Detroit, please step to the plate...

[steveu]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003975727

This is a link to a small E&P story: About 100-150 positions will be whacked at the Detroit papers. So much for that viable new business model, eh?

Story does not specify where jobs will be lost, nor does it say anything about sports. Just fair warning.

Discuss.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Step to the plate? It's like we're down to an 0-2 count and swinging with a No. 2 pencil before we even dig in. But budget cutbacks will take the pencil from our hands and leave us with a nub with just an eraser on the end.

 

[Joe Williams]

Step to the plate? It's like we're down to an 0-2 count and swinging with a No. 2 pencil before we even dig in. But budget cutbacks will take the pencil from our hands and leave us with a nub with just an eraser on the end.

Some mofo still will wrest that from your hand and stick what's left into your eye.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Step to the plate? It's like we're down to an 0-2 count and swinging with a No. 2 pencil before we even dig in. But budget cutbacks will take the pencil from our hands and leave us with a nub with just an eraser on the end.

Some mofo still will wrest that from your hand and stick what's left into your eye.

So we're down to one eye and an 0-2 count. What's the use?

 

[Joe Williams]

Step to the plate? It's like we're down to an 0-2 count and swinging with a No. 2 pencil before we even dig in. But budget cutbacks will take the pencil from our hands and leave us with a nub with just an eraser on the end.

Some mofo still will wrest that from your hand and stick what's left into your eye.

So we're down to one eye and an 0-2 count. What's the use?

We can be kings in the land of the blind, at least.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Step to the plate? It's like we're down to an 0-2 count and swinging with a No. 2 pencil before we even dig in. But budget cutbacks will take the pencil from our hands and leave us with a nub with just an eraser on the end.

Some mofo still will wrest that from your hand and stick what's left into your eye.

So we're down to one eye and an 0-2 count. What's the use?

We can be kings in the land of the blind, at least.

Better to be a king than a peasant.

 

[forever_town]

We can be kings in the land of the blind, at least.

That sounds too much like exchanging a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage. And yes, I'm quoting Pink Floyd.

 

[mustangj17]

Remember when Detroit touted that new E-edition plan saying no cuts would be necessary.

I also wonder if Detroit had done furloughs, if it would have made a difference. I believe they were exempt from at least the first round.

 

[mustangj17]

This makes it worse.... they retained more customers than they had imagined (probably by not telling people they charged them for the e-edition), and they still have to make more cuts.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090521/FREE/905219985

 

[mustangj17]

Looks like sports is losing at least 2; this sucks. (from a Gannett Blog via anonymous poster)

Folks,
Because of the continued, severe economic decline, we are taking several steps to reduce newsroom expenses, including more significant cuts in non-payroll expenses.
As part of the process, we are also forced to reduce staff in many newsroom job classifications.
Reductions will involve about 10% of both bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit staff. Here are bargaining unit job classifications that will have reductions, and the number of positions we plan to reduce in each:

Editorial Writers - 1
Part-time Reporters - 4
Artists - 2
Picture Editors - 1
Librarian - 1
News Archivist - 1
Designers - 1
Sports Agate Editors - 2
Editorial Research Assistants - 1
Part-time Editorial Research Assistant - 1
Copy Editors - 1
Part-Time Copy Editors - 2
Part-Time Web Editors - 2

Bargaining unit members in the affected classifications above will have 30 days to volunteer for severance, effective today. That period ends with the close of business on Friday, June 19. We expect to notify all staff members who are affected by the reductions by Monday, June 22, with departures effective Tuesday, June 23. We reserve the right to decline offers if we receive too many volunteers in a particular classification.
Because severance terms for bargaining unit positions vary based on each employee's start date, please refer to the contract, Article XIV, for specifics. Severance will be paid as a salary continuation.
We will be respectful of the staff members who will be departing and of the process over the next 30 days. This is a difficult time, and we all recognize that.
Staff meetings for all Free Pressers will be held in the Academy at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. today to answer any questions you have.
-- Paul Anger

 

[I Should Coco]

No good news on that list, Mustang. This sucks royally and I hope for the best for all the people that are behind each job title.

To think of what the Free Press was even 15-20 years ago (before the strike) and to see and read about it now, it's really sad.

Best of luck also to all who will be left behind, doing double the work, to keep the Freep alive.

 

[Mark2010]

Blah, blah, blah,blah, blah. Why not just close up shop and go home now?

A certain former colleague and I often debate, which is worse: to be the one let go or the one left behind, doing twice the work for half the pay? I'm honestly not sure.

 

[Riddick]

what's an agate editor? just a fancy title for an agate clerk?

 

[SF_Express]

what's an agate editor? just a fancy title for an agate clerk?

Actually, Riddick, I always thought it was the CORRECT title for somebody who does agate for a sports section, given all the work those people do with little thanks or recognition. Those are backbone positions in getting the newspaper out every day. It seems like a number of papers are eliminating spots there, and unless they're going to change the way they do business -- no agate page, no taking prep results by phone (in fact, letting the phone just ring without answering), etc. -- they're about to find out just how important those people really are.

 

[NDub]

It's like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Try to stay afloat a bit longer but the mother ****er is still going down.

Maybe if Albom's huge salary is cut they'll save some money. Props and cheers to John Paul Morisi for leaving the Tigers beat for FoxSports.com.

 

[mustangj17]

what's an agate editor? just a fancy title for an agate clerk?

Actually, Riddick, I always thought it was the CORRECT title for somebody who does agate for a sports section, given all the work those people do with little thanks or recognition. Those are backbone positions in getting the newspaper out every day. It seems like a number of papers are eliminating spots there, and unless they're going to change the way they do business -- no agate page, no taking prep results by phone (in fact, letting the phone just ring without answering), etc. -- they're about to find out just how important those people really are.

They've already changed. All the preps stuff and box scores are online now. There's not even a paper left. It blows.

 

[Riddick]

what's an agate editor? just a fancy title for an agate clerk?

Actually, Riddick, I always thought it was the CORRECT title for somebody who does agate for a sports section, given all the work those people do with little thanks or recognition. Those are backbone positions in getting the newspaper out every day. It seems like a number of papers are eliminating spots there, and unless they're going to change the way they do business -- no agate page, no taking prep results by phone (in fact, letting the phone just ring without answering), etc. -- they're about to find out just how important those people really are.

my last shop cut some agate clerks and now a lot of **** gets missed. coaches call and complain but nothing can be done.

 

[SF_Express]

They've already changed. All the preps stuff and box scores are online now. There's not even a paper left. It blows.

Understood, Mustang, but with regard to preps: Somebody has to take and process that information, right? In paper or online, it still has to be dealt with.

 

[mustangj17]

They've already changed. All the preps stuff and box scores are online now. There's not even a paper left. It blows.

Understood, Mustang, but with regard to preps: Somebody has to take and process that information, right? In paper or online, it still has to be dealt with.

True, but not as many people. There's like a quarter page for preps some days with a refer to the web. It sucks. Less than five years ago they had an entire Thursday prep section called preps extra. It was awesome.

 

[chitown]

Anyone know when the JOA between Gannett and MNG in Detroit runs out?
Gotta be headed for a one-newspaper town whenever that is.