Best/worst newspaper companies?

Baron Scicluna · Jun 22, 2011

Rhody31 said:

YankeeFan said:

D-3 Fan said:

Mizzougrad96 said:

YankeeFan said:

Companies in every industry will throw you overboard the minute they no longer need you.

I worry for young people who have an incredible loyalty to their employer and think they will be taken care of. It's like they need to get their heart broken once before they see things clearly.
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The best advice ever given to me was "Don't love your paper because it won't love you back."
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That sentence should be the mantra for every person, especially college grads, when they get hired anywhere in business, newspapers, IT, et cetera.

Add this: Your employer do not owe or reward you for loyalty, no matter how much you vouch for them, bleed for them, and work your ass off. I learned that the hard way...twice. Today, I don't mind landing a job and working it, but I'm working it for me, not to get a watch after 35 years or the unceremonious hook.

OOP, speaking of Patch, they're looking for writers here in Iowa.
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Loyalty is one thing, but where people go wrong is when they think they will be recognized and rewarded for things like putting in extra time without pay, not taking their vacation time, missing family events for work, etc.

Or, worst of all, taking on the responsibilities of the job above yours without the additional title and raise because you trust the company to do the right thing.

More likely, you've shown yourself as someone who can be taken advantage of, not someone who will "go the extra mile".

If you don't own a piece of the business, you need to remember that you are an employee. You shouldn't care about the business/company more than the people who do own it.

You're setting yourself up for some major disappointment.
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I was just reprimanded for working off the clock after I was informed our overtime was cut in the middle of playoffs. As politely as I could, I told my boss what they were asking us to do in the time provided was impossible, and regardless of if they would pay me or not, I was going to cover the games and comp myself the time later because I needed the coverage for my sections.
My publisher told me that I wasn't worth a lawsuit (don't know who would sue) and if I did it again, she would walk me out the door personally.
She then informed me Schieza - formerly a sports guy, now a (ugh) news guy - would oversee the sports department (we don't have an editor) and it was the first good decision she's made in her time at our paper.
As an aside, my former boss is a conniving asshole.
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You are actually very lucky. There are a lot of bosses who would just look the other way, or, would try to claim that you were just being inefficient in doing your job.

flexmaster33 · Jun 22, 2011

Central-KY-Kid said:

Have been with Landmark Communications (LCNI) for more than 11 years (I turn 30 next week) and I have very few complaints.

Newsroom staff is roughly the same size as it was (25 for a 17K daily) when I started. No furloughs. The few times we've had a sports opening, they were filled. No hiring freezes that I know of. We have cut back some travel, but our bread and butter has always been local preps over the D-I schools two counties away.

If LCNI was mentioned somewhere, I overlooked it and apologize. Not sure it's the best company to work for, but it's far from one of the worst.
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I'd gladly take that situation...nice

HanSenSE · Jun 22, 2011

mpcincal said:

Mark2010 said:

Surprised Lee Enterprises didn't get a spot SOMEWHERE. They have more than 50 dailies in the US. Having worked for them for two years, I would rate them middle-of-the-pack. I've certainly worked for worse.

PS: Is Ottaway Newspapers still in business?
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I work at a Lee paper too, and I agree with your middle-of-the-pack assessment. In my case, I have pretty good in-office management; it's the corporate management (or as I like to call them "the bean counters in Iowa") I usually have problems with because of the staff cuts and the inability to upgrade any of our technology (our software versions are probably about five updates behind).

Of course, the paper was under Pulitzer control the first couple years I was there. They were great because at the time, we had a decent sized staff (although the pay was still an issue), and we were able to get yearly bonuses my first two years there. Then, Pulitzer sold out to Lee.

Looking back, I realize things would not have continued to be so good under Pulitzer had it stayed on. I believe the family members saw the writing on the wall, got out, and let the succeeding company do all the dirty work as far as budget cuts and stopping the bonuses and 401k matches.
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I'm at a Lee paper too, and, at least at this shop, it's not too bad. Yeah, there's been personnel cuts, but they haven't hit the newsroom. Except for one quarter, there's been no wage cuts (alas, no raises, either, despite increased duties), and you ask managers the tough questions, they do usually have answers (not that I necessairy like them, but they're there). Plus, outside of the economic difficulties, my ME admits to being a sports illiterate, so I get to call the shots as to what direction the section takes, and, when the going gets tough, she's got my back.

EStreetJoe · Jun 22, 2011

Advance might need to be dropped to the middle tier with the way they've been handling their New Jersey newspapers the last five years.

doctorx · Jun 22, 2011

I'm not sure there's an upper tier.

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Best/worst newspaper companies?

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