Boston Globe Editor"s Memo

[justgladtobehere]

Dan Kennedy obtained a memo from Globe editor Brian McGory.

McGrory Memo: How The Globe Will Reinvent Itself; Some Layoffs Possible

Second, the reinvention. It’s gained significant velocity in the past few weeks, and the next couple of months will be vital to the effort. About a month-and-a-half ago, I asked about 20 department heads and other thought leaders in the room to write up vision memos for what the Globe needed to be, followed by a conference room session to pick through the ideas. It was pretty damned great – the creativity, the boldness, and the ambition behind the ideas.

 

[BDC99]

Exciting times!

 

[Southwinds]

It's funny that in a profession where we often have to wade through horse plop to get to the truth, those who are in charge of leading companies in said profession constantly feed their employees horse plop and don't expect them to see right through it.

 

[wicked]

Some layoffs possible. Good job, John Henry.

 

[Bronco77]

It's funny that in a profession where we often have to wade through horse plop to get to the truth, those who are in charge of leading companies in said profession constantly feed their employees horse plop and don't expect them to see right through it.

Just once I'd like to see a buzzword-free newsroom memo that cuts right to the chase: "Our goal is to make money -- screw everything else. To accomplish that, we're cutting the print operation to the bone. This means many of you will lose your jobs in the coming weeks."

 

[MisterCreosote]

I'm sure this is the plan that ends up saving the business.

I'm just sure of it.

 

[BDC99]

Bronco. To be more specific, to make money for the people at the top. Who needs worker bees?

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Just once I'd like to see a buzzword-free newsroom memo that cuts right to the chase: "Our goal is to make money -- screw everything else. To accomplish that, we're cutting the print operation to the bone. This means many of you will lose your jobs in the coming weeks."

I can't remember who it was, but there was one that was quite straightforward in, like, the last year or so. The editor pretty much wrote that he wasn't going to make any nice statements with buzzwords because he owed it to those being dumped.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Reinvention? Check
Vision? Check
Exhilarating/exciting free space? Check
Nimble? Check
Streamline? CHECK!

I got Stupid Newsroom Layoff Memo BINGO!

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

"Thought leaders"

"Vision memos"

Ugh.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Bronco. To be more specific, to make money for the people at the top. Who needs worker bees?

Do you really believe this is the case -- that there's a huge pot of money sitting there and the executives are using $100 bills to light their cigars?

I don't care much for the double-speak either. But I would hope by now everyone has realized this isn't about management greed. There's no money there.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Synergy! Paradigm shift!! Win-win!!!

 

[Vombatus]

I was on a ship and the Captain started an announcement over the 1MC with "Attention, shipmates..." and one of the crew immediately said "Oh ****, nothing good is coming when he says shipmates. We're ****ed."

 

[Baron Scicluna]

I suppose having employees working on a mission statement for a future that they may not be around for anyways if they are laid off is a winning strategy.

 

[MisterCreosote]

This is the first time I've ever heard gutting the staff through buyouts referred to as "truly heartening that the offer worked this well for this many people."

 

[gravehunter]

I wonder how many "thought leaders" will be losing their jobs. My guess is zero

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

Their only thought, "Fire those other people."

 

[LongTimeListener]

This is the first time I've ever heard gutting the staff through buyouts referred to as "truly heartening that the offer worked this well for this many people."

Really? I've heard that a lot. Depending what it is, a buyout can be a pretty sweet deal. In this case a year's salary and benefits for a 26-year vet.

 

[lantaur]

Exclusive photo from the meeting of the Thought Leaders

 

[MisterCreosote]

Really? I've heard that a lot. Depending what it is, a buyout can be a pretty sweet deal. In this case a year's salary and benefits for a 26-year vet.

In my experience, very few people take buyouts because they want to.