tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post5445632375828292967..comments2023-11-05T06:26:51.316-05:00Comments on Gannett Blog: USAT | Is this any way to treat a well-known brand?Jim Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-30861080284251142042012-01-24T02:35:00.032-05:002012-01-24T02:35:00.032-05:00As a former Parade employee, I can flatly say that...As a former Parade employee, I can flatly say that USAW was a fierce competitor at one time. Of course, it had a built-in circulation base of all Gannett-owned newspapers, which were once very loyal Parade subscribers before the company bought Family Weekly and changed the title to USAW. As Gannett grew, so did USAW. However, the business model became a drain on profits and subsequently, the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-54541519140157329992012-01-22T12:27:40.053-05:002012-01-22T12:27:40.053-05:00So how did USAW profits because of the merger? If ...So how did USAW profits because of the merger? If everyone agrees it's not about the already lousy content, what happened? Advertising some how impacted by the merger? Seriously, I don't understand how this massive alleged profit center turned. Bullard and Brenda Turner didn't sell ads, did they? I thought they had a big ad team to do that.<br /><br />Please explain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-25135160034636254822012-01-22T09:55:32.308-05:002012-01-22T09:55:32.308-05:0011:38 put a fair amount of effort into describing ...11:38 put a fair amount of effort into describing the difference between revenue and profit by using an otherwise good case study involving selling chairs.<br /><br />But I've removed it because of belittling language used to make fun of another poster.<br /><br />I don't like to do that, because I don't like people to waste their time here. Please stop using inflammatory language.Jim Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-17453373954845777372012-01-21T23:38:43.856-05:002012-01-21T23:38:43.856-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-41461538289594261432012-01-21T22:58:23.166-05:002012-01-21T22:58:23.166-05:00They had no other place to drop Heather, 10:43. So...They had no other place to drop Heather, 10:43. So someone had to take the fall for her mistakes running the Verticals. Justnhave to wonder how many more friends she get to hire now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-26519724514859956862012-01-21T22:44:07.743-05:002012-01-21T22:44:07.743-05:00Thanks for your humor, 6 p.m. You are right on.Thanks for your humor, 6 p.m. You are right on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-38463582849499704672012-01-21T22:43:06.172-05:002012-01-21T22:43:06.172-05:00Odd that Gabrielson would retire just a year after...Odd that Gabrielson would retire just a year after taking over at the mag.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-12157286553271028772012-01-21T20:47:40.037-05:002012-01-21T20:47:40.037-05:004:44, why don't you read 2:01's post again...4:44, why don't you read 2:01's post again. She does appear to know the difference, pal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-44908786983144435342012-01-21T18:00:41.979-05:002012-01-21T18:00:41.979-05:00It's always been crap. Tor nail fungus ads, Am...It's always been crap. Tor nail fungus ads, Amish heater ad and a story about an ignorant celebrity telling you how to get fit or bring peace to the Middle East. USATW or Parade, no one reads them anymore. They are both products of a different century. Rest in peace. Move onAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-11717380516573043802012-01-21T17:19:01.911-05:002012-01-21T17:19:01.911-05:00To answer some questions, Jim, a memo went out lat...To answer some questions, Jim, a memo went out later on Friday from Acting editor Susan Weiss that said Your Life will be "reassessed," that the editors and reporters assigned to that vertical are returning to the newsroom and that the Your Life page and website will continue only for the "short term" as a new way to present health topics is devised.<br /><br />Flawed or not, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-88838925618413919512012-01-21T16:44:47.726-05:002012-01-21T16:44:47.726-05:002:01, stop trying to use terms you don't under...2:01, stop trying to use terms you don't understand. Revenue and profit are two very different things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-82960498677420009272012-01-21T15:54:31.041-05:002012-01-21T15:54:31.041-05:00USAW was a cash cow well beyond the 1990s into the...USAW was a cash cow well beyond the 1990s into the mid-to-late 2000s because there were some very, very smart, skilled people there running advertising, newspaper relations and (yes) editorial. They all worked together on coming up with content that both publishers and ad buyers liked and was legit, good edit for a Sunday insert magazine. (Sorry if that offends you on the church/state level ... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-37634700242387097012012-01-21T15:21:08.486-05:002012-01-21T15:21:08.486-05:00Weekend has/had a different coat structure. Once a...Weekend has/had a different coat structure. Once a week, early or weekend press run. Very little of the overhead of a newsroom staff, circulation and distribution. But more ad revenue than USA today? No way.<br /><br />The Rgument is moot. Newspaper circulation is declining. Ads declining. And with Hunks in charge, this operation will soon be in a free fall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-43939666347957543962012-01-21T15:00:04.329-05:002012-01-21T15:00:04.329-05:00Some things are absolutely true. At its best in th...Some things are absolutely true. At its best in the late 1990s, USA TODAY made only a fraction of the huge profits WEEKEND brought in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-57803029624941857392012-01-21T14:01:54.838-05:002012-01-21T14:01:54.838-05:00I've read this argument that USAW made "m...I've read this argument that USAW made "much, much more money" than USAT, and again, I have to ask if the poster is confusing profit margin (which I'm sure USAW has/had an extremely healthy one, probably much bigger than USAT) and total revenue (which my gut tells me is nowhere near as big as USAT).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-89313799880119509112012-01-21T13:40:51.032-05:002012-01-21T13:40:51.032-05:0012:35: No, certainly not saying the new leadership...12:35: No, certainly not saying the new leadership will get the pub back on track. Never did. Never would voice support for anything hatched by Hunke. He is all that you and others here have described him as. So we're on the same page there, mon frere.<br /><br />12:43: This is a stale, stale argument. Every journalist on the planet thinks they have it so, so, so much harder than anyone else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-58712054193925690802012-01-21T12:43:15.589-05:002012-01-21T12:43:15.589-05:00As recently as 2008? That's 16 quarters ago. U...As recently as 2008? That's 16 quarters ago. USA today was making a lot more money back then, too. Fact is, Weekend had a bloatd, overpaid and underworked staff before the merger with Life. Plus they were paying for outside freelancers and photogs. It was time this division shared the pain so many other Gannett properties had endured for years and get by with less resources.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-20480428325747417332012-01-21T12:37:29.618-05:002012-01-21T12:37:29.618-05:00Bring Marcia Bullard back.Bring Marcia Bullard back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-42487593861141072462012-01-21T12:35:47.487-05:002012-01-21T12:35:47.487-05:0011:25, chill will you? So the content isn't fo...11:25, chill will you? So the content isn't for everyone. We get that. But if you think it will improve under Heather Frank and her lame ex AOL team, you are sadly mistaken. This magazine was already flailing before, it's going to get a lot worse under new editorial and marketing leadership. Hunke is either clueless or he is looking for a way to cut costs and let Weekend die off. This is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-7451019336038730772012-01-21T11:48:30.204-05:002012-01-21T11:48:30.204-05:0011:25, eat gravel for breakfast much?11:25, eat gravel for breakfast much?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-67250684932587075582012-01-21T11:25:47.031-05:002012-01-21T11:25:47.031-05:0012:27 and 3:21 demonstrate that they have utterly ...12:27 and 3:21 demonstrate that they have utterly zero concept of what they're talking about. To wit:<br /><br />* "Cutting edge"? You mean like the print/digital sites that appeal to a narrow, Millennial audience? That would immediately limit the publication's ability to appeal to a highly broad-based audience. This isn't a targeted pub being sold on a news stand. The vast Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-23298227390273515312012-01-21T10:42:58.549-05:002012-01-21T10:42:58.549-05:00Another Hunke failure. When does it end for this ...Another Hunke failure. When does it end for this man? He fails and we pay the price.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-45525812539207037822012-01-21T08:30:21.173-05:002012-01-21T08:30:21.173-05:00I read the Macy's insert for more scintillatin...I read the Macy's insert for more scintillating content. But if I want the low-down on Amish fireplace inserts, I know right where to go. It was good reading at one time, but now it's got all the charm of People magazine without the depth or intelligence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-40002985132348797222012-01-21T03:21:52.013-05:002012-01-21T03:21:52.013-05:00The last time this "magazine" was a cash...The last time this "magazine" was a cash cow was two decades ago. It's been an embarrassment for a long time. This is another example of how anything USAT related Has been grossly distorted over the years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-73482329401290559672012-01-21T01:47:01.313-05:002012-01-21T01:47:01.313-05:00Hunke and Heather are about as cutting edge as a b...Hunke and Heather are about as cutting edge as a butter knife.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com