The most frightening words you can hear

[HejiraHenry]

"I think it's time for a redesign."

 

[Oggiedoggie]

Don't worry. The new design rules will only stick for a few months. Then, it's back to doing pretty much whatever you like.

 

[HejiraHenry]

Last redesign got almost fatally watered down before we ever rolled it out.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

"Corporate is looking at how efficient operations are, so, please fill out this report detailing your duties each night."

"Corporate has decided to make some changes in order to deal with the realities of economic conditions."

"Gannett is introducing this new initiative."

 

[SportsGuyBCK]

"Mary Junck is getting a bonus."

 

[I Should Coco]

"We're doing a survey on our newsroom's culture. Don't worry, your answers won't be held against you."

 

[DanOregon]

I've never seen a redesign a newshole cut couldn't destroy. I get it though. New editor comes in, wants to make a mark and have something to show for his time there and a redesign is pretty cheap and easy and very visual.

 

[Batman]

"Gannett is introducing this new initiative."

"Welcome aboard! You'll make a fine addition to our Gannett team."

 

[apeman33]

We last redesigned in June 2005. Then from what I can tell, the last redesign prior to that was in August 1980.

 

[ChrisLong]

"Right-size"

 

[Bronco77]

"These are exciting times for our company."

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

New editor tried to propose a redesign. Publisher watered it down so much that the editor gave up.

 

[Batman]

We redesigned last year, first time in about 10 years. The intent was to create a few modular pages and layouts that would help our watered-down staff get some inside pages done early. What it actually did was add to the workload, more often than not, by reducing our flexibility and creating items that we need to devote man-hours to instead of being able to plug something in if we get backed up.
And for sports I was never told what the changes would be or asked my opinion on what effect they'd have on our work flow. Just told, "Yeah, next month you're going to have this, this and this. Isn't that great? No? Too bad."

 

[HanSenSE]

We redesigned last year, first time in about 10 years. The intent was to create a few modular pages and layouts that would help our watered-down staff get some inside pages done early. What it actually did was add to the workload, more often than not, by reducing our flexibility and creating items that we need to devote man-hours to instead of being able to plug something in if we get backed up.
And for sports I was never told what the changes would be or asked my opinion on what effect they'd have on our work flow. Just told, "Yeah, next month you're going to have this, this and this. Isn't that great? No? Too bad."

Ain't that the truth. News gets a week or two to play with new look, but person in charge of redesign remembers there's a sports section a day before launch.

 

[Riptide]

"Don't worry. Our readers will continue to enjoy our complete coverage of the tri-county area."

 

[Bradley Guire]

"We're doing a survey on our newsroom's culture. Don't worry, your answers won't be held against you."

Just had one of those last week.

Also had a minor redesign last fall: Simplifying things for the new cemtral copy desk that builds three other papers.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

"I'm from corporate. I'm here to help."



"I'm late."

 

[apeman33]

"We're not going to be filling Loretta's position when she leaves."

We've not filled two other positions already this year. We no longer have a receptionist. Since she also was the classifieds person, I have no idea who's doing that now.

 

[Spartan Squad]

We're going to shuffle some positions around ...

 

[I Should Coco]

"We're not going to be filling Loretta's position when she leaves."

We've not filled two other positions already this year. We no longer have a receptionist. Since she also was the classifieds person, I have no idea who's doing that now.

Craigslist, unfortunately ...