Black Monday - Is this the worst day for print journalism?

and i wonder why i'm never around anymore....

not sure i can now that i'm off the antidepressants

 

I'm hearing ya. (And welcome back.)

 

Here's my pissing:

My paper announced furloughs Friday. Today, I had the joy of calling around to the guys on staff to find out when they are going to take their furloughs. I had the joy of answering questions about how they were supposed to get by, how the section was going to survive, etc.

Oh, the joys of being in management.

I know management gets pissed on to no end here, but it isn't like it is fun having to be the bearer of bad news, especially when decisions like this are made much higher than I am on the food chain.

No one enjoys any of this, but I guess at least I wasn't laid off on Friday. I have that going for me and my staff.

 

Well, aside from all the crap on here about whether we need a single thread about all the bad news happening today, I've now heard that at least one very highly respected former colleague at the L.A. Times was among those who were let go. I'm wondering if there's more news out there that somebody could provide.

 

Are any of these folks your former colleague?

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2009/03/sacramento_coverage_takes.php

 

I'm sure you understand it from the rank and file point of view too, though. I know you don't enjoy telling an employee that he has to take a week off without pay. I'm sure you wouldn't relish the prospect of letting someone go if it had nothing to do with her performance.

The disconnect lies in how unfair these cuts are at their core. If Johnny Reporter is supposed to cover his beat thoroughly and a competing paper is wiping its ass with him, people don't have a problem losing that from their shop.

But when they see someone who's been a solid citizen, not just a great employee, get the axe for no other reason besides money, it tells the rank and filer that no matter how good you are, don't make too much money or don't stick your neck out or you'll be next.

When they hear the usual bromides about "doing more with less" or "this won't affect the great coverage we're providing you" when everyone who has half a brain cell knows otherwise, we're tired of being fed the same crock of shit time and time again by bosses who only pay lip service to the idea of upholding journalism standards. And by some bosses who don't even attempt the lip service.

It sucks if you're a manager and you have that coming down from above, but get used to it. It ain't fun being a boss in this climate, but you'll get no sympathy from the rank and file, some of whom would love your larger paycheck no matter what headaches come along for the ride. Believe me, I know.

 

After 26 years, I got whacked today along with most of our staff. We had six full-timers and three part-timers. One full-timer and one part-timer survived. Fuck.

 

Sorry to hear that TwoGloves. Man this business sucks.

 

Fuck. That's brutal. Best of luck, TwoGloves.

 

Sorry to hear that, dude... are you gone immediately or when the changes in take effect.

 

Wow. They tell people these things at places? We just get e-mails.

 

And that sucks gloves, I really enjoyed the prep football coverage you guys did.