Thursday, September 29, 2011

Sept. 26-Oct. 2 | Your News & Comments: Part 4

Can't find the right spot for your comment? Post it here, in this open forum. Real Time Comments: parked here, 24/7. (Earlier editions.)

51 comments:

  1. Today's the big day. Furlough time!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just got a bill from Gannett for $3,900 for three months of insurance (August, September and October). My COBRA expired July 31. Called Gannett benefits they said no idea why I got billed. They said just ignore it. Okay. I wonder how many others got a surprise in the mail.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 9:19 PM yesterday said:
    "The Courier Post still has their group of pricey seats at Philadelphia Philllies games. Seats used mostly by the OC and other management do-nothings."
    --------
    That's right! The acting managing editor used to laugh during news meetings about he's never paid to see a Phillies game. And then there were those afternoons where the entire OC would mysteriously disappear when the Phillies were home.
    And don't forget the exec ed complaining about when the business manager actually promised tickets he was supposed to get to a client! *gasp* Genie had to pay for himself to see a game! Oh, no!

    ReplyDelete
  4. 8:37 AM "Acting Managing Editor"? The previous C-P ME got canned or resigned?

    ReplyDelete
  5. what a bunch of petty bull...You writers are a joke. Who gives a hoot about tickets and other stuff like that. If you worked you way up to a top level manager job, you would going to games. Your like a bunch of old ladies

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is not petty bull. it demonstrates the mindset of those overpaid people who use company resources (expensive) as if they are entitled while the real workers have lost their jobs and those remaining are worked to death while living in fear of being the next on the "cut" list. It's sad to watch these idiots fight over who gets the tickets for their own use. Perks like this should only be used on advertisers as a reward/thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. There's more on the Gannett/Presswire deal on the SportsShooter website. A couple of posters are right on when they say it makes no sense. Worth reading for a photographer's perspective on this:
    http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=38929

    ReplyDelete
  8. How long has Amazon been in the daily deals business? I got an email from Amazon this morning promoting their "Amazonlocal" daily deal ($16 worth of food at a local sub shop for $8). It sounds a lot like DealChicken and can't be good news for the folks in G Town.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Everyone is piling on daily deals. Gannett just another late-comer to a very crowded room. What else is new? Silly, Gannett. You promote mediocre minds all the way to the top. You encourage mediocre performers and get rid of actual thinkers. Then you expect leading edge, agile innovation. Silly, silly Gannett. ha ha ha ha ha ha!

    ReplyDelete
  10. It is not petty bull. it demonstrates the mindset of those overpaid people who use company resources (expensive) as if they are entitled while the real workers have lost their jobs and those remaining are worked to death while living in fear of being the next on the "cut" list. It's sad to watch these idiots fight over who gets the tickets for their own use. Perks like this should only be used on advertisers as a reward/thank you.
    9/29/2011 9:10 AM

    You don't understand how Gannett corporate works, like it or not the local publisher/president has zero control of things like that, here in Phoenix, the Arizona Republic has a box at Chase Field - Diamondbacks, US Airways Arena - Suns & Unversity of Phoenix Stadium - Cardinals costing around $250K per year total, even if the president John Zidich wanted to cut that expensive he would not be allowed to because that is all done through corporate, so since it's being paid for anyway, you might as well make use of it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've been out of the loop: what, exactly, is supposed to happen today? Furlough announcements? For just USCP or the whole shebang?

    ReplyDelete
  12. 10:56 You really haven't missed anything.

    An anonymous poster left a comment several days ago, saying there would be some sort of announcement today. No details.

    At the moment, I'm treating it as totally unconfirmed speculation.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Pricey seats are a choice at the individual newspaper level. The majority of the remaining boxes/tickets are intertwined with trade deals. Or, if box is not purchased, advertiser would reduce spending significantly.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 10:56 here again - thanks for the clarification, Jim! We'd all be clueless without you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I hear that there is supposed to be a big meeting at 11:00 this morning at the Palm Springs paper.

    Does this have to.do with the rumored big announceement today? We shall see.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Even if expensive seats to sports events are somehow a necessary expense, it's still disgusting that OC-level folks cut out early to use them and complain when they can't get them. Maybe they should try using them to help drum up business or try sharing with the rank-and-file to increase morale.
    As for the "acting managing editor" mentioned about the Courier-Post earlier: No, he's still there. It's just that he doesn't actually perform as a managing editor, so he's just "acting."

    ReplyDelete
  17. 11:32 Probably a coincidence: A reader says their worksite is scheduled to have a meeting by telephone at 2 p.m. ET. (That, of course, is 11 a.m. Palm Springs time.)

    ReplyDelete
  18. OK, here we go. big meeting. all hands.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You're being sarcastic, right Jim? No coincidence there. Ours is at 1:00.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jim, no coincidence. Company wide announcement. No furlough. New division.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I've just been told one piece of news that may be announced today. It's not about furloughs, or any broad layoffs.

    Unfortunately, I can't say more because I will get a source in trouble. Sorry.

    ReplyDelete
  22. 1:49 Our comments just missed each other. Yes: That -- a new division -- is what I've been told about.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Someone gave you a tip a few days ago and it languished on the digital floor. Today I get the news directly from Gannett first. Before the blog. That speaks volumes as to the value of this blog. It also says a great deal about your resources. Those are the facts and I will leave it at that as I would rather not become judgmental.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Jim, you might want to track the corporate jet. They went somewhere very interesting this week.

    ReplyDelete
  25. The bigwigs are on the Fort Myers leg of their tour today. Doubt there's gonna be some big announcement with them out and about.

    ReplyDelete
  26. So, 2:45, are you going to let the rest of us in on it, or not?

    ReplyDelete
  27. 2:45, if you think the blog has no value, save yourself time and stop reading it and post comments that don't add value.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Who says 2:45 thinks the blog has no value? Sounds like they are dropping a tip for Jim to investigate.

    Tracking the corporate jet sounds like a pretty good idea.

    ReplyDelete
  29. You might think about checking your e-mail before you point fingers at @2:45.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I must not work at a Gannett property privy to that information, then, because it's definitely not in my email.

    ReplyDelete
  31. You all have no idea what power this blog holds. We can take back our company if we all work together. I don't think it's too late. Everyone and everything must be exposed.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Jim, was this the big announcement?

    ReplyDelete
  33. An email with two attachments going out to all employees at once would sink our servers. I'm not saying they DIDN'T send them all at once, just that it's not prudent.

    If you haven't seen it yet it's possible it's still coming, you're irrelevant and not part of the distribution list, or you're one of the 20 getting canned. Thanks for your service, etc etc.

    ReplyDelete
  34. 3:53, you won't take back anything. No one here will do anything but rant.

    If the complainers here had EVER bothered even to file formal complaints with the various agencies about all the crap that has happened, there would be at least a written history, a paper trail, and maybe a small chance of outside action.

    Instead, you chose to post complaints and attacks here. Sorry, those change nothing.

    ReplyDelete
  35. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Layoffs, other changes today in Cincinnati for USA Today people.

    ReplyDelete
  37. 4:07 two days ago you and your pals were complaining about the number of top level managers. Now unfortunately a few are gone. Now you complain about that. Just plain haters

    ReplyDelete
  38. I don't think 4:07 was complaining about managers being let go. I don't think 4:07 had any commentary about the layoffs other than to show the ungracious way Gannett lets people go. "Thanks for your service, blah, blah, blah,"

    ReplyDelete
  39. Si 6:18 let's have a real discussion. What would you say to a member of your team that isn't what you call blah blah? You have to deliver bad news, the worst news. What would you say? And don't bail and say you wouldn't let them go. What would you say that would make our colleagues feel better? I've had to deliver that message and it is awful. Not as awful as hearing it but awful just the same. Please, tell me what you'd say.

    ReplyDelete
  40. This is the most hyped blog;
    layoffs are coming,
    pay cuts are on the way, and furloughs, No.
    this from a great source.
    Hold your own, also management cut down soon!

    ReplyDelete
  41. @7:00... I'd like to know the same. It is a terrible deed that I too have had to do. What can you say that doesn't ring false? I've honestly cried afterwards, in private. I still care, despite it all, and others at my site do too. Our daily is still relevant and decently-profitable, but corporate decisions are hurting us. Is bailing the only option?

    ReplyDelete
  42. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  43. We were chatting about Pete Zanmiller just the other day, weren't we?http://shreveporttimes.com/article/20110929/NEWS05/110929018/Gannett-launches-Gannett-Publishing-Services
    Class act moves forward.

    ReplyDelete
  44. New division or consolidation? What is going away? Maybe that was the big Thursday announcement. No press release yet, what gives?

    ReplyDelete
  45. Pete Zanmiller is probably one of the best publishers this company has ever known. Best of luck to him.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Pete was a great production director, not so much a great publisher. So he is back in the kind of role the he is best in. Good for him.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hey 7:00 and 8:18 So you were burdened by having to fire employees. It wasn't your decision we all get that- you've cried privately- Bravo. Have either of you made any attempt to speak to those you've let go since? Have you called them or e-mailed to see what you could do to help them move on with their lives? Or have you swept their memories under the rug? This goes out to everyone who have seen their co-workers let go. A phone call once in a while goes a long way in their lives.

    ReplyDelete
  48. 2:22 - Time will tell.

    ReplyDelete
  49. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Wow, 2:22, I made the prediction that time would tell whether or not Pete was one of the best publishers in Gannett and you said you didn't think so? Considering revenue at The Times is down by more than 50 percent after his departure as publisher LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO, I'd say you were WRONG. It didn't take as long as I thought it would to prove my point. I hear he's now left Gannett and has found a very profitable gig in his hometown. Good for you, PZ!! You were way too smart to stay in Gannett, a dying company. Godspeed.

    ReplyDelete

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."

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.