Gannett Buyouts

It looks like Gannett has had a lot of buyouts across the country this week. Was there any sports writers who took the buyout?

 

I know Des Moines had a longtime preps guy take it. Here's a column screaming about how great the departing people are. Of course, not great enough to keep them around …

As the new year dawns, a farewell to Register colleagues who made Iowa journalism better

 

Six people took buyouts in mine. None were sports.

 

In Indy, Mark Alesia (who broke the Nasser/MSU/USA Gymnastics story) was the one with a connection to sports.

Others were Gary Varvel (longtime cartoonist), Leisa Richardson (planning editor), Tom Leyden (online editor), Greg Weaver (government editor) and Will Higgins (news-side reporter).

 

Mike Davis (SE) in Milwaukee. I don't believe this was voluntary ...

 

I don't know about sports, but news reporters Billy Watkins and Jerry Mitchell were bought out at the Clarion-Ledger in Mississippi. Mitchell is one of the best investigative reporters anywhere and has done a lot of great work digging into Mississippi's checkered past for more than 30 years. That's one of those losses that'll be felt not just at the newspaper, but across the state.

 

Holy shit, didn't realize Mitchell took the buyout.

It's impossible to overstate the impact he had on the entire journalism world. Such a loss for the C-L.

 

Jerry Mitchell? That's one of those things that you see and just kills you as a young reporter. If Mitchell doesn't get to retire when he wants after the things he's done for Gannett, nobody does. Probably done more for the Gannett brand (in a positive way) than any reporter. He's 60 and I'm sure will continue to do great work somewhere, but damn....

McArthur Genius Grant, put four klansmen behind bars, oddly enough - never won a Pulitzer.

 

It's MacArthur, genius.

 

Thats why i don't have one.

 

Mitchell is going to start the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting, so he's landing on his feet and might still be doing some stuff. It's still a big blow losing someone like that from the active roster.

 

Kenzie Winstead in Louisville. Covered southern Indiana and Louisville preps.

From music to sports coverage, these retiring CJ staffers will be missed