Friday, November 19, 2010
Week Nov. 15-21 | Your News & Comments: Part 2
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75 comments:
Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."
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So do we really know how many layoffs were and are being made?
ReplyDeleteI worked at a weekly until last year and I know
that if there were more layoffs there ,no one
would write in to this blog and let you know about it.They are still very loyal to Gannett
as the only employer they could ever work for.
And keep in mind this was a site that employed
more than 45 people in 2006.Now the presses are
gone ,mail room gone reporters railed back,and there are just maybe,10 or 12 full time employees.Gannett is just bleeding the community til the end.Keeping this in mind has anyone heard from a weekly employee,and there
are a huge number of them,and gotten any input?
I would guess there are trickle down layoffs in sizable numbers that we don't know about.
Is Gannett looking to de-emphasize newspapers and concentrate on television? Freedom Communicationas has put its TV stations up for sale and Gannett is seen as a potential buyer, especially if they're sold piece by piece.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of how much one enjoys being a journalist, I don't see why anyone would want to enter or stay in the business. My prediction is that there will eventually be a shortage of editors, reporters, designers, etc., because of the horrible black eye companies like Gannett have give a once honorable profession. Won't that be an ironic day -- when no one applies to those copy editing and news editor jobs on journalism job boards. Typical ad: Long hours, weekend shifts, nights, holidays and little pay/no respect. Oh, and we will probably lay you off.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's an appealing industry for college-educated folks. Mother Gannett, good luck filling those jobs in the future.
Late change to hub nnounced in webinar today: All wire copy will be edited at Asbury.
ReplyDeleteSo what's that mean for the copy editors at the other sites?
ReplyDeleteHow many editors will be cut from the other locations?
Are we looking at pagination and headline writing at Asbury, and content at the point of origin?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteStrange. No one is talking about the new Income Protection Plan outlined in Roxanne Horning's letter received today.
ReplyDeleteOr am I the last to know?
That Freedom Communications deal is a lot of money for little TV stations. Also TV is about to go through the transformation that are still going through, as we are newspapers seeing the establishment of TV via the Internet, as opposed to cable. Unlike cable, which is required to carry local TV under federal laws, there is no need for local TV stations with the Internet versions. See the fight between Netflix and Hulu as an indication of what is happening with streaming delivery of signals. You can see the Internet is poised to take business away from the cable providers like Comcast and Time Warner. Once the NFL, and other national sports franchise wake up and realize they, too, can use the Internet distribution network to control broadcast of their games nationwide (with the sports franchises selling ads themselves), well there is going to be one hell of an eruption. Bye-bye local TV.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteListen-up everyone because 6:09pm is on-target. Heard there was a high level meeting of industry execs in NYC recently where all were told that local TV is gone by 2018 (that might have been 2015, don't remember). Doesn't much matter if its 2015 or 2018 because if true it's not good for us. Gannett should tread very carefully if it's looking to buy Freedom TV properties. Wonder if Dubow or Martore attended this meeting and if so, are they considering this prediction? Along with lots of other publishers Gannett was late to the dance on the web so this time I'm hoping someone is paying closer attention. As for Freedom, we don't need the added debt and should be using cashflow to make our existing franchises stronger. If TV is such a great investment then why is Freedom selling? We should consider making only strategic investments in our existing broadcast stations until we see more clearly the evolution of internet TV. I'll admit I don't know anything about web TV but is it possible to invest in something along those lines instead, and maybe this time get in front of the change?
ReplyDeleteThere was a lot of talk about synergy between local newspapers and local TV a few years ago. But I'm not hearing much of that now. The Chicago Tribune experiment that put together the TV and newspaper ended up in public fights, and TV people say newspaper people don't look good on the camera.
ReplyDeleteSo what would GCI get out of buying Freedom, in whole or part? I don't see it, but I don't have Dubow's brains or background.
Whatever local TV will not be gone. Tv is one of the big players in advertising now. I would double check what you read or heard.
ReplyDeleteThis company doesn't have the vision to see what is happening. We saw that with the reluctance to acknowledge the Internet, and now we see it in things like not investing in Web TV. They are too cautious. They buy yesterday's technology like Ripple 6, then let it languish without leadership as they are doing now. I expect they will soon abandon it. They seem to be abandoning Moms, another retread idea. They are like spoiled children who become bored with their new toys.
ReplyDeleteSubscribers are already abandoning cable TV for Web TV:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a3986a1c-f28c-11df-a2f3-00144feab49a.html#axzz15b46sJXI
Freedom is just scrambling to get out of the way before the house falls in. GCI should do the same.
You will still have local TV. There will be over-the-air local transmission, cable TV and then Web TV. But I think the ad dollars will migrate to the Web, just as the ad dollars are migrating to the Internet from newspapers and magazines.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest change will certainly come in sports. No longer will local teams be dependent on some network to carry their games. They can transmit the games themselves over their own Web TV channels, and sell the ads that run with it themselves. You will be able to watch major league games on your Ipad or laptop where ever you want. You can see what that means in losses in ad revenues for the networks, and also a loss of audience and share. Ditto for local TV. Cable TV is going to be left paying the costs for digging up the streets and laying all that wire, but having no revenue to pay off the bills.
My kids (early 30s) watch nothing on live TV. That wave is already building. It's all online (same kids have never had a land line.)
ReplyDeleteSee that? NJ's got it all. Mountains, ocean beaches, lakes, country and farmland, forests as well as many different levels of residential living, close proximity to all that city life has to offer in NYC or Philly. And now we have a Gannett Super Hub! Almost makes you wanna move here, huh?
ReplyDeleteLayoffs happened in Phoenix yesterday, but don't know how many or what areas....If anyone can update with more info please do so.
ReplyDelete10:09 - How do you get your internet? Cable modem?
ReplyDeleteIt is not just all online for the next generation, it is going to be in your hand and mobile. What amazes me is that kids are reading so much more than I ever did at their age, and they are already skilled speed readers. I didn't develop that until college. They even have their own language, which is going to create a huge gulf between the generations and poses another hurdle the news media will have to confront if it wants to be involved in their lives. This boomer stuff in the new USA Today Life section I think is a big turnoff for younger people, who aren't the least bit interested in the problems of middle age, drug interactions, or recipes.
ReplyDeleteWestchester made a big splash about linking with a local TV network. TV people would refer to the paper by saying something like "read about this in The Journal News."
ReplyDeleteIt was a disaster and hardly of any benefit to the paper despite the BS buildup of launching the paper from another platform.
As for internet TV, that's what my sons watch. They're in their 20s and have rarely tuned into network TV.
So in looking at the organizational chart for the Hub and the job descriptions and who reports to whom and does what, how many people are they going to have to hire to do these hubs vs. how many people are going to get laid off at the community newspapers? How much $$$ is this allegedly going to save Gannett? Because that is what it's all about, isn't it? Somewhere along the line I'm missing what it is that is going to make these Hubs so great. Answers, anyone?
ReplyDeleteI think USAT is going way overboard with the boomer stuff. Read the opinion piece about how we boomers don't deserve the bad rap we get!!
ReplyDeleteI'd define bad rap this way: being kicked to the curb by a company that pays top executives millions, but swears it's having financial problems bad enough to have to layoff an "insignificant" bit of the workforce, many of which are over 40 and protected by the ADEA.
xxx10:09 - How do you get your internet? Cable modem?xxx
ReplyDeleteWireless. It's already here. Ipad, Iphone, smart phones, etc. No cable bills.
10:34 a.m.: Corporate hasn't disclosed publicly the number of jobs that will be eliminated. But there have been stories showing the number of jobs that will be added at some of the hubs.
ReplyDeleteIn light of our discussions about Web TV, look at the announcement today by Freedom Communications that it is putting all of its TV properties and newspapers, including the Orange County Register, up for sale.
ReplyDeleteThe giant sucking sound you hear is traditional media dumping its traditional media.
can you share the info on the "super hubs?" impact on NJ starts when?
ReplyDeleteThe folks in these "super hubs" are going to worked liked galley slaves. Row! Row! Row!
ReplyDeleteEveryone will be expected to do more, and this will have an impact on the depleted local staffs. They will have to meet the hub's deadline. There can't be extended, "special case" deadlines because that could cause the whole operation to back up.
And please, let's hope the power stays on in Jersey!
Michael Beck the GM/EE of the Wausau Daily Herald has been named GM of the Stevens Point Journal. He succeeds Mark Baldwin who was let go on Monday the 15th.
ReplyDeleteIronic that Phoenix is reportedly laying off on the very day there's a job posted for someone to recruit talent.
ReplyDeleteHow do these hubs effect the weeklies.
ReplyDeleteRemember that with the weekies are small advertisers who are small businesses run by the owners.
They are used to having proofs hand delivered,
with their input to design, at their own pace and with as many changes as they want.Some do not use computers and email for their ads.How in the heck is Gannett going to appease these hundreds or thousands of small advertisers, if there will no longer be any flex on deadlines etc.
I think the weeklies will lose even more of the small and shrinking advertiser base.
Bye,bye weeklies!
I know of one weekly group that has
cut it's ad rate by 50% in the last year ,just to be able to keep some semblance of being able to fill pages.It's hard to beleive they are still in Gannettland existance.
Green Bay Press-Gazette being handed out free at a local grocery store today. Also, they were selling weekend subscriptions - 3 months for $30 and you got a $20 gift card to the local grocery store.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know more about the news of Mark Baldwin in WI ?
ReplyDeleteCan you get a copy posted of the design hub organizational charts, job descriptions and staff trees? Or at least more information after yesterday's Webinar?
ReplyDeleteHey Jim, whatever happened to those cute little videos you used to post of yourself sitting at a typewriter? They were great!
ReplyDeleteA very telling moment from the Design Studio webinar yesterday: Kate Marymont was asked about what happens at the local sites in the buildup to the opening of their design hub, given some of the local paper's designers will be hired to work at the hub and leave, and surely others will leave for other jobs. She was asked how the shrinking local staffs will be expected to still put out a paper during this transition time?
ReplyDeleteHer answer: "That question is what keeps me up at night."
Poor baby. The princess who is guaranteed to have a job in a year (and probably a hefty bonus for continuing to shed people and increase profits) is losing sleep over the logistics of how the company will lay off hundreds of loyal employees.
I sure hope she is able to make it through this rough time in her life.
5:17 - sounds to me like the publishers, executive editors and managing editors had better brush off their paginating skills.
ReplyDeleteAnd if they don't know how, they'd better start learning.
Gannett is cutting off its head. You used to be able to tell who the rising stars were by who was trotted out to lead training. Now, it is less likely anyone will see opportunity moving to another site or get the just vacated ME position. The lack of vision and organization of opportunities for junior folks to rise in the ranks shuts down motivation to go above and beyond. No battlefield promotions? No opportunity to advance? Gannett will wither into an ad delivery system with flashes of greatness where resources still exist.Maybe it's already there.
ReplyDeleteRetirement is traditionally a time for long vacations and relaxation. But our new Your Life section of USA Today seems determined to point out the agony of age, with all the pitfalls.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow we have crippled boomers shuffling around with canes and walkers. Yesterday, it was all about how much everyone hates boomers. Over the weekend, we had dithering elderly taking contradictory drugs.
So much for upbeat stories. It looks like there's nothing but misery, heartache and storms ahead for the elderly, if one draws a theme from Your Life's featured offerings.
USAT's boomer stories are quite unbelievable. This is a paper that forced out more than 100 boomers in the last three years. These were loyal people who sacrificed a lot to build the brand. They got about as bad a rap as you can get, and it came from the managers, many who are still there and didn't lift a finger to retain their colleagues. There is a lot of blood on a lot of hands, and I find that USAT of all papers has no authority to say anything about this demographic on its editorial pages or anywhere else. USAT's attack on boomers was obvious and shameful. The only thing saving the paper from legal action is that these people who were canned aren't the types to sue. They have too much pride and character, which is something management at USAT is lacking.
ReplyDeleteAmen 7:47 PM
ReplyDeleteI was going to make a comment on that boomer editorial today or ask how many Gannett employees had gotten this "bad rap," but just laughed and thought WTF.
Re 5:17 p.m....If that is what Marymount said, the woman is either brain dead or exhibiting negligence deserving termination.
ReplyDeleteWhat else doesn't she know?
If she doesn't know what the impact will be on teh community papers, what has she been doing all these months?
Attention Board of Directors: Another exhbit of Gannett executive incompetence.
I heard it, too, 8:03.
ReplyDeleteThe part that struck me was when she was talking about the wire copy all being edited at the hubs, and someone asked about having copy editors at these sites "specializing" in the types of stories they work on.
For example, people with a business background editing the business stories, sports people working on sports, lifestyle people working on lifestyle, and so on.
She said, "Wow, I hadn't even thought of that. I'm writing that down right now."
Of course she hadn't thought of it. It makes too much sense.
Here's a boomer story with that holiday twist Jim was looking for. I was thinking of calling USAT to see if they wanted to do a story about a newspaper photographer who after 20-plus years of shooting down-trodden people getting holiday meals (Thanksgiving/Christmas) at local churches, will this year, thanks to being dismissed by the "Great G", be one of those taking his family to just such a meal. Think they would be interested?
ReplyDeleteI'm interested!
ReplyDeleteAs we rush towards a digital future, we need all to beware that the ground beneath us is shifting very fast. Look at this analysis of the Freedom Newspapers sale, not from the point of view of what is saleable, but from the point of view of what the company wants to be after it gets rid of its newspaper and TV properties. Here's a company that is looking at a digital future without newspapers or TV properties, a somewhat startling outcome, I think. So why wouldn't GCI dump all of its properties to pursue its digital future the same way?
ReplyDeleteRead this, and you will see the thinking:
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=123&aid=194576
see the problem with TPP is they average some weirdo amount cause of unemployment so you do no get your FULL AMOUNT OWED TO YOU
ReplyDeleteis this legal for real?
Hey, look 1:45, I'm sorry if this is what happened to you, really. And you're entitled to feel resentment at G now. But get it out of your system and then look to get out there and help yourself. A good shooter (I assume you don't think you're a bad one) can find value on the free-agent market. Yeah, you may end up shooting weddings or whatever. But the market is out there.
ReplyDeleteAnd, btw, one former GCI colleague did indeed transition to shooting weddings. Now this person makes literally thousands of dollars for a DAY'S work (he is quite good and can charge premium rates for high-end customer, to be candid). He spends the rest of his week doing what he wants.
Just trying to offer hope, encouragement. You do not have to spend the rest of the year or whatever feeling sorry for yourself and helpless and taking your family to homeless shelters, etc.
I found a faulty assumption in the boomer editorial. Social security was designed to be a pay-as-you-go system, with current workers' contributions used to support retirees' benefits. Whomever wrote that editorial made the same mistake alot of politicians do by talking about the trust system draining dry. Well, we boomers supported, through our payroll deductions, our elders. Wonder who will do this for us now?
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to worry about Social Security running out of money until 2037, under current projections. After that there will still be a residue of money to pay 75 percent of the benefits. Are you going to be here in 2037 to worry about it, or do you think you are being manipulated for political reasons by those who want to turn it into a welfare program? It would wither away if it ever became a welfare program, just as other welfare programs have withered.
ReplyDeleteMedicare is a different problem, because costs of medical care are skyrocketing, and outstripping the HI deductions in your paycheck.
In 2037, I'm going to be 80 years old.
ReplyDelete12:21 PM
ReplyDeleteOperates under the same faulty assumptions as USAT.
Again, social security was designed to be a pay-as-you-go system. In other words, you don't have a little bank vault set aside with your name on it. Rather, contributions from younger workers support (or at least boomers made sure this happened) the benefits of retirees.
About it being funded until 2037, think about it what you're saying. It's will only "dry up" if employers like Gannett continue to reduce worker pools.
The boomer generation is huge. Many, many boomers paid into SS to support their parents' generation, which was much smaller, given that those parents produced many offspring. The boomer generation, on the other hand, didn't have as many children as their parents did. So the boomers' kids (Gen X and now Y) are paying into the system to support all of the boomers, but there are far more boomers than Gen X and Y. That younger generation is supporting a lot more people than the boomers did.
ReplyDeleteSS is just another good reason to have a savings account. You may need to dip into it because you no longer have a job, or you may just leave it accumulate dust until you need it in retirement. No matter what the lawmakers decide to do with this program, you are going to be far more responsible for your financial well-being in the future than our parents were. You see what has happened to people in their 50's in this recession. Given our boom and bust cycles, there are likely to be two big recessions in the next 25 years before SS is in trouble. Plan accordingly.
ReplyDeleteIt's silly to think about what is going to happen in 25 years. Look back a quarter of a century to Ronald Reagan's presidency. How many saw the Internet, cell phones, HDTV, the decline of newspapers and magazines, new cancer drugs, electric cars, windpowered electrity, rise of China and India, European Union, HIV, religious terrorism, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnother bad day at the Asbury Park Press. Four corporate layoffs -- VP for Circulation (for all 6 Jersey papers), VP for Marketing (for all 6 papers) and 2 longtime HR employees. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteI've added those four jobs to my spreadsheet of layoffs and other cuts. Asbury Park now has six. Total job cuts: 253 and 63 U.S. newspapers.
ReplyDelete11/19/2010 7:02 AM; are you for real, I got laid off any my TPP was actually 16% more than my regular pay, plus no SSI is taken out, so as far as take home pay it is much greater, then throw in the unemployment and you are really raking it in and don't forget companies DO NOT have to pay severance to anyone so be happy you are getting anything at all. Trust me I hate Gannett but don't blame them blame yourself, why don't you have money saved up?? My average pay for the years I was with GCI was around $40K per year and still managed to save $500K, everyone needs to start living below your income and stop whining like a baby. EYE YI YI!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. As mentioned previously, Gannett is on plan to eliminate up to 5,000 full time employees in the next 12 months.
ReplyDelete2. Dan Ehrman and George Gavanan will be retiring early next year.
3. Mr. Dubow will announce his retirement in January 2011.
I see there is nothing for Phoenix, they had 5 that I know of (I think more) and had 5 at least this past August. So there is a ton of under reporting going on.
ReplyDeleteGannett should be shuddering and closing papers at a much greater pace...this inching along is ridiculous, if GCI were at about 5,000 employees and their top 10 newspapers and TV stations that would be ideal, their stock would be up. But as usual GCI is lead by some of the most underachieving dumbasses in the business world....
ReplyDeleteThe possibility of Dubow's January 2011 retirement isn't far-fetched. Now that Martore has relieved herself of the CFO duties, she could devote more time to the CEO's job -- assuming the board gave it to her.
ReplyDeleteMy question: If Martore put her stamp on the company, who would be in -- and who would be out? What happens to Dickey? Lougee? If either of them were replaced, what would be the domino effect?
Any shift as big as a CEO's retirement could come during the release of the next financial report: 2010's fourth quarter and year-end. That release hasn't been scheduled yet.
ReplyDeleteLast year, the fourth-quarter report came on Feb. 1 -- the very day that Gracia Martore was elevated to COO, signaling the board's interest in her as Dubow's successor.
I guess these recent announcements from Asbury require a re-think on the hub being there???
ReplyDeleteanyone know which 3 production positions were eliminated in des moines?
ReplyDeleteSooo we finally hear from My Boss. So let's dissect this: MB doesn't know about the new CFO, doesn't know about Riddle but somehow knows CB is retiring. You've been exposed as a wanna be. You are not in the inner circle. I don't begrudge you sharing info you pick up when you are hiding in a bathroom stall. What I resent is pretending to be in the know. Anyone hanging around knew about the RIFs. Too many folks knew to keep it quiet. But you are obviously not an insider. You just like to gossip.
ReplyDeleteHave at it haters
Anyone hanging around where? How many folks knew?
ReplyDeleteIf everyone knew about the RIFs, how come the disbelief and scoffs of hype when My Boss first detailed them?
ReplyDeleteI don't think My Boss ever pretended to be omniscient, but what I've seen shows he or she has got a hell of a lot first, and a lot right, too.
ReplyDeleteOn Oct. 29, after widespread speculation about impending layoffs, a reader posted the following comment:
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
I remain skeptical that there will be wide spread layoffs. I can see them happening in the design world as we continue to consolidate ad production, and at USAT who have not had their share of layoffs. Beyond that it's doubtful. First quarter furloughs are another story. In my opinion we can certainly expect those across the board.
10/29/2010 8:06 AM
Four days later, Gannett launched layoffs and job cuts that ultimately eliminated 253 jobs at 63 papers.
MB probably knew about Riddle and Paleh, but the circle of those who knew was more than likely too small to safely leak. MB didn't post anything related to Callinan. On the whole, Riddle, Paleh and Calinnan news hardly has the impact of across the board furloughs or mass layoffs.
ReplyDeleteI'm reposting (again!) the correct link to a job cuts spreadsheet published as a webpage. Hopefully, I've got it right this time.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of Corporate news, Callinan is a local story -- not the sort of thing people such as My Boss would discuss much in the Gannett Tower unless it was part of a broader trend.
ReplyDeleteAnyone think that Craigy-poo is jumping off the ship because there is an iceberg name "reality" on the horizon?
ReplyDeleteThe rumor mill is already predicting first quarter furloughs. Beats occupied by reporters who left before the layoff axe came down aren't being filled. And some of those towns are being pushed off, in a sneaky fashion, onto reporters who are already over burdened and under paid. It starts as "can you cover this in Forgotten Town?" and sudden Forgotten Town is added to your coverage area. Lovely. Please remember that when there is no merit pay to be given out at review time, unless you are a do nothing executive who was among 5 who got millions of $ in bonus pay for incompetence.
At least give us furloughs during the warm weather months so we can go sulk on a beach.