tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post7455842185618191782..comments2023-11-05T06:26:51.316-05:00Comments on Gannett Blog: Asbury Park | Content is king: a minimum of one A1 story a month, one watchdog story a week, one iPhone video a week, and tweet 4-5 times a dayJim Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-36001508366452051282013-11-05T00:02:22.764-05:002013-11-05T00:02:22.764-05:00All the years he's been in the business, and t...All the years he's been in the business, and the idiot still doesn't know how to spell "lede."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-87993123106764463442012-06-04T20:04:59.188-04:002012-06-04T20:04:59.188-04:00Just one A1 story a month and one watchdog piece a...Just one A1 story a month and one watchdog piece a week? The Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, the Courier News in Somerville and the Daily Record in Morristown each have less than five reporters. Guess how many A1 and watchdog stories they're expected have to churn out every month? Their gift cards must have been lost in the mail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-84116532025080941732012-06-04T11:40:10.333-04:002012-06-04T11:40:10.333-04:00What hasn't been discussed much here are the &...What hasn't been discussed much here are the "champions" who were hand-picked by the EE to help in implementing this whole new content evolution initiative. <br /><br />Paul is obviously the "watchdog" champion, but there are also champions for food, education, social media, entertainment and design. And yes, that is how they are referred to. (If they are "champions,&Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-16618567612134659812012-06-03T10:08:21.291-04:002012-06-03T10:08:21.291-04:00Does this mean Paul is the new Gary Schoening? Gar...Does this mean Paul is the new Gary Schoening? Gary took the early retirement package leaving the managing editor position open. <br /><br />What about Local Editor Sally Pakutka? If she oversees local news coverage why is the investigations editor sending out this memo? <br /><br />What's the chain of command there now?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-12665398039741315442012-06-03T09:14:06.250-04:002012-06-03T09:14:06.250-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-78677075346457324592012-06-02T22:09:15.231-04:002012-06-02T22:09:15.231-04:00Anonymous says "I've also known Paul a lo...Anonymous says "I've also known Paul a long time. Don't understand all his defenders. He's always been a pompous twit. He's just deluded enough to think he did more back when he reported. "<br /><br />Well, your analysis would carry more weight if you put your name behind it. I stopped working at the Press shortly after Gannett took over from the Plangere/Lass families. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-910133439385736182012-06-02T17:08:39.821-04:002012-06-02T17:08:39.821-04:00The discussion here has improved -- thanks to us, ...The discussion here has improved -- thanks to us, the Gannett Blog Liberation Team.<br /><br />GBLT forced better dialogue to take place.<br /><br />You're welcome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-50140423170697291952012-06-02T16:12:19.514-04:002012-06-02T16:12:19.514-04:004:03 Agreed that a single Front Page story a month...4:03 Agreed that a single Front Page story a month sounds weak. If I was a reporter on a traditional beat, I would hope to be there at least once a week.<br /><br />Plus, if today's print front page is representative of most, there's not a lot of competition. I count exactly three stories.<br /><br />All the other editorial is simply promoting other stories.Jim Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-84121902645849336112012-06-02T16:03:37.220-04:002012-06-02T16:03:37.220-04:00I despise these byline count things. It just adds ...I despise these byline count things. It just adds tripe to the pile. But I'm stunned that 1 A-1 story a month is considered a goal. I'd consider it retirement.... <br /><br />And @453 I agree that barring reporters from attending meetings is a pretty dumb policy. Not saying all meetings should be covered, but one of the values we give readers/viewers is our coverage and analysis of policyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-56144574777971613542012-06-02T14:33:33.213-04:002012-06-02T14:33:33.213-04:00I was a longtime reporter for the once proud Asbur...I was a longtime reporter for the once proud Asbury Park Press. I left quite a while back when it was clear Gannett was killing it. It's hard to understand where all these "watchdog" stories are going to come from, when staffers no longer cover towns on a regular basis. The Press is a joke now. You can't have the few members of the investigative projects team drum up a "Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-18313702813895725552012-06-02T13:53:51.880-04:002012-06-02T13:53:51.880-04:00I've also known Paul a long time. Don't un...I've also known Paul a long time. Don't understand all his defenders. He's always been a pompous twit. He's just deluded enough to think he did more back when he reported. The corporate mentality that you can set "metrics" for great journalism is beyond clueless. Let's just hope this is short lived and someone wakes up. I'm not optimistic. If journalism is dying,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-1715755330839645882012-06-02T12:50:01.654-04:002012-06-02T12:50:01.654-04:00You have to wonder which genius at corporate is ca...You have to wonder which genius at corporate is calling the shots on this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-57550931026823384872012-06-02T12:08:43.495-04:002012-06-02T12:08:43.495-04:0010:59 I have no doubt that this memo from D'Am...10:59 I have no doubt that this memo from D'Ambrosio is, indeed, meant to be included in some sort of Content Evolution/Passion Topics assessment package that will be sent to Corporate for approval.<br /><br />This is happening at all the newspapers -- and it's a very detailed process.<br /><br />At one Gannett newspaper, this resulted in a multi-page written assessment by Corporate, Jim Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-52084818784333903302012-06-02T11:57:25.302-04:002012-06-02T11:57:25.302-04:00Purely from an HR perspective, I think an argument...Purely from an HR perspective, I think an argument can be made that establishing minimum numbers takes some of the arbitrariness out of the annual performance review process.Jim Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-54989944724857238892012-06-02T11:32:43.260-04:002012-06-02T11:32:43.260-04:00I agree, 11:07 p.m., what strange metrics. We have...I agree, 11:07 p.m., what strange metrics. We have editors who tweet 20 to 30 times a day, reporters who write two A1 stories a day and shoot video almost every day, sometimes twice a day for something like proms or graduations. <br /><br />Do the people at the APP think they're working hard?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-44177708234550419232012-06-02T11:01:41.876-04:002012-06-02T11:01:41.876-04:00Please correct "form" to from and add a ...Please correct "form" to from and add a "me" in between toward and soon. Use this as the case to keep our copy editors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-58445754464913850922012-06-02T10:59:15.897-04:002012-06-02T10:59:15.897-04:00In defense of Paul, we all know this is coming fro...In defense of Paul, we all know this is coming from way higher up than the glass offices in NJ. Despite the cuts and the BS, there are still a lot of people at the APP who produce good journalism against the odds. But there are those who just came in form other GNJ properties who have attached themselves to the APP like a leech and are attempting to curry favor with higher ups and worm their way Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-30387776675879408712012-06-02T10:17:21.552-04:002012-06-02T10:17:21.552-04:00As a former editor I see this as a metric that I c...As a former editor I see this as a metric that I could use when it's time to trim the less productive members of my staff. So much of this Corporate BS is less concerned with creating a quality product, than establishing a CYA system for getting rid of the older newsies. Follow me here - as a reporter becomes more skilled (and older) they generally move to the more complex beats that require Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-89135870540486535512012-06-02T09:54:39.336-04:002012-06-02T09:54:39.336-04:00I have serious issues with the whole quota system....I have serious issues with the whole quota system. Newsrooms are driven by egos and it's way to easy for a talented reporter to be kept off the front page by a vindictive editor. Or a middling reporter to be promoted to the front page by an editor. But this is the new world we live in that values a quantity of tweets over a quality of stories. <br /><br />What's really tone deaf though isAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-66364564304411092892012-06-02T09:07:43.165-04:002012-06-02T09:07:43.165-04:00If our CMO can tweet 30,tines from the White House...If our CMO can tweet 30,tines from the White House Correspondents Dinner you should be able to tweet four times a day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-64170202432807890452012-06-02T09:07:13.256-04:002012-06-02T09:07:13.256-04:00At least they've finally been honest and admit...At least they've finally been honest and admitted there's a quota system now. No more arbitrary "You need more enterprise/A1!" Now reporters know what they need to hit. That's at least incremental progress. The paper will still be shit, but hey ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-63137393149750293202012-06-02T07:18:25.335-04:002012-06-02T07:18:25.335-04:00This memo is so typically Gannett. Let's asses...This memo is so typically Gannett. Let's assess performance by arbitrary numbers. I wonder when the last time this editor ever produced a story, had to tweet 4-5 times a day or dig through hundreds of pages of records to come up with a slam-bang story. The last time Gannett put numbers to achievement was about 20 years ago when it stupidly monitored Mainstreaming. God help the reporter if Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-22786018235639982762012-06-02T06:34:39.816-04:002012-06-02T06:34:39.816-04:00Pauls a great guy and was always above the standar...Pauls a great guy and was always above the standard. I understand what is necessary to keep your job, your sanity and your benefits. I don't envy his position and I respect his decision to do what has to be done. Don't blame the player blame the game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-79531284346409092642012-06-02T01:51:35.486-04:002012-06-02T01:51:35.486-04:00Sure, 1:19 am, we'll just snap our fingers and...Sure, 1:19 am, we'll just snap our fingers and jobs will magically appear. Just like glitter-farting unicorns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-54354363705976566122012-06-02T01:19:21.187-04:002012-06-02T01:19:21.187-04:00As someone who used -- thankfully! -- to work for ...As someone who used -- thankfully! -- to work for Gannett, this is not surprising, though nonetheless disturbing. <br />Gannett killed content. This is just so much crap.<br />And, yes, instead of paying another (or two) reporter(s) to provide actual news, someone is getting paid to keep track of all this. Yeah, that's really going to increase circulation.<br />Pay wall? There's no real Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com