Monday, October 07, 2013

Oct. 7-13 | Your News & Comments: Part 1

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55 comments:

  1. gracia and her board and corporate buds heading out on a road trip this month. Where are they headed, Phx is on the list. maybe they want to meet with the pressmen while they are there ! can't wait to see that video !

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  2. WTF ! an AZ central /Arizona Republic subscription ad on the blog site ! talk about selling out !!! i'm disappointed !!

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    1. Ad Choices and other companies tracks your IP address and drops ads of pages you visit based on your browsing history. It is a common practice in the world of digital. Look at a Chevy dealer, odds are as you visit sites you will see a Chevy ads. Check out Target - well you get the idea. Maybe you really need to understand how digital rotation works before being disappointed!

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  3. Former Cincinnati Enquirer subscriber received a phone call offering this deal: pay 1 month and get 3 free. Someone explain how this is profitable.

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    1. Because they require a credit card or auto pay for the first month payment and it will take two years and 20 phone calls before you can get it stopped.

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    2. No, I seriously doubt that is Jim's doing. That is your web browser and google doing what they do best. I see Asbury Park Press advertisements regularly on this blog because I visit their site. After I visited Tractor Supply's website I saw ads for them here too. That's just how it works.

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    3. Um, 12:13, what are you talking about? Did you read the other two posts, or did you just start rambling?

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    4. 12:13 was replying to 12:24 of 10/6, 1:52...

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  4. The BEST thing about this blog is that it chronicles forever the idiocy of the morons running this country. Just google any of our smart leaders and this blog will tell the truth about them.

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    1. Can't wait until their kids read about their parent's legacy.

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  5. Wow, even more interesting than USAT pimpin' for the cruise entry (today's "story", "Celebrate Hallowween in Style on a Cruise Ship", s at #7) is the "Digital Tools are Key in Small Business Growth" at #8. Go to the story, and at the top in a color bar is "Sponsored by Dell". The content is part of the "Smart Small Business" four-part series, according to the story. If you click on the topics in the color bar -- "about", resources", etc. -- it goes to advertising or content "provided by Dell". The entire thing looks like a content package designed around an ad package, although somewhat more sophisticated than old-fashioned advertorial and special section copy. Yes, folks, this is the wave of the future.

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  6. Would The Great Michael Wolff approve of the 10 pages from Samsung in USAT's 10/4 edition. Michael - are we working hard enough for you now? Tool.....

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  7. The Big Shiny is out! http://paper.li/effgannett/1380815023

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  8. Who will be running the circulation operation for GPS in Binghamton?

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  9. I heard there was a Gannett wide policy to support Obamacare and the Dems during the standoff

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    1. Wouldn't surprise me. The rule of Journalism 101 is comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. But don't do the government's heavy lifting. :)

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    2. Never a rule, 1:15. That was a fantasy of some people who tried to make it a reality.

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    3. That's preposterous. Corporate has done many things, but never issued a companywide edict on editorials. It would never be able to keep that secret, and once it got out, the blowback would be fierce.

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    4. Actually, it's an industry-wide policy. Media Research Center reported that in 39 stories during the two weeks leading up to the shutdown, CBS, ABC and NBC blamed Republicans 21 times for the failure to reach an agreement on a budget, both parties four times, and Democrats zero times. (In 14 stories, nobody was to blame.)

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    5. If that's the case, then how come the HR rep blamed Obama care for the deductible and price increases in the new heath benefit package during a presentation about it in the auditorium at the APP- with a corporate HR person on speaker phone for back-up.

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    6. Did you or anyone else in that meeting ask either of the HR reps to explain exactly how the health reform law was responsible for any price increases?

      If you had, I guarantee you they wouldn't have been able to offer details. They're just mouthing what they've been told to mouth.

      Corporate wants to shift millions of dollars in medical costs to the laps of employees. That's perfectly legal and understandable, given runaway health care costs.

      But it's cowardly to blame Obamacare for most or all of that decision. The company's officers should at least have the guts to tell the full truth.

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    7. Jim - even if they are only using Obamacare as an excuse, it's a primary factor in shaping the coverage offered by Gannett, right? Or do you think Gannett would be doing the same thing in the absence of Obamacare?

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    8. 6:23: Our job is not to blame each side equally, but to state the facts. GOP shut down the government. Period. Thinking otherwise is delusional.

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    9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    10. It's ridiculous to suggest that G has imposed a company wide policy supporting the President.

      The Arizona Republic, with its rabidly right wing Teapublican editorial page, opposes health care reform but it also calling out the GOP for this ridiculous shut down. They are criticizing the GOP tactics but not the goal.

      Gannett is using health care reform as an excuse to run up premiums. There is nothing in the law that requires companies to change their health benefits - it's corporate greed. Period.

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    11. Gannett is self-insured. UHC only administers the insurance for Gannett. All of our premiums go into a pot at corporate, so changes to the policies or premiums directly affect Gannett's income and expenses.

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  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  11. I know you've been intensely focused on... um... cruise stories... but it's surprising you haven't noted the government shutdown's impact on GCI/BLC. Namely, that it pauses the 180 day FCC review "shotclock" until the shutdown is over. We were at day 96. Every day the govt. is shut down extends the amount of time the deal will remain unconsummated.

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    1. This is why I value smart readers like you. Now, assuming this is the case, a lengthy shutdown could have serious implications if it caused the deal's consummation to be delayed past Dec. 31. There would be all sorts of tax implications in that case.

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    2. This was tweeted last week 10/2/13: RT @effgannett: TV Mergers Worth Billions Put On Hold as FCC Shuts Down - Corporate Intelligence - WSJ http://t.co/bIO0b6mNPm via @WSJ @Gannett

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  12. Here in our local county, the School Board decided to stop offering health insurance to all employees in 2014 and forward.
    I wouldn't be surprised if this will also be the case for Gannett in 2015, or at the very least, they will drop coverage for family members.

    This is just a guess or call it a gut feeling.

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    1. I wish they would drop the coverage altogether. That way I could at least get government help with my insurance. The way i understand it now, if your employer offers insurance and you opt to not take it and get it through one of the health exchanges, the government will not allow you any subsidies to help pay for it. Is this correct, or did I misunderstand?

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    2. What I posted about the school board was incorrect. I actually saw the letter mailed to the employees, and in it was information as to what the school board was responsible for, in terms of money, if they elected to seek insurance elsewhere.
      I do stand my guess on what Gannett will do in 2015.

      5:02 is correct, no subsidies if you drop a company offered plan.

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  13. Am I the only one that finds it hard to give this company my all, after the new health insurance plan was released? I just feel less and less like I should care. Yes, before this I was one of the few that still cared. Now, I cannot.

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    1. So leave. What's stopping you?

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    2. the economy, dummy! This is a jobless recovery, or don't you read our wonderful publications or websites? As crappy as GCI is, no one is going anywhere without another job in hand. Now collect your $5.

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    3. There are two and only two grownup choices: Love it or leave it. If you decide not to leave, then you have made your choice: Shut up, grow up, and count your blessings.

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  14. Same here, 8:59. Don't know what I'll be able to get to cover me and my family. I am firmly convinced they crafted this abomination to force employees on to the exchanges, but didn't realize the law doesn't provide subsidies for family coverage -- just individuals. So, many of us will be stuck with GCI's offering.

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    1. It will be interesting to see how ACA unfolds, but if Gannett flat-out eliminates health plans for its employees, they're not going to be able to attract any new employees, so that scenario seems a bit extreme. Benefits are part of the overall package.

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    2. They will be able to attract new employees at the higher levels, who can afford to pay the outrageous premiums.

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  15. Has anyone seen these awful new USA TODAY commercials that are trying to way too hard to be funny? At least Christine Brennan has some name recognition is the sports space, but political analysts are a dime a dozen and who knows or cares about Michael Wolff?

    The problem is these ads (and thus, jokes) were probably written and produced by the USA TODAY marketing department or someone they hired. And, the overall marketing intelligence and judgment of Gannett's CMO and head of marketing at USA TODAY is questionable at best. So, the outcome of all that is these laughable imitations of advertising a brand. Watch at your own risk.

    Susan Page
    http://youtu.be/GMVcgMwpRgk

    Michael Wolff
    http://youtu.be/jRhS_7FO7bY

    Christine Brennan
    http://youtu.be/IDz3mrYDrIY

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    1. Yada yada yada. Those who can, do. Those who can't, cavil.

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    2. The Brennan spot is definitely the best, but that's not saying much since the other two are awful. Sorry to see the great Susan Page made to look so foolish. Damn ad doesn't even make any sense.

      And why use a hockey reference to mock Steroid use? Don't we all know steroids have been rampant in BASEBALL....not HOCKEY. Who the hell thinks these things up?

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    3. Thanks 9:09am. It was obviously BB Banikarium & whats-her-name head of usa today marketing that either came up with the idea or hired the people who came up with the idea. The ads don't make any sense at all and makes the writers look awful amateurish and foolish.

      But, of course, you can't tell them anything because they are the smartest marketing people in the business, ya know. Last week their blue ball'ed logo even want an "innovation" award. And, of course, Gracia loves them to pieces.

      These ads will not motivate people to read these writers. In fact, it will dissuade them from reading them and anyone else at usa today - that is - if they even read it.

      So, yeah..2:04am...those in marketing who (think) they can at usa today - try so hard and fail miserably ALL the time. Those who really can do not work for usa today.

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    4. 2:04,
      If these spots are any indication....USAT marketing CAN'T.

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  16. Anybody know when the September circulation figures for dailies will be released? Should be very interesting for some Gannett papers.

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    1. USAT down 7.5% and so we have Butterfly.

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  17. 9:38 PM -- subsidies are not available to anyone who is offered insurance thru their employers and decline it. I have a problem with paying premiums for essentially having the privilege to pay for my own health care costs up to a certain amount. My coverage won't really kick in unless I have a serious illness or injury. Am debating the merits of just buying a catastrophic insurance policy since this is basically what this is.

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    1. Gannett's newspaper division is going out of business. It's just winding down operations in the most lucrative way possible. Your insurance will most likely get worse. Your pay will most likely continue to decline. And, that's if you are somehow spared a layoff. The SS Gannett has already hit the iceberg and is taking on lots of water. Will you be one of the people to get in a readily available life raft? Or will you be one of those people who waits on the deck bemoaning the lack of life rafts that fit your specifications. If you wait too long to get off the ship, there might not be many lifeboats left. If you take one thing from this post, please don't forget that Gannett is going out of business.

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    2. 7:24 AM -- Not an option under Obamacare. You must have at least bronze coverage or pay a penalty.

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    3. The post by 9:57 a.m., is a sterling example of the sneering, contemptuous screeds posted on this blog by some very sad people who loiter on the sidelines.

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  18. Print may fold but Broadcast will survive and continue to thrive.

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    1. ...for a few years more, then will follow print into oblivion.

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  19. Does anyone know where Anthony R from Binghamton NY went?

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    1. You try Missing Persons?

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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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