Cuts coming to McClatchy papers

So Robyn has posted the ads: 2 people will tag-team Charlotte and Raleigh.
Top position is Senior Sports Editor. Their preference is for this person to be in Charlotte, overseeing both staffs, enterprise, projects, digital, etc.
The other is Sports Editor, more of the assignment editor, but for ACC and pro teams in both markets. Their preference is for this person to be in Raleigh.
I would have preferred 1 SE in each city, responsible for that market's content, working together on bigger projects. I still think it will become that.
I sincerely wish them well. The good news is there are absolute pros on both staffs, rabid fan bases in both markets.

 

I say this gently, and as a fan of Knight Ridder in the old days, but it seems like someone -- the sports editor at the time? -- needed to say, "What the heck is a cue ring? And how would that be used to signal an outrider?" There must have been a number of people at the time who were familiar with horse racing.

 

The stewards' inquiry is a good hook, agreed.

 

All the talk about the Carolina papers prompted me to check the content on the Observer site. I know this isn't a news flash, but wow -- those McClatchy sites are brutal to navigate. Pop-up Central.

 

Charlotte's also losing Gary Schwab, former executive sports editor who was their metro/enterprise editor, and his wife Helen, the paper's restaurant critic ...

 

So much for someone who could have moved into the SE spot. Gary is really good people. All the best to both.

 

Classy move by Davidson coach Bob McKillop to present Harry Pickett, former deputy sports editor of The Charlotte Observer, with a game ball following the Wildcats' win over Fordham.

Class, meet class.

 

McClatchy just released FY2018 results.

Advertising revenues were down 15.3%. Audience revenues were only down 4.8% even though daily circulation dropped 11.1% and Sunday circulation 9.8%. One word can describe McClatchy's year. Disaster.

McClatchy has to cut costs at their papers by 10% this year. The company is basically breaking even on a cash flow basis. Given their debt McClatchy can not start to burn cash.

 

The first thing to do should be eliminating ALL executive bonuses and perks, starting at the very top ...

Amid Layoffs, McClatchy News CEO Got a $900,000 Bonus in 2017

 

Wha ... ?

You mean executives continue to collect fat paychecks and bonuses while their companies continue to slash employees by the bunch?

And spokespeople try to defend this crap?

Knock me over with a feather, especially at McClatchy.

 

How would this company be in any position to try to buy Tribune?