tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post3104070944158588584..comments2023-11-05T06:26:51.316-05:00Comments on Gannett Blog: As layoffs begin, spotlight shifts to USA TodayJim Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-17741526518236957512008-08-29T21:06:00.000-04:002008-08-29T21:06:00.000-04:00I just wrote the following, on this USAT-related p...I just wrote the following, on this USAT-related post: http://tinyurl.com/6avbkx<BR/><BR/>I'm repeating it here, because it's relevant to this string, too: If Gallup turned up any of these sentiments, were they reflected in the reports given to Moon and other big cheeses? And who audits Gallup's work, to make sure it doesn't boost employee approval ratings to justify their contract. And, and: HowJimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16651269559205765985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-37189273301809992912008-08-22T22:51:00.000-04:002008-08-22T22:51:00.000-04:00There have been layoffs in USA TODAY for years. T...There have been layoffs in USA TODAY for years. The news departments have been relatively safe in the past, but if you look at the rest of the company, tons of people (heck, whole departments) were laid off. Circulation had approximately 40 people laid off in spring 2008. Finance had portions of their department moved to Gannett (meaning most of the USA TODAY people are gone now). IT laid offAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-16249016380876681582008-08-19T13:07:00.000-04:002008-08-19T13:07:00.000-04:00It's apparent that USA Today is taking a "throw th...It's apparent that USA Today is taking a "throw the baby out with the bath water" approach. So, let me get this right. There are people at that newspaper advocating "beat downs" of coworkers who ask questions, or is it just questions they don't like or can't answer? Granted, some questions in a tense environement might be a bit self-serving or raw or even trivial, but that shouldn't keep others Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-65157397319071587722008-08-19T12:32:00.000-04:002008-08-19T12:32:00.000-04:00While not at the meeting people are commenting on,...While not at the meeting people are commenting on, I can tell you that I heard, through two reliable and objective staffers who were there, that Chet revealed a level of anger and took a stance that was very unbecoming of a journalist on that day. Anything more about him, I will leave to others to debate. It is very interesting to see all these dirty little secrets coming out in this blog.<BR/><Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-1667391691412954182008-08-19T12:01:00.000-04:002008-08-19T12:01:00.000-04:00Sorry I can't email you Jim. I don't have the exac...Sorry I can't email you Jim. I don't have the exact date of the Chet vs. Jim meeting. I think this was labeled as a USAT Universtity meeting, but it was all day. The entire newsroom was required to go to one of the three or four sessions. The first session, from what I was told, was by far the worst.<BR/><BR/>I only know each of those men by name and to say hi to when passing. My gut reaction at Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-89772949522940705412008-08-19T11:47:00.000-04:002008-08-19T11:47:00.000-04:00I was at that all-day meeting in the auditorium. I...I was at that all-day meeting in the auditorium. I tend to agree that Chet was far more out of line than Jim Healy. At worst, Jim was being a bit snippy and asking what most of us didn't have the nerve to ask about how journalism was now apparently being integrated with marketing, if I recall correctly. The tone Chet took was shocking and inappropriate for a manager in that setting. There was a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-82999400082497963142008-08-19T11:33:00.000-04:002008-08-19T11:33:00.000-04:00Jim, I'm quite curious what went on that day and w...Jim, I'm quite curious what went on that day and would like to hear the facts to sort out the details for myself. Please be sure to keep us informed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-61590827887193573582008-08-19T10:30:00.000-04:002008-08-19T10:30:00.000-04:00To @9:47 am or anyone who witnessed the Chet incid...To @9:47 am or anyone who witnessed the Chet incident.<BR/>To anyone who witnessed the "Chet" incident. <BR/>Please E-MAIL to me the following information via gannettblog@gmail.com:<BR/><BR/>1. Approximate date of meeting. <BR/>2. Purpose of meeting. <BR/>3. Name and title of person who asked the question. <BR/>4. The question itself. <BR/>5. Any other details. <BR/><BR/>E-MAIL ONLY!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16651269559205765985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-65923974286158343052008-08-19T10:06:00.000-04:002008-08-19T10:06:00.000-04:00You are simply beyond hope if you really believe y...You are simply beyond hope if you really believe your own words, and in the end, I pity you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-58409885718213627872008-08-19T09:47:00.000-04:002008-08-19T09:47:00.000-04:0012:02. The person asking the question was supporte...12:02. The person asking the question was supported by most of the room. The question wasn't even directed at Chet! He asked it in a calm, professional, inquisitive tone. Chet lowered himelf by literally grabbing the mic from someone's hands and screaming. "Beat down"...is that what meetings are coming to? You admire Chet for that? You're a buddy of Chet, and are going to defend him. Probably seeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-81853770203582313042008-08-19T00:02:00.000-04:002008-08-19T00:02:00.000-04:00The cheap shots here aimed at Chet come from folks...The cheap shots here aimed at Chet come from folks who have a strange sense of revisionist history.<BR/><BR/>I remember the meeting in question very well. Chet objected -- loudly and correctly -- when someone claimed to represent "the journalists in the room" while airing some attack about the online product.<BR/><BR/>That "journalists" statement was the single most poisonous, prejudicial, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-36251460122047413262008-08-18T23:02:00.000-04:002008-08-18T23:02:00.000-04:00I am not allowed to drive more than a few miles f...I am not allowed to drive more than a few miles from my office to cover news. <BR/><BR/>So, in my estimation any paper that can afford to send people to Ethiopia must be doing fairly well.<BR/><BR/>Imagine that! Famine in Africa! Who'd a thunk it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-17576459129871019472008-08-18T14:35:00.000-04:002008-08-18T14:35:00.000-04:00Most of the competent younger talent fled online a...Most of the competent younger talent fled online a while ago. There are a few who are good that have actual print experience, but they are the exception. Leadership at the higher levels of .com has been an issue for many years, and now those remaining in power are, as 12:16p said, those older staffers who generally couldn't exist elsewhere in the online or print world. The result is a stagnant, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-1973956134308786772008-08-18T12:35:00.000-04:002008-08-18T12:35:00.000-04:00Not all DMEs are low-character creeps with their e...Not all DMEs are low-character creeps with their eyes on the corner office. The good ones fought the good fight for years, but in the end had to leave rather than be a part of this baloney. What has been left behind is admittedly a grade or two below on the honor/integrity scale. But the creeps always find a way to survive, don't they?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-1141179518309151752008-08-18T12:31:00.000-04:002008-08-18T12:31:00.000-04:00At least Tara Connell (the subject of much ridicul...At least Tara Connell (the subject of much ridicule on here) left the USA Today newsroom before towing the company line in her Gannett PR job. USA Today MEs and DMEs spew the corporate b.s. from within the newsroom. They should all be ashamed of themselves. I expect they will support whatever Moon says or does on the 27th.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-65829431797962109142008-08-18T12:19:00.000-04:002008-08-18T12:19:00.000-04:00It is heatin' up in here. Lots of haters, but they...It is heatin' up in here. Lots of haters, but they make some good points. As a relatively new usat employee I am learning a lot of history on this blog. This could be a meeting for the ages next week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-29755174485693868702008-08-18T12:16:00.000-04:002008-08-18T12:16:00.000-04:00Chet is just the tip of the iceburg. He represents...Chet is just the tip of the iceburg. He represents print managers/staffers who fled to online many years ago, essentially because they were going nowhere with the paper. These weren't the brightest bulbs in the box. Some were competent, some weren't. Some had skills but few work ethics. Others knew how to schmooze, but to this day do little else. Most of them didn't leave because, as they like toAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-20696572186896618732008-08-18T12:07:00.000-04:002008-08-18T12:07:00.000-04:00Don't just save the questions for this one meeting...Don't just save the questions for this one meeting. Fight all the small battles, too. Ask, even demand, answers from every boss either one on one, or in meetings. They won't know what hit them. A barrage of commonsense! And if most everyone is probing and offering resistence to things that just are simply wrong, they can't shout us down or dismiss us all. They might not answer, but they will knowAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-92020652329298099612008-08-18T11:43:00.000-04:002008-08-18T11:43:00.000-04:00It's time to expose Chet for the incompetent man t...It's time to expose Chet for the incompetent man that he is. Make him answer tough questions. Do not back down. There is nothing to lose anymore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-18213714295342704042008-08-18T11:41:00.000-04:002008-08-18T11:41:00.000-04:00Spot on, 11:34 AM. I heard earlier that this meet...Spot on, 11:34 AM. I heard earlier that this meeting is being held before most reporters report to duty. Get to work early that day people, and ask the tough questions! Make them answer you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-32187150890985389872008-08-18T11:40:00.000-04:002008-08-18T11:40:00.000-04:00Some form of a union will eventually organize at U...Some form of a union will eventually organize at USA Today. It might not be like the unions of the past, but something has to be done to protect people. The wide scope of problems I read about there are just overwhelming. Doesn't appear to just be a layoff issue. And BTW, who is this Chet guy and why is he allowed to scream at someone for asking a question? Do managers at USA Today ever get Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-74324484687974917472008-08-18T11:34:00.000-04:002008-08-18T11:34:00.000-04:00I am pleading with people to ask questions on Aug....I am pleading with people to ask questions on Aug. 27. But ask good questions. Don't phrase them in a way that sounds like you are only interested in your little corner of the universe. Those types of questions are easy to dismiss and don't generate followup from others. We need to ask broader questions that are inclusive of as many peeps as possible, then build upon more specifics from there. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-84467494428312120702008-08-18T11:30:00.000-04:002008-08-18T11:30:00.000-04:00Demanding answers, as 11:20 says, is long overdue....Demanding answers, as 11:20 says, is long overdue. However the trend seems to be going the other way. People are becoming more scared, and not asking tough questions of late. Even mild questions have been dodged in the last year or two about a whole host of things, from moving to digital to layoffs. The big cheeses just would rather we remain ignorant or silent or both. I do believe things will Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-2047859428422009942008-08-18T11:27:00.000-04:002008-08-18T11:27:00.000-04:00I am not as confident in the 5-year future of USAT...I am not as confident in the 5-year future of USAT as 10:15 am seems to be. Readership and revenues are both taking a big hit, and expenses keep going up. There comes a point where the revenues don't meet the costs of payroll, printing and distribution, and unfortunately that is a figure that GCI hides from everyone. Community papers are bearing some of the printing costs and some of the payroll,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-40945973671029934062008-08-18T11:24:00.000-04:002008-08-18T11:24:00.000-04:00Gannett has never quite understood that journalist...Gannett has never quite understood that journalists are a slightly different breed. True journalists question things. They fight back. They have values adn insights. They have a nose for news and instincts that Gannett benefits from, but also wants to stifle. USA Today's top editors have moved more towards the corporate mindset than the journalistic values I presume they once had. That is a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com