'Black Wednesday' in Tampa

That is surprising that the paper axed someone and didn't do the severance package immediately. Sloppy.

On the other hand, any severance beyond vacation pay and maybe a week or two will require the recipient to sign a document saying that he or she will not sue for any reason related to dismissal.

So you can talk about suing, but then you can't get any severance.

 

Mizzougrad,

That is actually on my list of about 1,407 things to do today ... I guess I better get started.

 

Wonder if that applies to severance due for a layoff, especially at a union place. Can't imagine the employer could withhold a check in that case. Then again, having a union could get in the way of someone wanting to sue, either because of existing contract language -- the union collectively bargains your rights for you -- or by simply refusing to pursue a grievance as any sort of remedy.

 

One thing to think about in all this shakeup in the industry, and unfortunately it's another layer of cynicism.

Us ink-stained sports scribes have long throught that a media relations/SID type job might be a good landing place when things go sour at your newspaper, or you want to jump before it gets to that point.

These days, I have to wonder how long before those media relations/SID jobs start disappearing from the map. Between all this media consolidation and reduced coverage at papers still existing, there are a dwindling number of media entities for SID-types to service. Therefore, SID-types become expendable.

Furthermore, with more and more schools, especially the Div. I powers, building proverbial walls around themselves to severely limit media access---and you all know what I mean---once again, reduced need for SID-types to interact with media in terms of setting up interviews, etc., etc.

So, imagine this, a world eventually without sportswriters, without SIDs, without any media access at all.

I know, this is an oversimplification, but still, what happens then?

 

Not to be flippant, but I imagine they will still play the games, and people will show up or watch them on TV.

 

FirstDown---exactly.

 

If newspapers aren't allowed access or don't have the manpower to cover college athletics it will be even more important for the SID folks to get the news out on their websites, emails, etc.

The interest in the teams isn't going to go away.

 

I believe you just described Ms. DaSilva perfectly.

 

Wonder how her week at work has gone... anyone?

 

I think her week has involved going around opening doors for the executive editor, asking if she needs anything to drink ... you know, modern-day intern-type stuff.

 

Exactly. The school I cover has its SID folks covering every football practice and doing all sorts of multi-media stuff. Which is why we need to get the fuck into the goddamn 21st century and start doing this shit ourselves, or no one will have any interest whatsoever in coming to our web site. Why check the newspaper when the school actually gives you better content?