Wednesday, May 02, 2012

April 30-May 6 | Your News & Comments: Part 3

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74 comments:

  1. I'm still waiting for news on the voting from today's annual shareholders meeting. The event should have ended by now.

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  2. Thanks for posting the Reno reader comments. They were universally scathing and rightfully so. Gannett's "leadership" amounts to nothing less than an arrogant outrage and don't believe for a second that readers don't know what's going on.

    The C-suite at the CP is utterly tone deaf. Honestly, folks: Is there a soul at this point still working for these self-serving money-grubbers who honestly thinks Gannett is heading for anything other than oblivion, right?

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  3. So no posting about the upcoming retirement? Way to stay on top of breaking news

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  4. By Gannett standards of breaking news, we still have six hours to mention Roxanne.

    You got the email, you need to see it here to believe it?

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  5. Regarding the new (poorly implemented) paywall ... go incognito. 'nuff said.

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  6. The total average circulation of the Sunday Milwaukee Journal Sentinel declined about 1.7% while the daily publication was down 4.5% in the most recent reporting period.

    Total average circulation, which includes paid print edition and digital readers, was 328,475 on Sundays during the six months ended March 31, according to a report released Tuesday by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. That compares with 333,999 in the same six-month period in 2011.

    Daily circulation was 185,710, compared with 194,416 at the same time last year

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  7. At the Desert Sun in Palm Springs they might as well close the paper. It had been a nice little customer friendly paper until recently. It is in direct competition with the LA Times here. Besides some good local coverage one of the advantages it had over the Times was customer oriented service. The stores and customers had come to expect unmatched customer service from the Desert Sun drivers. Many locals had grown up with the Desert Sun Trucks driving down their streets. Now that is gone and probably won't be back. Customers may soon decide either to drop the Desert Sun and switch to the LA Times or any other paper that decides to move into the market area. It is a sad time out here in Paradise.

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  8. 12:36...people aren't buying the paper because there isn't enough of what they want for the price they have to pay. Guess it's easier to make excuses than to go back to what got them to where they are...or were! People around here think having the carriers put up 1-2-3 signs per day at the in store racks will make people buy them more. More money spent on bull instead of fixing the problem.

    I for one miss what newspapers used to be, what they used to represent.

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  9. I'm disgusted by the cave in of the lamestream media today to the White House's demand to remove news of Obama's visit to Afghanistan from their websites and twitter feeds.

    Of course, by the time Gannett papers post it, he'll already be back on US soil...

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  10. I checked out the Reno comments! Pretty funny! That reaction was guaranteed just waiting to happen and it's typical Gannett. Just drop something out of the blue.

    There was no warning on the Web site itself, the target for online subscription. Just rude. Or incredibly revealing.

    At least the Reno online readership is getting a taste of the kind of sudden (to them) crap employees have endured for years!

    Employees were one thing in the less-than-human class. Now it's spread to how they treat their customers. Naturally.

    I won't be surprised if they close the comments page, mostly legitimate criticism.

    http://www.rgj.com/comments/article/20120501/NEWS/120501002/RGJ-launches-full-access-subscription-plan

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  11. At my paper I can walk up five steps and be in one of the design centers. I can tell you that we get the shaft just as much as the off-site, smaller papers. The center is understaffed. They get a new person and put so much pressure on them they are crying or quit after a few months. They keep adding papers to design without adding staff and then they try not to pay overtime. This place employs some of the designers who had worked in our newsroom for years. They are putting out five to ten times more pages each day than they did before. That will show in the print product. And as for online, well, that is a mess all its own.

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  12. 346- I can envision them being like the old pirate ship with ad trafficers snap the whip with the junk we get back

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  13. WE WERE TOLD IF YOU DON'T SELL DIGITAL YOU Could (WILL) BE FIRED. At our paper they going to install salesforce.com sales (mirco)management systems. Its all things digital then print. AND we are to start selling websites and digital marketing services. Just shut down the printing presses already!!

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    1. Salesforce.com is a pretty good tool. You shouldn't be upset about that.

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  14. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  15. Such a shame both for the Mid-managers, carriers, and non-management employees. Granted, technology is always affecting our industry, but the faster than expected slid has been Intentionally sped up by Upper Management lowering the Quality-Integrity-and Expectations of our Papers. Speaking from the Enquirer...their product /or lack of it has forced so many good-dedicated employees out-and made customers quit. Actually I feel that the Upper Mgmt team starting with Buchanan, Washburn, and even Zimmerman should apologize for the way they treat Employees and Customers. Unfortunately, this will never happen!!! They are blind!

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  16. 2:42 The Distribution Director worked for the L.A Times before getting hired by The Desert Sun.

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  17. Interesting story:

    http://www.sheepsheadbites.com/2011/07/open-thread-mondays-a-manifesto-for-hyperlocal/

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  18. 3:46. Please share which site. Nothing will reveal you in that post.

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  19. Roxanne Hornung: Another Gannett lifer rewarded for 28 years of mediocrity and running an HR shop more focused on saving the company money rather than making it an employee-friendly workplace. How many times did Gannett make it on the Best Companies to Work For list during her tenue? Zero. How many times did Gannett make it on the Most Admired Corporations list? Zero. Hornung was chief HR hack of an entire boat full of HR hacks.

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  20. What happened to the photo of the movie star. Did you learn about the copyright rule on photographs, even for editorial purposes? Some of the photos you use will not get challenged by Gannett, but do remember that copyright is ultimately owned by the photographer unless it is work for hire, owned by the entity contracting it.

    You actually can't publish an image without permission or pay in a public-facing publication or entity without securing copyright.

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  21. I'm one of those "hacks" you refer to. I've spent a career going nose to nose with managers that treated people poorly. In fact I have even gone to bat for ungrateful folks like you. I sleep just fine. And just for the record I got your "hack" right here.

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  22. I removed the photo because it was confusing.

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  23. Even a mugshot requires release of copyright for your established publication. The photos of Gannett people are subject to copyright should the photographer or company want to enforce.
    Ask a lawyer. The images you often use are not "public domain" just because they are on a company website. You may be OK under some satire and opinion rules, but images do have special protection under copyright.
    Probably not a real issue for you, but it is a risk and possibly and actionable item for a civil case.

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  24. And we also need to remind you Gannett is a copyrighted name and you do not have permission to use it.

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  25. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  26. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  27. I'm working now somewhere that has salesforce. Watch out. It's awful. Micromanaging at it's finest.

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  28. Saw the feature in USA Today on Monday about how layoffs and the bad economy have resulted in more domestic violence. How many Gannett layoffs have resulted in more domestic violence????!!!!!!

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  29. Re: 9.25
    "And we also need to remind you Gannett is a copyrighted name and you do not have permission to use it."

    Without some context this is a meaningless sentence. Coke (the drink), Kodak, Chiquita these are all copyrighted yet we write about them all the time. (Well, technically, we USED to write about Chiquita but that's another story)

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  30. 9:29
    Wow. A company that makes its living from the first amendment, making (thinly) veiled threats against a blog. It's disgusting on its face. But it also portrays a company so morally bankrupt that, rather than address the issues that prompt employee unrest, chooses to resort to threats.

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  31. 10:13: There is a big difference between using a company's name for your site and just writing about that company.

    If you don't know what you're talking about, don't try to sound as if you do.

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  32. Quick, Jim, they are threatening you with a civil lawsuit. Shut down the blog immediately and run away scared. This is the funniest corporate post yet. I would love to see them take you to Civil court for using the name "Gannett." The case would surely go to trial and gain national attention. Bring on the lawsuit!

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  33. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  34. 10:13 thanks for the banana laugh!

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  35. Whoa, somebody heard the word 'copyright' and just started making things up.

    Trust me, G-Legal is very good and very fast with the cease-and-desist when there's real issues out there.

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  36. It took them how many years to complain about "Gannett" in the blog name?!? Jim, just change to a misspelling of "Gannett" so it then becomes a parody of current newspaper quality.

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  37. Gannett isn't likely to enforce, but for clarity: It is a violation of copyright to use any image unless there is a release of that copyright by the originator through terms of service they agree to on a website they post, unless you secure license through an agreement (AP for example), purchase publication rights or receive permission. People publish other people's photographs all the time without permission, but that doesn't change the fact that copyright likely is being violated. Social Media posts by the originator often do release copyright through terms of service, but everyone has to remember that only the creator or owner of the image can release the copyright.
    The creator is due a usage fee usually as a settlement in most copyright cases. The guy who took that bear photo covered in Poynter may, may not have a big case. SM terms of service suggest he released copyright. However, it didn't give the right for additional distribution to the college paper. Their request for credit in that distribution could be an Achilles in arguing, indicating intent to take credit and ownership of copyright. Cases that take digital publisher or individuals to task over the use of images that aren't their own are fuzzy.
    All said, Jim's use of corporate mugshots probably will not face a challenge. But that doesn't change the fact that he may be violating copyright using those images unless he has permission, even for editorial purposes.

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  38. I'm sure this has been explained here before, but I'm wondering about the circulation rules and "double-counting." Since under the new pay model, all print subscriptions come with digital access, does that count as two subscriptions? I work at a small Gannett paper and want to know what this will mean for our circ numbers.

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  39. I was kidding the other day about the boner-fication of passion topics, but then in today's USAT: "Erectile dysfunction: Pills aren't the only answer"

    Seriously question: when a story is bylined 'Special for USA TODAY" is that code for a news release or paid content?

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  40. In St. Louis, KSDK newswoman Julie Tristan acted all lovestruck doing a feature on Cardinals third baseman David Freese. For this fine example of Gannett journalism Miss Tristan is getting shelled like a pitcher giving up a big inning.

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  41. 9:25 USA TODAY, was a copyright name of a MAGAZINE, before Gannett stole it from then. Then their is the title, of a book,about Gannett, which was stoled, and most of that title ended up being used by the book by Peter, in which Gannett had to buy back, from Andrew, McMeel,Parker" after I called and told then. I was offer a buyout from Al's office because of it, in which I declined.(Your more then welcome Jim to see the documents if you want proof).

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  42. I wonder every single day why someone who has never worked for Gannett would move their family to a new Gannett location to begin a career with this company. Everyone can see the writing on the wall. You cannot make a difference in a company that is run from the top down, nor can you count on being employed within the next ten years. Everyone has a target on their back, no matter who you are. This is truly the most vile company I have ever encountered.

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  43. Ditto, 10:18.
    But actually, it's way worse than that if you're over 40.

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  44. The Journal News (LoHud) began its pay wall structure today, but as of 9:21 Mountain Time I have not been able to access it to see what it looks like or what content remains free. (I was told in e-mail that some features, such as obits, would not be pay wall protected.)

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  45. 9:21 Not sure why you're having such trouble, but you always seem to have trouble. It's working fine from my home computer, my iPad and my iPhone.

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  46. LoHud should turn off the auto start on the ads. And if they have to leave it on, turn DOWN the volume. Damn that comes on loud. Playing that thing at night or early in the morning would wake the whole house. It's also annoying that there is no volume control on the ads. I won't be subscribing.

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  47. Lord Conrad Black’s release from a Miami prison later this week could be an opportunity for Dubow’s housing woes.

    Canada isn’t warming to his return, having renounced his citizenship little more than a decade ago and Dubow isn’t warming up to his new neighbors, being slighted his home will soon look like their guest house.

    Hence, why these two fallen, former media moguls should stick together in helping each other out. Black can take Dubow’s home off his hands, as it will look palatial given the prison cell he’s occupied the last 42 months and perhaps Dubow can create a sweetener by using some old strings in getting him a consulting gig at McLean to cover those costs.

    It’s a win – win for both.

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  48. Or! Craig and Denise could make a little extra dough by taking in Black as a boarder.

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  49. Seriously question: when a story is bylined 'Special for USA TODAY" is that code for a news release or paid content?

    Serious answer: No, that means the writer is not on staff and is a freelancer or stringer. If wire content is substantial, we will sometimes say "From staff and wire reports."

    If by "paid content" you mean stories from companies or something like that, no, absolutely not. USA Today does not do that. Nor does USA Today run press releases verbatim.

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  50. Thanks 12:42, appreciate your clarifications!

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  51. 12:42 Many papers do this. But without a glossary -- which papers don't provide -- these distinctions mean nothing to readers.

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  52. Says Mr. P/E Ration...

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  53. RE: Special For The . . .

    The Arizona Republic routinely uses "Special For The Republic" in its sports pages, most notably with NASCAR stories. We have two big NASCAR races a year here, including the penultimate (35th) race. Guess that doesn't rate a dedicated writer.

    As for the "copyright" issue, I'm guess "fair use" might be a good defense. Don't see a lot of companies going after XXXXXsucks websites and blogs. Also, if you fail to defend your "copyright" in a timely manner, you lose the (easy) ability to be legally outraged. Some companies (notably Disney) are relentless in defending the trademark. Others aren't.

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  54. A look at how CEO salaries are inflated by comparing pay with CEOs of much larger companies. Jim, it would be interesting to know if Gannett does this.

    http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-04-26/how-to-get-a-pay-raise-if-youre-a-ceo

    Personally, I'd like my pay a reporter to be based on the pay for New York Times reporters. It's only fair.

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    1. Apples to oranges. could you get hired at the Times?

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  55. Interesting article by Bill Shea of Crain's Detroit Business. The Freep and other papers give out a free branded product (198,000 in the case of the Freep) and get to count it as a Sunday circulation gain. Sounds like a good scam to me.


    http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20120502/FREE/120509974/free-press-claims-circulation-up-news-is-down-in-past-6-months

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  57. not to worry cincy, your paper will soon be an out of town rag, blame the GCIU and the shit hole pressroom. Mr Priessier is responsible for that messs

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  58. "The creator (Gannett) is due a usage fee usually as a settlement in most copyright cases."

    Maybe Jim can send Gannett one of the twenty dollar bills he gets from his readers. Would that count as a new revenue stream for the company?

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  59. The Crain's article is inaccurate based on this story in The Detroit News http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120502/BIZ/205020417/1001/Detroit-News-daily-circulation-declines

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  60. I saw one an laid off ex co worker,a commercial printer who is now working at a pet store. Good luck! He'll probably like working with the real dogs better!

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  61. This copyright discussion makes some decent points. I was always arguing about it: folks would strip the copyright symbol off of images running in a Gannett paper. Reason? No knowledge of its function and "it looks bad." I brought this to the appropriate department along with a copy of the User Agreement for third-party images. Not trying to get anyone "in trouble," just trying to head off a potential problem.

    I was told to mind my own business. I showed 'em the User Agreement which indicated the newspaper was clearly violating third-party usage by cutting off the copyright mark.

    Response: "I don't have time for you." And he tossed the User Agreement in in the trash right in front of me.

    Just an illustration for edification: copyright is no big deal in at least Gannett's case if a self-important local manager is to be believed.

    So for comparison, I have recounted here a clear violation of copyright by Gannett employees in contrast to Hopkins' not violating any copyright: i,e., "fair use."

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  62. 3:41 – You obviously don’t know who Priesser works for as Buchanan long ago demonstrated her interest in getting out of the printing business.

    Closing the Community Press’ printing operations just over five years ago and shipping their then 27 weekly newspapers to Lafayette, Indiana (and walking away from more than $2 million in non-Gannett commercial printing revenue) is but one early example.

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  63. Alarming how NY Times is closing in on USAT's digital and print circ. Is Martore ready for her only still recognizable national brand to fall from 2nd to 3rd in September?

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  64. Martore is Dubow in a skirt. Both latter-day Robber Barons with regard only for themselves.

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  65. re the shareholder item: Looks like Gannett is becoming the next Enron as in loot the treasury, take the money and run.

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  66. Are any of your sites seeing "temporary" copy editors being hired since the buyouts? Cincy has four in the past two weeks. Even people who were fired are back. Seems Gannett will take anyone back on a temporary assignment since they don't have to pay them benefits. Another cost cutting measure instead of hiring much needed fulltime employees that will cost them more. Sounds like a trend.

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  67. All the copy editors at USA Today act like they are temporary.

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  68. In New Jersey, several laid off persons have resurfaced as freelancers/stringers. Several laid off people have resurfaced in the duh-sign center in various roles. Yes, it's part of a trend, the trend toward oblivion for all full time Gannettoids.

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  69. Is it just my computer or is the Gannett Company home page screwed up?

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  70. Some thing is wrong with your computer keyboard. It just inserted a random "home page" in an otherwise insightful comment.

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  71. Clever. ;)

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  72. Without any prior notice, my property laid off one of the most highly skilled and creative folks I had ever met. A brilliant and very committed individual.

    Then mere weeks later, they asked that person back without batting an eye, only having of course one of the rock-bottom, lower-echelon members to make contact.

    The upper-level manager types who tossed that person to the streets couldn't be bothered with actually speaking to that person.

    This solicitation was a contractor-type (with no benefits) for several projects.

    Of course, this person, desperate for any work since unemployment was so unexpected, accepted.

    Once the first project was done (and outstandingly so), the "several" projects, cited only verbally, suddenly became only that particular one.

    Again, no notice. Just 'bye.

    Happy ending, though -- and not for this company. The individual involved turned the "user/reamer" situation around, realizing one was now free to concentrate on other ventures and last I heard is doing quite well as a start-up Web business.

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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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