Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Nov. 12-18 | Your News & Comments: Part 2

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44 comments:

  1. the stock give away for execs changed a few years ago. stock option (given at the price of the stock the day they are received) can be sold after a few years of maturity for hopefully a gain between the sell price and the option price ) the last few years most companies including GCI switched to giving stock grants. that is a set number of shares (usually fewer than when options were given) likewise they take a few years to mature but can be sold for full value with not having to worry about the difference between the option price and selling price. you get the total value of stock on the day you sell. many oldtimers lost lots, when options were given when the stock was at $50-$60 a share, those are now worthless. grants on the other hand simply a number of share they recieve and not worry about them being worthless.

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  2. Why wasnt Susie "fabulous" here? Martore could have made her publisher of Usa Today. A woman, a Gannettoid, obviously willing to do as she is told (cut, cut, cut). So?

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  3. 9:17 Poor Bastards, I could give a rats about their stock options, after theses clowns ran the company into the ground, they deserve nothing

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  4. Just billed $12 a month for Appleton paper, and when I looked at today's it had two AP stories and one from USAT on front page. This from a paper that used to pride itself on having 2 - 3 locally produced stories on the front each day.
    Nearly triple for what I can get the NY Times or Milwaukee J-S for? I think not, Gannett.

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  5. Has anyone heard anything about a business editor needed at Florida Today?

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  6. WASH-POST EDITOR JUMPS/PUSHED

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/marcus-brauchli-to-step-down-as-editor-of-the-washington-post/2012/11/13/952698e0-2daf-11e2-a99d-5c4203af7b7a_story.html

    "The Washington Post announced Tuesday that Martin Baron, the editor of the Boston Globe, will become its new executive editor, replacing Marcus Brauchli, who is resigning to take a new position within the company."

    Yup, newspapering is a hard business, today.

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  7. Oops! ABC's Denver affiliate broadcasts wrong, vulgar book cover for story on CIA Director David Petraeus' mistress Paula Broadwell:

    http://weeklystandard.com/blogs/abc-affiliate-ran-phony-cover-broadwell-book_663264.html

    It's Scripps, not G A NN E T T, much to my surprise.

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  8. 12:58 they need a lot of help at FT, especially with production and circulation. With old people at the helm we are now sticking it to single copy again, amking them later out, especially on Sunday for ridiculous reasons. The last 2 weeks we've had insertion problems with the coupons...the only thing proping up our Sunday sales. When we advertise so many should be in the paper, they should be in the paper! Not to mention draws being way out of line, especially Sundays with carriers coming in with no better than 23 percent returns, most higher. carriers with 5o returns frm a store that got 160 papers, then having that store's draw upped! Amazing. Bet we waste one reporter's salary on Sunday waste alone.

    Oh, the pain!

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  9. 12:02 Suck it up. Single Copy has always been the bottom of the food chain. You must be newer if you don't know that. That is why there are always openings for new drivers.

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  10. NBC annouced yesterday that they would be laying off 450 employees.
    Are there still doubters here who believe that there will not be layoffs at Gannett?
    NBC doesn't even have the print
    publications that have been driving down profits for 4 years that Gannett has.
    I would say ...prepare.

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

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  12. I would say that 8:28 is not prepared for what lies ahead . A believer that lifetime employment with Gannett is still within reach.

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  13. 3:32...I have sucked up everything Gannett/Florida Today has thrown at me over the years. I have seen when other people ran the ship, single copy was on a par with the rest. Only with the one who is in charge now are they relegated to the bottom. It's a shame too for given an equal chance single copy puts up some good numbers. Yes, SC has always been the red headed step child but they have shown brightly when given the chance. Sometimes the red headed step child is the smarter, if not prettier, of the bunch. It's hard for them when they are led by someone who "wishes there never was a single copy".

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  14. Stealth layoffs already happening in non editorial departments. Heads will roll amd shift in news shortly. Change is uncomfortable. But change is good. Hope Kramer moves the right people out of the wrong jobs they are now in. Lots of candidates, to be sure.

    Jim has removed several of my posts regarding specific people who should be gone. Just remember who I was critical of in the past, Jimbo.

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  15. @8:28, if news of just NBC’s layoffs scare you into attacking others, then does today’s news of Obama seeking twice the tax revenues he sought just a year ago make you want to threaten me even more, track me down, for sharing it?

    Run from like news as some will, but unless Gannett has a new, disruptive revenue generating offering, it will have to be more than conservative it what it plans for in the year ahead. And, all should know by now what less revenue means to this company which perhaps well-explains the source of 8:28’s anger.

    Regardless, a conversation I had with an outside publisher recently, confirmed they to share the same concerns of what lies ahead and they’re budgeting efforts reflect it.

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  16. Warren Buffett says he'll close a newspaper.

    http://omaha.com/article/20121114/MONEY/711149909

    Things ain't good. Heck, even Gannettoids may have to do honest work, for a change. Oh, the humanity!

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  17. Charles Everett11/14/2012 11:47 AM

    That newspaper is The News & Messenger in Manassas VA, an exurb of Washington DC. Formed 4 years ago from a merger of 2 small dailies, one of which was founded in 1869. Purchased from Media General five months ago. Current weekday circulation 10,000 -- in a region with a total population of over 450,000.

    The News & Messenger won't go online only -- its website will also be shut down.

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  18. My oh my, when the cats (Kevin Welsh) away, the mice will play.

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  19. In Gannett there's no accountability for local leadership no matter how persistently incompetent.

    A snapshot. At a time when Cincinnati is trying to peddle the new paywall, these are the top 3 stories at Noon today.

    1. Photos of Fall Signing Day...in 2011, not 2012.

    2. List of restaurants serving turkey on thanksgiving.

    3. Local politician plans to run for mayor. He announced it in a news release, meaning it's on all other local news sites. Including those, y'know, that are free of charge.

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  20. Layoffs happening in Gannett Digital. Some real headscratchers. Excellent people being let go. Do we have any idea what we are doing?

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  21. After the mess thats Presto, who knows what is going on. Just wait until yoi hear what is happening at Usa Today.

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  22. 1:40 - Yes, killing the product.

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  23. Costs are being realigned with revenue continually. If the dollars aren't coming in the front door, site leadership has to make decisions on how to reduce expense to keep fulfilling their expected contribution to the bottom line.

    It's not stealth layoffs, there's just no need for a press release to say two people were laid off in Salinas or three hired in Westchester. If it's not a large enough drop to trigger federal layoff notification, why would the company publicize it?

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  24. “If it's not a large enough drop to trigger federal layoff notification, why would the company publicize it?” writes 2:28 pm.

    Hell, this company – other than the Federal Times, won’t even write a story about the Obama admins' plans to pay fines and costs of defense contractors who are clearly in violation of not giving notice that that law demands to tens of thousands of employees who will be impacted by sequestration, which is currently the law of the land.

    Though, perhaps why Gannett ignores writing one is so they can give themselves a pass when they reach that trigger point too.

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  25. Why do you think the fines are so low on affordable care? The HOPE is that companies like Gannett will ditch their own health plans so that people clamor for a nationwide one-payer solution.

    Same deal as when we don't use enough recycled newsprint - cheaper to pay the fine than pay for the stuff with the right percentages.

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  26. Charles Everett11/14/2012 5:00 PM

    Newspaper industry, take warning! A small daily in North Carolina is banning racially motivated comments on stories that do not have a racial element. It may only be a matter of time before big publishers like Gannett do the same.

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  27. Jim, anyone: try to face reality --

    If/when ACA/ObamaCare fails for a Gannetteer/anyone -- who will be held accountable? Will anyone?

    And who is keeping the books on this future financial disaster?

    Please, wake up. This isn't about a general who has a fawning "writer" following him and his tight butt.

    This is about the USA death rate for cancer falling to global levels.

    And the USA falling farther into debt.

    This isn't some weird Gannettoid fantasy world-thing.

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

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  29. Blue Ball Banikarim is reorganizing marketing once again. She's already fired two and more are certain to go. Unfortunately one of them will not be Micek.

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  30. If Gannett’s profits fall short due to coming economic “headwinds”, then will it…

    A)cut expenses, hours and people?

    B)pay the ACA’s $2,000 penalty per employee for not having health insurance vs. an amount that costs G A N N E T T far more per employee?

    C) raises rates knowing it will net less revenue, consumers and advertisers?

    D) All of the above?

    Answer D.

    What’s taking shape economically appears worse than in 2008, more so in light of all the news that suddenly finds its way out into the light (food stamp users explodes, govt assistance cut to those receiving help for heating costs, Fed Housing Agency running low on cash, CIA’s expanding scandal, Obama doubling tax increases he sought in 2011 to $1.6 trillion +, etc., etc.), just days after the election.

    Perhaps if media entities like G A N N E T T did a little more diligent work, work our Constitution still protects, then this company and this nation would be in a better spot.

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  31. Banikarim can reorgamize all she wants. She is not fit for the job. martore should cut her losses already and move on, rather than wait another year.

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  32. 6:52 Gannett is self-insured. It pays directly for all employee healthcare costs that aren't covered by employee contributions through monthly premiums and co-pays.

    It contracts with insurance companies, HMOs and PPOs to manage this process.

    The company's healthcare costs rise when providers -- doctors, hospitals, labs, etc. -- raise their prices.

    Given these facts, how would/could Obamacare directly affect the company's healthcare costs?

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

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  34. I am a middle manager from Des Moines that was just fired by my lazy ass VP. I brought in the $$ but apparently that was not enough. What a bunch of ass wipes there. Go F**K off bitch.

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  35. The 6:52/Jim exchange shows what is wrong with this blog. 6:52 clearly has no clue what is going on, yet Jim leaves the post and responds cryptically.

    Just delete the misinformation and move on.

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  36. Callaway has just ensured the continued death spiral of Usa Today. No fresh blood, ideas or energy. Just more ass covering, pontificating and dysfunction.

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    Replies
    1. 9:36 so you advocate massive firings of veteran staff including Founders. Interesting. Didnt you and your pals write long passionate posts when similar folks left in Sports. Which is it?

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  37. Agreed. There is some pressman somewhere who doesn't like the new health care law and seems intent on showing us every day that he doesn't know much about health care, either.

    Jim, I say delete all that stuff. The guy is off base and annoying.

    And for our backshop health expert: Gannett could drop coverage at any time without penalty before the law's effect.

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  38. @1:40 Are you going to give us some names?

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  39. Jim, let's be clear --

    you are saying that GCI, which has to have SOMEONE monitoring this, would not just dump this responsibility to government? As many employers will be?

    You're sure of that? How? When did Ms. Gracia say that?

    ----

    Given these facts, how would/could Obamacare directly affect the company's healthcare costs?

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  40. Another thing, Jim -- GCI is obviously not Apple, Google. High margins, big growth -- lots of benefits.

    GCI is fighting for its life in a dying industry, in a country that is borrowing $4,000,000,000.00 a day.

    Everything is up for cutbacks. Nothing can be ruled out. You know that.

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  41. 6:52 is right on.
    Whether the health insurance law criples Gannett or not.
    The economy is going into a downward spiral much like 2008,all the sign that 6:52 pointed out are right.Gannett will most likely repeat what it did in 2009.Cut employees.

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  42. 6:58 Mine was a question, not a statement.

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  43. OK, Jim, then it should be clear, now, that GCI could dump its medical-insurance plan and dump workers into "the new Medicaid"/single-payer.

    Wow. What a deal. Can't wait, can we?

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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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