It's been eons since I conducted an informal wage survey. Now, with page designer and copy editor jobs in play among the U.S. newspapers,
Gannett Bloggers are wondering how much the
more than 200 new jobs will pay at the just-announced
News Design Center hubs.
For some context, here's what I'd like you to do. In the comments section,
below, please post the following information:
- Your title
- Your annual pay
- Numbers of years you've worked for Gannett, as follows: Less than five years; 5-9 years; 10-14 years; 15 years or more
For example:
- Page designer
- $30,000
- 5-9 years
Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNote: Although I'm especially interested in hearing from page designers and copy editors, this survey is not limited to those positions.
ReplyDelete(Also, for any non-Gannett employees responding, please indicate that you don't work for the company.)
At our paper, page designers, at one time, started out making $40,000, which is much more than some of the reporters make.
ReplyDeletePage desinger/copy editor
ReplyDelete$32,000
Less than five years
I, too, started at a little more than $40,000 annually and worked for four years earning $42,000 and change. I was let go in July 2009. Too bad the collective opinion of top level editors at my paper thought designers didn't have enough work to do. We were always busy and sometimes couldn't take a full hour for lunch.
ReplyDeleteDesigner
ReplyDeleteLittle over 41K
4 years with Gannett
about $32,000 to $34,000 depending on overtime. copy editor / page designer 1. less than 5 years but more than 2
ReplyDeletePage designer/copy editor
ReplyDelete$31,000
Less than 5 years.
I know we don't get into journalism for the money, but after 3.5 years and not even a dollar raise to show for it, it was time to move on. Couldn't have come at a better time, apparently.
When I worked there I had access to the payroll of one of the larger newspapers in Gannett. I felt that just about everyone that worked at that paper was under paid. Only a small minority of people made over 100,000. There were a lot of people that made around 38 to 45 grand a year.
ReplyDeleteHow can someone live off $32,000 a year at a full time job. Thats less then a manager of a McDonalds. Are these the jobs that people are scared to lose? Does a designer/copy editor have a college degree? Jim was making well over 100 grand when he took his buyout I believe. Jim was worth 4 to 5 designers/copy editors? 12:11, what is the poverty level in your area?
ReplyDeleteCopy editor/paginator
ReplyDelete$26,000
Less than five years
Design Editor
ReplyDelete$45,000
5 Years
Most designers at our site are brought in at around $30K now, sometimes less even these days, 5 years ago, it was more like $35K
Jim,
ReplyDeleteYou should get the hub their newspaper has been assigned to so you can later check average pay at those hubs and pay for years of service -- and or compare to jobs advertised or people who applied and were transferred.
Non-Gannett copy editor with 3 years experience gets $32K. Looking at other positions I know, only senior editors approach or break the $60K range.
ReplyDeleteWondering if we can work half as hard for twice the pay in another industry.
1:45 - $32k/year in a small middle America Gannett market is probably an ok early career wage for the local area. Not great, but livable.
ReplyDeleteIn comparison to Jim making $100k/year when he took the buyout, keep in mind that $32k/year in McLean, VA would not even cover housing costs for a year. It is all relative.
Wow - these salaries are frighteningly low. Amazing that Gannett devalues their employees like this.
ReplyDeleteCopy editor
ReplyDelete$65,000
Many more than 15 years
Sr. Reporter
ReplyDelete$60,000
More than 10 years with Gannett and much longer in the business
Two key pieces are missing: Market area and newspaper size.
ReplyDeleteLarger papers usually pay more especially in more competitive markets. Even then, people working at the weeklies typically earn less.
Graphic designer for major advertising accounts
ReplyDelete$26,500 per year
8 years with Gannett
Now my job will be going to Des Moines or Indianapolis. Guess I was costing Gannett too much money. LOL!
Wonder what the average pay for a robot is? I suppose that would vary by market, as well.
ReplyDeleteproduction operations manager
ReplyDelete$90,000
more than 10 years
10:07 am: Market area and newspaper size would be nice to know. But I didn't ask for that for fear that it could lead to identifying individuals.
ReplyDeleteThat is the same reason why I suggested people post their years with Gannett in these ranges: less than five years; 5-9 years; 10-14 years; 15 years or more.
Obviously, though, you're free to post as much detail as you like.
Design editor
ReplyDelete$56,000
17 years
I cannot for the life of me see how this consolidation will save that much money. Sure the top design dog at each paper makes a nice wage (I would toss myself in that category) and they will save there. But most of the rest of the staff make at my site is on the lower end of the scale (many are still in the steps area of the scale), can't see how moving those jobs saves money. I guess if they have enough top dogs there would be some savings but I am a better designer than bean counter so what do I know.
10:46 am:
ReplyDelete1. They won't move all jobs. Some will simply be eliminated by having fewer people do the same amount of work.
2. Some of this work is being moved to cities with lower average wages from cities with higher average wages, or to states that are less friendly to unions.
3. Some of these cities and states may offer Gannett tax breaks for moving these jobs.
would be interesting to see organizing drives for collective bargaining agreements at all of these "hubs" that have been created the past few years.
ReplyDeletealthough they may have made concessions, very few union members lost their jobs during the lay offs.
The other key bit of needed information here is the size of the paper. Pay is notoriously higher at larger papers; how will that shake out once everyone is in the same place? I imagine there could be some balancing happening -- some wages increasing slightly, some decreasing.
ReplyDeleteYo 10:53 very few lost their jobs because they gave up huge concessions. Ask the Guild members in Hawaii how much the union protected them. Come on lemmings take your collective bargaining heads out of the sand.
ReplyDeleteAnd no I am not a troll. I come from a long time union household.
11:49 am: I expect they will zero-base these jobs. That is, set wages according to current scales nationally and locally. I would not assume that a designer now making $50K will get the same job in Louisville at the same pay rate.
ReplyDeleteIt will be: Here are the new jobs, here's what they now pay. You may apply for them if you like, otherwise . . .
Non-Gannett employee
ReplyDeletecopy editor/page design/and everything else
most I've ever made in any position -- $25,000 --in 13 years in industry. (with a degree I might add)
Non-Gannett employee
ReplyDeleteDesigner
$72,000
5-9 years
How does a college degree`ed full time employee making $25,000 buy a entry level car such as a ford fusion that costs the same as his or her total salary? Also, how is a media company such as Gannett going to survive with an army of minimum wage workers?
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of smaller papers that pay less than $20,000 a year.
ReplyDelete$40,000, copy editor/designer at a 50,000-circulation paper in the west.
ReplyDeleteBut if I cut the editor's lawn once a week and fed his humongous ego, I would bank another $5,000 a year(just kidding).
I no longer work for Gannett.
I did work for those bloodsuckers for two years and have 18 years all together in the business.
It is the absolute worst company I have ever worked for. Management are dweebs.
Page designer/copy editor
ReplyDelete$47,000
5-9 years at Gannett
Like previous posters have said, these numbers will vary based on the size of your paper. If there's a bean counter involved, they should take into account the cost of living of each hub. And sorry union folks, the suits hate you.
ReplyDeleteNews beat reporter
ReplyDelete$29,400
3 years at Gannett
Copy editor/paginator
ReplyDelete$29,000
4 years at Gannett
I'm feeling like I'm getting out of an abusive relationship. Never thought I'd be relieved with getting laid off, but it's time to try something new.
Page designer/graphics reporter
ReplyDelete$30,000
8 years w/Gannett. 5 1/2 years in the newsroom.
Designer
ReplyDelete$54,000
12 years
Copy editor/page designer I
ReplyDelete$35,000
Less than 5 years, more than 2
More than 3 years outside Gannett.
Last paper $30,000
Before that $22,000
Before that $26,000 (salary)