Randy Hammer has been publisher for six years at the Citizen-Times in North Carolina. He announced today that he's leaving to return to writing, according to Mountain Express. He is 62.
In its own story, the Citizen-Times included an interesting figure provided by Hammer: Last year, the daily finished in Gannett's top 10 in total revenue.
The paper's Monday-Saturday circulation is 30,000, and Sunday is 45,000, according to the March 31 AAM report. (Circulation lookup database.)
The paper's Monday-Saturday circulation is 30,000, and Sunday is 45,000, according to the March 31 AAM report. (Circulation lookup database.)
Susan Ihne, call your office!
ReplyDeleteLike every Gannett publisher of the last several years, he had responsibility for probably the largest decline in revenue in the history of his newspaper, and was chief executioner for the resulting staff reductions, plant closures, coverage pull-backs, etc. As he said, it hasn't been a blissful experience. And certainly not one of notable achievements that subscribers typically would read about in such retirement announcements. Better luck writing, bub.
ReplyDeleteBut he's not just a victim of circumstances. He also has a track record of creating some whopper problems for himself (lawsuits over editing in Florida and management in Asheville).
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DeleteOK, 5:10, I've got to admit that was pretty funny. But I remove comments that make light of someone's name.
DeleteAny ideas who might replace him? Brandt is talking in the C-T story like he's expecting a Gannett person from another site to move into the job.
ReplyDeleteWho in their right mind would take the job? They'll just put Brandt over both papers like they did with the production side of things.
DeleteHere we go. RIP Mr. Hammer.
ReplyDeletecould you please be more clear in your story - he clearly states they finished in the top 10 based on YEAR OVER YEAR stats - very misleading and inaccurate to portray the property being in the top 10 for overall revenue - pls get the commentary straight before publishing
ReplyDeleteI've deleted that graph for now. I'll update soon. For some reason, I can't get the story's page to load on my iPhone.
DeleteAccording to the paper's story, here's what Hammer said:
Delete"You guys finished last year in the top 10 in the company in total revenue year over year."
I believe what he meant was: in total revenue GROWTH, year over year. In other words, revenue grew X% from 2011.
He is not stepping down on his own, Publishers are elephants in the room. They have nothing to do any more. They are all on the way out
ReplyDeleteAnd now, as I post this, the story has disappeared from the website entirely.
ReplyDeleteHow weird.
DeleteAs I post this, the story is now back on the homepage, although with a different URL than before.
But someone has tweaked the section that 4:03 disputed.
Now it says: "You guys finished last year in the top 10 in the company in total revenue."
So, it says exactly what I had (mis)reported earlier.
But who pays attention to this blog, right?
DeleteRandy was a great features editor 25 years ago. It was all downhill from there. Nice guy at heart, but his ambition outpaced his abilities.
ReplyDeleteI heard Frank Shipman may take the position.
ReplyDeleteWell Randy, how does it feel? Hope someone handed you a yellow folder and told you to read the letter announcing your "retirement". Maybe Susan can help you out with a loan or some financial planning. Enjoy your retirement!
ReplyDeleteLet's see if I can count them all: 4 publishers in the past 16 years while daily circulation has dropped from 65,000 to 30,000 and Sunday from 75,000 to 45,000. Meanwhile, the news staff is down to 30 from 65-75 in the same period, not to mention a significant decline in quality. Is there another newspaper - even within Gannett - that can rival that freefall?
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