Birmingham's turn

[93Devil]

So, you're saying there's panic on the streets of Birmingham. (My undying admiration to anybody who can continue this thread with similar musical references.)

I wonder to myself...

Could life ever be plain again

From the Leeds side streets that you slid down

 

[Drip]

In a related note, heard today that The Anniston Star is cutting all employees' pay by 10 percent.

And this paper is currently looking for journalists. Interesting.

 

[SouthernStyle]

In a related note, heard today that The Anniston Star is cutting all employees' pay by 10 percent.

And this paper is currently looking for journalists. Interesting.

The Anniston news is a shocker. The Star has always been a well-run paper. It puts out quality content, doesn't give anything away for free — one of the first Alabama papers to start charging for Web content — and is in a good location for revenue. Anniston is a military town with the largest population in east Alabama. Jacksonville State is also in the area.

 

[Steak Snabler]

In a related note, heard today that The Anniston Star is cutting all employees' pay by 10 percent.

And this paper is currently looking for journalists. Interesting.

The Anniston news is a shocker. The Star has always been a well-run paper. It puts out quality content, doesn't give anything away for free — one of the first Alabama papers to start charging for Web content — and is in a good location for revenue. Anniston is a military town with the largest population in east Alabama. Jacksonville State is also in the area.

Anniston's not a military town anymore. Fort McClellan closed under BRAC in the mid-90s (though there is still an Army Depot there, where they destroy chemical weapons) and that took a huge chunk out of the local population.

 

[2underpar]

anniston's pay scale was low to begin with. this won't help.

i think Bham's upper management would be happy to have nothing but alabama and auburn coverage in its sports section, along with some preps. They used to be players at some national events like the masters, Final Four, etc. Now, not so much.

 

[Steak Snabler]

anniston's pay scale was low to begin with. this won't help.

Right you are. Anniston's publisher is perfectly content to bring in fresh college grads every two years, pay them nothing, and then have them leave just as they're learning their way around the place because they realize they can't pay their student loans. He's even said as much out loud.

 

[Mark2010]

In a related note, heard today that The Anniston Star is cutting all employees' pay by 10 percent.

And this paper is currently looking for journalists. Interesting.

What a great recruiting tool that must be.Your starting salary is dog poo and then the pay cuts kick in. Add in parking (yes, some places actually make employees pay for parking) and before long, you'll be paying US for the priviledge of working here. Classic!

 

[Don Drysdale]

I read that Huntsville lost some designers via buyout but has hired a well-traveled (but young) design boss. I don't know if the buyouts were truly voluntary or not.

 

[Ty Webb]

I was born and raised in Anniston. The loss of Ft. McClellan hurt that town very badly. When I go back home, I am shocked at the loss of business in that community. I now live in Birmingham. We have not felt the hit of the economy nearly as badly as most of the rest of the country. Of course, as I write this, Jefferson County is out of money. That is far less economy related and far more idiot related.

If I heard correctly, The News subscriptions went up last year. I feel for guys like Scarbinsky, Melick and Segrest (all friends). They have to write opinions about two of the most fervent yet delicate fan bases in the world. I can't imagine how many emails are sent from those fan bases that start: "I just canceled my subscription and plan to boycott your sponsors."

 

[BrianGriffin]

Does Anniston still have a Jacksonville State beat? They used to do a pretty good job with that.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Does Anniston still have a Jacksonville State beat? They used to do a pretty good job with that.

Yes. They travel for all football and a good bit of hoops, plus baseball and softball in the postseason.

Al Muskewitz has been on that beat since 1996. Probably the best reporter at that paper.

 

[Drip]

Does Anniston still have a Jacksonville State beat? They used to do a pretty good job with that.

Yes. They travel for all football and a good bit of hoops, plus baseball and softball in the postseason.

Al Muskewitz has been on that beat since 1996. Probably the best reporter at that paper.

Al and Ned Colletti of the Dodgers used to work together at the Philadelphia Journal.

 

[Jesus_Muscatel]

Does Anniston still have a Jacksonville State beat? They used to do a pretty good job with that.

Yes. They travel for all football and a good bit of hoops, plus baseball and softball in the postseason.

Al Muskewitz has been on that beat since 1996. Probably the best reporter at that paper.

Musky's my boy. One of the funniest sumbitches on the planet. Met him in Athens in the '80s. Damn good reporter. Helluva guy.

 

[lesboulez]

reading that the internships are done at the bnews is sad. that's where i interned, along with some of my best friends...spent some great times living under the vulcan.

 

[BrianGriffin]

I know I'm coming back late on this thread, but I have to say it's good to see Al is still doing well. He was one of three guys who used to carry the Southland Conference football teleconferences back in the day. We were afraid that if we didn't utilize it to its fullest every week, it would go away.

So Al, Kevin Gore from Nacogdoches and I would be asking questions to guys sort of off the cuff, making sure none of the coaches would get on the call with no response.

Good times.

 

[Pencil Dick]

Bump. Just got this via e-mail:

The Birmingham News offered buyouts today to employees, the third round of buyouts in 16 months. Media of Birmingham has learned that all employees will be eligible this round, regardless of number of years of service or full-time or part-time status.
Past buyouts were limited to those with at least 5 years of service.
Our insiders tell us that full-time employees taking the buyout would receive 2 weeks of pay for every year of service, while part-time employees would receive 1 week of pay for every year of service. Both are capped at 6 months.
The daily newspaper is looking for “substantial staff reductions,” this time, but says no layoffs are planned for Feb. 6, when the Advance Publications’ “no layoff” pledge expires. The newspaper has not only faced an advertising shortfall because of the down economy but also a 10.8 percent drop in weekday circulation.
Earlier this year, the News cut benefits and required furloughs.

Heard there were also similar meetings in Huntsville this afternoon.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Mobile staffers were given the same offer.

 

[SixToe]

Mobile, Birmingham and Huntsville all got buyout notices on the same day, and after the Oregonian editor resigned knowing cuts are planned there?

Sad times in the Newhouse chain.

 

[Drip]

Meanwhile in Newark.....

 

[ziggym]

Huntsville offered a maximum of 6 months. last round of buyouts offered maximum of 2 years. getting slimmer and slimmer. part-timers included. They hope as many as 20 building wide take it, hoping for 5 in the newsroom. Two weeks of pay for every year of service up to 6 months, one week for part timers. Employees under the gun as the famous/infamous job pledge ends Feb. 5.