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Tuesday, July 30, 2013
24 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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Passed by that USA Today/Gannett building today on my way to the airport. I've seen it before awhile back, but seeing it again really underscores the problem of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer in this country.
ReplyDeleteTo read this blog, you would think USA Today and/or Gannett is on the verge of collapse. Well, just take a fresh look at the campus and tell me this company is in financial trouble. No way in hell.
What is wrong with this company is that all that wealth on display in Virginia has to be paid for some way. And that way is through you and me and all those who have been laid off or forced out. It's on our backs. It's our workloads. It's the diluting of the product and the lowering of standards, so the customer is also getting screwed. That's how the Gannett big shots afford those lavish digs...by chipping away at our wages, benefits, etc.
Not sure when the middle class is going to wake up in this country, but you would think that folks in the media would be more aware of this trend of the rich getting richer by stripping every penny out of our paychecks while they line their offices in marble and imported hard woods.
It won't happen in my lifetime, but if this trend continues, there will be a revolution in this country at some point.World history has proven that the rich can't just keep getting fatter while tossing the rest of us to the curb. There has to be a middle class. There has to be jobs that are safe and stable, and where folks don't get dismissed for simply getting a little older or for making an above-entry-level salary.
Gannett in many ways is a poster child for corporate greed. The toll that takes on its employees can't even be measured. The ruthlessness of Gannett is just as bad as the worst of the worst financial sector companies, but you don't read about it. Why? Because journalists, like cops, doctors, teachers, etc., don't turn on their own. Even if they wanted to report on big media corruption, do you think the empty suits would allow it?
Gannett controls a big portion of the media, and therefore can shelter itself from bad publicity. That's why blogs like this are important in a free society.
At least 25% of that campus is sublet to other companies, because Gannett/USA TODAY just does not need the space, but REALLY needs the rental income. If the current leadership had their way, they would sell the entire white elephant of a campus. As it is, they will sublet as much of the campus as they can. Obviously the company is not on the verge of collapse, but they are doing everything they can to get value out of their real estate, which is why you see so many properties being sold across Gannett and so much space being sublet in the buildings the company does own.
DeleteOh please 2:25. Just tell us about your great new job, more money, free benefits a d bosses that love puppies. But don't tell us the name of the company because we don't do that here.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteI remove comments that include the word troll.
Delete2:25p, remember that all that glitters is not gold. It might look nice on the outside, but the inside is pretty damn rotten. Just ask anyone who works inside that building - tenants included. As soon as you step foot inside there, you can feel it.
DeleteThink about what it might be like to see a very attractive woman at a bar. Her hair is flowing down off her shoulders and back, her skin looks and may even feel soft, she's wearing a wonderful cocktail dress that hugs her curves very nicely, and she has that fake glow about her that every man in the room is checking out. That's what you may have seen while driving down the toll road.
But, what happened when you walked up to this woman and engaged her in conversation? You immediately discovered how shallow and empty she actually is. She talked about herself constantly. She told you about all the great things she's planning to do and how much money she's planning to make because of how great she is.
After about 15-20mins talking to this seemingly wonderful "looking" woman, you figure out it's a good idea to run in the opposite direction.
There are many poor Gannett people who married this woman and can't wait get divorced. Others have been married to her so long that they can't afford the divorce so they've chosen to stay in this married until she kicks them out of the house. (And, rest assured, there will be more kicked out of the house along with the 11 in Indy very soon.)
So, in sum, all you saw was a facade on Jones Branch - a pretty, shiny building. There's nothing actually "in" there - no spirit, no soul - just a few good, hard-working people who love their craft and are damn good at it.
Shreveport has been quiet on this blog lately.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteEarl Tidwell to the rescue!!!!!
ReplyDeleteShreveport's quiet because everybody is walking on eggshells. Advertising department is a mess. Who's on first, I mean who's in charge. Haacker? Hannisee? Let's keep plugging digital and tying it to print and God knows what else in hopes advertisers will not realize we are asking them to pay for things they don't need. Move down to the newsroom and we have a few veterans (those with more than 5 years) trying to counteract the incompetency of the rest of the staff who can't report, can't spell, can't write a story without holes to save their life. There once was a time when mentoring helped young reporters grow into fine journalists, who in turn helped those coming behind them. No more. Another reason to be quiet - the sorry state of affairs that is the Des Moines design center and those who lay the paper out. Lay - not Design. Still speechless over three photos laid out sideways.
ReplyDelete4:30 the most honest post about Shreveport I've seen. Delete Hannissee and Haacker for real change.
ReplyDeleteAgree.
DeleteCourier-Post in Cherry Hill, N.J., runs correction in Tuesday's paper about running Friday's USA Today Baseball page in Monday's paper.
ReplyDeleteNot a surprise. The Courier now goes to press after the NY Post and another South Jersey paper are printed. Thus, nobody is there at 130 am to actually check the paper for errors/misprints/wrong sports pages when it comes off the press. And nobody remains at the design studio even if they needed to change something.
DeleteDealChicken ad from Des Moines Register featured on Letterman last night in the Hometown News spoof. The ad had "50% authentic Indian food" instead of "50% off authentic Indian food". Letterman was making fun of it only being 50% authentic instead of 100% authentic. Who proofs DealChicken ads? Corporate?
ReplyDeletewho named it DealChicken?
DeleteNo one. Early on a Shreveport DealChicken "deal" for ice cream featured a photo of a big bowl of ice cream that looked like it was covered in sprinkles. But apparently the person who chose the photo didn't look close enough. It was ice cream covered in prescription drugs!!!!!
ReplyDeleteEditors are frantic and desperate to fill empty pages, so the too few reporters produce crap that can be written quickly. This is disrespectful of readers.
ReplyDeleteFor 2:25 P.M., yours is an excellent post, a rewarding read.
ReplyDeleteI'm hearing layoffs likely thursday and friday in cincinnati. Anybody from 312 Elm Street out there?
ReplyDeleteThe Cinci insider left 312 Elm street a while back.
ReplyDeleteHearing about layoffs in Wilmington possibly this week. I don't work there anymore, but word is getting out ...
ReplyDelete4:30 sums it up nicely. Tension in the Shreveport newsroom every day.
ReplyDeleteAny word on USA TODAY changing price to $2.00 single copy?
ReplyDelete