Montgomery | New update on badly injured press operator: 'They've grafted more skin onto his hand'

After a Gannett Blogger reported the Montgomery Advertiser press operator was seriously injured Friday night while racing to meet a deadline, I asked a reliable source for an update. Here's what they told me in an e-mail early this morning:

"Pressman pinched palm of his hand between steel plate cylinder and a rubber roller. Press was 'walking,' and he put his hand where we all know not to -- but sometimes do, to hurry up. All of us know that we have a deadline. Hospital grafted torn palm back on; recovery expected."

[Updated.] Another reader, writing about 9 p.m. ET, added the following (warning to the squeamish; this is graphic): The accident "peeled the flesh off of his hand -- but luckily didn't damage any bone. They've grafted more skin onto his hand and if it doesn't take, they'll have to do it again. Don't know if he'll ever be able to use that hand again or not at this point."

L.A. Times fires blogging pressman Padgett

An employee for 39 years, four months and nine days, Ed Padgett wrote yesterday that the Los Angeles Times had fired him following what he termed a surprise investigation.

Padgett

His termination was effective Dec. 12, he said, and he learned about it through a phone call from human resources. "I had no clue I was under investigation," he writes, "so it came as a shock to learn I was being investigated by human resources and terminated upon the completion of the so-called investigation."

He continued: "I’m not at liberty to share why I was terminated or what my actions in response will be at this time; so stay tuned as this unfolds."

Last year, Padgett was suspended "ostensibly for writing about press room problems, then reinstated," LA Observed said in reporting Padgett's dismissal.

A Gannett Blog reader, Padgett has published his site since 2006. He was almost certainly the industry's most prominent blogging press operator.

Scattered reports of production, circ layoffs today

A small but growing number of Gannett Bloggers have been posting comments about layoffs in production and circulation today at sites including Louisville, Ky., and Jackson, Miss.

For example, Anonymous@3:22 p.m. wrote: "I just heard the production manager for Jackson, MS was laid off. Any other layoffs taking place?"

These sounds like some of the cuts promised when the mammoth Gannett Publishing Services division was launched in September.

What's up? 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.

Salisbury | In legal ads, 'printing' vs. 'publishing' defining income after presses get consolidated

Laws mandating the publication of legal notices for ordinances, elections, public hearings and the like have generated steady newspaper revenue for decades. Yet, many of these laws were enacted before radio, TV, the Internet and -- of much interest to Gannett -- consolidation of printing.

Now, at the small Daily Times in Salisbury, Md., a brouhaha has erupted over the paper's decision to move printing out of the area to another GCI paper in Delaware this year. The case spotlights the Salisbury City Charter's requirement that notices get published in a newspaper "printed" in the city or surrounding Wicomico County. (The Times' daily circulation: 17,210.)

A resident raised the issue at a city council meeting last week, according to the Salisbury News, a local blog competing for advertising with the newspaper. In a post, News Publisher Joe Albero says notices in the Times over the past year may be invalid if it's determined the charter requirement has been violated.

Newspapers everywhere are clawing for any revenue as advertising sales dry up. I don't know how much the Salisbury City notices are worth to the Times. But these days, any money is good money. What's more, as GCI consolidates more printing, the Salisbury case could have broader ramifications.

Defining 'printing'
In Salisbury, the outcome will almost certainly turn on how the charter's language is interpreted. I found at least five instances where the charter mandates that notices appear in a newspaper "printed" in Salisbury or the county.

But the language is inconsistent. One agency is required to "publish in a newspaper printed in Wicomico County." Ordinances, meanwhile, "shall be published by posting the same at some public place in the city of Salisbury (or by printing the same in some newspaper of general circulation printed in the city of Salisbury."

It's unclear whether GCI had any of this in mind when the Times moved printing to The News Journal in Wilmington, Del. The shift cost 17 jobs, nearly 12% of the paper's total -- jobs that few municipalities want to lose no matter how small the number.

Adding salt to Salisbury's wound, blog publisher Albero says the paper is getting tax breaks on its now-unused press. (Presumably, Albero is referring to depreciation on the press.)

"So, that being said," Albero wrote, "the City Council has ONE opportunity to bring JOBS back to Salisbury by forcing the Daily Times to start running their press again and NOT export jobs to Delaware."

How has GCI responded?
That's also unclear; searching the Times website today, I couldn't find any coverage of the issue.

City officials will be tempted to declare the paper eligible. Otherwise, they'll need to revisit all the legal notices published this past year, and the legality of actions that followed their publication.

GCI has been winding down print operations for years. By the end of 2010, 68% of the U.S. community newspapers had outsourced printing to commercial printers or to other GCI and non-GCI papers. Now, many of those presses are headed for scrap yards in cities such as Sheboygan, Wisc.

Like the city charter, GCI has used similarly confusing language to explain why it's consolidated. Here's how Times General Manager Greg Bassett put it when the paper announced its move in January:

"The synergies available to us through The News Journal's production facility, combined with new business models being adopted by publishers, allow us this aggressive approach to further achieve our business performance goals."

Translation: GCI's doing it to make money.

Merriam-Webster defines publish and print. What's your view? 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.

Cincy | Report: Press closing would cost 200 jobs

The Cincinnati Enquirer's possible plan to move printing to a non-Gannett paper in Columbus, Ohio, would eliminate at least 200 jobs, Cincinnati's Business Courier said today in a story quoting union officials at the newspaper's plant.

The newspaper revealed in August that it was considering moving production to the Columbus Dispatch by the end of next year. GCI has disclosed the likely cost savings -- less than $60 million. But the job loss estimate is the first one I've seen.

Sheboygan | A belated goodbye to really Big Iron; dismantling press adds to shift away from printing

In its latest move toward an all-digital future, Gannett is dismantling the 188-ton Goss 5-Unit Anti-Friction press that printed The Sheboygan Press from 1956 until 1998, when printing moved to its sister paper at Fond du Lac. The remains are headed for the scrap heap, the Press says today in a story.

Fitting for the subject, the Press posted an abbreviated version of the story online, directing readers to a longer one in the print edition. Today's front page is dominated by a 1965 photo of the beast.

GCI has been winding down its printing operations for years now. By the end of last year, 68% of the company's U.S. community newspapers had outsourced printing to commercial printers or to other GCI and non-GCI papers, according to GCI's annual report to securities regulators. (In addition, 54% of the papers were being designed and paginated at centralized editing hubs, the report says.)

The report continues: "In the case of USA Today, 20 non-GCI printers were used to print the newspaper in U.S. markets where there are no company publishing sites with appropriate facilities. Non-GCI printers in 11 foreign countries publish and distribute an international edition of USAT under a royalty agreement. USA Weekend, Clipper Magazine and Gannett Healthcare Group are also printed under contracts with commercial printing companies."

GCI's commercial printing revenue, including from Gannett Offset, totaled about $254 million last year, down 2% from the year before and way down from $348 million in 2008. That was mostly due to due to "generally lower commercial printing revenue in the U.S. and U.K. and from the sale of a U.K. commercial printing business early in the third quarter of 2009."

Two months ago, GCI folded its printing operations into a large new division -- Gannett Publishing Services -- that also includes distribution and advertising artwork production and photo toning services.

Cincy | Cost of production shutdown: under $60M

Corporate estimates it could incur a one-time cost of less than $60 million for severance, depreciation and pension expenses if it shuts down The Cincinnati Enquirer's printing plant next year, and moves production to The Columbus Dispatch, according to the just-filed quarterly report to federal regulators.

The company first raised that possibility in August, when it said it had signed a non-binding letter of intent for such a move with the privately-owned Columbus daily. As part of the move, the Enquirer would adopt a substantially smaller format: 10 ½ inches by 14 ½ inches. The shift could take place in the fourth quarter of next year.

Publisher Margaret Buchanan, who outlined the plan in a memo to employees, didn't say how many jobs were at stake, and she didn't disclose possible cost savings.

But in its 10-Q report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, Corporate included a cost estimate for the first time. The report doesn't disclose long-term savings under the plan.

"The final decision to implement this change to the company’s Cincinnati operations is dependent upon reaching a definitive agreement with the Columbus Dispatch," the report says.

It continues: "If this agreement is reached, the company will incur charges for the partial withdrawal from multi-employer pension plans which will be negotiated with the representatives of those pension plans. The company will also incur severance related costs for the reduction of its workforce in Cincinnati and it will begin recognizing accelerated depreciation charges on its printing facilities there. If a definitive agreement is reached, it is expected that a complete transition of operations could take approximately 12 months to complete."

Cincinnati and Columbus are about two hours apart, according to Google Maps.

Urgent: GCI launches new print, distrib operation; Publishing Services to employ 10K of GCI's workers

The newly created Gannett Publishing Services will combine all production and distribution for the U.S. community newspaper division, USA Today, and Gannett Offset, Corporate just announced.

It is the latest effort to rein in expenses by consolidating jobs. The move will result in the immediate loss of fewer than 20 jobs, mostly at the management level, according to an FAQ distributed today to employees. Another approximately 100 jobs will be eliminated once the unit is up and running. Overall, Publishing Services will employ about 10,000 of GCI's approximately 33,000 employees.

"We will continue to look at efficiencies on an ongoing basis, which may lead to further job eliminations down the road,'' the FAQ says.

Evan Ray, a senior executive in the newspaper division, will run Publishing Services, according to the FAQ, as well as a letter distributed to employees. Ray has been senior vice president over finance and operations for the division since June 2008, when the division was reorganized under President Bob Dickey.

Interestingly and somewhat curiously, Ray will report to two people: Dickey, and USAT General Manager Susie Ellwood. Given the employee size of Publishing Services, Ellwood has become that much more influential across the entire company. She was promoted to her USAT job, the paper's No. 2 position, in June.

In part, the letter says: "Gannett Publishing Services will be responsible for managing Gannett's domestic network of printing operations, product distribution, consumer sales and service and contractual outsourcing of printing. The unit will also market its imaging, ad production, printing, packaging, distribution capability and consumer sales and service to third parties."

Ray's background
Prior to his promotion to SVP, Ray was chief financial officer of Phoenix Newspapers Inc. from 2000, and a group controller since 1991. Earlier, Ray was director of finance for the Reno Gazette-Journal from 1991; was vice president of finance for The Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock from 1984; and was controller for the Tallahassee Democrat from 1979. He graduated from Florida University with a B.S. in accounting.

I believe Ray and Ellwood worked at the Little Rock paper during the same late-1980s time period.

Related: Here's the FAQ, and here's the letter to employees.

Bulletin: Cincinnati Enquirer considers moving to smaller format; GCI signs agreement with Columbus Dispatch; Cincy printing would close in Q4 2012

From a statement released moments ago by Corporate:

Gannett today announced that it has signed a letter of intent with The Columbus Dispatch for the possible printing of The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Kentucky Enquirer in a new, more compact, easy-to-use format. The change would begin in the fourth quarter of 2012.

"We are committed to serving the greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky communities -- and providing consumers with the best news and information anywhere, anytime. We are also committed to listening to our customers and responding to their ever changing needs. As a result of research we've done and the feedback we've received from readers and advertisers, we have signed a letter of intent with the Columbus Dispatch to print the Enquirer in a new compact format that would be brighter, more engaging and easier to read," said Margaret Buchanan, president and publisher of Cincinnati Enquirer.

"While covering the same amount of news as the previous format, this new approach would enhance the user experience by allowing for a fuller use of color and photographs and improved readability. By better serving our readers, we would continue to provide advertisers a trusted environment with which to engage their consumers."

Dimensions of the newly formatted Enquirer would be 10 ½ inches by 14 ½ inches and all of the current content in the Enquirer would remain in the redesigned newspaper, if the agreement is finalized. In addition, the Enquirer's production facility would close fourth quarter, 2012.

In related news, Pressline Services, Inc. and the Columbus Dispatch have signed a letter of intent for a project to produce a new compact format for the Dispatch newspapers based on a new press system called 3V(R) developed by Pressline Services.

Related: In April 2009, trade site News & Tech reported the following: "The Cincinnati Enquirer is considering whether or not to dramatically shorten its cutoff to approximately 15 inches and further narrow its web width in a bid to save on consumables." 

Monroe | Print shifts to Shreveport; 27 jobs cut

Louisiana's Monroe News-Star said today that it would move its printing to The Times at Shreveport, effective Aug. 1. The switch will eliminate 12 full-time and 15 part-time jobs, the Times says in a story. The two cities are about 100 miles apart.

"New positions will be added in Shreveport with the consolidation," the story says, "and Monroe employees will be given first option for those positions."

The Times installed a Berliner press last year that produces a newspaper with an 18-inch depth. In addition, the Berliner press allows advertisers to place color advertising on every page, "which is important in today’s changing media environment,'' the paper says.

With this cost-saving step, Monroe becomes the latest paper to consolidate printing at a nearby sister site, or one owned by another publisher. As of December, the latest period available, 68% of Gannett's 82 U.S. papers had moved printing off-site.

Monroe's circulation weekdays is 29,245. Sunday's is 28,500.

Related: So far in the current quarter, GCI has eliminated an estimated 52 jobs at 10 sites, according to Gannett Blog reader reports. This spreadsheet gives a site-by-site count.

I gather this means the Monroe paper will become a Berliner? 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.

[Image: today's News Star, Newseum]

Salisbury | How they say 17 jobs are getting cut

"The synergies available to us through The News Journal's production facility, combined with new business models being adopted by publishers, allow us this aggressive approach to further achieve our business performance goals."

-- Greg Bassett, general manager and executive editor, in a story today in The Daily Times of Salisbury, Md. Printing of the paper, plus affiliated weeklies, will be shifted to the News Journal of Wilmington, Del., over the next three weeks. The move will cost 17 of 21 jobs, the Times says -- nearly 12% of the total 143 employees.

Phoenix | Production problems spur apology

I'm told the following advertisement appeared in today's Arizona Republic; click on the image for a much bigger, more readable view.

[Updated a 1:44 p.m. ET on Dec. 13 with corrected circulation data: Among Gannett papers, the Republic's circulation ranks No. 2  (after USA Today) on weekdays; No. 1 on Saturday, and No. 2 (after the Detroit Free Press) on Sunday. The numbers: 308,973 weekdays; 339,982 on Saturday, and 457,059 on Sunday.]

Earlier: Catastrophic press failure keeps Courier-Journal from printing most of best-selling Kentucky Derby issue

Production problems where you work? 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.

Hattiesburg | Pay no attention to that asset sale!

Mississippi's Hattiesburg American tells readers in a new story that its building has been put up for sale, a move that's part of Gannett's strategy to sell real estate and buildings that have become too large for the shrinking businesses they house. The American's downsizing follows last year's shift of its printing and other production to GCI's Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

I've read several stories in GCI papers about moves like this, and they have a common theme: Publishers assuring readers that GCI remains just as committed to local communities as ever -- even as the company reduces staffing, news coverage, customer service and investment in capital.

Here's American General Manager Traci Fowler, making her pitch: "We remain firmly committed to the Pine Belt area and to maintaining a physical presence here. We're proud to be the top news and information source for Forrest and Lamar counties, and that will not change."

The story continues: "Fowler said Hattiesburg American employees will continue to be active in the community and the company's local sales team will continue to work closely with customers to provide creative solutions to help them grow their business. The local news staff will continue its strong government watchdog role and offer comprehensive coverage of local preps and college athletics, she added."

Salinas | 15 staffers lose jobs as printing shifts

The 139-year-old Salinas Californian has moved production to a non-Gannett paper in San Jose, Calif., in a change that eliminates nine full-time and six part-time jobs, and follows similar consolidations across GCI. It also moves USA Today's printing to the new site.

The shift about 60 miles north apparently took place two days ago, according to a Californian story that first disclosed the new arrangement earlier this month. A Gannett Blogger alerted us to the change in a comment yesterday.

In its story, the paper said General Manager Terry Feinberg had "pointed to the faltering economy and aging production equipment — in need of costly repair or replacement — in the decision to outsource printing."

[Updated at 6:12 a.m. ET on Sept. 22: Feinberg told Editor & Publisher that San Jose's Southwest Offset Printing, which got the contract to print the Californian, "ended up making offers to five of our guys, and three of them accepted."]

The move follows speculation in May that the paper was on the verge of shifting to a bi-weekly printing schedule.

The paper is one of the smallest of Gannett's 82 U.S. dailies. It circulates 10,791 copies on weekdays, and 13,100 on Saturdays, according to ABC data as of March 31. It doesn't publish on Sundays, according to ABC.

The Californian is a descendent of the Salinas Index, first published March 31, 1871, and so has a storied past. John Steinbeck, a Salinas native, first was published in the Index sometime before 1920.

[Image: yesterday's front page, Newseum]

Shreveport | New press paves way for redesign

In what will almost certainly be one of the last such installations, The Times of Shreveport, La., is on the verge of firing up a new press that will usher in a new, smaller Berliner format, starting Sept. 27. (Prototype of front page, left; more photos here.)

In a recent column, Executive Editor Africa Price said the nearly $16 million project investment and makeover to a modified tabloid format will better serve readers and advertisers. "Our improved color reproduction, sophisticated redesign and content treasures will enhance your overall experience with the paper,'' she told readers.

Shreveport's Berliner will be the third in the United States and the second within Gannett. It was modified in The Netherlands, and the first pieces began arriving in Shreveport in April. Its installation comes when Gannett has been shuttering presses and consolidating printing at other Gannett papers or at non-Gannett production plants.

Price says the new format will be accompanied by expanded sports, business news, and opinion coverage.

The Times reports circulation of 44,067 Monday through Saturday, and 55,844 on Sunday, according to the latest ABC figures.

USAT shifts Mississippi printing; 15 jobs eliminated

Gannett's top-selling newspaper is moving its printing to Advance Publications' Mobile Press-Register from GCI's Hattiesburg American, effective Sept. 4 -- a move that will cost 15 jobs, the American reported today.

USA Today production Vice President Ken Kirkhart told the paper the printing contract with the Press-Register is for three years. He cited cost savings in shifting the work. "It has nothing at all to do with the people as why we're leaving," he said. "We're doing the same thing around the country. We looked at a lot of things to consolidate our press window."

USAT is at least the second Gannett paper to move production to Mobile. The Pensacola News Journal shifted its printing there in June 2009. That eliminated 84 full-time and part-time jobs.

The Newhouse family controls Advance.

The American itself moved its printing to Gannett's Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., in February 2009. That wiped out 38 jobs.

Earlier: Skippy Haik is out; Hattiesburg publisher job eliminated

Report: Newsquest sells U.K. print plant for $3M

In a new story, trade publication Editor & Publisher quotes a British media report that Gannett's Newsquest subsidiary sold its former Bolton, England, production plant to M&A Pharmachem, for just over $3 million -- apparently, at a big loss.

The 9-year-old, 40,000-square-foot printing and distribution facility was built and equipped for almost $26 million, according to TheNewsDesk.com, which reported that Newsquest decided to close it last year.

Gannett bought Newsquest in 1999 for about $1.5 billion, plus assumption of debt. The U.K. division publishes 17 dailies and hundreds of other titles.

Louisville | Press woes delay home delivery again

The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., continues to have significant press breakdowns. In a two-paragraph note this morning, the paper told subscribers in Jefferson County -- its main market -- that unspecified press problems meant county subscribers would not get today's edition delivered until this afternoon. The C-J did not say how many copies were delayed.

"A free electronic replica of the newspaper is available at courier-journal.com/special,'' the note says. "The press problem did not affect the newspaper's content on the Web at courier journal.com. The Courier-Journal apologizes for this interruption in service and the inconvenience to its customers."

Today's delay follows a major press failure May 2, the day after the Kentucky Derby -- the paper's highest circulation day. The C-J turned to Gannett's Indianapolis Star to print that Sunday's paper and the next one, Monday. The paper continued to have printing problems in the week that followed. The press is only six years old.

This morning's delay also comes as the paper asks some readers to take an online shopping survey, in return for a chance at winning a $500 American Express gift card. The C-J just sent me an e-mail promoting the survey.

Louisville | Tipster says press continues its hiccups

The Courier-Journal in Louisville suffered more delays in printing today's edition, a reader tells me early this morning. The first press started 75 minutes late, this reader says, and the second press's run for the Southern Indiana edition was late as well. "Should have been on trucks over an hour ago,'' my reader says.

These reported delays followed a week of similar press problems, all of which followed last weekend's disastrous total press failure on the biggest-circulation day of the year: the Kentucky Derby edition. The C-J got that edition out, plus Monday's, only by turning to its backup: Gannett's Indianapolis Star, 115 miles away. That prompted Publisher Arnie Garson to hold a press conference, followed by stinging criticism, including a call for a fuller explanation of what went wrong.

I don't know whether any of this explains the strange entry in the Newseum's database of Gannett front pages this morning. In place of the C-J's Page One, I found only a full-page advertisement (inset, above; bigger view).

Basket case study | The pitfalls in Gannett's hubs

The Courier-Journal's production meltdown early yesterday illustrates the potential risks elsewhere in Gannett's growing hub system, where one site prints several nearby newspapers. And those risks aren't limited to printing, Anonymous@6:53 p.m. said yesterday:

As we move toward hubs, we will put multiple papers at risk. For instance, if Indy was printing the Louisville, Cincy and Indy papers and it had the massive press failure, all three papers would go down. And you wouldn't be able to turn to Louisville for an emergency save, because it would no longer have a press.

You can have similar problems with merged copy desks. What if a massive power outage causes a copy desk hub to go down. You could lose copyediting abilities at all papers.
Now, add in the fact that a production hub will never care about the individual papers the way on-site staff do, and you can see what a mess this is.



Will we move forward with them anyway? Sure, because they'll save money. Will they make papers even less relevant at a time when they're already struggling? You betcha.

Earlier: C-J Publisher Arnie Garson's videotaped press conference. Plus: Unfortunate timing for Garson's industry "is alive and well" op-ed article yesterday

[Photo: too many eggs in a basket]