Layoffs in Indianapolis

[GAPrintDino]

For what it's worth, I remember reading a feature on Indiana basketball history from one of the star's young guns. Guessing he's a next-gen answer to the housecleaning here. It was really, really good. Seemed like a talented guy. They're losing a lot of talent, true, but wouldn't be surprised if they have at least some good answers for them.

 

[PioneerVoice]

For what it's worth, I remember reading a feature on Indiana basketball history from one of the star's young guns. Guessing he's a next-gen answer to the housecleaning here. It was really, really good. Seemed like a talented guy. They're losing a lot of talent, true, but wouldn't be surprised if they have at least some good answers for them.

That's Zak Keefer. He's a very good young writer. I'd also argue that Candace Buckner is rising on the basketball beat. But even if Zak can be an heir apparent to Richards' writing, a lot of holes remain.

 

[Joe Williams]

For what it's worth, I remember reading a feature on Indiana basketball history from one of the star's young guns. Guessing he's a next-gen answer to the housecleaning here. It was really, really good. Seemed like a talented guy. They're losing a lot of talent, true, but wouldn't be surprised if they have at least some good answers for them.

That's Zak Keefer. He's a very good young writer. I'd also argue that Candace Buckner is rising on the basketball beat. But even if Zak can be an heir apparent to Richards' writing, a lot of holes remain.

Both ZK and CB are very good. But there has to be some psychic toll paid by newbies like that, going to work for a grindhouse that does what it does to good people who have come before them. It's like enticing chickens in the front door even though they've seen the KFC trucks pulling up to the back.

 

[Fran Curci]

Maybe Ramos is a really strong word editor with the young writers. He might deserve a lot of credit for those young guns producing good material.

 

[LanceyHoward]

Is the Star replacing all those who left? Is this an exercise in replacing existing staff or will FTE be reduced?

 

[MileHigh]

It's Gannet (cq); there's a reason it's doing all this, and expansion and status quo aren't the options.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

Maybe Ramos is a really strong word editor with the young writers. He might deserve a lot of credit for those young guns producing good material.

Did you see what the AJC became under his tutelage? It went from one of the best to one of the worst almost overnight and this was before people started reducing staff size.

 

[vonnegutnaked2]

Mike Chappell is out now, per his own Twitter.

Who's longest tenured on staff now? Hell, who's been there longer than five years?

 

[GAPrintDino]

I'd love to be a fly in the wall in that newsroom. OK, maybe not.

But I am curious about Ramos' plan here. I understand the concept of going all-digital, finding younger talent who better fit the tools and asks of the current media environment. Moving on from as much experience, as fast as they have, seems a bit extreme though.

Have to wonder how they're going to re-brand themselves. All the faces 95% of their readers know, I'm sure, are gone now.

 

[playthrough]

I'd love to be a fly in the wall in that newsroom. OK, maybe not.

But I am curious about Ramos' plan here. I understand the concept of going all-digital, finding younger talent who better fit the tools and asks of the current media environment. Moving on from as much experience, as fast as they have, seems a bit extreme though.

Have to wonder how they're going to re-brand themselves. All the faces 95% of their readers know, I'm sure, are gone now.

I know what you're saying, but I think the "old" guys fit the new tools fine too. From what I've seen in the Star, writers aren't asked to shoot their own videos (yet). Tweet, yes, and Chappell and others were perfectly fine at it. Holder is fine on the beat and I'm sure others would be serviceable, but Chappell has covered that team since Day 1 in Indy. Day ****ing one.

It's just a staggering loss of talent and experience. Chappell, Richards, Ambrogi, Wilson, Kravitz -- that's about 125 years' worth of time at the Star. When the Colts play the Broncos on Sunday night, I'm not sure there will be a writer covering the game for the paper who was there when Manning was a Colt (Holder? I'm not sure), unless perhaps racing writer Curt Cavin pitches in.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

Mike Chappell is out now, per his own Twitter.

Who's longest tenured on staff now? Hell, who's been there longer than five years?

Wow.

 

[playthrough]

Mike Chappell is out now, per his own Twitter.

Who's longest tenured on staff now? Hell, who's been there longer than five years?

Might be Michael Pointer, who has been a jack-of-all-trades guy there for a while. I can't think of anyone else.

 

[User 4332]

Mike Chappell is out now, per his own Twitter.

Who's longest tenured on staff now? Hell, who's been there longer than five years?

Might be Michael Pointer, who has been a jack-of-all-trades guy there for a while. I can't think of anyone else.

Curt Cavin's gotta be the most senior at this point. Woods has been there longer than Pointer, too. I can't think of anyone beyond those two.

 

[Joe Williams]

I'd love to be a fly in the wall in that newsroom. OK, maybe not.

But I am curious about Ramos' plan here. I understand the concept of going all-digital, finding younger talent who better fit the tools and asks of the current media environment. Moving on from as much experience, as fast as they have, seems a bit extreme though.

Have to wonder how they're going to re-brand themselves. All the faces 95% of their readers know, I'm sure, are gone now.

I know what you're saying, but I think the "old" guys fit the new tools fine too. From what I've seen in the Star, writers aren't asked to shoot their own videos (yet). Tweet, yes, and Chappell and others were perfectly fine at it. Holder is fine on the beat and I'm sure others would be serviceable, but Chappell has covered that team since Day 1 in Indy. Day ****ing one.

I'm with you, playthrough. For the most part, I think most "senior" journalists are pretty good about adding digital chores. It's a matter of survival these days. (I have come across a few who grouse about extra duties without extra pay, but they seem hopelessly out of touch with the reality of the business.)

 

[Fran Curci]

@RecoveringJournalist -- I have to admit, I was just having some fun there. Actually, I've never heard of RR working closely or well with ANY writer.

 

[playthrough]

Mike Chappell is out now, per his own Twitter.

Who's longest tenured on staff now? Hell, who's been there longer than five years?

Might be Michael Pointer, who has been a jack-of-all-trades guy there for a while. I can't think of anyone else.

Curt Cavin's gotta be the most senior at this point. Woods has been there longer than Pointer, too. I can't think of anyone beyond those two.

Ack, you're right. Definitely Cavin. And it's pretty amazing that he has held on in the midst of all the other departures.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

@RecoveringJournalist -- I have to admit, I was just having some fun there. Actually, I've never heard of RR working closely or well with ANY writer.

OK, good. It makes it a little more fun to pile on the guy when everybody seems to agree.

I worked for a few really bad sports editors, but they all sound like Van McKenzie and Fred Turner compared to Ramos.

 

[User 4332]

Ack, you're right. Definitely Cavin. And it's pretty amazing that he has held on in the midst of all the other departures.

I've long wondered when the day will come that the Star decides covering the 500 is good enough.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

Ack, you're right. Definitely Cavin. And it's pretty amazing that he has held on in the midst of all the other departures.

I've long wondered when the day will come that the Star decides covering the 500 is good enough.

Do we really need to cover Indiana basketball? Do the readers really care about basketball here? We don't have to travel with the Pacers until Paul George is healthy. If the combine wasn't here, I'm not sure we'd send anyone. Maybe we can hire stringers.

 

[User 4332]

Ack, you're right. Definitely Cavin. And it's pretty amazing that he has held on in the midst of all the other departures.

I've long wondered when the day will come that the Star decides covering the 500 is good enough.

Do we really need to cover Indiana basketball? Do the readers really care about basketball here? We don't have to travel with the Pacers until Paul George is healthy. If the combine wasn't here, I'm not sure we'd send anyone. Maybe we can hire stringers.

I think you mistook my comment as a suggestion that it was a good idea. And for Cavin's sake I hope it never happens, at least not until long after he's retired.

But given the Star's decisions about coverage on a lot of fronts, it wouldn't surprise me. In part because IndyCar and Hoosiers or Pacers basketball are far different animals. Yes the sport has the history and tradition there, but I'm not sure the dedicated fan interest is. All I know is that out of my cohort of 30-something-year-old small town Indiana friends, I'm the only one who pays attention to any of the races that aren't on Memorial Day weekend. Most of our Dads are still tuning in, but there's a huge drop-off with younger audiences. Part of the same problem Nascar is experiencing, in that young people aren't into cars.