Callaway's memo to Usa Today staff was hollow as usual. Even when he's trying to spread cheer, it comes off as insincere and out of touch. Amazes me how little this guy has connected with staff after nearly 18 months on the job.
Forbes magazine put itself on the market after receiving several unsolicited inquiries. Wonder why Gannett hasn't done that with its newspapers. What are they waiting for? Warren Buffett, John Henry and Jeff Bezos have shown that there's appetite for newspapers. Meanwhile, Gannett has been running its papers as discontinued operations for some time now. Are they waiting for the Belo deal to close before soliciting offers?
A Gannett acqusition would take much deeper pockets. Bezos paid $250 million for the Post. Our market cap is like $6 billion. Buffett was a Gannett investor years ago. He knows a mismanaged company with shitty product makes no business sense.
So you are saying Gannett would sell newspapers and keep TV? After buying back $1 billion in shares and screwing over most emplyees on raises and benefits with dividend hikes as well? Wont happen. Company will spin off print like News Corp. it could sell a paper here or ther, but at would be about it.
It's the board's fiduciary duty to consider all options to increase shareholder value. The share buybacks are a way to increase earnings per share in the absence of improving profitability. The dividend increases are an appeasement to value investors and widows and orphans. Sure, GCI could spin off the entire print division, or it could sell papers selectively. The point is, buyers are in the market for newspapers, and since Gannett clearly doesn't give a damn about them, it should sell them to someone who does.
Your "Tucson Citizen" blog site in Tucson Arizona is in shambles. Please fix it. If my memory serves me I remember that Gannet must keep the Tucson Citizen blog site up and running due to legal reasons for not having two newspapers in Tucson Arizona. It is impossible to stay on the blog site with being sent spmewhere else. FIX IT PLEASE.
Last night Denver defeated Kansas City in the NFL, significant as the Chiefs were the league's last undefeated team. What is the lead story on USAToday.com/sports at this hour? Jimmie Johnson winning another NASCAR championship.
Gotta make sure those "Content Partners" are more important than hard news!
That game probably ended too late for the earlier press times these days to make a full story out of. But Nascar is the big dog for sure in Usat Sports...yes, that is the "content partner" they need to take care lest the whole enterprise falls apart. If you follow what Usat Sports does, you'll note that Nascar is treated nicely everywhere. They're always the example sport at whatever sports conference Usat organizes, and the sports guests at whatever big event.
Don't look for any "where I was when I heard Kennedy was shot" retrospectives from my old site since all the oldsters were purged bought out over the past three years.
Some good work here. http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20131118/APC0198/311180096/Wisconsin-sports-heroes-mixed-success-managing-their-charities?nclick_check=1
Quite a contrast from the time when Reggie White accepted several hundred thousands of dollars in donations to rebuild his Tennesse church after it burned down. The money disappeared and he was never held accountable by any of the local press.
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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ReplyDeleteBonuses or layoffs for the holidays?
ReplyDeleteBoth. Your bonus is extra vacation time because you lost your job.
DeleteCallaway's memo to Usa Today staff was hollow as usual. Even when he's trying to spread cheer, it comes off as insincere and out of touch. Amazes me how little this guy has connected with staff after nearly 18 months on the job.
ReplyDeleteWhat does the memo say?
DeleteThe 16th was a real dud, wasn't it? On the good side, one of the local Phoenix radio stations has started playing all Christmas music. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteForbes magazine put itself on the market after receiving several unsolicited inquiries. Wonder why Gannett hasn't done that with its newspapers. What are they waiting for? Warren Buffett, John Henry and Jeff Bezos have shown that there's appetite for newspapers. Meanwhile, Gannett has been running its papers as discontinued operations for some time now. Are they waiting for the Belo deal to close before soliciting offers?
ReplyDeleteA Gannett acqusition would take much deeper pockets. Bezos paid $250 million for the Post. Our market cap is like $6 billion. Buffett was a Gannett investor years ago. He knows a mismanaged company with shitty product makes no business sense.
DeleteThe market cap is the value of the entire company, not its parts. Talking newspapers here, not TV or GCI's tech stuff.
DeleteSo you are saying Gannett would sell newspapers and keep TV? After buying back $1 billion in shares and screwing over most emplyees on raises and benefits with dividend hikes as well? Wont happen. Company will spin off print like News Corp. it could sell a paper here or ther, but at would be about it.
DeleteIt's the board's fiduciary duty to consider all options to increase shareholder value. The share buybacks are a way to increase earnings per share in the absence of improving profitability. The dividend increases are an appeasement to value investors and widows and orphans. Sure, GCI could spin off the entire print division, or it could sell papers selectively. The point is, buyers are in the market for newspapers, and since Gannett clearly doesn't give a damn about them, it should sell them to someone who does.
DeleteWhy would he take personal interest in anyone? If things continue heading south, he"ll just be pink slipping you. If you need a hug, go see your Mom.
ReplyDeleteManagement: bonuses.
ReplyDeletePeons: layoffs.
Your "Tucson Citizen" blog site in Tucson Arizona is in shambles. Please fix it. If my memory serves me I remember that Gannet must keep the Tucson Citizen blog site up and running due to legal reasons for not having two newspapers in Tucson Arizona.
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible to stay on the blog site with being sent spmewhere else. FIX IT PLEASE.
Gotta keep that big JOA money coming in . . .
DeleteLast night Denver defeated Kansas City in the NFL, significant as the Chiefs were the league's last undefeated team. What is the lead story on USAToday.com/sports at this hour? Jimmie Johnson winning another NASCAR championship.
ReplyDeleteGotta make sure those "Content Partners" are more important than hard news!
Oh, the outrage! Oh, the calamity! Let the recriminations commence!
DeleteThat game probably ended too late for the earlier press times these days to make a full story out of. But Nascar is the big dog for sure in Usat Sports...yes, that is the "content partner" they need to take care lest the whole enterprise falls apart. If you follow what Usat Sports does, you'll note that Nascar is treated nicely everywhere. They're always the example sport at whatever sports conference Usat organizes, and the sports guests at whatever big event.
DeleteRead the earlier post. I was referring to the website, NOT the newspaper.
DeleteWe live in a 24-hour news cycle if you haven't noticed.
Anyone know if GPS Minneapolis is going to lift the wage freeze and give raises after January 1st?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteAre you serious?
DeleteDon't look for any "where I was when I heard Kennedy was shot" retrospectives from my old site since all the oldsters were purged bought out over the past three years.
ReplyDeleteCheck out news-press.com\jfk
ReplyDeletegood job news-press
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteTony Simmons
Director - Distribution Operations & Technology at Gannett Publishing Services
Mclean, Virginia (Washington D.C. Metro Area) Newspapers
Some good work here.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.postcrescent.com/article/20131118/APC0198/311180096/Wisconsin-sports-heroes-mixed-success-managing-their-charities?nclick_check=1
You're right; thanks. I've just added this post.
DeleteQuite a contrast from the time when Reggie White accepted several hundred thousands of dollars in donations to rebuild his Tennesse church after it burned down. The money disappeared and he was never held accountable by any of the local press.
DeleteGannett is the devil. That is all.
ReplyDelete