Monday, November 08, 2010
Week Nov. 8-14 | Your News & Comments: Part 1
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52 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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I'm facing possible jury duty all week, so my blogging may suddenly grow light. (Arrgh: Within the past five years, I served as a alternate juror -- both times! -- on a three week-long trial, and then a six week-long one.)
ReplyDeleteOn a previous thread, a poster wrote that all journalists need to do to survive is find and report good stories. I couldn't disagree more.
ReplyDeleteGannett's recent layoffs have included many journalists with those exact skills. What's more many media outlets -- not just those run by Gannett -- are putting cost ahead of quality. In that sort of environment, finding and reporting good stories means that you are a good journalist, nothing else.
While I agree that it's much better to be a good journalist than a poor one, I don't think anyone should kid themselves by thinking that the ability to tell a good story will keep them comfortably employed for years to come. All sections of the media are struggling mightily.
It's a sad state of affairs, but there are far fewer people making a decent middle class wage in the media than there were just five years ago, and that trend is going to continue.
So, it's time to get out. Also, I think a lot of people are afraid of leaving because they don't think they'll be able to come back if someone does discover a magic bullet, and the industry is suddenly surging again. And that's just not true. If the industry somehow explodes and finds itself in need of additional talent, you will be just as experienced then as you are now. Many people change careers multiple times.
Things are bad in the media now, so look for something else. You can always return ... and it won't hurt you to build more than one skill set.
Resources like the one you mentioned here will be very useful to me! I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.
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ReplyDelete7:50 am you are a pig. Please this is a blog for adults. Grow up
ReplyDeleteBig muckety mucks in Shreveport this week to show off the new press. Mandatory staff meeting/ceremony Wed. Doubt any huge announcements, but who knows?
ReplyDeleteLooks like at least 9 laid off at the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill as of 10am this morning.
ReplyDeleteAny idea what positions got the axe at cherry hill? Word is there are more to come but were not getting details/specifics on who was targeted so far.
ReplyDeleteThe other new jersey must be getting hit today as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's happening at Westchester. Big Names in the newsroom. Looooong Overdue.
ReplyDeleteAny word from Westchester's newsroom? I've just heard ad and circulation.
ReplyDeleteCan you give job listings for the 9 in Cherry Hill? Ditto Westchester?
ReplyDeleteBloodbath is not even covering it....
ReplyDeleteHey, 11:28: These are human beings with families, mortgages, rents, car payments... Can you hold the applause?
ReplyDeleteDaily Record? HNT???
ReplyDeleteI don't think people are happy to hear this. They are just concerned with fellow employees and old friends.
ReplyDeleteThe ad dept at Cherry hill has been in need of major house cleaning for a long time.
ReplyDelete11:44 a.m. I'm not the poster you are referring to, but there is at least one person who lost their job today in Westchester who seemed just fine with firing people who deserved it the least.
ReplyDelete5 let go in Vineland, NJ
ReplyDeleteRe: Westchester So far- DME News, DME Presentation, News Editor, Reporter, Editorial Board writer, Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist
ReplyDeleteupdate on vineland nj
ReplyDelete1 editor for nuestra
1 in building servcies PT
1 in production
1 driver
1 news room
2 unfilled positions not to be replaced.
Staff meetings today at 4pm and 9pm
Possible more bad news, who knows.
Re: 11:42. I'm one of those people with a family, mortgage car payment, etc. In fact, when COBRA runs out this month- my healthcare will triple. I feel bad for most but not the guy who actually was seen high-fiving another supervisor after he let me go. I'm glad it's his turn. in fact- I'm downright giddy. And for the others whose lives he upended, and many others still working there, i'm not the only one who's happy about it.
ReplyDelete11:42. I hope when I'm let go a troll doesn't show up kicking me when I'm down. Talk about self-involved.
ReplyDeleteNews alert -- Des Moines Register, officially renamed Happiest Place on Earth.
ReplyDeleteThere should be applause. We can't have perpetual whiners and do-nothings dragging down entire organizations.
ReplyDeleteThese moves have been overdue. Open your eyes. Stop whining.
Is there no word from anyone in Des Moines
ReplyDeletesystem? This seems very odd or are they all
just yes people who are told not to let any word
out, and are abiding the gestapo's orders.
Regarding Des Moines, I'm getting information today via e-mail and through Facebook messages.
ReplyDeleteDrum roll for New Jersey, please: how many, if any, were let go at DR,CN, HNT and APP? Inquiring minds want to know.
ReplyDeleteOk, I hate Gannett but not because they are laying people off....heck they should be laying people off and closing newspapers. What upsets me about the company is that they have and never have had a plan to operate. For years and years GCI got by because advertising in newspapers was done automatically by businesses; however as technology progressed GCI did not, they are akin to the carriage company still making carriages when autos became popular and wondering why nobody was buying carriages..... Gannett's senior management has the collective IQ of an oyster.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteOk, I hate Gannett but not because they are laying people off....heck they should be laying people off and closing newspapers. What upsets me about the company is that they have and never have had a plan to operate. For years and years GCI got by because advertising in newspapers was done automatically by businesses; however as technology progressed GCI did not, they are akin to the carriage company still making carriages when autos became popular and wondering why nobody was buying carriages..... Gannett's senior management has the collective IQ of an oyster.
11/08/2010 2:32 PM
Bravo!!!! Also, What about NJ? DR,CN, HNT and APP? Hmmmm...?
Cherry Hill lost the photo director and assistant.
ReplyDeleteJim: Your readers might be interested in this update from the Newspaper Guild unit in Detroit:
ReplyDeleteNovember 5, 2010
RATIFICATION MEETING ON NEW CONTRACTS
1 p.m. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14 TEAMSTERS HEALTH AND WELFARE BLDG.
2700 TRUMBULL AVENUE (TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF I 75) Detroit, MI
SECRET BALLOT VOTE ON NEW CONTRACTS WITH THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, DETROIT NEWS
AND DETROIT MEDIA PARTNERHIP
NO PROXY VOTES ALLOWED. ONLY GUILD MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING WILL BE ALLOWED
TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND TO VOTE.
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ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteCherry Hill lost the photo director and assistant.
11/08/2010 2:38 PM
Unbelievable!
In an e-mail, a reader told me The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., also laid off its photo editor last week.
ReplyDeletelets see worst thing about getting layed off: Transitional Pay Plan = BULLSHIT!
ReplyDeleteBest thing about being layed off: Having peace of mind and sanity restored = PRICELESS!
If Des Moines is having a staff-wide meeting, wouldn't that indicate some sort of across-the-board wage cut? Just speculating....
ReplyDeleteGannett shares closed moments ago at $12.84, up 38 cents, or 3%.
ReplyDeleteSince the start of GCI's nationwide newspaper layoffs last Wednesday, shares are up 6.7% vs. a smaller 2.1% gain in the S&P 500 index, a broad measure of overall stock market activity.
What are the numbers on Des Moines. The spreadsheet says 2. Only 2? what are the depts?
ReplyDeleteHearing there's a huge backlash in Jackson community over layoffs.
ReplyDeleteWow. Laura Hollingsworth must have handed out cash bonuses today. The Register is the place to get a job.
ReplyDelete4 in Des Moines. 1 Finance, 3 Production.
ReplyDeleteWhoo-hoo! So far (knock on wood), no jury duty through tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteJim, you are expressing almost the same sentiments as folks in Des Moines. What a cash cow Des Moines is.
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ReplyDeletePublisher of St Cloud Times is leaving to oversee Ohio group. What is funny he had three papers in MN and has zero left now he leaves to ohio. Amazing Gannett just moves them around. I feel sorry for anyone in Ohio. http://www.sctimes.com/article/20101108/BUSINESS/111080053/Times-publisher-will-lead-Ohio-news-group
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ReplyDeleteanyone know anything about upcoming furloughs in 2011?
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ReplyDeleteyeah 8:34 paid 4+ years of college to come up with THAT zinger...
ReplyDeleteGreat investment Pal. shaking my head
At our newspaper, there have been layoffs. But there has been no explanation. Everything comes second-hand.
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