Layoffs in High Point, N.C.

[Chi City 81]

Yeah I know. Our paper was just sold. I start in August then find out my paper is being sold. And my penny pinching publisher becomes even more of a penny pincher out of fear of what the new company will think of his budget.

I guess if the print drys up there's always online writing jobs...right?

Your wit is a dri one.

 

[Tom Petty]

Yeah I know. Our paper was just sold. I start in August then find out my paper is being sold. And my penny pinching publisher becomes even more of a penny pincher out of fear of what the new company will think of his budget.

I guess if the print drys up there's always online writing jobs...right?

Your wit is a dri one.

i'm hoping so, doc.

 

[Editude]

As long as the "there's always online writing jobs" perspective holds true, the standards for such will continue to lessen.

 

[Damaramu]

As long as the "there's always online writing jobs" perspective holds true, the standards for such will continue to lessen.

Forgive my thick skull in this situation but, what do you mean exactly?

I just graduated college in May. While I was in school all I heard about was "convergence" and about how print media was a dinosaur that was about to become extinct.

As a print journalist I don't find that to be true at all but it's being taught in schools these days apparently. People are being fed this notion that print journalism is only for old people.

*edit* to make myself a bit more clear in the paragraph

 

[Write-brained]

As long as the "there's always online writing jobs" perspective holds true, the standards for such will continue to lessen.

Forgive my thick skull in this situation but, what do you mean exactly?

Since I just graduated college in May all I heard about was "convergence" and about how print media was a dinosaur that was about to become extinct.

As a print journalist I don't find that to be true at all but it's being taught in schools these days apparently. People are being fed this notion that print journalism is only for old people.

That's why you get a job at places in the South where all the old people are retiring. Obviously not High Point, NC.

 

[Tarheel316]

Here's the problem in High Point. Their circulation has dropped to 20K M-Sat, 23K on Sunday. They had a six-man sports staff. That's awfully high for that circulation. Even five is pushing it. And Moddy, I know the guy who got laid off. He's good people. Problem was he was covering Carolina and Duke. The bean counters figured they're paying AP for that, so he gets the pink slip. They certainly did not base it on seniority.

But it's a shame that a good sports writer has to pay the price for Paxton's bumbling. Yes, TP, Paxton is that bad. I once worked for a Paxton paper. Every paper that Paxton takes over suffers huge drops in circulation. It can't just be attributed to the general decline in circulation everywhere.

 

[Tom Petty]

Here's the problem in High Point. Their circulation has dropped to 20K M-Sat, 23K on Sunday. They had a six-man sports staff. That's awfully high for that circulation. Even five is pushing it. And Moddy, I know the guy who got laid off. He's good people. Problem was he was covering Carolina and Duke. The bean counters figured they're paying AP for that, so he gets the pink slip. They certainly did not base it on seniority.

But it's a shame that a good sports writer has to pay the price for Paxton's bumbling. Yes, TP, Paxton is that bad. I once worked for a Paxton paper. Every paper that Paxton takes over suffers huge drops in circulation. It can't just be attributed to the general decline in circulation everywhere.

thanks tarheel. don't know why i haven't heard much of the doucheness that is paxton.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Here's the problem in High Point. Their circulation has dropped to 20K M-Sat, 23K on Sunday. They had a six-man sports staff. That's awfully high for that circulation. Even five is pushing it. And Moddy, I know the guy who got laid off. He's good people. Problem was he was covering Carolina and Duke. The bean counters figured they're paying AP for that, so he gets the pink slip. They certainly did not base it on seniority.

But it's a shame that a good sports writer has to pay the price for Paxton's bumbling. Yes, TP, Paxton is that bad. I once worked for a Paxton paper. Every paper that Paxton takes over suffers huge drops in circulation. It can't just be attributed to the general decline in circulation everywhere.

thanks tarheel. don't know why i haven't heard much of the doucheness that is paxton.

The board certainly didn't give Paxton a pass during the bloodletting in Durham - nor should it have. The company epitomizes the term penny-wise and pound-foolish, and Tarheel316's story helps drive that point home.

 

[Tarheel316]

Just heard the long-time SE in High Point is retiring early next year. He will not be replaced, so they'll be down to a four-man staff.

 

[Gold]

Yeah I know. Our paper was just sold. I start in August then find out my paper is being sold. And my penny pinching publisher becomes even more of a penny pincher out of fear of what the new company will think of his budget.

I guess if the print drys up there's always online writing jobs...right?

It has almost always been tough, and worse in sports because the turnover is slower than on news side.

The Internet may provide more jobs in the long run, but nobody has figured out how to make information pay with a few exceptions.

 

[Ace]

As long as the "there's always online writing jobs" perspective holds true, the standards for such will continue to lessen.

Forgive my thick skull in this situation but, what do you mean exactly?

I just graduated college in May. While I was in school all I heard about was "convergence" and about how print media was a dinosaur that was about to become extinct.

As a print journalist I don't find that to be true at all but it's being taught in schools these days apparently. People are being fed this notion that print journalism is only for old people.

*edit* to make myself a bit more clear in the paragraph

Not sure exactly what you are getting at, but guys at bigger papers who did nothing but write stories for the newspaper for years are now taking photos, blogging, shooting videos, doing podcasts, tv, radio, etc. etc.

So if you learned nothing but laying out a page and writing stories, I think you were ill-served by your journalism school.

 

[Tom Petty]

As long as the "there's always online writing jobs" perspective holds true, the standards for such will continue to lessen.

Forgive my thick skull in this situation but, what do you mean exactly?

I just graduated college in May. While I was in school all I heard about was "convergence" and about how print media was a dinosaur that was about to become extinct.

As a print journalist I don't find that to be true at all but it's being taught in schools these days apparently. People are being fed this notion that print journalism is only for old people.

*edit* to make myself a bit more clear in the paragraph

Not sure exactly what you are getting at, but guys at bigger papers who did nothing but write stories for the newspaper for years are now taking photos, blogging, shooting videos, doing podcasts, tv, radio, etc. etc.

So if you learned nothing but laying out a page and writing stories, I think you were ill-served by your journalism school.

aces once again.