Palm Beach Post Cuts

[Lollygaggers]

Don't think I've seen this anywhere on the board yet, but it's more bad news and really the first coming from this paper in a while:

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2008/03/palm_beach_post_to_cut_staff.php

No idea as far as how many will be affected, but it's not the best way to inform the staff by any means.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Don't think I've seen this anywhere on the board yet, but it's more bad news and really the first coming from this paper in a while:

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2008/03/palm_beach_post_to_cut_staff.php

No idea as far as how many will be affected, but it's not the best way to inform the staff by any means.

Bizarre methodology by a paper considered the class, design- and management-wise, of the SoFla trio.

 

[the_lorax]

shocked. I had an internship there not too long ago and was so impressed with facilities/capabilities/staff size that I asked how it was all being paid for. The intern coordinator (yeah, they even had one of those) smirked at me and said that with how many real estate ads they sold, money wasn't a problem. And they always acted like it, too. Sent reporters to Wimbledon, French Open, random golf tournaments around the country, NFL combine (strangely not the World Cup).
I guess the real estate pool dries up, even in SoFla.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

shocked. I had an internship there not too long ago and was so impressed with facilities/capabilities/staff size that I asked how it was all being paid for. The intern coordinator (yeah, they even had one of those) smirked at me and said that with how many real estate ads they sold, money wasn't a problem. And they always acted like it, too. Sent reporters to Wimbledon, French Open, random golf tournaments around the country, NFL combine (strangely not the World Cup).
I guess the real estate pool dries up, even in SoFla.

The depression will rebound quickly in SoFla, but it is bad now.

 

[SF_Express]

shocked. I had an internship there not too long ago and was so impressed with facilities/capabilities/staff size that I asked how it was all being paid for. The intern coordinator (yeah, they even had one of those) smirked at me and said that with how many real estate ads they sold, money wasn't a problem. And they always acted like it, too. Sent reporters to Wimbledon, French Open, random golf tournaments around the country, NFL combine (strangely not the World Cup).
I guess the real estate pool dries up, even in SoFla.

The depression will rebound quickly in SoFla, but it is bad now.

That's about the one bright spot for places like Florida in California -- a lot of times, they're both first into this kind of economy, but then first out.

 

[steveu]

I still think PBPost is a decent read. I'll have to wait and see what the heck they do to the paper before I chime my two cents in...

 

[Appgrad05]

As a Cox employee, I've always held this deluded thought that I was safe, because Cox was diverse and financially well-off enough to not worry about things like cuts. But with the AJC cutbacks of last year, and now this, I have to reconsider that belief.

 

[MMatt60]

People say that the PB Post publisher has had a lot of sway in keeping Cox from implementing deep cuts.

The staff should remain very healthy, however, even after some tightening.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Any chance we can get a transcription of the posted memo here?

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

They don't say how deep the cuts will be.

There is always going to be a lot of money to be made in South Florida. One of the three papers ought to bite the bullet and take a short-term hit to try to grow at the expense of the other two.

History buffs may note that the way The Miami Herald established dominance over the Miami News was during World War II newsprint rationing. While the News reacted by cutting news hole, the Herald cut advertising and beat the pants off the News. This is going to continue to be an attractive market, and it is one well worth fighting for, even if it means making an exception to company-wide slashing.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

As a Cox employee, I've always held this deluded thought that I was safe, because Cox was diverse and financially well-off enough to not worry about things like cuts. But with the AJC cutbacks of last year, and now this, I have to reconsider that belief.

App that is exactly where I was exactly 8 years ago .... and then Dan Marino retired on the same day my stupid chain bought Times-Mirror and I lost tens of thousands of dollars.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Any chance we can get a transcription of the posted memo here?

Norma Rae????

Norma Rae???

 

[Screwball]

and then Dan Marino retired on the same day my stupid chain bought Times-Mirror and I lost tens of thousands of dollars.

Didn't do much for Times-Mirror folks, either, sadly.

 

[Write-brained]

Damn. I wasn't expecting this at all. Great paper. I know some people there.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

and then Dan Marino retired on the same day my stupid chain bought Times-Mirror and I lost tens of thousands of dollars.

Didn't do much for Times-Mirror folks, either, sadly.

I understand, but Tribune was like a runaway cash train until that. Stock splits in 1997 and 1999, 21 percent year-end stock contribution.

Boom goes the dynamite!

 

[Screwball]

and then Dan Marino retired on the same day my stupid chain bought Times-Mirror and I lost tens of thousands of dollars.

Didn't do much for Times-Mirror folks, either, sadly.

I understand, but Tribune was like a runaway cash train until that. Stock splits in 1997 and 1999, 21 percent year-end stock contribution.

Boom goes the dynamite!

21%???

Damn. Those were the days.

 

[MMatt60]

It's always depressing to see cuts. But I would not expect the staff cuts in West Palm Beach to be crippling in any way.

You have to remember that the Post is now EXTREMELY well-staffed for a mid-major.

And the Post was still growing the payroll as recently as 18 months ago.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

And the Post was still growing the payroll as recently as 18 months ago.

Right

That was then, this is now.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

The other big, ****ing shoe drops... almost immediately:

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2008/03/palm_beach_post_publisher_giuf.php

 

[Mizzougrad96]

One of my favorite sections and I've often marveled at how well that paper competes with much bigger sections with less money and an insane amount of turnover since the Post may be the most frequently raided section for talent...

So what we're saying here is that this industry is ****ed?