Just want to know what other gannett pressman are making these day; double-wide w/ 4 high towers? Word in Phoenix is they are the lowest paid pressmen running these towers in America. Is this true? Phoenix journeymen pressman make $44k/yr, but pay lots for ins. benefits. Any place out there making more than that? Got to be; because we can't seem to attract pressman to come to AZ & we've had 6 pressman retire the past two months. Talk about short handed...Is anyone else in the same situation? Or just being paid better?
With the subpar performance during the last few quarters, you know something is going to be done. Wouldn't it be wonderful if for once the lay-off axe was swung where there needs to be a pruning of dead wood, in the ranks of upper and executive management. There aren't enough workers among the lower ranks left to cut. Think of how many jobs could be saved if a useless executive officer were cut. Suggestions on who should go?
On a different topic, since there has been occasional talk about turning some of the Gannett clusters into regional papers when one takes a look at "The Post-Crescent Butterfly Project" paper, there are typically three PC bylined stories with the other stories in the local sectional either AP or other NE Wisconsin Gannett paper stories.
Butterfly seems to be a template system, with a certain number of USAT stories per page or section, and then blanks for "local" stories, so I'm skeptical that readers will get more truly local content. I wonder if wire/region stories will be used to fill the local spaces when the shrinking staff can't provide enough. We shalll see when it lands at my site.
Jersey will soon follow after the APP's coverage area is shrunk to 12 towns after Butterfly starts on Jan. 16. This is the death by on thousand (coverage) cuts.
The App doesn't cover more than 12 towns now and really hasn't for quite a long time. There are two zones Monmouth and Ocean County and they cover the towns in them. There is never much local news involved in either one of these zones. Usa today pages have been running in them for at least a year now. Expanded Usa pages are showing up more frequently now. I'm not quite sure what their game plan is, but I'm sure by Gannett's history it involves some sort of job cutting. You just have to know this and be prepared. It's not the end of the world,but I have to say it's sad to see how bad the decision making process has become.
As an APP content provider, I disagree with that assessment. There are towns which are being covered now and which generate decent metrics. The APP still beats the competition on occasion, thanks to the dedication of individual reporters. Certain towns have been left off the list because they are not considered "upscale" enough. There are towns which have not been covered which are on the list because they are upscale. As if the residents will suddenly be fooled when the APP tries to convince them that they really,really care. Management is trying a previously failed concept which bombed with the upscale magazine which was shut down. Now they are using the same bad idea with the core product. It's like Toyota deciding they'll building only one car and it will be a high end luxury model and ignoring the fact they sell a lot of Corollas and Camrys. Epic fail.
The APP is a lot better at local coverage than the C-N or THNT, at least the APP covers some towns in its coverage area. The other two papers, under the so-called leadership, of PG and JJC, have become cops and columns, nothing at all about the graft occurring in local towns.
What's the story on Indianapolis' food writer/restaurant critic being fired last week, reportedly over a blog that management thought competed with her work for the Star?
2014 will bring "New Jersey Today" as the APP, C-N, THNT are merged. The DR might also be included, as the only reporter there who consistently produces daily copy is PW at the courthouse.
All this consolidation talk, some of which might make actual sense, is just that -- talk. Things like Butterfly are so complex that consolidation is not in cards yet.
I thought it was entirely without class that today's USAT Butterfly edition featured Mr. Neuharth's 'passage' nearly as large as Nelson Mandela's. There were at least two dozen people on the spread who made a larger impact on the world, better or worse.
Putting the founder up there instead was the decision of people who have no business being in the news business.
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Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteJust want to know what other gannett pressman are making these day; double-wide w/ 4 high towers? Word in Phoenix is they are the lowest paid pressmen running these towers in America. Is this true? Phoenix journeymen pressman make $44k/yr, but pay lots for ins. benefits. Any place out there making more than that? Got to be; because we can't seem to attract pressman to come to AZ & we've had 6 pressman retire the past two months. Talk about short handed...Is anyone else in the same situation? Or just being paid better?
DeleteWow ! phx pressmen are way underpaid !
DeleteJoin the club pal,all rooms are turning into sweatshops, It is only going to get worse.
DeleteI took the holiday week off and already dread goIng back Jan. 1. Please give us furloughs in 2014!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteWith the subpar performance during the last few quarters, you know something is going to be done. Wouldn't it be wonderful if for once the lay-off axe was swung where there needs to be a pruning of dead wood, in the ranks of upper and executive management. There aren't enough workers among the lower ranks left to cut. Think of how many jobs could be saved if a useless executive officer were cut. Suggestions on who should go?
ReplyDeleteFurloughs would nice along with a nice layoff of of management monkey's in Indy/Cincinnati.
ReplyDeleteRemedial education in apostrophe use would be even nicer.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteOn a different topic, since there has been occasional talk about turning some of the Gannett clusters into regional papers when one takes a look at "The Post-Crescent Butterfly Project" paper, there are typically three PC bylined stories with the other stories in the local sectional either AP or other NE Wisconsin Gannett paper stories.
ReplyDeleteSeems pretty close to being a regional paper.
Yup, seems pretty close to not serving the residents of any of the very distinct cities there.
DeleteButterfly seems to be a template system, with a certain number of USAT stories per page or section, and then blanks for "local" stories, so I'm skeptical that readers will get more truly local content. I wonder if wire/region stories will be used to fill the local spaces when the shrinking staff can't provide enough. We shalll see when it lands at my site.
DeleteAnd in Brevard...
ReplyDeletePhotographers beware...your days are numbered.
ReplyDeleteJersey will soon follow after the APP's coverage area is shrunk to 12 towns after Butterfly starts on Jan. 16. This is the death by on thousand (coverage) cuts.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe App doesn't cover more than 12 towns now and really hasn't for quite a long time. There are two zones Monmouth and Ocean County and they cover the towns in them. There is never much local news involved in either one of these zones. Usa today pages have been running in them for at least a year now. Expanded Usa pages are showing up more frequently now. I'm not quite sure what their game plan is, but I'm sure by Gannett's history it involves some sort of job cutting. You just have to know this and be prepared. It's not the end of the world,but I have to say it's sad to see how bad the decision making process has become.
ReplyDeleteAs an APP content provider, I disagree with that assessment. There are towns which are being covered now and which generate decent metrics. The APP still beats the competition on occasion, thanks to the dedication of individual reporters. Certain towns have been left off the list because they are not considered "upscale" enough. There are towns which have not been covered which are on the list because they are upscale. As if the residents will suddenly be fooled when the APP tries to convince them that they really,really care. Management is trying a previously failed concept which bombed with the upscale magazine which was shut down. Now they are using the same bad idea with the core product. It's like Toyota deciding they'll building only one car and it will be a high end luxury model and ignoring the fact they sell a lot of Corollas and Camrys. Epic fail.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe APP is a lot better at local coverage than the C-N or THNT, at least the APP covers some towns in its coverage area. The other two papers, under the so-called leadership, of PG and JJC, have become cops and columns, nothing at all about the graft occurring in local towns.
ReplyDeleteThe APP local news is only major stories that hit the other papers in the state and police news.
DeleteWill the APP circulate newspapers in its non-core communities once the Butterfly Project is launched?
ReplyDeleteWhat's the story on Indianapolis' food writer/restaurant critic being fired last week, reportedly over a blog that management thought competed with her work for the Star?
ReplyDeleteIs this another bullshit rumor?
DeleteFiring is not a rumor; details of why have not been announced.
Delete2014 will bring "New Jersey Today" as the APP, C-N, THNT are merged. The DR might also be included, as the only reporter there who consistently produces daily copy is PW at the courthouse.
ReplyDeleteAll this consolidation talk, some of which might make actual sense, is just that -- talk. Things like Butterfly are so complex that consolidation is not in cards yet.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought, until they "consolidated" my job!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood morning, one, all and Jim. Bah humbug. I wanted a Kindle but got ties and socks instead.
ReplyDeleteJ.L., is that you? Sorry for your luck.
DeleteI've got to admit, it was kind of weird at the end of the 10:00 news on WFAA here in D/FW to see that Gannett on the screen.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was entirely without class that today's USAT Butterfly edition featured Mr. Neuharth's 'passage' nearly as large as Nelson Mandela's. There were at least two dozen people on the spread who made a larger impact on the world, better or worse.
ReplyDeletePutting the founder up there instead was the decision of people who have no business being in the news business.
Oh please!
DeleteWhat color socks?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteAl thought of himself as Mandela.
ReplyDelete