tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post5746038358715770248..comments2023-11-05T06:26:51.316-05:00Comments on Gannett Blog: July 18-24 | Your News & Comments: Part 2Jim Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-368654980376650952011-07-21T12:29:00.799-04:002011-07-21T12:29:00.799-04:00We are wasting tons of money on verticals. The bur...We are wasting tons of money on verticals. The burn rate is off the charts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-47545642698717272362011-07-20T14:21:36.933-04:002011-07-20T14:21:36.933-04:00Sadly, to the point of the posters above, our mark...Sadly, to the point of the posters above, our market research was never the problem. Indeed, until we stopped doing market studies two years ago or so (very expensive) and laid off our research team (some of the best in the business), we had detailed data on how readers perceived our work and the direction we were heading. The problem was that all of the problems they revealed required either Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-50127098099455607612011-07-20T08:05:29.965-04:002011-07-20T08:05:29.965-04:00HT's "my way" attitude would play be...HT's "my way" attitude would play better if he were leading. He hosts meetings and makes big pronouncements, but 2 months or 2 weeks later, whatever was announced disappears with no follow through. Rather than encouraging a demoralized staff, it appears like a rudderless ship, as managers quietly feud with each other and many go back to simply doing what they want, since there'sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-70661125582171923832011-07-20T06:58:51.510-04:002011-07-20T06:58:51.510-04:00Here's a brainstorm- Why not listen to the re...Here's a brainstorm- Why not listen to the readers? More importantly, FORMER readers. I can't tell you how everyday I hear from "people on the street" that "your paper sucks". "There's nothing in it" I used to tell my supervisors this but they were deaf to it. We're doing scientific research they said. They hired a consulting firm to call Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-6902342122195284242011-07-20T05:10:50.683-04:002011-07-20T05:10:50.683-04:00I've got a better score predicting the future ...I've got a better score predicting the future than some of these consultants, who I swear are killing chickens and trying to read the future from the the colors of the entrails.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-78291359886781114552011-07-20T05:01:34.583-04:002011-07-20T05:01:34.583-04:003:22 So how long have we all been screaming about ...3:22 So how long have we all been screaming about how GCI has to stop using consultants? They have an agenda of their own, and that is to make money. That's fine with me, but you don't have to follow what they say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-50263122070446709692011-07-20T03:22:14.917-04:002011-07-20T03:22:14.917-04:007:46 -- You make a good point but I do have one qu...7:46 -- You make a good point but I do have one question. When the reporters dismissed the idea of writing about what readers wanted, who was it that decided what the readers wanted? At my site, I've seen content plans designed using data from terribly crafted marketing department studies with almost zero chance of actually reflecting reader taste. I've been one of those skeptical Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-6240903254242290852011-07-20T00:48:07.969-04:002011-07-20T00:48:07.969-04:00Anyone who believes the typical Gannett website is...Anyone who believes the typical Gannett website is anything less than an eyesore is web design and functionality ignorant and I can hardly believe they've spent any time navigating them at all.<br /><br />Ignoring the irritating advertising aspect it looks like a web design from 1999. It's ridiculously cluttered, the print is usually covered and unreadable, navigation is convoluted, andAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-57252417370341738312011-07-19T22:08:31.786-04:002011-07-19T22:08:31.786-04:00Any of you seriously defending Gannett websites ne...Any of you seriously defending Gannett websites need to take a reality check. They are terribly designed and in many markets turn away users by the way information is laid out, presented and updated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-49884731329638727112011-07-19T21:37:41.673-04:002011-07-19T21:37:41.673-04:007:23 raises a good point. The real largesse lies i...7:23 raises a good point. The real largesse lies in stock options.craig holds plenty that were given to him when the stock was below $3. Thats worth more than $10 a share right now. Sure, he has plenty of other out of the money options. But he will still makes a killing cashing out of a company he helped destroy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-13332059345588182722011-07-19T19:54:22.214-04:002011-07-19T19:54:22.214-04:00@7:46 the problem is what a reader might want in K...@7:46 the problem is what a reader might want in Kansas isn't what the reader in NJ might want and vice versa. Not sure where these ideas are developed but it just seems none of them work. You are right I am as guilty as the next person for dismissing something before I try it. But I don't have to try stupid to know it's stupid. Real life/real news the example was to cover first Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-28515109440118835892011-07-19T19:46:38.799-04:002011-07-19T19:46:38.799-04:00Maybe, maybe not 6:45. While there are a lot of d...Maybe, maybe not 6:45. While there are a lot of dumb ideas that get forced down the faucet of news organizations, I spent enough time in newsrooms to see reporters generally respond in typical 'this isn't news' skeptical (cynical) fashion. <br /><br />I'd routinely see reporters dismiss initiatives entirely that promoted writing about -- here's a shocker -- what readers Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-66099409382424869872011-07-19T19:37:14.850-04:002011-07-19T19:37:14.850-04:006:45 I think the point is that these people don...6:45 I think the point is that these people don't have their own vision they just blindly enforce the silly stuff sent their way. Such as real life/real news, charticles,passion topics and host of other crap. Blindly preaching how this is the greatest idea ever or at least till the next idiot idea comes along.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-53500569450439790302011-07-19T19:23:32.744-04:002011-07-19T19:23:32.744-04:00Few have noticed that Craig Dubow has accepted ano...Few have noticed that Craig Dubow has accepted another increase in his total compensation. <br /><br />I guess his 49 percent increase in the past year wasn’t enough (we have seen that his pay for performance increase came from lower revenues and additional layoffs).<br /><br />I’m sure he would say “the Board of Directors made me do it.” The Board doubled the GCI stock dividend from 4 cents toAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-17263764543752674082011-07-19T19:13:55.584-04:002011-07-19T19:13:55.584-04:00Not only on Viagra, 2:25, but Mecklenborg was high...Not only on Viagra, 2:25, but Mecklenborg was high on Viagra. Read the lab report and you see he's taken more of the drug than he was supposed to according to the common usage prescription.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-82782207377021415152011-07-19T19:07:30.364-04:002011-07-19T19:07:30.364-04:00Stoney LaDouche = Wilmington publisher Howard L.* ...Stoney LaDouche = Wilmington publisher Howard L.* Griffin. <br /><br />Jim, I am looking to get out of Wilmington as fast as I can because I cannot work for Ledford any longer. An online editor announced today that he had gotten a new job, and it gives the rest of us fresh hope.<br /><br />* Lousy, Lame or Languishing (take your pick)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-12186933557556715542011-07-19T19:04:16.799-04:002011-07-19T19:04:16.799-04:00Following yesterday's poor second-quarter earn...Following yesterday's poor second-quarter earnings report, investment banker UBS says it now expects Gannett's stock to trade for $14 a share, down from its previous estimate of $16.<br /><br />GCI's stock closed today at $13.51 a share, up 51 cents.Jim Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-59473284573586969972011-07-19T18:45:45.551-04:002011-07-19T18:45:45.551-04:00Look, aside from the possible ethical question, cr...Look, aside from the possible ethical question, criticism of Hollis as 'my way or highway guy' rebuttal:<br /><br />We constantly ride CD here and his enablers for a lack of vision. Lack of visionaries are usually empty suits who thrive on 'leadership by consensus' style to compensate for a lack of innovation/anticipation/guts. <br /><br />The 'My way or highway' type Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-52206247955530917292011-07-19T18:31:17.073-04:002011-07-19T18:31:17.073-04:0012:45 is the standard moron who throws out blanket...12:45 is the standard moron who throws out blanket criticism that means nothing.<br /><br />If you cannot navigate any of the sites, 12:45, then I'd say the problem is in your mirror. Get less stupid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-61261465290700804902011-07-19T16:31:58.948-04:002011-07-19T16:31:58.948-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-33172261372375741342011-07-19T16:31:06.310-04:002011-07-19T16:31:06.310-04:002:39, I have noticed that the Web sites (sorry... ...2:39, I have noticed that the Web sites (sorry... "Old School" spelling: proper noun, two words) vary across Gannett properties. There's the template, of course, Metromix, et. al, and lots of vapid content, but Reno's site for example was useless for quite an inordinate length of time. Navigation was deplorable.<br /><br />Nothin' against the Web guys. They did what they Craig Seviernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-25670656518307683862011-07-19T16:25:11.363-04:002011-07-19T16:25:11.363-04:00Look i understand copy editors are very important,...Look i understand copy editors are very important, however were I work we are down to 2 press ops per shift. It is a drag to go to work and when your crew is down to 2 ops when we had 3 to 4 press ops per shift. To be honest, no one gives a shit. because we can be shutt down any day. I used to love working for gannett, and in production, but nobody cares anymore. When is the bleeding going to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-19473379813749216142011-07-19T15:15:41.146-04:002011-07-19T15:15:41.146-04:0012:45..... I don't think it's how bad they...12:45..... I don't think it's how bad they are but the content is annoying to look at and read with all the advertising floating over the stories and the drop down ads. Unfortunately that is where the revenue is all going to be eventually...Just wondering when they will have to start charging a membership to read the on-line paper because after my generation, the printed version will be Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-16738561862446099542011-07-19T14:39:43.991-04:002011-07-19T14:39:43.991-04:00Sorry, 12:45, but I call bs. The websites actually...Sorry, 12:45, but I call bs. The websites actually aren't that bad. In your extensive UX expertise, what do you think could be improved? What did you unsuccessfully try to navigate to that caused such venom?<br /><br />I've never really had a problem with them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-54964080529877835452011-07-19T14:25:17.533-04:002011-07-19T14:25:17.533-04:00If someone would only publish a story about Hollis...If someone would only publish a story about Hollis Towns on Viagra, we could get back to real topics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com