Tuesday, March 06, 2012

March 5-11 | Your News & Comments: Part 2

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43 comments:

  1. Just remember. Jim's in charge. He deletes whatever he feel like to protect whomever he wants. Flip flopping ethics however it suits the situation. Maybe you should change your name to Mitt.

    Next thing you know, he'll make people reapply for their constitutional right to free speech.

    Don't punk out on your fans.

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  2. Create your own blog and you can make the rules.
    Read Jim's blog and follow his rules. Pretty simple to me.

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  5. There is nothing but negativity,if you are still a Gannett employee.
    Start a thread to discuss all the positive things happening.I'll bet there would be,let's say,zero posts!

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  6. It's always amazing how many people have no idea what free speech means under the U.S. Constitution. I'm talking about you, 10:48.

    The constitution says that the *government* can't prevent you from speaking freely (although there are exceptions to that).

    But the constitution doesn't say that Jim has to let anyone say anything they want to on his blog.

    If you want to call him a hypocrite, or accuse him of squelching honest discussion, fine. But don't go down the free speech road.

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  7. Ok, he's a hypocrite. That makes him no different than most of the senior managers that we blog about constantly. I expect more than that from Jim, who seems to want to sabotage the success he has with followers by his whimsical censorship pollcies. I know it's his blog, but still...

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  8. In Lafayette, La.
    No Publisher, EE and AD. What do they know that we don't?

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  9. I did not see a post on this so here is a link.

    USAT iPhone app release.

    http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Online/Article/USA-TODAY-Unveils-New-App-for-iPhone-and-iPod-Touch

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  10. I no longer work for GANNETT.
    I will point out that when I run into an ex co worker I don't know if they are sad for me not working there anymore or glad for me. It's a mixed bag. They are still working - and they are happy about it or they are still working and it sucks. Which is the better? (from their perspective.) I am loving not working , but do I express that, or or not flaunt it in their face by saying so?
    I do miss my co workers though!

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  11. Also It seems they either well up when they see me, like they are missing me at work or are stressed out from work. Or they don't talk straight at me like oh your not employed, sorry for you or Your not my co worker anymore and don't relate to me anymore so I don't feel the same about talking to you, and these are also good friends. What do you think?

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  12. Gracia will push hard for her new management team to succeed but will be very inpatient with results. I actually have a ton of faith in Martore. She is a put up or shut up manager. And her years at Gannett are numbered based on the mandatory retirement age. She will want fast results.

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  13. I'm thiiiis close to getting out the door ... fingers crossed. Can't wait. We've had so many people voluntarily seek the exits at our site over the last year, it's almost embarrassing. Of course, the higher-ups don't recognize that there's a pattern there.

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    1. Don't you know by now that the so-called higher-UPS don't give a damn about you or anyone else?

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  14. Though I have many acquaintances from work, in 25 years only one has crossed my threshold and I married him.

    It's delusional to believe that just because you spend eight hours or more a day with someone, and you are courteous and make small talk, that somehow these are 'friends' that should continue to make any effort once you are no longer a part of the daily routine.

    Tying your identity so closely to an occupation, an employer or people whose primary motivation to be near you is a paycheck is seriously setting yourself up for disappointment.

    Better to focus on family and the people who can still call you when you're on furlough - the number may be fewer but the love is more genuine. It's just a healthier way to live.

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  15. I know this question has been answered before but I didn't pay attention then. How long did it take for your 401K to roll over once you submitted the paperwork?

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  16. That's ok, I know my so-called lower-DOWNS aren't too fond of me either.

    Do unto others before they do unto you!

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  17. Has anyone checked their pension numbers lately. I am currently contesting the figures I received a couple of months ago as I try to decide what to do concerning the buyout. I was very shocked to learn that my pension estimate is considerably less than what was disclosed in the packet we received in Aug. 2008. If the money has been frozen for 4 years with no return, how can it be less. Was the formula changed!

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    1. I would encourage everyone to pull their 2008 pension statement and compare. Mine looks okay but a couple of folks I work with had lower amounts on the recent statement than 2008. That isn't right since amounts were frozen but a cost of living increase was to be applied each year. If recent statement is less something is wrong.

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    2. 2007 was a quick estimate. The 2012 is an actual.

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  18. Let's look at 12:31 above. He knows his "Lower-Downs" aren't fond of him. Let's assume 12:31, that these people are your direct reports in a department where you are supposed to lead.

    Your attitude sucks and seems fairly typical of most managers within Gannett. Your "they don't like me so F#@k 'em" is the reason so many employees are not happy working here.

    Here's a novel idea, since you know they don't like you (and for the record, I don't like you either), why not try to work to change THAT?

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  19. thanks 10:27

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  20. "We want to do this because we live and work here," he said. "It's our home." - Said the News Journal (Delaware) Publisher who lives more than 50 miles away in Bucks County, PA.

    Who is Stoney LaDouche?

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  21. interesting... http://www.news-press.com/comments/article/20120303/NEWS01/303030012/Sheriff-shuts-out-News-Press

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  22. I don't think it would be ethical to throw out a "quick estimate" when sending $$$ figures on a pension that was frozen. If amounts are different, I urge you to dispute it.

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  23. I am like others, looking for a new job so I can leave GPS and have a life again, without worry of more plant closings, furloughs, poor management and favoritism. Good news is I have an interview that looks very positive and a few other positive things going on. My days be numbered:)This company sucks PERIOD

    The Happy Pressman just got Happier

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  24. The problem with the pension is Gannett controls everything. If you receive a monthly payment their formula is so confusing that it is almost impossible to figure out for your self what you should get. I would assume the same for a lump sum. I too felt that what they told me was on the low side.

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  25. 1:37 don't believe everything you read. Sarcasm font isn't working.

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  26. It took me some time and didn't give a damn it was on company time but I finally got out of USAT ...and UP from under the lunacy of Hunke, the fake "I care" of Ellwood and the sheer ass-kissing stupidity of Lee Jones (but it sure worked with Banikarim and Beusse). There is a life out there and solid companies are looking for and valuing their staff. Keep looking and it will happen. And believe me when I say there is nothing more satisfying than tossing your two-weeks notice on their desks and then leaving for vacation. It's called karma and USAT is now getting their due. As for Gannett -- bye bye and Martore, make sure you've counted all your blood money before you turn off the lights.

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    1. Leave SE alone she is working hard

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  27. The suits/Directors, are all in it for them selves. They could care less about anybody who reports to them, one day your going over a plan, the next your called to his office and your gone. Gannett is so fake it is a joke, if your not a good politician your all ready gone..these guys are pure company men who will get theirs when the time comes, but do not trust a manger for nothing, they are trained to lie and lie well, it makes me sick that i work with them and I try to just do my job, but sometimes I will go off, mid-manager on up are the scum that run this company..How do you feel looking in the mirror guys, Names coming soon

    T U H P

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  28. My husband works for Gannett and he is quite good at filing everything he receives from the company. The pension estimates in his file confused us at first but careful review showed:

    2007 estimate was before the pension was frozen so is much higher

    In 2008, there were two estimates sent - the original one and another one marked "revised" (both included the information on the pension being frozen)

    Be sure you are looking at your "revised" one. His revised copy is marked clearly in large letters on the first page of the estimate. For my husband, the 2008 "revised" estimate is in line with the 2010 figures received in January of this year.

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  29. Thanks, 7:13.

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  30. No leadership at the top in the NJ Group. When you have the inexperienced leading, you get what you get.

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  31. 10:38

    Once GCI gets your paperwork, it should only take 2-3 weeks for the final paperwork and check to get to you.

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  32. Inexperience? More like toxic leadership.

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  33. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  34. Jim, look up the story about Howard Griffin addressing the chamber in Delaware. It is laughable. As a previous poster wrote, he talked about the paper's commitment to Delaware because "it's our home," yet he still lives in Pa. - Bucks County, I believe. He has zero commitment to Delaware. Never will live there.

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  35. Here's the number you have to remember: $300 million. That's how much Gannett is going to spend to buy its own stock back -- stock that, apparently, wasn't appealing at $1.85 a share.

    So the next time someone tells you that you have to take a pay cut, just think: $300 million.

    The next time you don't get a raise: $300 million.

    The next time you hear of some division or newspaper having to reapply for their jobs at lower wages: $300 million.

    The next time you shell out $50 for a co-pay: $300 million.

    And you know what? Even if you've stuffed your 401(k) with Gannett stock, and even if it doubles, that won't be a fraction of the money that Gannett brass get from any pop.

    $300 million.

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  36. Stock buybacks are a way of milking the cash cow, or trying to, in hopes of pushing stock price up. It's a way of not investing in people, and of not delivering to readers. You know where that takes us eventually. Same downward path. As for stock, they tried this once before and we crashed.

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  37. God, the contempt people have for this company just amazes me. You just have to wonder how far the sheer lunacy is going to take everyone.

    These managers simply aren't the answer. They grasp at straws, float oddball plans and generally undermine and disrupt the rank and file. The problem rests with incompetents such as Dave Hunke and Maryam. Self promoting hucksters at best. I can't think of any key hire of Hunke's to make a meaningful contribution. The sheer incompetence of the Heather Frank team is a case study in making and retaining a poor hire.
    i was willing to give Buesse the benefit of the doubt. But that was before his callous decision to make people grovel for their jobs. So much goodwill down the drain on the trip to fantasy island.

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  39. 10:30 - Don't think that fact was lost on the chamber members. They all know, which is why Gannett is a joke in most towns.

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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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