Thursday, November 03, 2011

Oct. 31-Nov. 6 | Your News & Comments: Part 2

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52 comments:

  1. New design of print product at news-press.com.

    http://www.news-press.com/article/20111102/COLUMNISTS48/311020016/From-editor-Today-s-newspaper-has-whole-new-look

    Eberle responds to readers' demand for "greatness" with "bigger body type" and "Newsgate."

    Yeah, that'll get 'em.

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  2. Phoenix Pressman win Vacation Pay Arbitration. Hurray...We earned the vacation we are now getting paid for it...But what will the real payback be?
    It was only right to get the money...How could company make you earn vacation in previous year and then the year you are allowed to use it say..No we take you get nothing? Which is what they tried. I can sure use the money due to the 7% hourly cut. Raised med costs and all...Thankyou to my Union for getting what was earned by me

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  4. 1:47 At least you got a job, you press ops are way over paid anyways, so your 7% cut should bring you in line with other Gannett pressman. I know, I used to work with you, and it was a easy , over staffed job to begin with

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  5. Jim your readers are fooled by Martore's removal of executive parking spaces in the lower garage. She did this because she received another new company car (Porsche) to replace her old (2008 Porsche) company paid vehicle.

    Coincidentally, Jack Williams and other GMC members also received new company cars.

    Ms. Martore thought it would not look good if all these new cars were parked in the same spots as most employees see this each morning.

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  7. Whatever the story is on Gracia's ride and executive parking spaces...it sure sounds sleazy. Gracia whatever you do should invovle the utmost transparency. too many sleazy things have gone on at this company at the expense of its lower rung workers. you need to create a better atmosphere and culture.

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  8. RCA, Pan Am, Sylvania, Hotpoint, Studebaker, Compaq, Burger Chef, Netscape, Elektra, Morrison's Cafeterias, Trailways, Scott Paper, Johns-Manville, Dalkon Corp., Kenny Rogers Roasters, Arthur Andersen, Eastern Airlines, Syms and now get the headstone ready for -- Gannett.

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  9. Kenny Rogers had great chicken and it didn't help him. Gannett has a mediocre DealChicken and it won't help them.

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  10. You have to be freaking kidding me! We have not received a raise for over three years, taken furlough after furlough and these idiots get a porche as a company car! And they wonder why people are protesting on Wall Street! I could see if they brought the company profits — but dear GOD, they have done NOTHING! This is insane!

    Jim your readers are fooled by Martore's removal of executive parking spaces in the lower garage. She did this because she received another new company car (Porsche) to replace her old (2008 Porsche) company paid vehicle.

    Coincidentally, Jack Williams and other GMC members also received new company cars.

    Ms. Martore thought it would not look good if all these new cars were parked in the same spots as most employees see this each morning.

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  12. So, a 3-year old Porsche wasn't good enough for Martore? Don't be fooled by her "good deed" of eliminating executive parking spaces - she's a wolf in sheep's clothing! There must be orange cones set up by the security guards somewhere nearby to accommodate her toy.

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  13. I wonder if she drove her Porsche into DC for the volunteer gig?

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  14. To the Pressmen and women in Phoenix... Hold on to that well earned and fought for vacation money. Put it safely away in savings. It's a benefit negotiated fairly and legally and then (almost) grabbed away by Gannett.

    This is what a union does for its members. What has your company done for you lately?

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  15. Here's an edited comment posted at 8:46:

    All these fat cats have nice shiny new cars. AND they have a driver [XXXXX] that they treat like shit and he drives all the executives around. Kind of a sad thing, like back in the 60's.

    (Jim you asshole, do not remove this post, as they treat [XXXXX] like shit and these fat bastards should be held accountable. [XXXXX] is a good person).

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  16. 10:24 why don't you list all you've lost in the last three years and then add up the total union dues. Yeah you are way ahead!

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  17. Maybe I missed this somewhere, but the 10-Q came out today.
    A snippet:
    "On October 6, 2011, the Company announced that Craig A. Dubow, formerly the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, resigned due to disability. Mr. Dubow had taken a leave of absence on September 15 to address continuing issues related to prior medical conditions. Gracia C. Martore, then President and Chief
    Operating Officer, who served as principal executive officer while Mr. Dubow was on medical leave, was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer and joined the Company’s Board of Directors. During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company will record a charge of approximately $16 million in connection with the retirement of Mr. Dubow.

    The Gannett board of directors has honored the request of Ms. Martore that she not receive a salary increase in connection with her promotion or for 2012. The Gannett board and Ms. Martore also mutually agreed not to renegotiate her existing employment contract in connection with her promotion to CEO."

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  18. Don't worry 10:45 the haters will dump on this too

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  19. wow Jim you should make note of the Martore info in a separate blog. I think she has quickly made some pretty important statements that she is NOT Dubow.

    Haters gonna hate. I know she has a lot to prove to us. But she has made some good starting gestures.

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  20. Yeah, that new Porsche is a real good starting gesture.
    I have a gesture for her.

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  21. The GCIU is a joke. That is the union for the pressman. All it does is protect the ones that have no clue how to run a press. Been their , done that.

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  22. Don't forget that her stock options and bonuses
    are not included in her FREEZE of salary.

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  23. These fat cats also get their car maintenance bills, DMV fees, car washes, etc. paid for. Would love to know if their car insurance premiums are paid for too. Brand new, foreign imports' premiums are a fortune.

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  24. "The GCIU is a joke... All it does is protect the ones that have no clue how to run a press. Been their , done that."

    And it protected you while you were here (if what you say is true) unless you screwed up royally and were fired... Can't protect stupidity. Or, you retired with a nice pension negotiated by your union. Or, you're mad because you left before getting a piece of this vacation money.

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  25. I thought the first thing they would do before laying people off was to get rid of company cars. How arrogant. Who besides Gracia still gets one? Do they still get country clubs? Please tell me they don't,

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  26. Company cars given to executives are owned by and titled to Gannett,more than likely and are written off as an expense.Therefore all fees ,insurance ,registration,maintanance ,gas
    are paid by Gannett. Yes,totally free to those given to.

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  27. They not only get company cars and free primo parking spots at most sites while the rest of the employess pay upward of $125 per month for parking. At least one publisher has her own personal valet to take her car for gas and washing while she holds her weekly OC meetings. This has been going on for years and been passed along due to RIFs, this task is always covered no matter the limited resources left for their real duties.

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  28. This is unbelievable. Just when you think these people can't be more out of touch you find out they are.

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  29. They get cars, insurance, home security systems, extra medical benefits, country clubs, and much much more. And you'd be surprised how many at the VP level in the Crystal Palace get cars as well.

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  30. "They get cars, insurance, home security systems, extra medical benefits, country clubs, and much much more. And you'd be surprised how many at the VP level in the Crystal Palace get cars as well."

    In addition to being bad business this is immoral. I hope they rot in hell. How can they thing they have any credibility?

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  31. Don't forget about the wardrobe expense account...

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  32. Note: The company does, indeed, provide an automobile to certain senior executives, according to the annual proxy report to shareholders. The report does not say what type of car is provided, however.

    But the company does not provide an allowance for home security systems to executives; that ended in 2009.

    And the company doesn't reimburse executives for country club membership fees; that ended in 2008.

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  33. That does little to wipe out the smudge of immorality in my opinion. If they hadn't been wasting all that money all those years, perhaps the 2008 layoffs wouldn't have been as massive.

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  34. Jim omg how do they manage:)

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  35. Rather naive to think, 1:05, that cutting some expensive cars and such would have saved jobs. It's more about appearances in this case than the actual impact on profit. Increasing revenues would save jobs and even increase the workforce. So let's reserve judgement on GM until the jury verdict is in on that one.

    GM's moves here are at least a positive step in the "appearances" category. Give her (some) credit for that. At least she acknowledges that these things "look bad" and detract from her credibility as a leader. Do you honestly think CD would have even considered such a thing? Umm, not quite ...

    Speaking to the latter: I got a good impression of the man's character -- how clearly he loathed the lowly rank and file -- when he repeatedly toured our offices (three times in two weeks) shortly after moving into the CP and not ONCE bothered to even say 'Howdy!' or "Keep up the good work, folks!" or something similarly CEO-sounding.

    I know. Empty words of encouragement they'd be. But at least it would have cast him in a more positive light as a new leader than simply walking through our offices repeatedly and clearly conveying the impression with his silent scowl that he did not want to engage with any of us. Not a quiet 'hello' to our department head, whom he walked right past dismissively every single time.

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  36. Journalism 1960's style: Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable.

    Journalism 2010's style: Comfort the comfortable, afflict the afflicted employees.

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  37. I'm glad you Phoenix pressmen got your bennies back. Now can you please get off your seasonal slowdown and get the Republic out at a decent time?

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  38. To 9:03am I left for a promotion to manager at another Gannett paper. I hated working in the union, you know as well as I do that over 50% of your guys have no clue how to run a press. All they are good for are putting on plates , making pasters and sitting on the asses during the run. As far as the GCIU pension goes , that sucks just as much as the do nothing so called pressman. You picked the wrong guy to try to explain how good your union is, lets leave it at that.
    Been their ,done that

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  39. 1:35 You are right on the mark, they get it out when they feel like getting it out. If I was the PD at Phoenix I would have cameras all over the room, just like The N.Y. Post. This prevents sabotage, some thing these guys are experts in
    Been their, done that

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  40. So let's see where we stand:

    1) Over-promoted Make a Difference Day
    2) Meaningless pass on cushy parking spot while taking the Porsche the company provides.
    3) And now the latest compensation smoke and mirrors

    Quite a show so far.

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  41. 2:09, that's still three things that CD never, ever would think about doing. If you hold out for Utopia, you'll always be disgruntled.

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  42. Jim, down in the fine print: what did the company "repurchase" - assume part of a joint interest - for $85 million?

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  43. She's earned every perk - just like the guys!

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  44. 3:30 That's a great question. I've taken a quick run through the 10-Q, but I don't see it spelled out. Anyone else have an idea?

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  45. 2:45,
    Dumbow was a disaster. Is that the standard we are holding Martore to? If so, she'll be a huge success!

    Making a few meaningless gestures for appearances purposes is as insulting as anything her predecessor ever did.

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  46. Jim, I believe they're referring to Gannett's increased percentage of ownership in CareerBuilder. See p. 24 of link. http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHtmlSection1?SectionID=7906117-74846-136351&SessionID=kEdKHqxOZWrAsm7

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  47. 1:35pm and 2:03pm are out of the loop and uninformed. Gannett did install cameras in Phoenix pressroom. If they suspected sabotage (and they don't) all they need do is run the film. The "seasonal slowdown" refered to is nothing but increased circulation caused by our winter visitors returning. This fact spurs an increase in advertising and a larger paper. Happens every winter. I'm one who has really been there and done that!

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  48. Just learned that Martore is giving up her mid-morning cup of Starbucks from the lobby store as a show of solidarity to the rest of her Gannett brethren.

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  49. The $85 million is the repurchase of the remaining shares of Ripple6. They then shut it down and wrote it off to get the tax benefit.

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  50. Have to say, if 9:16 is correct, that sounds like a pretty juicy story. Bigger than the phantom $37M to Dubow, which looks a lot more like $16M.

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  51. Well, the Ripple6 write-off proves that this senior management may not have clue how to lead us into the digital age, but they are spectacular at gaining tax benefits from their failures. That's at least something.

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  52. Jim, I know it's not in the SEC filings, but what a big story it would be if you could get some solid evidence that Gracia does indeed have a Gannett-owned Porsche. Could anyone in McClean snap a cell phone photo in the parking lot? If it's true, the symbolism is just amazing.

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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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