Mike Reed Sets Goals for New Gannett

I just remember how freaking random those chosen for the training was. I was a breaking news reporter/night cops - the only one there after 5 p.m. - so of course I wasn't a MoJo.

 

Yeah, my paper had a huge announcement about how the newsroom, er Information Center, was totally going to be transformed. They were going to stop doing the typical departments, (news, sports, features, copy desk, graphics) and change them to seven new desks (digital, research, design, and some others that escape me).

We had a huge meeting where we were all divided into these seven desks and each desk was going to have a brainstorming session. We were told, of course, that each group was just random selected for that meeting, but of course, we all knew that they were planning on having those groups as their permanent new seven groups.

We had several useless brainstorming meetings where the main question on everyone’s mind was how the heck were we going to put out a paper when each new group was mixed and matched from different departments.

In the end, the brass formed two small groups who were reassigned; the rest of us were told to do more with less and layoffs commenced roughly a year later.

 

Is Gannett still doing their weird "categories" for reporters, like "Things to Do" "Food and Drink" etc? Or was that "old Gannett." I imagine these days it's like "today you're wherever we need you."

 

Such brilliance by the leadership.

 

I don't think there's much rhyme or reason across the chain, for better or worse. If you've got something working locally and it brings in views, you can keep it. (I'm thinking of a paper that has a full-time "culture" reporter, but no full-time sports staffers.)

 

I honestly believe Gannett has so many people in "leadership" roles who need to make changes if only to justify their existence.

 

We have a winner.

 

It’s been like that there for decades.

 

And doing such a bad job, they are running out of people to "lead."

 

My wife worked for a nonprofit where the same thing happened. A former Gannett EE came in and tried to transform their Comms department into a 24-hour news operation. He brought in any former Gannetteer he could find. He even tried to get White House press credentials.

And he’s still there. Membership has held steady since they have a pretty captive audience, but I know of no one, not a single person, who reads their magazine or the “news” section of the website.

 

Gannett’s new goal: Stay in business for another week so we have a shot at staying in business for another week.