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Thursday, August 22, 2013
33 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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So few people left in Shreveport newsroom that anyone posting on here risks their identity being figured out even though they post anonymously. Now that editor has resigned (smart lady) let's see .., JP, MM, SS, RL, JW, JB, DW, AB, AD, LW, MB, MM, MW, CH , LH, DJ, KM, BW, MH, PE, DL (includes receptionists), MD, SB. At one time there were 80+ in the newsroom. Now there are less than a third. Daily circulation has dropped from 80,000+ to barely under 40,000. I'd say it is most definitely time to jump ship. ... Unless of course you like inhumane hours, no increase in pay or OT, no gratitude, forgoing First Amendment journalism for laughable stories on such thought-provoking topics as whether Bossier City has enough grocery stores - a one-source story BTW - amateur videos that pale even to America's Funniest Videos...and knowing that your efforts are the butt of the community's jokes because of poor or no delivery, errors in design and editing and general lack of news people care about.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, whoever posted this is a dumb ass. That grocery store story had four sources BTW, including residential response. If you actually read the story you'd know that. Thanks.
DeleteI don't know Judi, the new publisher, but I do know that too many good people have left The Times in Shreveport to make it a paper worth reading anymore. I went to buy a paper on Sunday and the front page had a huge picture of a wild animal on it and absolutely no news. I left it at the grocery store and saved my money. Letting go of AP is like pounding the final nail into the coffin because she at least tried to keep the public informed when it came to community news that mattered. Good luck to anyone left at The Times because you're going to need it.
Delete8:55, Obviously the story was of no interest to anyone, hence it wasn't read. I think this is the point of so many people that post on this blog.
DeleteA subscriber dismissively calls the Tennessean's strategy as thus: "Deplete Staff, Dilute Product, Jack Up Price." The same probably could be said for other Gannett papers.
ReplyDeletehttp://brucebarry.net/2013/08/20/a-newspapers-winning-strategy-deplete-staff-dilute-product-jack-up-price/
Judi if you want to cut come to circulation and start from the top. Get the books and check the numbers. Staff keeps quitting. Some of us watching sports on computers. If you really want to do Shreveport good just walk up and take a look.
ReplyDeleteThe newsroom will not be the same with Africa gone. Another good journalist run out the door. Gannett is really showing Shreveport what it thinks of us. They will soon be closing the doors and all the butt kissing will be no good.
The song and dance is just beginning. Prepare yourself.
Delete2 dollar USAT's? I wouldn't be surprised if the stores started not carrying them, never mind the average reader. Has Gannett totally lost touch with reality?
ReplyDeleteI think Judi's new plan is to hire more free lance columnists - ie: Tim Fletcher and have advertisers "sponser" them to offset the cost - no benefits, more savings.
ReplyDeleteI will be interested to see if this strategy works because very few people in the community see any value in the paper anymore.
DeleteGuess changing out editors isn't such a bad move after all.
DeleteLocal TV station coverage of Asheville layoffs: http://www.wlos.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wlos_asheville-newspaper-layoffs-12914.shtml
ReplyDeleteJudi has no say over GPS.
ReplyDeleteWho does because some heads need to roll in circulation
DeleteSo 8:55 - dumbass here - sorry, I will admit to error about grocery store story - couldn't keep me interested long enough to see more than one source - apologize. BUT, since you are so smart, explain how everything else I said is so good it is worth staying for ....circulation under 40,000, inhumane hours (unless you like working 60 hour weeks), no OT, no raises." And you are fooling yourself if you think your videos aren't laughable or readers don't expect stories to be riddled with typos. Just check around to see how many people have cancelled their subscriptions because they can't get the paper or get it on time. And when they do, there may be two Life sections and no sports or some other combination thereof. Wake up! Obviously you are one of the younger reporters - note I didn't say journalists - who don't have a clue what journalism (or The Times) once was like - award-winning journalism, Pulitzer Prize finalist, staff with ideals who would rather die than have an error in a story (and would look it over themselves before passing along to an editor!). ... reporters who actually had sources call them with scoops instead of avoiding or not returning phone calls. ... reporters who GOT OUT OF the office and included color in their stories instead of just doing phone interviews .... shall I go on. Yep, things are better now so please, stay with Gannett. You deserve each other. Sadly, the readers do not deserve Gannett or The Times they are getting.
ReplyDeleteMaybe MM should just run things.
Delete@ 11:40 - You know, as one of those "young reporters" that you speak of, can you honestly think that I don't value the knowledge that was laid before me? I got into this business because of the want and desire to distribute news in a manner that only a local newspaper can. Do you think I enjoy seeing editors and invaluable staff ripped away? Now that's laughable. You think you know us, and you think you know how we operate. I'm sorry, but for some of us this is our livelihood, our passion. And we get out of the office. Trust me.
DeletePS - laugh at our videos all day. At least you're watching.
You are right, you should leave. So should anyone else who feels like you. Our industry is going though a transition to stay alive. If it is so bad leave, leave now and dont give any excuse about not being able to find a job elsewhere. Stand by your convictions and leave.
DeleteSettle down and drink some more kool-aid.
Delete1 gone at The Gville News... Reporter RW
ReplyDeleteLayoffs underway in Rochester
ReplyDelete2 more in Greenville. 1 writer MF and 1 reporter KJ
ReplyDeleteJudi wrecked the advertising department at the clarion-ledger, made some enemies out of former long-time dependable advertisers. Can't imagine she's doing anything but cutting in Shreveport.
ReplyDeleteExecutive Editor in Greenville... retires today
ReplyDeleteJudi and Gannett may want to be careful. Africa is one they should have kept. This cut will hurt you. The community and advertisers will show you. They are tired of so much change at the top.
ReplyDeleteThat out of control dog in the newsroom will need to be put down along with some of the other clueless editors she put in place if there is to be any hope to get things back along a right path.
DeleteThe community does not care about The Times. Quit fooling yourself. That newspaper lost its connection years ago, and will probably never get it back with that kind of thinking. Go out and do some reporting and quit whining!
DeleteShreveport's wonderful ad director Hall kisses so much butt he will never land on the cuts. Be careful Hall we had other wonderful ad directors and where are they now? GONE!
ReplyDeleteI read the comment about Shreveport circulation department and it is so true. Judi knows about that department and the special 3. When she works her magic with the higher ups that circulation department will not know what hit them. I worked there and will never return with them in charge.
ReplyDeleteLet the truth be told. If you were a part of circ within the last couple of years you don't work there now for a reason. You didn't cut the mustard then and wouldn't now.You don't have the moxy or stamina to jump off the porch with the big dogs and do what needs to be done to make a comprehensible contribution to circulation. Sleep easy... they probably won't be calling you back.
DeleteRemember that Judi was hired by Larry Whitaker as the Advertising Director in Jackson and that her husband headed up the Circulation department there. So she knows an awful lot about both Advertising and Circulation departments.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteJudi is a smart woman and will eventually turn Shreveport around. Oh, it has begun all right.
ReplyDelete