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Thursday, May 31, 2012
37 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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The last post on Wednesday's queue, about Alabama papers going to three days in print, has a link to a story. A LONG one. In that story, internet-media observer Ken Doctor says cutting print from seven days to three would preserve 80% of the ad revenue while eliminating 50% of the cost to produce and distribute. So here's my question:
ReplyDeleteHow much of a hit does a paper (say 50,000 to 100,000 to 300,000 daily circ) take to publish on Monday? On Tuesday? Are those days loss-leaders? Is it worse than that . . . Do they hemorrhage green ink?
Never mind the arguments FOR publishing a Monday and Tuesday paper. What are the ECONOMICS of publishing on those days?
I can answer that question another way: about 45% of all the ad revenue in the U.S. community papers comes from the Sunday edition.
ReplyDelete(Cincinnati) ENQUIRER EXCLUSIVE: Mahogany's troubles no secret
ReplyDeleteLOL as it was certainly a secret to The Enquirer when it named Mahogany’s owner (and Washburn) a Woman to Watch in February.
Finally reporting added detail now that competitors exposed days after the Enquirer anointed her (it waited a few weeks to even report what others did) further exposes the Enquirer’s weaknesses as the “aha” moment should of occurred before council approved $1 million in grants and loans.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120530/NEWS/305300117&Ref=AR
9:04 I give the paper credit for following through.
ReplyDeleteFlorida Today is televised news also and it is soooo boring especially the editors kinda funny!!!
ReplyDeleteHas it become common practice for the contact information for top managers to be hidden on Gannett papers' sites? I wanted to find email addresses for the managing editor and general manager at the Courier-Post recently, and they were nowhere to be found.
ReplyDeleteThe "lower" editors and reporters were available, but nothing for the people in charge.
Way to be responsive to the public, guys.
(Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, to be clear)
ReplyDeleteMaybe they don't want to take credit or blame for this sorry newspaper.
DeleteThe television broadcasting that the Florida Today performs is an excellent additional platform to deliver news to the community. It is produced on a professional level that is above the standard at the Florida Today. It is a vital news source for a community that is starved for professional journalism of the past.
ReplyDeleteHey 9:39, the only thing accurate in your statement is "the community is STARVED for the professional journalism of the past"
ReplyDelete9:39 If you watch it really lacks everything. The interviewers and hostess are so cornball it's laughable! Very boring and uninformative unprofessional crap!
ReplyDeleteStarvation is there, too bad the reporters are on the portly side.
Gannett is a joke. I won't even watch the channel 9 news in Washington, let alone buy USA Today or any other less-than-credible Gannett publication that relies more on marketing than on quality of journalism.
ReplyDeleteI know what I am reading or viewing probably isn't properly reported or edited when my eyes turn to any Gannett product or newscast. Along with harboring mediocre, underpaid talent, Gannett newsrooms have been raped in recent years, which has caused an already-terrible product to even more watered down in terms of credibility. WIll the public ever notice? I am guessing not in our lifetime. And I also presume that is what Gannett counts on as it intentionally guts its newsrooms to save a few pennies.
Look, this has always been one of the worst companies for reporters, editors and visual journalists, particularly ones with integrity and top-shelf skills. It is a company that values lying and kiss-asses. It's no better at USA Today than it is at Gannett's smallest properties. Only difference is, at USAT you get a nice office building and a few extra bucks to help pay for the ridiculous cost of living in the D.C. area. But the product is all-Gannett. It is plagued by silly errors and diluted content.
My recommendation for anyone serious about learning and practicing their craft, do not work for Gannett. Or, if you must, don't work there for long. It will trap you. If you have any character, it will eventually make you less-than-proud of what you do for a living. And in the end, you will be booted out at a certain age with no pension, no prospects (because other media companies also practice age discrimination) and profound regrets.
In case you missed the groundbreaking piece of journalistic excellence from our world class USA Today Sports Team:
ReplyDelete[url] http://www.freep.com/videonetwork/1655170911001/Lingerie-football-player-There-s-nothing-fake-about-it?BCNextUpID=47564740001_2 [/url]
Speaking of the Enquirer, copy editors are missed more than ever. Today's story about Pittsburgh police investigating the robbery of a woman in Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman's hotel room says it took place in the Onmi Hotel. Say that out loud. Great name for a hotel with hourly rates. Great Freudian slip on the reporter's part.
ReplyDeleteSounds like another writer fuck-up. When will these people start reading through their own copy? Ever?
ReplyDeleteWhat has happened to the paper to make it gut it's marketing. I went into my local Ralph supermarket to buy some milk. On the stand inside it had the USA today, and the LA Times. The local Gannett paper wasn't there. You might come to the conclusion that they sold out. They might have but there were still plenty of copies of the other papers and no space for the local paper. The local paper has been disapearing from stores since they went to a private distributor. The paper which use to be very popular is fading away. Yes, circulation was dropping but it's looking more and more like Gannett has just thrown in the towel. I can imagine within five years there will be no more local paper. sad because they had brand recognition.eracefe
ReplyDeleteRather than spend so much time planning her new and expensive office which displaces photographers from any connection to the Metro News desk, maybe Carolyn Washburn needs to spend time on the copy desk. Stupid error and a way-late story isn't going to perk up Enquirer readers.
ReplyDeleteThe Enquirer need copy editors:
ReplyDeleteNKY.com & Cincinnati.com has your tickets to a Florence Freedom baseball game!
http://local.cincinnati.com/share/contest/?id=101
RE 1:52 . . . I'm assuming you're the same person from Palm Springs decrying the use of contractors for single copy.
ReplyDeleteHere in Phoenix, and many other places as well, single copy delivery was a CAREER for contractors. Families and friends made TONS of money. Those routes were never given up. And they did fine.
I delivered USA and FM News-Press single copy in the 1980s. Took care of the racks. Rebalanced the papers throughout the day (60 cent gas). Made a good living until something better came along.
It's different today. Paper sales are off. Gas is $4. Papers are squeezing contractors. Here in Phoenix, they are looking to have carriers do single copy as well. I believe for the princely sum of a nickel a paper.
The point is . . . times change. Your way of life is gone with the internet. Adapt.
2:46 Sorry but saying that way of life is gone with the internet is a cop out. The same trucks that deliver the papers to the stores also were advertising the papers websites. The single copy employee model was a better marketing and service model. If it is getting so expensive for distributors then maybe they shouldn't have taken the job.It resulted in many career drivers losing their jobs that helped feed their families
ReplyDeleteInteresting bit of crowdsourcing occurring in the comments field of the Enquirer story about Mahogany’s….the owner is allegedly the cousin of Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.
ReplyDeleteIf true, that certainly raises more questions about a deal that gave a $700,000 grant to someone with a poor financial record and more importantly, how the Enquirer missed it despite a more in-depth look.
Not good.
Laura Del Greco has resigned as VP/Client Solutions one week ahead of the USAT sales meeting.
ReplyDelete2:46 in Phoenix when you say they are looking for carriers to do single copy routes as well i assume you mean home delivery drivers. If that is the case there is no way all the papers are being delivered as early or as well as when they were exclusive to home delivery. That means service is probably suffering with more misses to customers meaning more complaints. The stores are probably not getting the papers as early as they used to meaning lost sales of the early bird costumer. In short the papers not really saving money by using private contractors but they are expediting their own demise.
ReplyDeleteHeard Laura Del Greco is gone as well, did she resign or get laid off?
ReplyDelete3:44PM if you read 3:30PM it clearly says she resigned. Seems that the USAT comments are over running this comments section.
ReplyDelete3:48 Why'd she resign? I thought Gannett/USA Today was the best company ever!
ReplyDeleteShe used the term ' iconic brand' at the time she was hired. the kiss of career death.
Deletetime to come up with a new buzz term?
A little background: Laura Del Greco was hired in late August -- nine months ago.
ReplyDelete1 veep down. 20 more to go. GO LARRY, KEEP THE HAMMER SWINGING.
ReplyDeleteYes! We just saved a couple of reporter slots!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete20 more to go? How about 30! You cannot imagine the waste going on here. Most of these people have fancy titles but no specific jobs. what do they bring to the table? Nada.
ReplyDeleteThis is BS - every writer needs an editor - Ever hear of maxwell perkins?? He edited Hemingway and Fitzgerald.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
Sounds like another writer fuck-up. When will these people start reading through their own copy? Ever?
5/31/2012 12:47 PM
@3:21 In-depth reporting on the city's elite doesn't happen at the Enquirer. Especially where advertising is concerned (see: P&G, the Banks). The Enquirer is interested in paying the bills, not rocking the boat.
ReplyDeleteIf DelGreco resigned then why is she gone already? What goes around...comes around.... She is over 50....so her days were numbered...lol...
ReplyDelete6:56 -- I agree. Editors exist because it's really hard to edit your own copy. You know what it's SUPPOSED to say.
ReplyDeleteRE: Enquirer copy editing and the big Enquirer Exclusive referenced above: It's also pretty rank to find some guy named "Rugless" quoted at least five graphs before we learn Rugless' full name and title. Those are the things that were caught back when we had copy editors. And just below that big exclusive on A1 is this headline: "Judge give racetracks go-ahead to add slots." Judge give?? That's one front page Carolyn probably won't be hanging on her new glass walls.
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