Laid-off Gannett sports editor raps company in final column

[gannettblog]

Frank DeLeo, who is among dozens of staffers who lost jobs this week at three of Gannett's N.J. dailies, writes in the Daily Record of Parsippany: "We're all victims of corporate greed."

Amazing this got into print. His column doesn't appear to be on the newspaper's website. I've posted the text on Gannett Blog here:

http://tinyurl.com/4f5wkk8

 

[gannettblog]

Whoops: His last name is spelled DiLeo.

 

[Versatile]

Wow. This is awful. "I am wonderful. Gannett doesn't know what they're missing. They fired me because they don't care about you, readers. Oh, and other people lost their jobs."

It's also very poorly written and a career ender. I don't know why anyone in any field would hire someone this unprofessional. And the whole time, not one good point, which is absurd because it's so easy to make good points about why Gannett sucks.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

It should have started 12 paragraphs in, with this graf:

Many great people worked their last day at the Daily Record on Friday. Nearly half the staff has been let go from an already thin crew. Folks that have been for over 30 years had to reapply for their positions and drive to Neptune, some of us had to do it four times in a span of two weeks, to be asked the exact same questions as the previous trip.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I'm sure he feels great about having stuck it to the man now. I wonder how he will feel in six months to two years, and beyond.

 

[mpcincal]

I understand his frustration, and a part of me is thrilled to see a guy lash out at corporate like that in print, but, yes, it did seem a little self-serving.

The one commenter on the Gannett blog nailed it when he/she said he should have framed it on how it would affect the quality of the product for the readers. Otherwise, they really don't want to hear it.

 

[Shaggy]

Wow. This is awful. "I am wonderful. Gannett doesn't know what they're missing. They fired me because they don't care about you, readers. Oh, and other people lost their jobs."

It's also very poorly written and a career ender. I don't know why anyone in any field would hire someone this unprofessional. And the whole time, not one good point, which is absurd because it's so easy to make good points about why Gannett sucks.

A career ender? Only if he's lucky.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I don't care if you're leaving a paper under the best of terms or the worst of terms, don't ever write a farewell column.

 

[terrier]

A lot of people (like myself) didn't rip their employer on the way out after getting turked.
Two years later, I can tell you this: Handling it in a professional manner didn't do a helluva lot for my career. I'm sure many others feel the same.

 

[Versatile]

I don't care if you're leaving a paper under the best of terms or the worst of terms, don't ever write a farewell column.

There should be an exception rule for columnists who have been at a paper for more than 20 years.

 

[HandsomeHarley]

It should have started 12 paragraphs in, with this graf:

Many great people worked their last day at the Daily Record on Friday. Nearly half the staff has been let go from an already thin crew. Folks that have been for over 30 years had to reapply for their positions and drive to Neptune, some of us had to do it four times in a span of two weeks, to be asked the exact same questions as the previous trip.

more than 30 years, dammit. over is a preposition!

Carry on.

 

[Stitch]

I don't care if you're leaving a paper under the best of terms or the worst of terms, don't ever write a farewell column.

I'm sure everyone in town wants to know how great you think covering the basketball team's sub-region run was. Or how special it was to see the track team capture a state team title, which no one cares about.

That's why farewell columns are silly. It's just butt kissing instead of making people think.

 

[Clerk Typist]

It should have started 12 paragraphs in, with this graf:

Many great people worked their last day at the Daily Record on Friday. Nearly half the staff has been let go from an already thin crew. Folks that have been for over 30 years had to reapply for their positions and drive to Neptune, some of us had to do it four times in a span of two weeks, to be asked the exact same questions as the previous trip.

more than 30 years, dammit. over is a preposition!

Carry on.

Proves there are no copy editors left.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

I had to sign an agreement saying I wouldn't write or say anything negative about the company to receive my meager severance.

 

[Drip]

He just found out what many on here already knew, Gannett eats its young.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I don't care if you're leaving a paper under the best of terms or the worst of terms, don't ever write a farewell column.

There should be an exception rule for columnists who have been at a paper for more than 20 years.

OK, if you're Woody Paige, Bill Conlin, Bob Ryan or a handful of others, an exception should be made.

 

[Drip]

I don't care if you're leaving a paper under the best of terms or the worst of terms, don't ever write a farewell column.

There should be an exception rule for columnists who have been at a paper for more than 20 years.

OK, if you're Woody Paige, Bill Conlin, Bob Ryan or a handful of others, an exception should be made.

Yeah, I hear you but those are few a far between. Joe Blow who has written a column for 20-plus years at the Bum**** Times also deserves an opportunity to say thanks for the memories.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Yeah, I wasn't implying that those at smaller papers should be left out. :D

 

[Drip]

Yeah, I wasn't implying that those at smaller papers should be left out. :D

I know. Just messin wit cha!

 

[micropolitan guy]

That's why farewell columns are silly. It's just butt kissing instead of making people think.

Hmm. Just wrote one about a month ago, upon leaving my shop on excellent terms after more than 26 years there. Didn't get maudlin, or emotional, or kiss anyone's butt. I just recalled some events and people I enjoyed covering/working with, and how much I appreciated the readers putting up with me for that long, in less than 600 words. I was amazed by the tone and amount of feedback I received, much of it from readers I'd never met.

What I discovered was how big a role newspapers still play in a smaller market like mine, and how many people still do read us every day, appreciate us for what we do, and remember the things we wrote about them and/or their children/family/friends.