DFM bloodletting continues

”Significant layoffs” expected at California properties.

Still reeling at the staffing numbers cited for the Mercury News. From 440 in the late ‘90s to ... 39 today. Did I read that right?

OC Register and other Digital First Media newspapers face 'significant' layoffs

 

Has DFM reached the point where they can cut no more? I know these papers are produced at a central hub but going is DFM going to be forced to reduce the number of mastheads?

 

It certainly seems they're getting into "why bother" territory.

 

They should start another Thunderdome.

 

Seems like every day at work there is like Thunderdome -- 100 men (and women) enter, everyone leaves.

 

Terrifying numbers for BANG. There's been some reshuffling of deck chairs n Santa Cruz as well, including a recent sports hire.

More Writers Gone From Santa Cruz Sentinel - Good Times Santa Cruz

 

They corrected it - 39 union with some non-union people.

 

OK, but they didn't update it with their total newsroom number of employees. My guess is it's so low, they'd rather not make it public.

 

How did we get to the point non newspaper people own all the companies? Misguided B.S. is corporate policy. Video, video, video (hmmm, doesn't TV have that market cornered?). Podcasts, podcasts, podcasts, audio (hmmm doesn't radio have that covered?). Click bait, click bait, clickbait (embarrassing. If we have to go down, why do it in such a classless manner with ridiculous clickbait stories)? The newspaper is dead because companies that have no journalistic background decided that the individual writers mean nothing to the bottom line thus they got rid of all the talent. And another reason the newspaper is dead is because it used to have something for everybody (arts, music, sports, news, commentary, comics, puzzles, fun, seriousness) and now it has something for nobody except old people who are addicted to habit and their lifelong habit is to read the dead fish wrapper no matter what is in it Very sad. Digital first should just kill all the newspapers and do us all a favor. Put out some online only product that will go away for good in a month. Maybe someday once all newspapers are gone we'll have a rebirth, in kind of a Planet of the Apes scenario. Start over.

 

Frederick, sometimes you amuse me. And sometimes there's truth to your sordid tails. This is one of those times.

 

Looks like the BANGers who fled to The Athletic knew what they were doing.


Awaiting memo from Editor Who Nobody Ever Sees stating continuing commitment to "watchdog journalism" and the vital importance of newspapers in our daily lives." Bonus points if memo includes a reference to scene in "The Post" reminding people that Katherine Graham was worried about the WP's future but they still put out the Pentagon Papers and went on to Watergate.

 

Literally.

Project Thunderdome Officially Closes Its Doors – Adweek