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Wednesday, July 10, 2013
41 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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Here's an oddity you seldom find on Wall Street: Belo Corp. is now worth more than what Gannett is paying for that company.
ReplyDeleteShares in both Belo and Gannett have risen since the acquisition was announced last month.
Big news in Tribune-land: they're splitting the company into two divisions: TV and print.
ReplyDeletehttp://jimromenesko.com/2013/07/10/tribune-co-plans-to-spin-off-its-eight-newspapers-into-a-separate-company/
It would help all print companies, especially Gannett to separate not only TV, but all digital as well from the print side. The biggest thing killing print is all the attention and resources going to everything but print. Put back print resources, hire back print people who know what and how to make a good print product, free from anything else's shackles.
DeletePeople still want a print newspaper but they don't want it filled with other source's stuff, for too much money. My fear is that Gannett especially will never see or understand that.
Print-only spinoffs have rapidly become a major trend in the industry: Scripps, Belo, Tribune, Media General, Time Inc. (mags being spun off from Time Warner). You really have to wonder whether Gannett's recent bulking-up on the TV side is the preface to separating print and broadcast.
DeleteHate to admit it, but TV is surviving the cable transition. Dividing TV and print biz makes perfect sense for investors. Plus, it would help the chance if selling it off.
ReplyDeleteBelo's Schedule 14A is out. Dunia skating with $14MM.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteGannett Government Media layoff notice"
ReplyDeleteGGM Staff,
As we pass the mid-point in the year, advertising remains soft for Gannett Government Media, and unfortunately, we need to take further steps to align our costs with current revenue trends.
We have made good headway with several strategic initiatives; however, while we have sought many ways to reduce costs, we regret to tell you that we have not been able to avoid layoffs.
We wanted to reach everyone who was impacted today, and we were able to do so. We will do everything we can to help those who were laid off. The employees who were affected are eligible for Gannett’s Transitional Pay Plan (TPP) benefit.
Layoffs are something we always want to avoid, but sometimes they become necessary in order to reshape a company for future growth. Although we believe today’s reductions are sufficient, there may be a need for further reductions as we continue to implement our strategic initiatives.
This is an extremely difficult decision to make, and we know the impact is felt by everyone within the organization.
We greatly appreciate and thank all those employees for what they have done for our company and wish them well in all their future endeavors.
Even under these challenging circumstances, please know your work is greatly appreciated by all – by our customers, our communities, our advertisers and by your operating committee. We know you will continue to deliver that same level of commitment.
If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your manager.
The Operating Committee
Will there be more shoes dropping in Gannett-land before next Monday's Q2 report?
DeleteI am an ex-ATPCO Staffer. Is there a list of who all was let go?
Delete3 copy editors, one news editor, photographer, three support staff.
DeleteAs well as several from sales/marketing
DeleteThis on top of furloughs for everyone else, which began last week and run through September.
DeleteMore than 15 GGMC staffer from all depts. altogether. Huge blow to morale.
DeleteApproximately how many total employees with GGMC? My sympathy to those let go and those coping with furloughs. I think we in USCP land are up next.
DeleteThey make Transitional Pay sound like a good thing. More like a disgusting way for Gannett to rob discarded employees of a few bucks when they need the money most. TPP is probably Gannett's biggest shame!
DeleteThe exact number of employees laid off, according to a reader's e-mail, was 17.
Delete"We wanted to reach everyone who was impacted today, and we were able to do so."
Delete"Reach" in the sense of "find out you've lost your job before everyone else gets the email"? They weren't able to do so, actually, but we can forgive a canned email for operating under assumptions.
Gannett doesn't try to avoid layoffs they encourage them. Just look at what GPS did.they let go of good workers and out sourced the jobs. They did this as part of what Evan Ray called making all the papers operate in a uniformed way. That didn't create higher future revenue but instead lost revenue. Oh well you can't fake stupid.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, more layoffs are coming across the company. It is inevitable. Hopefully, some dead weight and high salaries may finally. E purged (corporate,usat, arizona, etc.)
ReplyDeleteWell, 4:03, since they didn't get rid of the dead weight in all the previous layoffs, and instead largely sent experience to the gallows, what makes you think they're gonna address dead weight now? Wait. I take that back. With some exceptions, there's practically nothing else left.
DeleteIt's Wednesday, so when are we supposed to get the blah, blah, blah Evan Ray memo. Maybe he's going to wait till Monday, so he can justify them to the employees as if he cared. Just release the memo so the people that live day by day, and in states that don't pay unemployment for furloughs get a heads up. That would mean that you actually care. What a joke!
ReplyDeleteI'm an ex-Gannettoid, and I'm searching for a phone number prospective employers can call to verify my employment. Our site didn't have an HR person and I was told before I left there was an 800-number for employers to call. Can anyone help?
ReplyDeleteDid you try Google?
DeleteDid, but didn't find anything. Nothing on the corporate site, either.
DeleteWhat are you talking about??? You worked someplace. That office has a telephone number. Give it to the perspective emoter. They will get it done.
DeleteIt's probably super-easy as 8:45 PM says, but my experience was effed up. They gutted the on-site HR, but said the last survivor there was the "go to" person. This person then gave me phone numbers that were no longer valid. I went back and said, "I'll just have prospective future employers you direct then." No, they'd have to call the corporate numbers, this person said, adding resignedly, "They've changed everything." Happy ending, though. My former department manager stepped in and said have 'em call that department manager's office direct for reference. Kind of moot, though, I experienced later... since no one's hiring anyone over 55.
Delete9;08 When I was told go they told us to use something called the work number. You can find it by putting it in your search. It's an easy way for employers that have done away with human resource employees. Unfortunately most companies that are hiring will insist that you put down your supervisors name and a contact number on applications. The Work number charges companies to be a member then they can verify your income and places you worked for the last ten years. It won't tell them anything else like what kind of an employee you were. It only shows companies you worked at that belong to the work number. I really don't like it as I have been turned down by companies that say it isn't good enough they need to talk to my last supervisor. Just one more way companies are making it hard on the unemployed.
DeleteIndy Star in lease negotiations to move into new digs http://indy.st/1ardk8p
ReplyDeleteGGM. And 8 from sales and marketing for a total of 16. Building has recently lost two tenants, which maybe saves on electricity since their spaces are dark? Depressing.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Indianapolis Business Journal, the Star's planned move to Circle Centre would "set up a potentially awkward landlord-tenant relationship involving the city and the state's largest newspaper."
ReplyDeleteThe Star is a partner in Circle Centre and collects rent from tenants.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteYou're risking a defamation suit with stuff like that.
DeleteI spent 35 years in the industry and I don't post here unless there's something important.
Charles 35 years in the industry and no one has ever heard of you. Where did you spend most of your time and what did you do?
DeleteUSA TODAY SPORTS has become so pathetic and juvenile. It doesn't even bother to hide the fact that it's simply trolling for clicks with lowest common denominator stories...
ReplyDeleteThe LEAD sports story on the web site now is Erin Andrews "tussling" with a college basketball player on Twitter. Wow. That's a real scoop there Mike Foss.
How frat-boy can you get? Besides the overheated headline that turns Andrews into a sex object, will USA TODAY SPORTS ever give up its Erin Andrews addiction?
They have nothing to say, no news, no analysis, so they fall back on this crap? I guess this is what the new geniuses running SPORTS had planned all along. A simple, straight dive into the sewer. At least the Big Lead is honest about it with the T&A shots every morning. But why is USA TODAY SPORTS trying to be the Big Lead?
I hear these new clowns are being laughed at all over the country. They deserve all the scorn they're getting. I'm still waiting for the extra $300 million they're going to generate Jim.
"I hear these new clowns are being laughed at all over the country. They deserve all the scorn they're getting." Would you be more specific? Since you obviously have contacts all over the country, please share the names of two nationally recognized journalists that are doing most of the laughing. Based on your post you should have a long list.
DeleteIt's "Tits on Clicks" - thank you Wellsley!
DeleteJust heard there was a gathering of USA Today Sports Digital Properties in Vegas yesterday. They announced a new partnership with CineSport, who will provide video programming, production and technical services. Finally a real video strategy.
ReplyDeleteI thought the central video center in Atlanta was supposed to do all the company's processing. No?
DeleteAtlanta doesn't work for this use case. CineSport has licensed highlights, produces video with the sites' reporters and has very simple to use tech. it's just for sports. they already work with boston globe, ny post, philly inquirer, and other newspaper sites.
Delete