Scripps rumor -- anyone confirm?

Didn't want to put this on the Alb. thread, but I've heard a rumor that most, if not all, Scripps papers have permanently suspended editorial hirings.
In lieu of hiring full-timers, the papers are blown free-lance budgets to compensate for copy.

 

Permanently?

Interesting that you do mention this. Listing on the APSE site for a six-month "sports internship" in Naples.

 

Link to the aforementioned Naples posting.
http://apse.dallasnews.com/job_board/2007/2116.html

 

My Scripps paper is interviewing for at least two newsroom positions.

 

From a friend at a Scripps paper -- some are still hiring, but some corporate scorn is coming with those that are.
Good to know some are hiring. I have absolutely no problem with my information being wrong with this.

 

At my Scripps shop, we've had a hiring freeze since Feb. and have seen a gradual push to use more freelancers. I hear next year's budget for freelancers is in the $250,000 range. They have only replaced "mission critical" positions, which is decided on by the publisher, who has little to no newsroom experience. Apparently, they think it's too expensive to pay for benefits. Or they just don't want to. He's a bottom line ad guy. Basically they replace people who have a direct connection to making new money. So all of the newsroom positions that were replaced were in online. Sports has gone from seven to five people in the last three months. No plans to replace the two we lost.

We have 34 people in the newsroom and several people think the long term plan is to get it to 29 or 30. Some peoples' guess is the longer term plan is to have 10-12 managers responsible for 50 or so stringers.

But in terms of a company-wide answer, it depends on how well the bottom line is at each paper, and what kind of ad competition it has in its market. Other Scripps papers are allowed to hire, but my guess is those managers would have to convince the publisher that the position is important enough to free up some money.

 

It just gets better and better every day.

God Bless the newspaper business!

 

Hey, Cuand:
Don't walk in here tonight and be a dick. Cool it.

 

You knew DyePack's return would be nothing short of a clusterfuck.

 

Did I miss Fudgepack paying a visit? Damn... leave for five minutes and you miss everything