Gannett CEO Gracia Martore sent the following memo to employees today:
From: A message from Gracia Martore
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2012 12:41 PM
Subject: Thank you -- RWA Survey Results
Dear colleagues,
Thank you for your participation and thoughtful responses to our second survey concerning Gannett's strategic transformation. As we continue to rebuild, reshape and reinvigorate Gannett, I look forward to hearing from you about our efforts to create a company well prepared for the future.
Attached is a short summary document of the September 2012 survey results, which I think you will find of interest.
I was glad to see from the survey results that you feel change is needed and support the transformation. It was encouraging to hear that your understanding of the company’s direction, and confidence in leadership’s ability to execute the transformation, continue to grow. At the same time, you expressed concerns about increased workloads and alignment of incentives to match new demands -- while also seeing and experiencing an increased willingness by our company to invest in the success of our people.
The senior leadership team and I greatly appreciate your candid feedback on any issues you see; we will use your feedback to guide improvements of processes and products. As we move forward, based on the survey responses, we plan to:
Sincerely,
Gracia
Earlier: In the first survey, employees also worried about workloads.
From: A message from Gracia Martore
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2012 12:41 PM
Subject: Thank you -- RWA Survey Results
Dear colleagues,
Thank you for your participation and thoughtful responses to our second survey concerning Gannett's strategic transformation. As we continue to rebuild, reshape and reinvigorate Gannett, I look forward to hearing from you about our efforts to create a company well prepared for the future.
Attached is a short summary document of the September 2012 survey results, which I think you will find of interest.
I was glad to see from the survey results that you feel change is needed and support the transformation. It was encouraging to hear that your understanding of the company’s direction, and confidence in leadership’s ability to execute the transformation, continue to grow. At the same time, you expressed concerns about increased workloads and alignment of incentives to match new demands -- while also seeing and experiencing an increased willingness by our company to invest in the success of our people.
The senior leadership team and I greatly appreciate your candid feedback on any issues you see; we will use your feedback to guide improvements of processes and products. As we move forward, based on the survey responses, we plan to:
- Develop additional opportunities to share relevant initiative updates and information at the local level
- Host interactive video sessions with strategic team leads and members of senior management
- Enhance employee development through new training opportunities.
Sincerely,
Gracia
Earlier: In the first survey, employees also worried about workloads.
Go Screw your VPs Gracie, you suck
ReplyDeleteAnd i was hoping she was giving free turkeys away.
ReplyDeleteShe's a national treasure.
ReplyDeleteWow 3:01. Impressive use of the English language.
ReplyDeleteBlah, blah, blah - see you at La Berge - Gracia!
ReplyDeleteShades of the Gallup poll for USAT employees five years ago: "I have a friend at work."
ReplyDeleteAnother attempt to shove more work and stress upon the employee, without proper compensation for it.
Well, actually, that's not entirely correct: there will be compensation, solely to upper management for coming up with this clever bunkum.
"Say 'good night' Gracie".
ReplyDeleteWhich of those three steps to improvement addresses the concern over increased workloads and alignment of incentives? Oh, right. None of them.
ReplyDelete2:18-I totally agree. Nothing she said is geared toward the workload concern or keeping employees happy monetarily.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I am fed up. After 9 years at Gannett and 24 years in the industry, my last day is Nov. 30.
Why am I leaving? I have seen too many hard working coworkers kicked to the curb while butt kissers that do nothing remain, and I am sick of being stuck at the same income I was at in 2008.
Enough is enough.
And now you will be at zero income, 5:55. Way to fight the good fight. I'm sure you showed the company!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy unemployment.
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ReplyDeleteShe is way too cynical to buy into this b.s. why the hell does she expect Is to?
ReplyDeleteTo 1:38pm, you just don't get it. Longterm, loyal and hardworking employees are weary. Years of no raises or crappy raises, impossible workloads and relentless pressures are causing some to conclude this is not a healthy environment. Are you paying attention to how many employees are leaving to work for Gannett's competitors, or for some of the lucky ones, retiting? That "let them eat cake" attitude of yours is exactly what's wrong.
ReplyDeleteGPS looking at more layoffs. Love this transformation! Thanks for the memo.
ReplyDelete9:05 is clearly one of the people who cannot keep pace. Many people who post here are older burnouts who could not keep up with today's news cycle. Time marches on, but some people don't.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete"one of the people who cannot keep pace", "and now you will be at zero income". Seriously, people, in the face of increasing workload and pay that is not increasing year in, year out, don't you think that a lot of very talented people are just exercising their opportunity to go and find a better, and more profitable working environment. That's what I did - still in newspapers, a better company, a job where I feel valued and, what is more, I'm happy. Unlike the grind of suffering diminishing pay packets while watching senior execs take home millions. If you've got the talent, there's better options than Gannett.
ReplyDeleteI take absolutely no pleasure in saying that - having been with the company for longer than a decade and worked with some excellent people. However, when I look at my old work place, many of those people are gone and those left are struggling to keep the ship going. I have no regrets about leaving, just regrets about the direction the company had gone.
1:38, nearly 60% of jobs in the newspaper industry have DIED in the last 10 years. Just like how the jobs of carpenters and home-construction workers (legal Americans) were destroyed by the unprecedented tidal wave of "the undocumented." (That's a fact, Jim -- not politics -- my bud's an ex-carpenter, now midnight stocker @ Walmart.)
ReplyDelete1:38, try to be a thinking adult. You're not one of the 1% -- otherwise, you'd be at NYT, WaPo, WSJ.
You're as vulnerable as anyone at GCI. Gracia could be taken out in a NYC minute, if the next quarterly isn't good. VPs have disappeared, after a rival wins today's battle. In a business with so much subjectivity, there are no proven standards, only today's BS and "porpoise."
The only thing you may have going for you, is you are young and single. How long does that last? Oh .. not very long.
So, snark it up, Chuckles. We already know how your story ends -- the bitter ex-Gannettoid CE/AME or empty, crappy shell of a known corporate a55-kisser.
We're not impressed, Chuckles. There's serious doubt, we ever will be impressed.
Had dinner with sevral non journalists the other night. Each told stories of similar management incompetence and irrational business moves. So it is everywhere, boys and girls. My sense is a lot of it comes from ego and pecking order and turf protection. I will say that my attempt to explain the new world order at Usa Today, on top of Hunke's moves, drew the most laughs and WTFs ?
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I was only in an IT role at GCI. I was able to find a job 12 days after packing up and moving 10 hours away from my previous job. I got paid more in my 1st 2 months than my 3 years of Gannett 401K was worth.
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHA
Wrinkles (8:15), I know it hurts that you could not keep up with the changes. But the constant calls for people to just leave their jobs, no matter what, are sad. You're not helping those people. You're not hurting the company. All you are doing is showing what a stupid asshole you are.
ReplyDeleteGrow a pair, Wrinkles. Take on the company, or shut up. Trying to get people to "jump" is pathetic, though.
What a lot of hot air this is. It's obvious not enough people slaving away at that company are willing to say what they really think about the "transformation." "Increased workloads" is definitely NOT they key issue people are concerned about. I took this survey before I left Gannett. I explicitedly shared my opinion that I did NOT think the supposed "strategic" transformation was AT ALL strategic. I voiced my opinion that there seemed to be NO real plan and definitely No communication of a plan.
ReplyDeleteI talked about how that silly little Purpose Project the overrated CMO spent who know how much money on was nothing more than another expensive pet project to tell the company what it already knew BUT couldn't really do anything to leverage and make better.
There's just aren't enough people at Gannett that want to take a stand and tell it like it is when giving the opportunity such as this survey.
As long as bean counters instead of innovative visionaries Gannett, it will continue going down the path it's going - and that's nowhere. In 3-5 years, USA TODAY will print 2-3 days a week along with at least 75% of the local newapapers. The BRD group will continue to see declines in news and primetime as Gen X, Y, etc. move online and cut cable cords in droves.
Since there is NO real structure or organization around innovation at Gannett, your lovely company is going to continue to have a hard time. There is no time for "initative updates," "interactive video sessions," or "training opportunities." All of this should have ALREADY been happening 5-10 years ago.
Good luck with the transformation Gracia. You'll be fine when you and the board walks away with your packages. But, your employees are going to need they can get.
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ReplyDelete5;55 here-where did I say I was leaving without a new job? My new one starts Dec 3 and I am making about 2K a year more to start.
ReplyDelete10:44 and everyone online is beautiful. You forgot to tell us you new medical insurance is less expensive and has better coverage
DeleteDoes she seriously think people have confidence in senior management? C'mon Gracia. Time to wake up.
ReplyDelete10:44, stop using facts. The non-media people don't like them. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteStop using terms like "senior leadership team". Do you think Google talks to their employees like they are all minions "under" the command of senior managers.
ReplyDeleteSuch outdated terminology.
I like how 2:51 refers to an anonymous, unsourced claim as a fact. Story of this blog in a nutshell.
ReplyDelete4:55, what's your problem? The guy said he had a job. What don't you get?
ReplyDeleteGo back to Occupy Cinci and have some more whine.
4:55's crew at this blog is like Kruggy -- only Kruggy has the facts. No one else. God told Kruggy that, said Kruggy.
ReplyDeleteTook about 20 of those kinds of nutty-Kruggy calls every day, for way too long. Some kind of porpoise!
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ReplyDeleteAgree...I love when management team calls themselves the "leadership."
ReplyDeleteFar from it.
There has never been a time in the last 35 years where Gannett/USA Today haven't looked for ways to increase workloads. Over time, it seriously degrades the products and wears out talented folks. But this approach isn't likely to change, as I have heard all sorts of plans to address the problem over the years. It's only gotten worse. The will isn't there to improve quality of working conditions. This is a modern-day sweatshop, and we all know it. The motivation is profit. So the workloads will increase, the layoffs and buyouts will continue in some form, and the level of talent that is hired will be subpar, meaning you folks with good work ethics and skills will have to do more to compensate for the cheap labor Gannett keeps bringing in. My suggestion for anyone young enough to start a new career would be to get out of the news biz. If you don't want to do that, at least leave Gannett before they bury you. This is a bad company. And it doesn't really matter which Gannett paper you're at. They are all turning rotten because of some seriously flawed leaders and mid-managers.
ReplyDelete"Develop additional opportunities to share relevant initiative updates and information at the local level" -- can someone translate that into English?
ReplyDeleteYou need to consult Craig Dubow's Guide to Gibberish.
ReplyDeleteTo 11/19, 12:03am - this is 9:05pm and you know nothing of what you speak. I have shouldered great responsibility, adapting, evolving and surviving every iteration of management "initiatives" introduced for more than two decades. At no point have I ever been given a pass or not held wholly accountable for achieving results. I've motivated and promoted those who were smart and worked hard, and fired those who weren't. This isn't dead weight you're talking to. Be careful about that ageism issue you seem to harbor. Try reading a white paper about the negative impact on a company's performance when talented, long term employees with institutional knowledge decide to leave. Gannett has to attract and retain skilled and innovative people or everything else will amount to whistling past the graveyard.
ReplyDelete