San Francisco Chronicle

[Don Drysdale]

Anyone hear about some big staff cuts this week in sports? I heard rumors of two shockers but not confirmed yet.

 

[poindexter]

Ann is going to be shocked when she finds out you're alive and posting on SportsJournalists.com?

 

[Don Drysdale]

(She'll never notice; she's obsessed with her NCAA brackets.)

 

[hankschu]

Hi there. I work in the department.

Glenn Schwarz, sports editor of the Examiner/Chronicle since 1987 and a baseball writer for nearly two decades before that, has been removed from his job as management chooses to go in a different direction, as they say. Al Saracevic, our business editor, has been named sports editor.

Glenn was not fired. He has been offered a writing position, just as Dan McGrath was in Chicago.

The cuts to which you allude have not happened yet. But as part of the 150 job cuts paper-wide that Guild members approved, several sports people have applied for buyouts, which will be allowed through the end of the month. If management does not get the reduction it needs through buyouts, then layoffs will come in mid-April. It is my understanding our section of 35 will be reduced by roughly 10. Six people have applied for the buyouts, mostly on the desk.

This is clearly an emotional time at my shop, as Glenn is very respected.

As for any "shockers," besides Glenn, I don't know of any big-name guys who have asked for a buyout.

 

[WriteThinking]

Hi there. I work in the department.

Glenn Schwarz, sports editor of the Examiner/Chronicle since 1987 and a baseball writer for nearly two decades before that, has been removed from his job as management chooses to go in a different direction, as they say. Al Saracevic, our business editor, has been named sports editor.

Glenn was not fired. He has been offered a writing position, just as Dan McGrath was in Chicago.

...

This is clearly an emotional time at my shop, as Glenn is very respected.

Wow, that is a surprise. I wonder what Glenn thinks of this.

Regardless, he certainly earned my respect, and I liked working with him very much, during my couple past experiences as a freelancer for the Chronicle.

 

[Don Drysdale]

Everything I know about Glenn is darn positive.

Did they offer Yant a different job, too?

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Only met Glenn Schwartz once, at one of those APSE walk-in mini conventions in Sacramento a few years ago. Went over my clips with me, was very frank as to what I needed to work on, discussed his files on writers he would like to hire in the future . . . .

Really nice guy. I walked away with a few great pieces of advice, and the view that the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE was one of those upper-case papers, where the sports editor could target people he wished to hire.

No more. I don't think anyone has that status anymore, except maybe the NY TImes.

 

[Joe Williams]

Glenn was not fired. He has been offered a writing position, just as Dan McGrath was in Chicago.

I haven't been paying attention, I guess. Dan McGrath is now a writer at the Chicago Tribune, not the SE or AME/SE or whatever his title was? So who's in charge of the section now?

 

[thegrifter]

And does the new SE at the Chron have any sports experience?

 

[Bubbler]

Glenn was not fired. He has been offered a writing position, just as Dan McGrath was in Chicago.

I haven't been paying attention, I guess. Dan McGrath is now a writer at the Chicago Tribune, not the SE or AME/SE or whatever his title was? So who's in charge of the section now?

Probably some Zellite radio flunkie who would love nothing more than gratutitous mentions of "boobies" in the sports section.

 

[The Good Doctor]

Glenn was not fired. He has been offered a writing position, just as Dan McGrath was in Chicago.

I haven't been paying attention, I guess. Dan McGrath is now a writer at the Chicago Tribune, not the SE or AME/SE or whatever his title was? So who's in charge of the section now?

Probably some Zellite radio flunkie who would love nothing more than gratutitous mentions of "boobies" in the sports section.

Or it could be Mike Kellams, a good guy who has gone out of his way to help people who don't even work for him.

Either/or, I guess.

 

[Joe Williams]

Glenn was not fired. He has been offered a writing position, just as Dan McGrath was in Chicago.

I haven't been paying attention, I guess. Dan McGrath is now a writer at the Chicago Tribune, not the SE or AME/SE or whatever his title was? So who's in charge of the section now?

Probably some Zellite radio flunkie who would love nothing more than gratutitous mentions of "boobies" in the sports section.

Or it could be Mike Kellams, a good guy who has gone out of his way to help people who don't even work for him.

Either/or, I guess.

I'm still hoping that someone knows, if the move to shift McGrath into a writing role already has been made.

 

[GeorgeScott]

In Chicago, Dan McGrath is now writing.
Mike Kellams is now in charge.
I do not know if Dan wanted this, but I do know he wrote a story saying he was excited and pleased to be writing. And I know he can write. Mike Kellams is a fine person as well outside of the office. Not sure what he's like as a boss.

In Frisco, these details are heartbreaking. I never worked for Glenn, but I spent many APSE conventions with him and he is a pro. A real nice guy who always had time for everybody and cared deeply for his staff and colleagues. He's a prince of a guy and an outstanding journalist. Glenn is universally respected among newspaper people accross the country.

This should not be happening.

 

[SF_Express]

Yeah, McGrath kind of announced the writing thing in a story posted here a few days back.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Got to judge with Glenn in Torrance a few years ago.

I came away so impressed by the man.

I can't imagine a "direction" anyone wants to go in that doesn't include him at the top.

 

[Moderator1]

Does the business editor have any sports experience? Was there any rationale given for this move?

 

[Tracy Ringolsby]

The only rationale would be that Glenn understood the business too well and had feelings for the people he supervised, and would go to bat for different members of the staff when those from other areas would make poor judgments.
I worked alongside Glenn when he covered baseball. He brought a special feeling to the pm story, and have always made an effort to see him when I been in Bay Area on assignment.
I know what it's like working for Barry Forbis -- it doesn't get any better -- and my feeling is Glenn was tied with Forbis for first. Guys who cared not only about the product but also about the people who put the product together, and as a result they always would wind up getting more than anybody could expect from a staff that appreciated the leadership.