enquirer lies to its readers. In comments on the story announcing the change to Facebook commenting, Enquirer Community Manager Joe West assured readers multiple times that all stories would be open for comments, regardless of topic. (sorry, can't link to the comments since they wiped them all out)

    So, today they posted a story about the stage collapse at the Sugerland concert at the Indiana State Fair, and whaddyaknow? Comments are disabled.

    Gannett and the Enquirer both disgust me. They think we're a bunch of idiots.

    http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120221/NEWS01/302220016/Sugarland-blames-fans-deaths-injuries?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

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  27. USAT has a long history of needing lots of incompetent editors/staffers to screw in a single light bulb, while a core group of some pretty smart but overworked folks keep the paper from becoming a total embarrassment.

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  28. Just as refresher, I as well am curious as to which sites (aside from the obvious ones, of course) now makeup the West, Midwest, South and East divisions of the USCP.

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  29. Jim, how can we get news on GPS we need to know what is happening there for the future also?

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  31. 6:45 Your comment seeking information about Gannett Publishing Services is a good starting point.

    Perhaps some of our other readers will chime in?

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  32. I have to say that the furlough at this Gannett property has been nothing short of a backfire and has thus far cost more then they will save

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  33. I think we should all be cognizant of the fact that we learned about both the iphone plan and the buyouts two or three weeks in advance because of this blog. Gannett employees are no longer completely in the dark because we have this forum. eventually, the reality that every big move the company makes is foreshadowed here will force gannett executives to be more candid and forthright with their employees. Or at least to stop blowing smoke and treating us like we are dogs who should be happy with whatever scraps fall from their tables. At least that is my hope.

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  34. Stoney LaDouche's ship is sinking because he has to micro manage everything. He won't let his VPs do their job and trust their judgement. And many have already drank the kool-aid. Many will be bailing before this ship sinks. I for one will be gone.

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  35. What in the world is Project Purpose? Dreading mandatory meeting tomorrow to learn about it. Apologies if it's already been discussed here.

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  36. I appreciate the telegraphing of the news. I see the value of the blog, despite Jm's odd editing of some posts. But don't expect any Gannett manager to be candid or forthright. Not in the DNA. Not encouraged, either.

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  37. here's hoping Bolger and his suits can get things together, before a total melt down

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  38. I can see the VP of Production at Cincy bailing and going to Columbus, They just posted an add (News and Tech) for a General manager of all Production at their newspaper. Makes sense, take the papers and the senior Production staff. Gannett saves a ton all the way around

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  39. Journalism has and always will have a tremendous value to society. Any journalism-product, regardless of it's media format (print/online), has an intrinsic value in it's content. I believe that people (especially well-educated people) have a genuine thirst for knowledge, and will continue to seek out reliable sources for news.

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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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