[Blogging to "Deadline," played by German DJ Markus Schulz]
Showing posts with label FAQs About Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FAQs About Me. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Case study: In Hopkins, new media challenges
From a recent 15-page case study of yours truly, written by Justin A. Walden, a journalism graduate student at Pennsylvania State University:
Jim Hopkins faces a problem that plagues the entire news industry and media firms both large and small: How can he draw in enough revenue to make his online venture financially viable? He is confronting other questions as well. How can a traditionally-trained journalist reinvent himself in today's digital age?
Jim Hopkins faces a problem that plagues the entire news industry and media firms both large and small: How can he draw in enough revenue to make his online venture financially viable? He is confronting other questions as well. How can a traditionally-trained journalist reinvent himself in today's digital age?
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
FAQs About Me | Why keep this 'farce of a blog?'
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. If you did, in fact, take a voluntary layoff, then why continue this farce of a blog? I could see if you had found out some things about Gannett while you were working there and wanted to clear your conscience. But now you are just throwing open the doors for people to kick and scream after any layoffs, and ordinary managers who are doing their jobs are being criticized by people with questionable motives. Your motives also seem questionable at times.
A. I disagree with the premise of your question. This blog reports exclusive news and information; it's not merely about "throwing open the doors for people to kick and scream after any layoffs.''
Indeed, if it weren't for this blog, the newspaper industry wouldn't even know these six company-wide layoffs have taken place. Corporate doesn't want that information out, and it sounds like you don't, either.
Got a question for FAQs About Me? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.
Q. If you did, in fact, take a voluntary layoff, then why continue this farce of a blog? I could see if you had found out some things about Gannett while you were working there and wanted to clear your conscience. But now you are just throwing open the doors for people to kick and scream after any layoffs, and ordinary managers who are doing their jobs are being criticized by people with questionable motives. Your motives also seem questionable at times.
A. I disagree with the premise of your question. This blog reports exclusive news and information; it's not merely about "throwing open the doors for people to kick and scream after any layoffs.''
Indeed, if it weren't for this blog, the newspaper industry wouldn't even know these six company-wide layoffs have taken place. Corporate doesn't want that information out, and it sounds like you don't, either.
Got a question for FAQs About Me? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
FAQs About Me | My schedule, and a lawsuit
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. Has Jim vanished? No posts today?
A. Indeed, I'm around. But it's been a slow-news period. These are the dog days of August, after all, and many of you are on vacation. That's a good time for me to take a little break, too. Before we know it, it'll be Labor Day, and then things will pick up again.
Still, I've been doing some very interesting late-night reading: Hundreds of pages of court documents related to a lawsuit against one of the U.S. Community Publishing newspapers. This involves a complaint brought by an editor who claims he was fired for reporting unpaid overtime wages owed to other employees. Among many mysteries it unwinds: What happens when a publisher resigns unexpectedly. I've still got much more to read, though, before I can post anything.
Got a question for FAQs About Me? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.
Q. Has Jim vanished? No posts today?
A. Indeed, I'm around. But it's been a slow-news period. These are the dog days of August, after all, and many of you are on vacation. That's a good time for me to take a little break, too. Before we know it, it'll be Labor Day, and then things will pick up again.
Still, I've been doing some very interesting late-night reading: Hundreds of pages of court documents related to a lawsuit against one of the U.S. Community Publishing newspapers. This involves a complaint brought by an editor who claims he was fired for reporting unpaid overtime wages owed to other employees. Among many mysteries it unwinds: What happens when a publisher resigns unexpectedly. I've still got much more to read, though, before I can post anything.
Got a question for FAQs About Me? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
FAQs About Me | A journalist vs. a gossip?
[Hopkins, Winchell]
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. Too many people buy into this blog, and you enable liars at times. Why don't you act more like a journalist and less like a gossipy provocateur?
A. No doubt, posters lie here; that's the downside of allowing anonymous comments. For obvious reasons, I can't require that people post under their real names. Where I know someone has been untruthful, I correct the information. When I think an assertion is unlikely, I'll say so, and explain why.
But there's a vast gray area beyond. Crowdsourcing is an imperfect means of getting to the truth, although it does often work.
This blog might be improved if I made it my full-time job. But it does not pay enough to warrant that much attention. Few blogs do.
Most important: The record shows the challenges I face. I began publishing this blog in September 2007, with this post. Since then, several other writers have started competing blogs, then quickly abandoned them. Gannettoid is the only one standing, and it is closer to a traditional website than a blog.
I always welcome suggestions and critiques. And I always strive to do a better job each day.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
[Photo: Walter Winchell, called inventor of the gossip column]
Monday, January 04, 2010
FAQs About Me | A Q-and-A interview on blogging
Part of an occasional series about yours truly. Following are excerpts from an e-mail interview just posted on Jilted Journalists:
Q. How has your return been?
A. Better than expected, five months after I walked away to develop a new website. (I soon shelved that project, after I realized how much start-up money it would require.) My health has improved considerably since then, too, so I've got more energy to return to blogging -- as long as I reach minimum traffic goals.
Q. How is your strategy different now vs. before July?
A. I'm working harder on keeping Gannett Blog's tone more civil. I'll still pursue company news aggressively, but I hope in a less provocative manner. Also, I'm moderating comments more carefully. Much of this is in response to feedback from readers. Finally, I'm experimenting with two new media-related blogs, but they're still very much in their infancy.
Related: For an early look at those new blogs, go here and here.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Q. How has your return been?
A. Better than expected, five months after I walked away to develop a new website. (I soon shelved that project, after I realized how much start-up money it would require.) My health has improved considerably since then, too, so I've got more energy to return to blogging -- as long as I reach minimum traffic goals.
Q. How is your strategy different now vs. before July?
A. I'm working harder on keeping Gannett Blog's tone more civil. I'll still pursue company news aggressively, but I hope in a less provocative manner. Also, I'm moderating comments more carefully. Much of this is in response to feedback from readers. Finally, I'm experimenting with two new media-related blogs, but they're still very much in their infancy.
Related: For an early look at those new blogs, go here and here.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
FAQs About Me | When will we see your reviews?
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. You promised to post your annual performance reviews. Now, you say you won't? Why?!
A. Three reasons. It would invade the privacy of a current employee. Also, I originally promised to post my evaluations under duress. Finally, while I've been a public figure since getting my first byline in September 1985 at The Pine Bluff (Ark.) Commercial, I'm not a politician, so I don't feel it's necessary to subject myself to that kind of micro-scrutiny. Without being asked, I've already volunteered my annual income during my last year at USA Today. I've posted my Gannett stock ownership (one share; I have not and do not sell short), plus other financial disclosures, in the secret world of Gannett Blog.
My job? Your job? Discuss!
I guard my time carefully, because blogging can consume your life, if you let it. Ask Sparky. (Wait: don't. He's heard enough about Gannett this week!) So, I focus on the most important stuff: public-service, First Amendment-style enterprise. In any case, I'm the only one looking into the Gannett Foundation, Corporate's pay practices, and joining a handful of shareholders in challenging Chairman CEO Craig Dubow at the annual meeting. That's the hard work.
The easier work is rounding up links to good stories, broadcasts, new digital ventures, original advertising campaigns and other terrific efforts -- then posting them on Gannett Blog, with a couple graphs saying why they stand out. Anyone can do that -- including Gannett's Communications Department. But you gotta meet me at least halfway.
Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green rail, upper right.
Q. You promised to post your annual performance reviews. Now, you say you won't? Why?!
A. Three reasons. It would invade the privacy of a current employee. Also, I originally promised to post my evaluations under duress. Finally, while I've been a public figure since getting my first byline in September 1985 at The Pine Bluff (Ark.) Commercial, I'm not a politician, so I don't feel it's necessary to subject myself to that kind of micro-scrutiny. Without being asked, I've already volunteered my annual income during my last year at USA Today. I've posted my Gannett stock ownership (one share; I have not and do not sell short), plus other financial disclosures, in the secret world of Gannett Blog.
My job? Your job? Discuss!
I guard my time carefully, because blogging can consume your life, if you let it. Ask Sparky. (Wait: don't. He's heard enough about Gannett this week!) So, I focus on the most important stuff: public-service, First Amendment-style enterprise. In any case, I'm the only one looking into the Gannett Foundation, Corporate's pay practices, and joining a handful of shareholders in challenging Chairman CEO Craig Dubow at the annual meeting. That's the hard work.
The easier work is rounding up links to good stories, broadcasts, new digital ventures, original advertising campaigns and other terrific efforts -- then posting them on Gannett Blog, with a couple graphs saying why they stand out. Anyone can do that -- including Gannett's Communications Department. But you gotta meet me at least halfway.
Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green rail, upper right.
Friday, April 17, 2009
FAQs About Me: Have my critics crossed a line?
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. Anonymous@11:09 a.m. wrote: "You suck, Jim, and you need to be stopped with whatever means possible. Stop Jim. Today."
That prompted a concerned Anonymous@3:24 p.m. to ask whether that constitutes "at least harassment, no matter where you are. Legal beagles out there -- thoughts?"
A. Thanks! I'm not worried, because I've spent my career shining an excruciatingly bright light on people who abuse power. Sooner or later, they always slink off (or, in a few cases, they're led off -- in handcuffs, to prison.)
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Q. Anonymous@11:09 a.m. wrote: "You suck, Jim, and you need to be stopped with whatever means possible. Stop Jim. Today."
That prompted a concerned Anonymous@3:24 p.m. to ask whether that constitutes "at least harassment, no matter where you are. Legal beagles out there -- thoughts?"
A. Thanks! I'm not worried, because I've spent my career shining an excruciatingly bright light on people who abuse power. Sooner or later, they always slink off (or, in a few cases, they're led off -- in handcuffs, to prison.)
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
FAQs About Me: Who pays for Jim's 'lavish' life?
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. You live a life most of us dream about: four- or five-month-long vacations in Spain, weekend trips to Palm Springs, and you live in San Francisco -- which is one the most expensive real estate markets in the country. You obviously don't need the income. How do I know my donation is not going to your lavish lifestyle?
A. Without additional income, I must spend money set aside for my retirement -- a step I'm reluctant to take.
I'm trying to earn $6,000 quarterly, mostly through sponsorships of $5 per reader, plus limited ad sales. Please use the "Donate" tool in the green rail, upper right. Or mail cash/checks payable to: Jim Hopkins, 584 Castro St. #823, San Francisco, Calif., 94114-2594.
Q. You live a life most of us dream about: four- or five-month-long vacations in Spain, weekend trips to Palm Springs, and you live in San Francisco -- which is one the most expensive real estate markets in the country. You obviously don't need the income. How do I know my donation is not going to your lavish lifestyle?
A. Without additional income, I must spend money set aside for my retirement -- a step I'm reluctant to take.
I'm trying to earn $6,000 quarterly, mostly through sponsorships of $5 per reader, plus limited ad sales. Please use the "Donate" tool in the green rail, upper right. Or mail cash/checks payable to: Jim Hopkins, 584 Castro St. #823, San Francisco, Calif., 94114-2594.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Will Gannett Blog die Wednesday without $6K?
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. You've only reached 66% of your quarterly goal -- and the quarter ends at midnight Tuesday. I don't want to donate to a losing cause. Are you definitely staying through the next quarter? Rest of the year?
A. I can't lie, which dashes any hope I'll hit my $6,000 target. I'll find a way to keep Gannett Blog going, so long as one condition is met -- that I draw a minimum 500 daily readers. (Not a problem anytime soon: Nearly 38,000 uniques visited during the past 30 days.)
Now, don't get me wrong: I need to earn at least $24,000 a year. The more I earn here, the less I spend there -- which means an even stronger blog for the world's biggest dysfunctional family: ours.
Ad sales just 15% of my income
With the quarter ending Tuesday, I've earned just $3,973. Advertising sales are barely 15%, illustrating the crucial role of your donations. The breakdown:
I'm trying to earn $6,000 quarterly, mostly through sponsorships of $5 per reader, plus limited ad sales. Please use the "Donate" tool in the green rail, upper right. Or mail cash/checks payable to: Jim Hopkins, 584 Castro St. #823, San Francisco, Calif., 94114-2594.
Q. You've only reached 66% of your quarterly goal -- and the quarter ends at midnight Tuesday. I don't want to donate to a losing cause. Are you definitely staying through the next quarter? Rest of the year?
A. I can't lie, which dashes any hope I'll hit my $6,000 target. I'll find a way to keep Gannett Blog going, so long as one condition is met -- that I draw a minimum 500 daily readers. (Not a problem anytime soon: Nearly 38,000 uniques visited during the past 30 days.)
Now, don't get me wrong: I need to earn at least $24,000 a year. The more I earn here, the less I spend there -- which means an even stronger blog for the world's biggest dysfunctional family: ours.
Ad sales just 15% of my income
With the quarter ending Tuesday, I've earned just $3,973. Advertising sales are barely 15%, illustrating the crucial role of your donations. The breakdown:
- Ad sales: $583
- Sponsorships: $3,390
I'm trying to earn $6,000 quarterly, mostly through sponsorships of $5 per reader, plus limited ad sales. Please use the "Donate" tool in the green rail, upper right. Or mail cash/checks payable to: Jim Hopkins, 584 Castro St. #823, San Francisco, Calif., 94114-2594.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
FAQs About Me: Lower traffic or lower ad rates?
[Gannett Blog traffic rose past 30 days, but ad sales down]
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. Anonymous@3:50 p.m. asks: Is your traffic down, or are advertisers just paying less for your eyeballs? My $20 is in the mail.
A. It's mostly the advertisers, unfortunately. With less than two weeks before the quarter's end, I've made $3,394 -- only 57% of my goal. Your donations are down 26% from the previous quarter. But ad sales plunged 61% on lower rates -- even as readership jumped.
Traffic is up 17% from last month, Google Analytics said today. The data, shown in graphic, top, for the past 30 days: 35,000 unique visitors; more than 176,000 visits, and nearly 375,000 page views.
Here's the year-to-date trend in page views; arrow points to Jan. 14, when Corporate confirmed first-quarter furloughs. Recurring dips are weekends. Click on image for bigger, more readable view:
I'm trying to earn $6,000 quarterly, mostly through sponsorships of $5 per reader, plus limited ad sales. Please use the "Donate" tool in the green rail, upper right. Or mail cash/checks payable to: Jim Hopkins, 584 Castro St. #823, San Francisco, Calif., 94114-2594.[Image: Google Analytics]
Friday, March 13, 2009
FAQs About Me: Why all the 'homo' comments?
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. What the heck happened yesterday to turn the 24/7 comments so crude and lewd?
A. Perhaps you mean readers like Anonymous@9:55 p.m., who said I'm a prime candidate for psychiatric care: "Someone will get rich from untangling that mess of passive-aggressive, self-loathing, homosexual anger within his soulless, brainless body."
Yikes! Will COBRA cover that?!
Yes, dear questioner, you guessed correctly: Readers are anticipating the imminent disclosure of CEO Craig Dubow's annual compensation for 2008. Consider this context, however: There are lots of comments on Gannett Blog -- 200-plus some recent days. But even that higher total is equivalent to barely 4% of the 5,400-plus daily visits we're now averaging.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Q. What the heck happened yesterday to turn the 24/7 comments so crude and lewd?
A. Perhaps you mean readers like Anonymous@9:55 p.m., who said I'm a prime candidate for psychiatric care: "Someone will get rich from untangling that mess of passive-aggressive, self-loathing, homosexual anger within his soulless, brainless body."
Yikes! Will COBRA cover that?!
Yes, dear questioner, you guessed correctly: Readers are anticipating the imminent disclosure of CEO Craig Dubow's annual compensation for 2008. Consider this context, however: There are lots of comments on Gannett Blog -- 200-plus some recent days. But even that higher total is equivalent to barely 4% of the 5,400-plus daily visits we're now averaging.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
FAQs About Me: When's your new TV studio done?
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. Are you going back to Gannett Blog World Headquarters inside that closet or attic or whatever it was?
A. We're nearly done with a major renovation of our studio to house the new Gannett Blog Action News and Information On Your Side 24/7 Fair and Balanced News You Expect and Deserve Now News Leader Center! For the set's backdrop, I'm planning the requisite three clocks, showing current times in San Francisco at global HQ, and in McLean, Va., at Corporate HQ. (The third clock, naturally, would show the time in Cocoa Beach, Fla.)
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Q. Are you going back to Gannett Blog World Headquarters inside that closet or attic or whatever it was?
A. We're nearly done with a major renovation of our studio to house the new Gannett Blog Action News and Information On Your Side 24/7 Fair and Balanced News You Expect and Deserve Now News Leader Center! For the set's backdrop, I'm planning the requisite three clocks, showing current times in San Francisco at global HQ, and in McLean, Va., at Corporate HQ. (The third clock, naturally, would show the time in Cocoa Beach, Fla.)
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Friday, February 06, 2009
FAQs About Me: Why ethics probes rarely public
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. In an rare disclosure, Gannett revealed the outcome of its inquiry into your ethics violations complaint against CEO Craig Dubow -- but added that "it's not our practice to report back to those who lodge ethics complaints.'' Why? Is it because they get so many?
A. Maybe it is because this is one of the few cases they took seriously, given its high profile. I say that for two reasons. I've been given confidential company documents showing how Gannett appears to have handled a complaint against one of its most powerful executives (now retired).
Also, while Corporate may not disclose results to those who file complaints, it had no problem with Dubow smugly reporting the outcome to 40,000 employees during last Friday's audiocast. That is not a company that treats calls to the ethics hotline seriously.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Q. In an rare disclosure, Gannett revealed the outcome of its inquiry into your ethics violations complaint against CEO Craig Dubow -- but added that "it's not our practice to report back to those who lodge ethics complaints.'' Why? Is it because they get so many?
A. Maybe it is because this is one of the few cases they took seriously, given its high profile. I say that for two reasons. I've been given confidential company documents showing how Gannett appears to have handled a complaint against one of its most powerful executives (now retired).
Also, while Corporate may not disclose results to those who file complaints, it had no problem with Dubow smugly reporting the outcome to 40,000 employees during last Friday's audiocast. That is not a company that treats calls to the ethics hotline seriously.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Friday, January 30, 2009
FAQs About Me: A blogger's weekly work schedule
Part of an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. How many hours a week do you put into the blog?
A. Probably about 40, spread across all seven days. That means I'm earning $11.54 an hour, assuming I hit my goal of $24,000 in annual blog income. (I got paid $53.85 an hour, excluding the value of benefits, when I took a USA Today buyout a year ago.)
Those benefits are valuable. I pay $400 a month for a COBRA medical policy vs. the $150 a month I paid as an employee. The policy only covers me, and is identical to the plan I had until my severance ended -- with one key difference: is I now pay the full cost.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Q. How many hours a week do you put into the blog?
A. Probably about 40, spread across all seven days. That means I'm earning $11.54 an hour, assuming I hit my goal of $24,000 in annual blog income. (I got paid $53.85 an hour, excluding the value of benefits, when I took a USA Today buyout a year ago.)
Those benefits are valuable. I pay $400 a month for a COBRA medical policy vs. the $150 a month I paid as an employee. The policy only covers me, and is identical to the plan I had until my severance ended -- with one key difference: is I now pay the full cost.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
FAQs About Me: Dickey, golf -- and the White Party
One in an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. How'd you get your Bob Dickey golfing story?
A. I got a tip from a reader at 6:07 p.m. ET on Sunday, then confirmed it through sources. (Thanks, again, everyone!)
Although I've never played golf, I've been to Palm Springs. Little known factoid: The Southern California resort is home to one of the world's biggest communities of retired gay men. Plus, two of the other big annual social events there are Dinah Shore Weekend for lesbians, and party promoter Jeffrey Sanker's famous White Party (left).
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Q. How'd you get your Bob Dickey golfing story?
A. I got a tip from a reader at 6:07 p.m. ET on Sunday, then confirmed it through sources. (Thanks, again, everyone!)
Although I've never played golf, I've been to Palm Springs. Little known factoid: The Southern California resort is home to one of the world's biggest communities of retired gay men. Plus, two of the other big annual social events there are Dinah Shore Weekend for lesbians, and party promoter Jeffrey Sanker's famous White Party (left).Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Monday, October 13, 2008
FAQs About Me: Where is your pride, dude?
One in an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. A Reuters news blog post is headlined, "Gannett watchdog needs cash." A little embarrassing to be honest. Where is your pride, dude?
A. Pride? Moi?! I worked for Gannett more than 20 years! (Besides, if I had any pride, would I post a photo of me wearing this?)
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Q. A Reuters news blog post is headlined, "Gannett watchdog needs cash." A little embarrassing to be honest. Where is your pride, dude?
A. Pride? Moi?! I worked for Gannett more than 20 years! (Besides, if I had any pride, would I post a photo of me wearing this?)
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
FAQs About Me: Why I'm such a skeptical reporter
One in an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. Instead of minding your own business, and trusting the executives back in McLean, Va., you take internal company documents and publish them for all the world to see. Why in heavens do you do that?
A. Early in my career, I was inspired by a tough-as-nails Pine Bluff Commercial reporter (hi, Gwen!) who was similarly accused of being a jaded journalist. The fact is, once you've been lied to by publicists -- and it happened to me, early on -- you learn P.R. folks don't always tell the truth.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me confidentially via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Q. Instead of minding your own business, and trusting the executives back in McLean, Va., you take internal company documents and publish them for all the world to see. Why in heavens do you do that?
A. Early in my career, I was inspired by a tough-as-nails Pine Bluff Commercial reporter (hi, Gwen!) who was similarly accused of being a jaded journalist. The fact is, once you've been lied to by publicists -- and it happened to me, early on -- you learn P.R. folks don't always tell the truth.
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also e-mail FAQs About Me confidentially via gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
FAQs About Me | Sparky, Sparky, Sparky!
One in an occasional series about yours truly.
Q. Who the heck is this Sparky guy you keep referencing? All you've told us is that he's your domestic partner, and his birthday was on Monday. How about a photo, at least?
A. So kind of you to ask! But we think it best to follow the grand tradition of Phyllis Diller's Fang, Norm Peterson's Vera, Niles Crane's Maris and, of course, USA Today columnist Craig Wilson's "my partner, Jack." (Sparky did say it's OK to mention this: He was on the copy desk at The Cincinnati Enquirer in the early to mid-1970s, before Gannett bought the newspaper. How intriguing!)
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also write to me confidentially from a non-work computer, using this link to e-mail FAQs About Me; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the sidebar, upper right.
Q. Who the heck is this Sparky guy you keep referencing? All you've told us is that he's your domestic partner, and his birthday was on Monday. How about a photo, at least?
A. So kind of you to ask! But we think it best to follow the grand tradition of Phyllis Diller's Fang, Norm Peterson's Vera, Niles Crane's Maris and, of course, USA Today columnist Craig Wilson's "my partner, Jack." (Sparky did say it's OK to mention this: He was on the copy desk at The Cincinnati Enquirer in the early to mid-1970s, before Gannett bought the newspaper. How intriguing!)
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also write to me confidentially from a non-work computer, using this link to e-mail FAQs About Me; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the sidebar, upper right.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
FAQs About Me: Is there a psycho ward on Ibiza?
One in an occasional series of Q&As about yours truly.
Q. You're spending the summer vacationing on a Mediterranean island known as one of Europe's top playgrounds -- and you're going to keep blogging about Gannett? I shall put this gently: Are. You. Nuts?
A. LOL! Even with the crap I sometimes take from readers, I've had more fun blogging here than just about anything I've done in years. I've learned first-hand about the power of a truly interactive blog. As I experienced in Brazil, blogging doesn't have to chew up a lot of time. It gives me a good intellectual workout when I'm on the road. Plus, it's hard to think of my summer in Ibiza as a vacation, when I'm not exactly working my butt off right now.
Related: How long I'll edit Gannett Blog
Got a question? Leave it in the comments section, below. You can also write to me confidentially from a non-work computer, using this link to e-mail FAQs About Me; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the sidebar, upper right.
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