Memphis Commercial Appeal layoffs

[Steak Snabler]

Including three in photography, the entertainment editor and sports writer Phil Stukenborg:

UPDATE (Some Names Added): More Layoffs Hit The Commercial Appeal

 

[boundforboston]

Layoffs in Nashville and Knoxville, too

 

[Doc Holliday]

Interesting that Memphis laid off two digital producers and one digital strategist. Guess their digital side of things hasn't proven worth the expense. Of course, everyone believes news should be free, especially digital news. Hard to get people to pay for it.

 

[PaperDoll]

This is likely just the start of the Journal Media Group consolidation, which wasn't allowed to start until a year after the acquisitions were finalized.

Gannett Slashes Staffs at Tennessee Papers

 

[Dr StrangePork]

I was kind of surprised by this, April 8 is the one year anniversary of the JMG deal... guess they wanted to get it in before the end of the quarter. Maybe they'll get fatter bonuses for this!!

 

[cisforkoke]

We’ve previously spoken about the new ways we will be able to better serve readers, communities and customers as we fully form the statewide network. Today was the first step as we re-secure and level-set our economic vitality to support our journalism.

 

[doctorx]

Level-set?

 

[Dailyconvo]

Could be that their digital folks just weren't hacking it. Not that it's the only measure of the competency of a digital staff, but their Facebook likes are in the toilet, way below what they should be and their feed shows little strategy. Maybe Nashville is going to handle them? Either way, tough day.

 

[steveu]

Wouldn't think there would be any reductions in newsstand days, at least in the three top markets of Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville. Then again, who knows?

 

[LanceyHoward]

Wouldn't think there would be any reductions in newsstand days, at least in the three top markets of Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville. Then again, who knows?

I think reduction in publishing frequency will be tested in Louisana and Mississippi before it is rolled out over the remainder of the chain.

 

[dirtybird]

Interesting that Memphis laid off two digital producers and one digital strategist. Guess their digital side of things hasn't proven worth the expense. Of course, everyone believes news should be free, especially digital news. Hard to get people to pay for it.

What a generous read.

If you look at the list of folks who got cut, there's three more digital producers on the list, so six total. One explanation could be that a whole bunch of folks were shoehorned into those roles in the last transition. But more likely, I'd bet they're either merging digital production into one centralized hub or making that work some kind of free-for-all where reporters manage their own stuff/post to facebook/etc. Knowing Gannett, that last option feels likely.

 

[busch]

Hate to hear about Phil Stukenborg. He's been there more than 30 years and is a really good guy.

 

[BTExpress]

Interesting that Memphis laid off two digital producers and one digital strategist. Guess their digital side of things hasn't proven worth the expense. Of course, everyone believes news should be free, especially digital news. Hard to get people to pay for it.

Much of the online group got the ax at our place recently.

It's just fallen on the assigning editors and reporters themselves to handle that part of it. Online "producers" were a middleman deemed expendable. Only reason print personnel were spared is that the assigning editors and reporters can't work 18-hour days doing that part, too.

 

[Bronco77]

If you look at the list of folks who got cut, there's three more digital producers on the list, so six total. One explanation could be that a whole bunch of folks were shoehorned into those roles in the last transition.

This is what happened to a former co-worker who apparently just got cut in Knoxville, based on the staff list that had her name on it a month ago and no longer does. A designer/copy editor with 15 years experience, she was shifted to digital when Knoxville's design and editing jobs were moved to the central hub in Nashville after the Gannett purchase. Sadly, she had the opportunity to move to the Nashville hub but decided to stick with the digital job in Knoxville because she thought it had a better future.

 

[steveu]

For what it's worth, the Gannett site has a TON of job listings posted today, and a lot of them are in Nashville. They're mostly behind the scenes (account executives, etc.), but it does make me wonder what Gannett has planned. One statewide paper, zoned three ways? Seven days a week?

 

[dixiehack]

You could hand out solid gold bars to people in Memphis, and if they come from Nashville they'll be rejected on principle.

 

[playthrough]

Including three in photography, the entertainment editor and sports writer Phil Stukenborg:

UPDATE (Some Names Added): More Layoffs Hit The Commercial Appeal

I'm very sorry to hear about these, but for Pete's sake, the lifestyle and parties reporter certainly looks like the guy you'd want in that role.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I'm very sorry to hear about these, but for Pete's sake, the lifestyle and parties reporter certainly looks like the guy you'd want in that role.

Where da party at?

 

[steveu]

Annnnnd the other shoe drops. But it looks like all three papers stay seven days a week, with a "statewide newsroom" concept.

News Sentinel launches historic new approach

Tennessean transformation continues with statewide coordination

Letter from the Editor: The CA is a key part of a new statewide reporting network

 

[bevo]

For what it's worth, the Gannett site has a TON of job listings posted today, and a lot of them are in Nashville. They're mostly behind the scenes (account executives, etc.), but it does make me wonder what Gannett has planned. One statewide paper, zoned three ways? Seven days a week?

This is the approach Advance papers have taken in Michigan. Eight different markets, but it's essentially one paper zoned for each city. Cuts waaaay down on the number of reporters, editors and designers needed. I'm surprised Gannett hasn't done this already, but you do need a group of like publications, and Tennessee now provides that.