Buyouts claim a huge name: Jackie MacMullan out

Agreed 21. I think you could say the same about minorities. It's like an idea that's been replaced because its so tedious to implement, without tangible bottom-line results. Why bother? So the Jackies will leave and the young people they've inspired to enter the business will find the landscape very different.

 

Don't remind me. :-\

 

I didn't say people bought the Globe specifically to read Jackie. What I'm saying is that Jackie is tremendously well plugged in to the Boston sports scene. Tremendously well-plugged in. Readers will feel her absence even if they don't think of her by name. The Globe can't easily or quickly replace someone with her contacts and relationships, but she can get another nice paycheck in a heartbeat.

 

21 and Mediator both hit on solid points. What direction will the women's movement in this field go in?

Here's another sobering one to chew on - with all of these cost-cutting/money-saving measures, will the columnist or the features writer eventually become a dinosaur? With buyouts and those positions not being replaced for the sake of the bottom line, what will be deemed necessary in the newspaper?

 

This is a pretty small sample size. And Roberts and MacMullan were able to get parley their successes into new gigs with fewer hours and more money.

Female columnists should be in ever greater demand. Newspapers with all-male lineups look pretty old-fashioned these days, especially if they are all white male.

 

I have never sensed that the readership did, ever. Hiring newspaper reporters according to demographics first, skills second, was a losing game from the start. Bemoaning the loss of several women sports columnists because they're women is a non-starter with readers. Those three all are talented people but the hand-wringing their departures inspire has been because of their gender. That is a bore.

As for newspapers with all-male lineups looking pretty old-fashioned these days, MMatt60, I'd say you're right, with one small tweak:

Newspapers with all-male lineups look pretty old-fashioned these days...

 

The buyout didn't "claim" Jackie. She jumped at the chance so she could spend more time with her kids. True, it will impact the Globe, which probably won't fill the position. Make no mistake, it is a big loss. Jackie has great sources. Just last week she got a sit-down with Shaq, when the Suns beat writer can't even do that. She's broken many stories because star athletes and others know and trust her, for whatever reason. Not a great writer, but a great loss.

 

Wow - I have always thought highly of Jackie's work. That is a huge loss for The Globe and for Boston Globe readers. She really shines in basketball. With the Celtics rebirth it is too bad Jackie won't be convering for the Globe.

 

Re: Elliotte's post--

Not just television. Internet. TheMag. Variety and flexibility and, as someone said above, less time away from the family. Not just for women, but for a whole lot of guys too.

Agree with whomever said the buyout didn't 'claim' a victim here.

 

To my paper.

Female Managing editor
Female Lifestyle editor
Female Business editor
Female Sports editor
Female assistant sports editor