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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
72 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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Note: For any of you trying to reach me by gmail at jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com], please be patient. In a rare outage, Gmail has now been down more than 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteThey hired someone from gannett to keep gmail up?
ReplyDeleteWes Jackson new publisher in Louisville. Any insight welcome.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120417/BUSINESS/304170033/Wes-Jackson-named-new-publisher-Courier-Journal?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|p
1:27 Not as easy as you think. Everything is subject to failure, but you should know that by now.
ReplyDeleteAnd the hits keep coming: It appears Hollis Towns is about to dismantle the sports coverage at the Asbury Park Press. No more covering high school games and printing boxscores; he wants enterprise and watchdog journalism to be the mainstays of the section. It would be nice if just one person in management really understood the market they're serving, instead of regaling employees with stories of what they did at papers in markets that bear zero resemblance to their current home.
ReplyDeletewhy does gannett treat their employees so bad?
ReplyDeleteWhy not? We don't leave.
DeleteCongrats to all the winners. Great job folks!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteRecent memo from Gracia
I am pleased to share with you that 15 of our local news stations have won 31 regional 2012 Edward R. Murrow awards. Nine of 19 Gannett Broadcasting markets won at least one award and six won more than one, the highest number of Gannett markets to collectively win regional Murrow Awards.
We are all proud of the great work that is being done every day at Gannett to ensure that we are providing our consumers with engaging high quality journalism. This is an integral part of purpose -- to serve the greater good of the nation and the communities we serve. And this commitment never waivers.
Three Gannett stations were among those winning the highest award for Overall Excellence. Other awards recognize excellence in Investigative Reporting, Hard News Reporting, Breaking News, News Documentary, Feature Reporting, Sports and News Websites as well as other categories.
Gannett Overall Excellence award winners:
• KARE-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (eight awards)
• WGRZ-TV in Buffalo, NY, (two awards)
• KTHV-TV in Little Rock, AR, (one award)
Other winning Gannett TV stations include:
• KUSA-TV in Denver, CO, (five awards)
• WBIR-TV in Knoxville, TN, (three awards)
• WXIA-TV in Atlanta, GA, (two awards)
• KSDK-TV in St. Louis, MO, (two awards)
• WUSA-TV in Washington DC (one award)
• WTSP-TV in Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL (one award)
• KPNX-TV in Phoenix, AZ (one award)
• WKYC-TV in Cleveland, OH (one award)
• WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI (one award)
• WTLV/WJXX in Jacksonville, FL (one award)
• WCSH-TV in Portland, ME (one award)
• WMAZ-TV in Macon, GA (one award)
Congratulations to everyone at Gannett and to the teams that came together to accomplish the work that led to this recognition. We couldn’t be more proud.
Best,
Gracia
Another Disasterous night on the job last night...Moral sucks,late start, plenty of Down time ..only gonna get worse..Poor pay, lousy hours,,lousy insurance...Big wigs get paid...The Hard worker get's ZIP....Oh ya,,I'll work Hard.....NOT..
ReplyDeleteAs a Murrow winner, does that also mean chain-smoking is now allowed in the on-air studio by the anchors at those winning tv stations?
ReplyDeleteI've seen this more than once, and I know not everyone who posts to this blog is a writer, but ...
ReplyDeleteIt's morale, not moral. If you say moral sucks, then that implies you are all a bunch of lying, stealing, cheating sluts. I'm willing to bet, based on experience, that morale is down at Gannett properties, but morals are intact.
Thank you! That's been bugging me,too!
DeleteThink Gannett's shareholders, or directors, would ever step up and say "no" to outrageous executive pay?
ReplyDeleteCitigroup’s shareholders rejected the bank’s plan to award its chief executive, Vikram S. Pandit, $15 million in compensation, in a show of frustration about Wall Street pay.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/citigroup-shareholders-reject-executive-pay-plan/
Who is the former Florida Today employee starting up a rival print?I'm in, Florida Today is a joke!!!
ReplyDeleteWouldn't be hard to override!
Keep up the great idea!!
As to the Florida Today paper- you have really hurt yourself.
Big balls- tight shorts!
Who cares stay tuned
ReplyDeleteAs Jim mentioned earlier, it would appear that Florida Today got some competition on the Spacecoast.
ReplyDeleteHere is the link to Peter Kerasotis' take on what happened when he got laid off last year. It is worth mentioning that 3 days after he was laid off, he was awarded 2 prestigious awards, and yet Florida Today had no use for him. I am sure it wasn't personal, right?
http://spacecoastdaily.com/2012/04/peter-kerasotis-my-take/
"I'm willing to bet, based on experience, that morale is down at Gannett properties, but morals are intact ..."
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be too sure about that. Especially if you're including the CP as a property and money-grubbing senior execs present and most recent past as examples.
The people who took buy-outs at our paper are being replaced with cheaper workers with less vacation time and in some instances part-time employees.
ReplyDeleteA few rumors going around at our site are: pay cuts for all employees.They are also hiring new workers at higher salaries then other workers who are there doing the same job. In a few instances employees who were grandfathered in at 35 hrs and being asked to work 40 hours for the same pay.
Wondering if any of this is based in fact?
No e of it is true. The folks only left four days ago. Come on!!!!
ReplyDeleteWise up 7:02 pm. You don't think seriously this wasn't all in the works a long time ago? This slicing and dicing has been he plan all along and started last July. Get your head out of your ass. The snakes and Medusa Martore have long been slithering in the tower on how to toss out talent and experience and replace with cheap hacks.
ReplyDeleteWell then that settles it as moral sucks. Just sayin
ReplyDelete1. Did Gracia send out a note about Pulitzers?
ReplyDelete2. What is latest with second wave of ship jumpers following the inspirational loss of institutional knowledge and previously committed top journos?
Does everybody know about the scam to replace solid news reporting with what some try to call an enterprise story? These are mainly soft features under the title of passion topics. Notice that the passion topics do not anger, excite or inform or seek the truth. No more real hard news. Also, Gannett is producing a "format" for all its lead pieces to be shared across Gannett: opening paragraph, hard graph, quote graph etc. Just wait. No writing talent or creativity necessary anymore. No real reporting, either. Those passion topics? Forget the news, just focus on the wealthy people or those Gannett identified from afar as being wealthy. Cut news staff to the cheapeast level and then tell advertisers how much the daily brand cares about the people it covers. Advertisers are smarter than that. Scam city.
ReplyDeleteThe end game is to just run pictures of cats.
DeleteDoes anyone have any advise about dealing with the exit interview? I truly don't see any benefit to me for answering the HR reps questions. I also don't trust the H.R. rep..
ReplyDeleteInterview? The only question they asked me was how many boxes I would need to haul my crap out.
DeleteMy next t-shirt:
ReplyDelete"I am Peter Kerasotis"
9:38 - DO NOT trust the HR rep. She is there to protect the company, not you.
ReplyDeleteEspecially if her initials are HS.
exit interview advice: focus on thanking those who are pulling their weight or helped you. don't burn bridge. not worth it,
ReplyDeleteBe extremely careful. Do NOT trust HR reps. No one does. They are bottom feeders and anything you say will be twisted to their benefit, ignored or worse used against your managers and colleagues. Just let them take your credentials and escort you out the door. And don't look back.
ReplyDeleteTo 9:38 Are you on the retirement list or are you resigning? There's no purpose IMHO to do an exit interview with anyone who is involved in the "voluntary" retirement program or is RIF'd. However, if you are resigning for another job or other reasons, it's your last chance to really tell the company what areas you were satisfied with and which ones you weren't. How many people leave because the disability benefits were poor? Most folks are leaving due to pay, furloughs, supervisors, etc. If you can leave emotion out of the exit interview (and that's very hard to do, I know) then it is can have value. Will they actually use the info? Your guess is as good as mine.
ReplyDeleteThere is no bridge left to burn. Gannett has already seen to that. They burned it for us all a long time ago. Be most careful if Steve Hyatt is involved. He's the one most active in getting the goods on us all if he is ordered to wield the ax. Consider Hyatt the J Edgar Hoover of Gannett with all his little files. I avoid him at all costs.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI am going to make sure every one of my friends and advertisers knows about spacecoastdaily. This is awesome!
ReplyDeleteComon Jim, why delete my post, I did not call him names, what gives...speaking the truth brother
ReplyDeleteFour more people walked out of Pointroll today. They quit and are joining a competitor. Something bad is happening here. Something really doesn't smell right.
ReplyDeleteJim
ReplyDeleteWhen are you going to come up with some info on Evan Ray, GPS VP. Been waiting for over a month and no one knows who he is or what the plan is for this division???
At least four of our retirees have already been replaced with new hires. I do believe Gannett is forcing the 35 hr people who are grandfathered in, is forcing them to work a 40 hr week for same pay. Already happened to one person at our site. Beware when they create a new position for you. That means you are next to work five extra hours a week for the same pay. It is very obvious this is happening, just quietly. Next is the pay cut for all. Gotta love these people. They protect their managers and keep all the people who actually do the work in the dark. Sad reality.
ReplyDelete10:33 I believe you're referring to the comment where you called someone a "troll ass."
ReplyDeleteI remove comments that involve name-calling. And that was definitely one of those.
Exit interview with a person? If HR can't have people onsite to help you while you work here, aren't these interviews a digital form?
ReplyDeleteYour right, I am sorry, got carried away Jim
ReplyDeleteHP
Thanks for all the advice I will go over it. I am RIF'D and don't see any point in it but don't think I can avoid it.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you want to know about Evan Ray and what vision for GPS are you talking about? The vision for GPS is for you to print the papers. When Gannett goes all digital, there will be no need for printed papers. GPS will most likely be sold at some point in the future. It's not like newspapers are suddenly going to come back into style. What vision are you looking for?
ReplyDeleteWho needs seasoned veterans with four weeks vacation and "hefty" paychecks when there is an unlimited number of interns and low paid newbies two blocks away at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.At least that is how they roll at The Arizona Republic.
ReplyDeleteMy "exit interview" was just a digital form; perhaps us lackeys don't get the same treatment as managerial/higher ups. I let them know my thoughts, and if there was a bridge there I definitely WOULD burn it because I do NOT want to even think about going back. If my site was independently owned, then yeah - keep the bridge intact. The fact that it's Gannett-owned is why I don't care to go back.
ReplyDeleteAny Gannett employee who is over 50, who is somewhat well paid and perhaps turned down an early retirement offer should read the Peter Kerasotis piece in SpaceCoastDaily.com. His account of the layoffs - I mean restructuring - at Florida Today is very revealing. This will occur at many Gannett properties in the next year, as they continue their ham-handed attempts to recreate Gannett as a young, hip, digital powerhouse. New job descriptions will be created, old ones eliminated. Salaries will be reduced. The lucky (or unlucky) will be rehired into those new jobs, the rest cast aside.
ReplyDeletePeter Kerasotis seems like a nice guy who claims to have 'moved on' after being laid off last August. But his lingering bitterness at Gannett and how he was treated comes through loud and clear.
Exit interviews? What are these exit interviews you speak of? Not in our part of G-land.
ReplyDeleteGuys, you're in a shrinking segment of the economy, brace for rough times or aplit
ReplyDeleteThere's a really terrific first-person column in the new Space Coast Daily that EVERY Gannett employee should read. Peter K tells quite a yarn of his departure from Florida Today and the sad, sad moral cesspool that is the top executive suite of GCI in McLean, Va.
ReplyDeleteJim, it would be well worth a separate item in your blog on this column.
http://spacecoastdaily.com/2012/04/peter-kerasotis-my-take/
C-J in Louisville is recycling editorial cartoons.
ReplyDeleteWe are running ' toon from last Wednesday's paper. Editor must be on furlough.
Sure wish this blog software allowed for you to see peoples IP so you could ban all the BS comments and hate from Craig
ReplyDeletesigh
How old is Gracia Martore?
ReplyDeleteAccording to the recently published annual report, GM is reported to be age 60.
DeleteNote the post by 8:36. It is happening at my paper...daily "poll" on some subject and a cub reporter takes the results and crafts (perhaps that isn't the word) a story. Easy as writing an obit. Anybody else seeing this change?
ReplyDeleteMr. Hopkins --- I work in Indianapolis but I just read the artcile by Peter Kerasotis in the Space Coast Daily. I still have a job with Gannett, but I found this story to be an extremely candid account of management's handling of employees during layoffs. Every current and future Gannett employee should read this account. Can you give it a separate heading and have you read it? It's pretty powerful if you haven't.
ReplyDelete9am yes Jim, you should post the story from Peter Kerastosis. It gave me a human perspective on the layoffs of talented reporters at Gannett, all while the executives take millions and continue to make bad decisions.
ReplyDeleteAll these actions by the Corporate execs have a human toll. Hope they enjoy their four star hotels, travel to SXSW and Cannes, flights on the private jet, and meetings with over-paid consultants...while thousands get laid off.
Are you listening Martore, Banikarim,Buesse, and all the rest? Gracia, stop spending on all the BS. Invest in your products and people.
Everyone in Fort Collins should read the column by Kerasotis. You will have a better perspective on what's ahead for you in reading this and watching the video: http://spacecoastdaily.com/2012/04/peter-kerasotis-my-take/
ReplyDeleteI understand Peter K: "I'm just...tired."
ReplyDeleteNeed A Job?
ReplyDeleteIT Manager
Job Snapshot
Employee Type: Full-Time
Location: Nashville, TN
Job Type: Information Technology
Experience: Not Specified
Date Posted: 4/10/2012
Job Description
The Nashville IT Manager is responsible for administration of the Nashville IT department. The IT department is responsible for installing, supporting, administering and maintaining technology for all the Tennessee newspapers. The mission of the IT department is to use Technology to improve efficiency and to help the user departments meet their company goals. The IT Manager must be proactive, innovative and strategic, and lead the team to provide a high level of customer service to both the internal and external customers. The manager must motivate the department to complete the assigned projects and the long-term projects within budgetary and scheduling guidelines.
Here's an interesting comment on the Kerasotis column.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne Shipp April 17, 2012 at 9:00 pm · Reply
Peter, thank you for sharing your story. I recently, within the few weeks, experienced something almost identical with The Times in Shreveport to the extent of being threatened and physically attacked in an attempt to keep me quiet and get me out the door. I did not and will not keep quiet. I filed a workplace violence/harassment complaint with the corporate office and followed up on it only to find out that they didn’t and wouldn’t interview any of the witnesses which had seen what happened to me and the only reply I got was that it had been taken care of to “their” satisfaction and they were not at liberty to share anything else with me. It is quite sickening that something like this goes on in an adult world. It would be nice to have an anti-bullying law at work as well as school. I have moved on and despite the fact I don’t have a job, I am much happier in the fact I don’t have to submit to such abuse any longer. Good luck to you and again, thank you for sharing your story.
from www.citybeat.com in Cincinnati:
ReplyDeleteAddition of Wilkinson Adds Muscle to WVXU
By Ben L. Kaufman · April 17th, 2012 · On Second Thought
WVXU’s decision to hire retiring Enquirer politics reporter Howard Wilkinson is the rare bright spot in the increasingly constricted world of local news gathering. ...
I won’t even guess why The Enquirer figured Howard wasn’t needed this year. I’d love to be a fly on the wall, however, if Enquirer execs voice second thoughts if Rob Portman of Terrace Park is Mitt’s running mate. Or maybe not. They can always listen to WVXU.
Hearing rumors Gannett papers websites will only be open to subscribers of the hard version of the paper.
ReplyDelete12 p.m. I doubt that very much. Gannett would be giving up to much online-only subscription income.
ReplyDelete8:36 asked: 1. Did Gracia send out a note about Pulitzers?
ReplyDeleteSomeone would have to first explain to her what a Pulitzer Prize is.
10:06 I would go to the police station and file an assault and battery charge against the person. That would get attention.
ReplyDelete10:06 – Send a compelling note of what happened directly to Matore and Horning as past experience with Dubow (no physical acts involved) resulted in a corporate visit, interviews with OC staff and others all of which resulted in reigning in a publisher well-known for their lack of self-control.
ReplyDeleteIf Matore and Horning fail to act and/or respond, then that’s more data for you to take it to the next level; i.e. criminal and civil action.
Good luck.
Suzanne Shipp: Have you filed a grievance with any other organization that would investigate the workplace violence situation and harassment that you experienced? This can't be tolerated.
ReplyDeleteLearn to read critically, folks. Nothing happened at all to 10:06. They were simply posting a comment that was shared at the end of Kerasotis' column.
ReplyDelete@9:20 p.m.: Our local paper's "passion" story took up a large part of A-1 and almost all of the second page on Monday. I agree, it is taking the place of news. This paper has only two reporters to cover 50-plus towns. So filler is key to getting the paper to weigh more than a couple of ounces when it hits the front porch.
ReplyDelete@1:51, or the weekly pic of gulls on the pier.
ReplyDelete@9:37 AM
ReplyDeleteThe Tennessean could use someone competent in IT, for a change.
@8:07PM
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand IT has a Manager, this opening is for The Tech Services Manager.
You know your in good hands, AND if they Move the Supervisor/"Interim " Manager that's there now Up to the Manager's spot, All will be better..Oh wait you said "The Tennessean could use someone COMPETENT, for a change."
SO Never mind..