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Monday, May 14, 2012
57 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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I'm not a regular visitor here, but I've noticed some commentary on Westcheseter, and Newsday's move into that market. It also seems obvious there is at least one former Journal News defector to Newsday posting on here, from what I've read. My take is that, whatever gripe many folks on here have with Gannett and the Journal News, it's really kind of laughable that anyone would consider this Newsday thing legitimate competition. A little google and you can see that their projects were done by the Journal News two and three months earlier. If the paper put something online the Newsday people do it within the hour as well. It is also interesting to see how they language Newsday uses is pretty close to what the Journal News writes. So I am not impressed. I understand that there seem to be a lot of people who hate Gannett and post here. But I think that anger gets in the way of reason. Sorry to upset anyone. It is my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAs a longtime reader of the Indianapolis Star, I eagerly await the arrival of the Star's new editor-in-chief. The former editor did little if anything to improve the news report.
ReplyDeleteMy hope is that the new editor will bring in some first-class assignment editors who know how to cover local news effectively. The current group misses most good stories and turns the ones they do get into indeciperable babble. Headlines are worse.
A friend who was a reporter for the Star until recently told me current editors have been frustrated for awhile because they do not know what's expected of them. The old editor didn't set standards because he feared they'd bite him in the butt. He apparently got all his story ideas from the New York Times, failing to acknowledge that the Star's resources are extremely limited by comparison.
My reporter friend figures the new Star editor will bring in a couple sharp assignment editors to fire the place up. Recent staff surveys showed little respect for the existing editors, including the top person.
As a reader, I can't lose because the local news report can't get worse!
5/13/2012 10:42 AM When's the last time you got a raise?
ReplyDeleteI got a 2% increase last November. First one in three years.
I find it interesting that posts pop up on this blog with regular frequency, supposedly from different Gannett markets, and they all have the same writing style and tone.
ReplyDeleteAnother turkey deal on DealChicken today in Tysons. It's the usual massage parlor offer.
ReplyDelete11:04 - I respect you opinion.
ReplyDeleteHowever, The Journal News is 1/10th what it used to be. The product that is out there now is Laughable. Newsday really doesn't need to do much to bury the JN.
The impression one gets is that they are winging it everyday, hoping that someone somewhere buys it. And if someone buys it , I will guarantee you , they won't buy it again.
As for hatred for Gannett, well if you use common sense you'll realize that Gannett has treated people shamefully.I worked for the Westchester/Rockland Operation for over 30 years. This once was a very proud Newspaper, sadly now that is simply not the case.
Five to ten years ago you could see that this was coming, with the managerial staff that they had there. What makes people upset is that that same staff is still there.
That in and of itself should tell you something about how Gannett has run this one particular operation.Quite simply--directly into the ground.
Every Gannett paper is a shell of what it used to be. How can they be any good w/ all the cuts and loss of experience? What is laughable is how publishers and executive editors still think they have good products, worth charging twice as much for, worth the money of a paywall.
ReplyDeleteWas Saleh the baseball bat guy?
ReplyDeletePaul Selah, Gannett's CFO, just "resigned" to join a Fortune 200 company. My sources tell me that GM wasn't happy with Mr. Selah - no matter what the press release says about his "many contributions."
ReplyDeleteAll of the above is true.
ReplyDeleteThat is why advertisers are leaving enmass.
This is why every quarterly revenue report is worse than the one before it. I believe it is now 12 quarters of falling revenues.
The trend continues,compare to Kodak.
Employees still with Gannett ,
why?
today offically affirms that My Boss is gone
ReplyDeleteThe complaints about Gannett papers, from usat on down, sound similar because the inherent problems are similar.
ReplyDeleteSchoolmarm Washburn is indicative of the malaise at the local level, a manager who continually underwhelms in day-to-day oversight and oblivious regarding moves to new offices and including herself in a women to watch series in her own publication. And what happens? She keeps getting promoted because no one manages her except for RIF instructions from corporate.
second- rate talent in key positions down the line, a failure to get the little things right and missteps that give off an imperial style are a hallmark of this company, which is now lead by a bluster filled CEO who delegates power and authority to incompetent holdovers and out- of-their element new executives with no regard to the fallout on her "valued" employees.
8:46 has sources. Didn;t know he was leaving but knew Gracia was unhappy. Pleeeease! Another wanna be
ReplyDeleteGee, if the CFO is a bad hire, our CMO must be a complete disaster.
ReplyDeleteI guess we are now blaming the beancounter for our horrid revenue situation. Then again, guess it's only fair. How many cutbacks and terminations has Saleh recommended?
ReplyDeleteMy Boss is fun and cool. hee hee
ReplyDeleteSaleh should have done more interviews and put out a monthly e-mail taking credit for things he didn't even know about. To paraphrase Connery: "that's the Gannett way."
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ReplyDeleteWhy people don't read newspapers, Example 503: If it's not the bad writing or excessive attribution, it's the Cold War nostalgia that the media continue to promote. Gannett's Des Moines daily did exactly that in an agriculture story on Sunday -- scroll 1/3 of the way down for proof.
ReplyDeleteI don't see your point. Seems like a great article to me. Is this a troll?
DeleteOn the abandonment of editorials in the Cincinnati Enquirer, it's a shame that it didn't have a single word to say about President Obama's support of gay marriage or the bullying tactics of Western & Southern Co. on the Anna Louise Inn women's shelter. Those Mother's Day guest columns were lame. If that's the kind of content that the Enquirer is going to foist on print subscribers and behind the online paywall, the paper is going to put itself out of business real fast.
ReplyDeleteIt’s unfortunate that the Enquirer’s Sunday Forum section continues to be devoid of its own editorial, then again given the way the two Cincinnati natives are leading the demise of this newspaper (Buchanan and Washburn), does anyone really trust them to have any valuable opinion on anything else.
ReplyDeleteCincinnatians increasingly don’t which is why the suits at McLean should take a closer look and fast as the Enquirer’s gaffes and other trust breaking moves with its readers steadily increase.
8:43 - No, he wasn't the baseball bat guy. That guy is still running around.
ReplyDeleteIt really is time for Buchanan to dump Washburn. The editor has no credibility in her Local Information Center or in the community. She's viewed as a joke in both places, a leader taking the newspaper and web down the wrong path.
ReplyDelete8:51, you're gonna have to give us more than that.
ReplyDeleteThe paywalls don't work. All you have to do is delete your cookies and you can break through the paywall.
ReplyDeleteIt's really the beginning of the end.
ReplyDeleteThe following printed May 2. And I have to attend a freakin' ethics seminar for signing one petition?
ReplyDeleteCityBeat has criticized 3CDC’s Enquirer again for failing to note that their publisher Margaret Buchanan is on the board of 3CDC when their print glowing reviews/corporate propaganda disguised as news. I tip my hat to Kevin Osborne and Ben Kaufman.
Here at the Beacon we’ve raised the point that not only does the Enquirer fail to give balanced and accurate reporting about 3CDC’s projects, but they also fail to disclose the fact that Margaret Buchanan sits on the executive committee of 3CDC. According to Ben Kaufman, Buchanan is, “Charged with publicity and marketing the private development corporation”.
Kaufman reports that Kevin Osborne’s column last week elicited this response from Buchanan: “Over several years, The Cincinnati Enquirer has fully covered the pro’s and con’s (sic) of 3CDC’s development efforts in Over-the-Rhine for our readers and we are very proud of that coverage. As publisher, I sit on 3CDC’s executive committee — and did not influence any of the reporting on this issue. Our editor is completely responsible for all editorial decisions. Typically my participation on this committee is disclosed, although it was overlooked for the article that ran on Sunday, April 15. It will continue to be disclosed in the future.”
The only problem is that Osborne fact checked Buchanan’s claim and of the 481 entries, Buchanan was mentioned in only15. And Buchanan’s position alone is enough for her employees-who must increasingly be concerned about their jobs because of all the downsizing- must know that she is all about promoting 3CDC’s agenda and every move.
She doesn’t need to send out a memo to her reporters and editors because they already know the deal. Kaufman writes, “if Buchanan felt she was bound by the spirit — if not the letter — of Gannett’s ethics policy, she might leave 3CDC’s executive committee and surely would eschew responsibility for 3CDC publicity”. We couldn’t have said it better!
The same could be said for Buchanan’s role as a University of Cincinnati trustee.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you call a Blog that get scooped twice in one day? Gannett Blog of course!
ReplyDeleteSomebody has PTSD in Cincinnati. Get help, man. Find something else to do. The "horrible wrongs" - the pub sits on a local board and you are mad about editorials? Get a life. This is as bad as all that whining we had to listen to about Westchester.
ReplyDeleteBuchanan also sits on the board of the Cincinnati Business Committee and the Fine Arts Fund.
ReplyDelete3:10 I was scooped by another blog?
ReplyDeleteAnother day, another Newsgate outage. Last night was a serious outage and this morning the assignment component of Newsgate went out.
ReplyDeleteAt what point does Gannett say, "Holy crap! We screwed up with Newsgate!!" and replace it with a system that works?
news gate is fun. hee hee
ReplyDeleteLarry Kramer, formerly of MarketWatch, new president and publisher of USA Today.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge malcontent. but this is a great hire. im happy!/
DeleteWelcome to all Cincinnati,all day and nite....
ReplyDeleteGuess that Cinci is where all the Gannett posters are from.
http://jimromenesko.com/2012/05/14/larry-kramer-named-usa-today-publisher/
ReplyDeleteA publisher focused on content...I love it. After a few years of a huckster, this guy looks like the real deal. Finally, an excellent hire - at least on the surface.
ReplyDeleteNot passing judgment because I've never worked for Larry Kramer. He is an excellent self-promoter (not passing judgment; it's a must in today's anything goes media environment). His last job was "media consultant" and adjunct professor of Media Management Syracuse. Which means he did not make enough money selling off MarketWatch to CBS, which in turn sold it to Dow Jones. Guess he was biding his time to get a full-time gig with benefits. He's no fool and knows it's going to be three years max.
ReplyDelete@12:03 AM:
ReplyDeleteBe careful what you wish for. Word on the street is that the new Indy Star editor may be one of the most hated editors at the Arizona Republic.
She is beyond dreadful, a mean-spirited, petty micromanager of the worst kind. Oh, and an acolyte of Carolyn Washburn.
AZ would celebrate, for sure. As for Indy, if you get this person, well, you all have our deepest sympathy.
@4:15 PM – Statistically, the Enquirer should be more noticeable when one considers its one of Gannett’s largest papers. Add to that a few managers well known for treating employees poorly at that site, its growing former employee base and how a few of its media competitors also turn to this site and no one should be surprised that the Enquirer stands out from time to time.
ReplyDeleteGiven what some have shared lately, it appears to be for valid reasons.
Jim. Scooped. As Usual.
ReplyDelete6:44 I most definitely got beat on this one. :(
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I do enjoy being away from the computer now and then. :)
Now, how did you cover this on your blog about Gannett?
You can't have it both ways Jim. You spent the better part of four years crowing about scoops, awards and how other news sites quite your scoops. Now you make this weak "how do you cover this on your blog?" no you've had a bad several weeks. You've demonstrated that you have no real sources and depend on a disgruntled few for information. That being said you have created a unique entertainment site. Kudos for being an original.
DeleteThe blog scooping seems kind of "junior high" to me. It's a blog. Worse, this blog projects a cauldron of relevance to its readers either way. Hopkins does a good job for one guy.
ReplyDeleteJim. Non-Denial. Weak. As Usual.
ReplyDeleteWonder how many Gannett newspapers get scooped on a daily basis....
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ReplyDeleteWas this site bought out? When did it become a news site? I thought it was a blog.
ReplyDeletePoint?
ReplyDeleteMaybe 9:15 wants their donation back because they're not getting their perceived value.
ReplyDeleteOh, sorry, let me paywall the blog for ya and charge for digital access whether or not you have a computer or even a phone.
You could Gannettize the GannettBlog. No news, no breaking stories and higher rates for less content.
Talk about no real sources and disgruntled few - read the Cincy opinion page lately?
9:15 You're trying to knock me off a pedestal I've never occupied.
ReplyDeleteMy scoops -- using the traditional definition -- have always been few and far between.
Oh, occasionally, I've been ahead of official announcements on layoffs, furloughs and the like. And, yes, I've devoted a lot of time to reading tax returns for the various Gannett foundations, with more than a little success.
But in all honesty, I can't recall a single time when I've "scooped" Corporate on one of its announcements about an executive hire or retirement. Can you?
What I have done -- and which other media have come to expect -- is offer context and perspective for an audience that, like most Americans, often doesn't know corporate inside baseball. Some examples:
How many employees does Gannett have?
Who is on the board of directors, and what do they do?
How much does the top brass get paid? What role do stock options play, and how do they work? Heck: Who are the top brass in the first place?
When does it make sense to keep Gannett stock in your 401(k) and when should you sell it?
How many newspapers and TV stations does Gannett own? Where are they, and what's their relative performance?
Now, some people on the Corporate staff will say: Duh; everyone knows that already.
But that's not the case for thousands of employees who work far from McLean, Va., as well as retirees, readers, viewers and other Gannett stakeholders.
Beyond all that, however, the most important service I've always tried to provide is maintaining a safe place where employees, current and past, can share information without fear of retribution.
Jim's non-denial denials are lengthier and more pointless than ever. His attempts to fight back are like someone trying to spray a charging water buffalo with a hose.
ReplyDeleteI commented earlier on the Newsday product in Westchester. I've read some of the comments on my post. I just think that whatever the complaints people have with the Journal News, and I have no doubt they are legitimate, I was speaking of the actual product they are each putting out. The Newsday thing is like patch without the courtesy of giving credit to what you steal. It is just my opinion. Yet it is what I see when I read the two.
ReplyDelete