As one of USA Today's most visible reporters, personal finance columnist Sandy Block makes regular appearances on national television, and has been featured in a giant promotion in New York's Times Square.
But now Block is leaving for Kiplinger, the Washington-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, according to a memo today.
Block, who joined the paper in 1995, is the second high-profile reporter to leave the struggling daily this year. Her exit was confirmed in a staff memo this afternoon by Executive Editor Susan Weiss.
"She has delivered news, advice and enterprise in a smart, accessible way to all of our readers on all of our platforms, Weiss wrote. "We will miss her energy, intelligence and professionalism -- and we wish her the best. Her last day is May 23."
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Block, who joined the paper in 1995, is the second high-profile reporter to leave the struggling daily this year. Her exit was confirmed in a staff memo this afternoon by Executive Editor Susan Weiss.
"She has delivered news, advice and enterprise in a smart, accessible way to all of our readers on all of our platforms, Weiss wrote. "We will miss her energy, intelligence and professionalism -- and we wish her the best. Her last day is May 23."
Good for her! Inspires the rest of us not to give up on getting the hell out.
ReplyDeleteHuge loss to the newspaper and the newsroom. Great writer and reporter and just an all-around good person.
ReplyDeleteThank you - Sandra....,!
ReplyDeleteToo bad. There are so many good things about to happen at USAT. New pub, new editor, new print design, new web portal, better revenues under Murcko. I know things seem bleak right now but a year from now. It will be Hunke who? I know the haters dont want to hear it but Sandra leaving now. Is such bad timing. If she had only given it a few more months.
ReplyDeleteWhen Gannett should be buying talent, it's letting talent go to other outlets.
ReplyDeleteGiven the treatment of people in Sports, why would any rational person tie their fortunes to Gannett?
Sandy is one of those rare reporters who was not only a superb writer, but an outstanding reporter as well.
ReplyDeleteGive it more time? It's been almost three years. How much time do you need?
ReplyDelete11:16 must be someone on MB's team. I don't think that you could find four other people at the company who feel that way.
Sandra is smart enough to see the writing on the wall. I hope you all are trying your best to get the he'll out of this newsroom now.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry. Watch for Maryam Banikarim's On The Road With My Personal Finance Blahg coming soon.
ReplyDeleteThe cheapest way to kill an invasive weed is to starve it.
ReplyDeleteYou think someone new is going to value experience and talent? Handwritingnhas been on the wall since the transformation placed underqualified managers in place. Accelerated when Beusse' makeover put everyone In jeopardy of losing their job. Unless they stop it, talent drain will accelerate, leaving jr achievers and ass kissers to run the place.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Sandi.
No publisher, no editor, no leadership in Money, News, Life, certainly not on the digital side. The threat of reapplying for jobs. The inane memos from management (like today's) and the lack of ad revenue. Where is any hope that things will get better,that we will have direction and at least a bit of job security?
ReplyDeleteIt's time to get out of journalism entirely.
ReplyDelete11:16,
ReplyDeleteI wish I thought as you do, but sorry I don't. Way too many promises unkept. Way too much hooey from Hunke on his misguided transformation, too many times senior and staff management just can't get their act together - even with simple decisions, too many managers still selling like it's 1985, too much communication with too little being communicated, and too much disrespect for USAT's legacy employees, and too little cooperation between USAT's growing factions. We are a mess and the exodus will continue because we have no confidence.
There is nothing good that is going to happen at USAT. This place has been on a downward spiral for 3-4 years. Some faces have changed, but the underlying b.s. and horrible karma remains. Anyone who can leave should. Don't wait around for a promise that never is fulfilled. USAT lost its soul when it got sucked into the Gannett-way of doing business and treating employees. The lies, the layoffs, the furloughs...it's all part of a bigger cultural problem that can't be resolved by playing musical chairs in the executive offices. The betrayals are not going to stop. The people who run this company are some of the nastiest and sneakiest folks you ever want to meet in any industry. They set the tone, USAT editors and managers follow or get kicked out. Congrats to Sandy for leaving this once-proud flagship.
ReplyDeleteI wish Sandy the best. I sent her an e-mail a few years back with a quick question on student loans and she got back to me right away with some very sound advice. I was very impressed. Continued success Sandy.
ReplyDeleteThe absolute worse move made by management, other than DuBow's bonus after 20,000 laid off, is Beusse's reapplication job process.
ReplyDeleteWho in their right mind wants to be pitted against their fellow journalists in this type of sick environment and inhumane situation?
Pure Bullshit.
I'm not in Sports but it's painful to watch.
The way this place has self immolated is simply amazing. It's one thing to have advertising in the shitter. That's been complete disaster. But the assorted parts that have been lumped together in such a haphazard, darts on the wall manner is borderline criminal. Imagine a car perpetually stuck in gear. Doors falling off and the driver continuing to go to Manny,Moe and Jack to buy the wrong parts for a problem he can't figure out. And no master mechanic to make things work.
ReplyDeleteHunke was a big part of the problem, but Moon and Curley, too. They picked a succession of out of touch, thoroughly underwhelming newsroom leaders promoted simply because they were part of the second rate culture bred before the Internet and the economy destroyed newspapers' 30% profit margins.
The only kind of "leaders" at this company are pushover holdovers or oddballs like Rudd Davis, Heather Frank, Maryam Banikarim and Tom Beusse. None operated in a spirit of cooperation and unity essential to morale, spirit and yes, productivity. They may have billed themselves as knowledgeable change agents, but their self serving, clueless actions and judgement proves otherwise.
No one seems capable of judging outside talent or inside talent for leadership positions. No one seems able to curb management bloat. No one seems able to assess actually newsroom and business side needs no one wants to make the hard call on who actually needs to be pushed out the door. No one seems to be able to tellthose who are truly capable that they are valued and not endangered of being phased out.
Ms. Block probably realized all of this long ago and finally had enough. Good for her.
Blame Doug McCorkindale, Craig Dubow and Gracia Martore. They set the tone or let others flail on obtuse agendas.
ReplyDelete12:06,
ReplyDeleteProbably the best, most thoughtful post I've read here in a long time. You completley nailed our troubles. Well done.