Layoffs at SI, The Oregonian, Sacramento Bee and Scranton Times-Tribune today

Silvercharm isn't wrong at most metro papers ... but track is a pretty big deal in Oregon.

 

Counting bylines/photo credits at state track, Oregonian/OregonLive had eight people on the site over three days.

 

For its high school coverage, The Oregonian and its website has adopted the hunt for clicks that pollutes most of its other coverage. Slideshows, "best marks" lists, etc., for track, "top No. 1 pitchers" slideshow for baseball, and so on. Granted, "covering" track in a state that geographically large with as many competitive classifications as it has is impossible.

And The Oregonian used to have zoned editions, where a targeted gamer in each part of the circulation area made sense. But, head count.

Yes, The Oregonian has lost employees. But perhaps unique with that outfit was its belief that it could fill holes in its high school coverage caused by reductions in staff by having "trusted users" -- coaches, ADs, scorekeepers, parents, winos wandering into a gym off the street -- provide traditional agate and a capsule-length recap. I defy anyone to find a stupider idea to cover high school sports.

 

This. You're right. It does.

 

Because Bennett attempted and failed to shame the reporter publicly, I can see how a public apology would also be apropos.

 

Not to mention the ridiculous "Vote for which game we cover" polls that run constantly. It's not a popularity contest...make an editorial decision and cover the games that matter.

 

The "trusted users" thing is a joke. Citizen journalism is a joke. Have the higher ups actually figured this out? As if they care.

 

Good grief. Do they also believe in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny?

 

Don't know if it's part of the layoffs or it's a McGinn-like move (it feels like the latter), but was announced today Dan Walters is leaving the SacBee after 33 years as the state politics columnist.