tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post958718615591460533..comments2023-11-05T06:26:51.316-05:00Comments on Gannett Blog: Poughkeepsie | Attn: all journalists, dying for a jobJim Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-10449375910303618502012-01-12T18:41:28.092-05:002012-01-12T18:41:28.092-05:00"One thing's for sure, a novice reporter ..."One thing's for sure, a novice reporter taking this job is going to get the least amount of mentoring of any of the writers."<br /><br />Trust me Jim, there's very little mentoring going on there regardless of when the reporter works.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-13946224240904769712012-01-11T20:02:42.064-05:002012-01-11T20:02:42.064-05:00Whoever goes to work for that EE tool will commit ...Whoever goes to work for that EE tool will commit career suicide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-36011172240668852332012-01-11T18:54:16.825-05:002012-01-11T18:54:16.825-05:00No. 7 (Writes off-the-news enterprise pieces, anal...No. 7 (Writes off-the-news enterprise pieces, analysis, features and profiles, using narrative storytelling frequently) interests me. This reporter works from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. When does he or she do interviews for these enterprise pieces, features and profiles unless the stories are all about people who work the graveyard shift? "Sorry to call you at 3 a.m., but ..."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-79043259807795648952012-01-11T17:27:03.313-05:002012-01-11T17:27:03.313-05:00Ditto on that, 2:08. And it wasn't just the ne...Ditto on that, 2:08. And it wasn't just the newsroom at my former site. Imagine an ad rep going out in the field and a customer saying, so, how's about this story about xyz? And the rep goes, Duh?<br /><br />Oy vey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-91717626611968610292012-01-11T17:08:05.106-05:002012-01-11T17:08:05.106-05:00Number 10 is NOT too obvious. A majority of report...Number 10 is NOT too obvious. A majority of reporters in the newsroom where I used to work did NOT read their own newpaper. Some stopped reading when free delivery for staff ended years ago. Others just don't care what's going on in their community. It's sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-35085855842999607662012-01-11T15:38:38.232-05:002012-01-11T15:38:38.232-05:00I've always wondered why, at my site, there ar...I've always wondered why, at my site, there are four guys who do the Web shift, and they all work M-F day shifts. Who does the night web posting? The copy desk, who will lose their jobs soon when production moves to the hub.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-22964566516564304242012-01-11T15:29:05.319-05:002012-01-11T15:29:05.319-05:00The job description is silly, of course. But the c...The job description is silly, of course. But the core idea isn't -- an overnight news watcher who can hit early websurfers with news, updates, the most relevant aggregation and even, hold your breath, provide analysis? Great idea. That's where newspapers SHOULD be going.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-13789251708194278042012-01-11T15:21:09.944-05:002012-01-11T15:21:09.944-05:00Poughkeepsie already tried something similiar to t...Poughkeepsie already tried something similiar to this when they started the whole 24-hour "Information Center" stuff. They would have a reporter come in and work a 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift. Their logic, which actually makes some sense for the Poughkeepsie area, is that they were filling the web site with some early news for the commuters who were getting up at that hour to commute to NYCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-82263745501998142182012-01-11T08:08:34.638-05:002012-01-11T08:08:34.638-05:00Besides calling the cops, what else will this repo...Besides calling the cops, what else will this reporter be able to do in the middle of the night? It's Poughkeepsie, not L.A. Doesn't make sense to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-45927896954730751762012-01-11T01:53:33.499-05:002012-01-11T01:53:33.499-05:00could these job hours possibly allow you to take c...could these job hours possibly allow you to take college courses during part of the daytime hours?<br /> <br />If you can trample down the hordes of applicants and land this job, you can put something on your resume' AND pay your tuition fees (unless it's Vassar or Bard).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-66682589890822247682012-01-11T00:39:27.242-05:002012-01-11T00:39:27.242-05:0011. Shrugs off repeated furloughs, embarrassing mi...11. Shrugs off repeated furloughs, embarrassing mileage reimbursement rates, lack of adequate technology, no raises, shrinking health benefits, unresponsive human resources department, bring-your-own supplies policy, creative writing on time sheets, shameless benefit packages for top executives, thinly veiled test balloons, template-style-journalism, shrinking stock values, empty desks as Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-22062506678143244602012-01-10T19:36:38.653-05:002012-01-10T19:36:38.653-05:00These G A N N E T T editors are C R A Z Y!These G A N N E T T editors are C R A Z Y!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-58597385885369113412012-01-10T13:46:28.749-05:002012-01-10T13:46:28.749-05:001:00. I did start with this kind job and worked ev...1:00. I did start with this kind job and worked every major holiday. Learned a lot because of an exceptional top editor who gave a damn about great journalism and stuck his neck out to protect the newsroom. And a number of veteran reporters and copy editors who were generous with their knowledge because they saw that I was willing to learn and work as hard as they did and didn't have an Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-7507668551983316202012-01-10T13:08:25.783-05:002012-01-10T13:08:25.783-05:00For sure, the author of this responsibilities list...For sure, the author of this responsibilities list was checking all of Corporate's boxes when they included No. 9. <br /><br />I want to watch the reporter desperately looking for the Asian impact voice at 3 a.m.Jim Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-11491770209784306782012-01-10T13:00:42.047-05:002012-01-10T13:00:42.047-05:00It IS a dream job. It's the kind of job I star...It IS a dream job. It's the kind of job I started out in. The kind of job where you learn everything. You may not do everything well but you learn over time how to do everything well. Someone fresh out of school would be wise to jump at a job like that. It allowed me to be versatile in all news media over a career (and yes I did work in a newsroom) and to be the one who works harder than Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-66797920712674996802012-01-10T11:32:09.634-05:002012-01-10T11:32:09.634-05:00Due to economic circumstances, dying ink on paper ...Due to economic circumstances, dying ink on paper and low revenue streams from online and digital, it's a "new economy" temporary job w/limited benefits, 11:19, not the start of a career.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-21687612221123068962012-01-10T11:19:28.927-05:002012-01-10T11:19:28.927-05:00Sounds like a dream job to start off a career with...Sounds like a dream job to start off a career with. Stop complaining.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-70573342917795103152012-01-10T10:36:01.392-05:002012-01-10T10:36:01.392-05:00One thing's for sure, a novice reporter taking...One thing's for sure, a novice reporter taking this job is going to get the least amount of mentoring of any of the writers.<br /><br />When I started out as a reporter in 1985 (OK; cue violins now), I had no formal journalism training. Instead, I got it from an executive editor who sat next to me and edited my copy line-by-line, explaining why he was making the changes.<br /><br />Ditto whenJim Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16712746705871119746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-48825879335119039232012-01-10T10:20:26.818-05:002012-01-10T10:20:26.818-05:00Generally, the editors don't stay too much lat...Generally, the editors don't stay too much later than when the Journal News' copy desk has the product. I would imagine there is no "probably" about this novice reporter being the only person in the building for the entire shift. Not to mention no "hand off" unless the PoJo has changed the morning cops/GA reporter's hours to start before 7 a.m. Of course managementAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-53320201694992871632012-01-10T10:13:56.222-05:002012-01-10T10:13:56.222-05:00Now they're paying Patch-like wages. The cocky...Now they're paying Patch-like wages. The cocky EE of this paper learned how to do what he demands of others. Puckers up to Marymont, his publisher, Silverman now and whoever else it takes to hang on. Always in lock step with the latest corporate edict. Those us us who worked there and still live in the beautiful Hudson Valley are saddened by the decline. Being that we're about 75 miles Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-33607223722317265392012-01-10T09:45:58.370-05:002012-01-10T09:45:58.370-05:00Oh Jim, this is the job description for all of us ...Oh Jim, this is the job description for all of us at USCP these days. It's not necessarily this formal, but it's preached in staff meetings, daily editorial meetings, etc. The expectations are impossible for one person, although we try to meet them.<br />TV stations in my community typically have an overnight, on-call person who rolls to breaking news and packages something for the early Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-2002481397244825722012-01-10T09:33:14.014-05:002012-01-10T09:33:14.014-05:00Scary---
Most probably, you are "it".
Al...Scary---<br />Most probably, you are "it".<br />All alone in the building.<br />After deadline, and before the office opens.<br /><br /><br />BTW, if you don't want to work nights, holidays and weekends, work for a bank. It's the nature of the beast.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-68057782603196699192012-01-10T09:21:14.800-05:002012-01-10T09:21:14.800-05:00One would think #10 shouldn't have to be state...One would think #10 shouldn't have to be stated but ask a reporter in any Gannett TV station if they watch at least one of the station's newscasts on a regular basis. My experience has been 95% of them will tell you they do not watch local news. <br />I will add that most of them to read the local paper because that's where they get their story ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-49004269024542376792012-01-10T09:16:59.269-05:002012-01-10T09:16:59.269-05:00OK, I’m not usually a Gannett backer, but I starte...OK, I’m not usually a Gannett backer, but I started out at a job like this. It sucks, but it’s a start. Shifts like this are pretty common in television. Are they going to want fully-produced video? Probably not, but they will want someone to go out to the car crash or fire in the middle of the night and shoot photos, video and talk to the people who witnessed it. Jesus, I understand being Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8099437767970534324.post-78916425311179217352012-01-10T08:45:38.094-05:002012-01-10T08:45:38.094-05:00Oh yes, and we're doing all this wonderful wor...Oh yes, and we're doing all this wonderful work -- including interviewing "real people" -- between 11 a.m. and 7 a.m. Can you imagine: "Hello, Mrs. Jones, sorry to wake you up, but...." <br /><br />BTW, quality news organizations get some cracker jack young reporters at $35K. You'd be amazed at who's working for those prices. At Gannett, you get flunkies, because Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com