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Gannett-anigans

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Moderator1, Apr 11, 2012.

  1. copperpot

    copperpot Well-Known Member

    How'd it get on Romanesko in the first place? It was up there before he got fired. Did he send it to him for kicks?

    I agree that firing him seems extreme. Also agree that the "Big Three" line sounded a little holier than thou.
     
  2. SF_Express

    SF_Express Active Member

    It all goes back to my (perhaps unfortunately) new mantra: Risk/reward. It's cute; it's not worth the chance somebody at the new place will be sensitive or react negatively about it.

    It's also the kind of thing a young person would do, and if I'm Gannett, I recognize that. Unfortunately ...
     
  3. WriteThinking

    WriteThinking Well-Known Member

    While this was probably not the best way to go about announcing a career move from a straight-journalism standpoint, I do think a firing over this is way over the top.

    Indeed, the approach -- particularly because it is on a personal blog -- is creative, original, different and interesting...i.e., exactly the kinds of things good editors always say they look for and want to see in reporters, especially these days.

    The irony of this, though, is that the approach further blurs the line between straight journalism (which is what Brooks apparently got fired for not doing)and the way blogs are generally expected/hoped to be handled (which is what Brooks did well, especially if you understand that practically anything in terms of "sources" can be considered fair game these days).

    This case points up a large part of the whole problem in this business right now. We want it both ways, and can't decide what to do, or what is best to do. The result is firings like this.

    At root, journalism needs to figure out what it wants to be.

    (I don't find the "Big Three" reference egotistical at all, if you keep in mind the news release/publicity approach Brooks was trying to take. It sounds exactly like a press release).

    As for Sean Duff, I would be interested in knowing the thinking behind his not retaining a sports editor position he held for many years and in which he is proven.
     
  4. Stitch

    Stitch Active Member

    The fake release screams "I'm a hipster douchebag with a masters from NYU" I don't know Brooks, but that was my first impression after reading the blog.

    As for the blog showing originality and creativity, that's the last thing Gannett higher-ups want. You just need to find an Asian or Afrrican American for a quote and you're gold in Gannettland.
     
  5. Balthier

    Balthier Member

    I don't give two shits if it's cocky, don't care if it's hipster and/or douchebaggy.
    Fuck Gannett for firing this guy over it.
    And, frankly, fuck anybody who agrees with what the company did.
     
  6. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    I must say, I'm slightly surprised by the firing. Because the guy is a minority, and Gannett for years has gone to extremes to tout their hirings and promotions of minorities. You'd have thought they'd give him the slightest benefit of the doubt.

    But nope, just fire the guy after a week. Ridiculous. Call him in the office, tell him not to use the fucking logo and quote the editor on his blog again, and move on with putting out the paper.

    Yet another embarrassment for a Gannett paper.
     
  7. FileNotFound

    FileNotFound Well-Known Member

    Not defending The Evil Gannettoids at all, but do we know that's NOT how it went down and the kid, for whatever reason, refused? I share the surprise that a Gannett paper -- or, frankly, any paper -- would let go of a young, apparently smart and talented (and probably relatively inexpensive) multimedia content generator over something so relatively trivial and teachable.
     
  8. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    If the kid was threatened with being fired and refused for taking down the logo, then he's stupid. The logo is (I assume) a trademarked item.

    If they were upset over the actual contents (except the quote of the editor), then they really have some issues with themselves. Namely, their own Principles of Ethics, which state that they will uphold the public's First Amendment rights. The guy is a member of the public.

    But, when you think about it, this is par for the course for Gannett. After all, USAT once fired three staffers for drawing "Kilroy was here" in the dust of a blue ball sculpture in a hallway.
     
  9. FileNotFound

    FileNotFound Well-Known Member

    I had forgotten to take the Blue Ball thing into account. My scenario becomes a bit less likely when you consider that.
     
  10. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    Is the guy in Ft. Collins really gone? Has that been answered and I missed it?
     
  11. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    It has not been answered. He wrote a column two days ago and his tagline listed him as the sports editor.
     
  12. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    There are buyouts going on at most of the Gannett papers right now.

    I am under the impression that they aren't forcing people out, but I think a lot of us have heard the "This offer might not be so good a few months from now..." conversations...
     
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