USAT reorg

Anonymous post to Hopkins' Gannett blog:
"USA Today Sports newsroom reorg. Everybody, top down, has to apply for jobs. Reorg to be completed in 90 days. Discuss."

http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/usat-sports-said-in-top-down.html

Anybody know anything?

 

Re: USAT reorg?

I'd follow Morgan, no doubt. Huge fan.
You know I interviewed with him. I also interviewed with USAT and still can't get over the managerial flow chart those guys showed me. Would have gone from about 1 of 6 or 7 ASEs where I was to about 1 of 20-some at USAT. That was the first thing they showed me. I mentally checked out after 5 minutes ... met some nice people, but that interview was the longest day of my career.

 

Re: USAT reorg?

What about the pay to pay deal they just signed with NASCAR? Basically getting money to ramp up coverage, a similar arrangement they have with LPGA if I'm not mistaken. Also the idea of going into the agency and property representation business. There are things going on here that are truly not kosher.

 

Re: USAT reorg?

That's just more of the same, BMM. In my critique, I noted several examples of oddly timed stories about out of season sports. I didn't notice the ads on the page. During my interview, they explained that it's a common practice/arrangement. Somebody buys a hockey ad, you write a hockey story, relevance be damned.

 

Re: USAT reorg?

Excellent opportunity for me to apply to be sports editor, or Managing Editor/Sports or whatever.

There's a job I know I can do.

 

Re: USAT reorg?

My understanding --- from a USA Today insider who typically doesn't rip co-workers --- is that the sports department for years has been loaded with dead-weight assistant sports editors who aren't good editors and don't know sports. Look for most of them to get fired or transferred. Look for Monte Lorell to be offered a spot as a night news editor.

 

Re: USAT reorg?

I don't see anything there to argue with.

 

Re: USAT reorg?

Indeed. Same goes for much of their UFC and bull riding coverage and the annual NHL Winter Classic pullout.

 

Re: USAT reorg?

They could have cut the managerial org chart in half and still had more ASEs than anywhere I worked.
The assistants had assistants. Never seen anything like it. Hate to think how much money it cost to run that department every day.

 

Re: USAT reorg?

I'm interested to see how Morgan's track record on diversity hiring (which is not strong, despite the respect he gets on this board) meshes with Gannett's former initiatives on equity.