I can't disclose the number just yet, according to my source. But it's fewer than 10 across New York's Rochester Democratic and Chronicle.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
23 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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Confirmed 8 so far
ReplyDeleteNames/ positions?
ReplyDeleteYou may want to check into layoffs in Pensacola, Fla. ... I'm hearing 3 to 4 ...
ReplyDeleteIt's three in the newsroom, plus four open positions eliminated. Also at least one in marketing.
DeleteWow, they still have a Marketing dept. there?
DeleteConfirmed 7 in Rochester - 3 in newsroom and 4 in advertising. Does not include 2 reporters who left voluntarily this month. See http://on.rocne.ws/16S7J95
ReplyDeleteGannett's official blah-blah-bull: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20130822/BUSINESS/308220042/Democrat-Chronicle-layoffs
ReplyDeleteSay what you will about the old days, but when corporate owned up to mandating layoffs, they were all done in the same day ... rather than this new "local market conditions" situation where people are left hanging for weeks wondering when the calls will come.
ReplyDeleteThat's harsh.
If anyone needs any more evidence of just plain rude behavior, here it is. Michael Kane, genius among geniuses, attends the PGA at Oak Hill, jets down to Asheville and installs a new publisher, then returns to his flagship to attend to still more layoffs. People's lives are ruined based on HIS schedule, at his convenience. The rest of us across the company got the boot on someone else's timeline. Mike Kane, it would appear, has his own timeline. If there was ever any doubt about the company's sheer arrogance, this is Exhibit No. 1. God help GCI.
ReplyDeleteAny of us that have the misfortune of working with Michael Kane know that his leadership style is one of only me, myself and I. His arrogance, cover-my-ass-only attitude and insensitivity make him a prime candidate for those corporate stripes he so craves.
DeletePeople. It's all about business and never promised to be fair. At the Arizona Republic, VP digital MH started as an online producer in sports. He had no journalism skills, he had no digital brains about him, he has no experience outside of his gannett existence. His managing skills are absolutely embarrassing. But he tows the company line to a tee and within ten years he's making the salary of four senior reporters. From online story copy/paster to VP Digital. Its business. Don't kid yourself and think it doesn't happen outside Gannett either. If you were MH, would you take the opportunity?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete12:48, I accidentally removed your exceptionally well-written comment. Here it is again:
DeleteThursday a.m. massacre at Pensacola News Journal.
Heart and soul managing editor Ginny Graybiel is sacked in so-called layoff. With 37 years at the PNJ Graybiel's leadership bringing the powerbrokers and arrogant burghermeisters in this unbelievably corrupt town and county to heel has been legendary and an inspiration to a small but dedicated staff.
A tireless editor who logged 80 hours a week shepherding a dismantled Gannett Co. property to greatness week to week with ideas, great editing and lots of bloody verve, she's rewarded with a lame sacking by the executive editor who will announce his retirement Friday morning unless Gannett Co. has a better offer.
Graybiel's southern charm and steely demeanor when pissed made for a combination too potent for Pensacola power brokers who some fear likely played a role in this shameful affair. She shepherded stories exposing sorry performances by the Chamber of Commerce, University of West Florida, the Escambia County Sheriff's Department and various idiotic county commissioners, city councilmembers and crooks.
Staff is reeling but told to go on. Most are getting ready to bolt and can't stand the tension over the next meltdown.
A newsroom without Graybiel will make Beirut in the 80s look like Utopia. Infighting, resentment and the usual fear and loathing associated with Last Days journalism are on the horizon. Meanwhile, we march toward the digital horizon and prosperity. Problem is, they laid off two major video editors, one, Ron Stallcup, who also crafted unbelievably good graphic illustrations that put the paper far above par than most Gannett publications, including USA Today. Guess Nashville design will pick up the slack.
Oddly and so Gannett-like, staff has been summoned to welcome Mei-Mei Chan, president and publisher of The News-Press in Fort Myers and head of the new Florida publishin group Friday morning. She should anticipate a frosty Panhandle hello from dispirited and pissed-off staff.
Graybiel left the news room she contributed to two Pulitzer nominations in a fury and dropped the f-bomb on exec. editor, a source says. She kept her dignity by refusing to shuffle off to HR for counseling and a 7-month shut-your-mouth-about Gannett severance deal. They really don't know who they are dealing with.
Also sacked just as she was making serious inroads into the corruption and hypocrisy of a political and criminal justice system was fledgling columnist Shannon Nickinson. She was offered part time work or nothing. She took nothing. Her departure thursday morning surrounded by colleagues who hugged her and cried was heartbreaking. Nickinson took no prisoners in her columns that were on target, funny, inciteful and sage. They were also positive and affirming. No place for her in Pensacola.
So now what? Like they say, tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.
Can't wait to hear what happens today. And I thought my site was in disarray. Wow.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeletePensacola News Journal Executive Editor Dick Schneider lied to the staff Thursday after sacking of Managing Editor Ginny Graybiel. He said in staff meeting he will become more involved in the paper --something he has never been, as the entire paper knows. He said he and Deputy Managing Editor Kim Thomas are in charge. Actually, he will announce "retirement" to Tennessee on Friday unless Gannett does 11th-hour turnaround.
ReplyDeleteAlso fired in Pensacola was workmanlike finance director Tom Hartley, apparently because he couldn't make hopelessly awful ad director and embarrassingly awful publisher Kevin Doyle's numbers look good. Doyle had a "living estate sale" at his home and has taken up residence at luxury beach condo, an apparent prelude to his return to California. Many bets taken on how long his new boss, Michael Kane, puts up with him. He's had close, very close, calls before.
ReplyDeleteHow old is everyone, peeps without a job recently? Wondering.
ReplyDeleteGPS offered 24 buyouts and only got 17 in Rochester, so here are the other 7 in the form of layoffs! We really love working here...
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DeleteYou think your site is in disarray? At Usa Today, we have senior editors who are rarely outside of their offices, a publisher who hires columnists on a whim, and staffers in key jobs totally unqualified at anything. A series of training sessions failed to change the needle because the bulk of these people are still in their own cloistered little worlds, unable or unwilling to do anything other than what theyve been doing for years. All the fancy hubs and tv lighting wont change a damn thing. When the layoffs finally come,I hope they get what they deserve.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see the entire gannett empire fall. Would love to see it completely obliterated and talked of a failure for decades to follow. USA today to close its doors. Wouldn't that be so cool. I despise you gannett.
ReplyDeleteSo you want thousands of people to lose their jobs? Good to see you admitting it.
Delete