gannett plans to layoff 3,000 by december.

I repeat the question: How can J-schools remain open?

 

Love Moddy's idea about the driving range. We got the same issues. I went in about 3 p.m. the other day and half the lights were off in the newsroom. At first I thought there was an electrical issue. Then I realized they just had 'em off because no one was over there.

More than 20 desks. Just empty.

As for the ping pong table, we should be so lucky. About a year ago at our place we got an email from the ME informing us of a new "morale boosting" initiative. The first -- and to my knowledge, only -- official act under this initiative was to offer the employees ... wait for it ... fruit.

That's right, someone in our hierarchy took a look around our shop, noted the tension between management and employees, realized that many employees no longer thought very highly of the company and recognized that a lot of employees were, in general, just dissatisfied with their jobs, and as this person considered all of the things that might lift the spirits and boost morale, this thought entered his/her mind: "These bitches need an apple."

But wait, it gets better. That morale boosting fruit cost $.25.

Seriously.

I'm not making that up. Hell, I couldn't make that up. It's simply too sad for my brain to imagine on its own.

 

Oh my god. What a story, dog. Unbelievable. Fruit for a quarter.
Jeezus. You had to pay a fucking quarter?
I'd have brought all pennies every day. And gave 'em 25 at a time. Probably would get fired for that.

 

Was in my old stomping grounds of Iowa City the other day ... more sad news about Gannett's destruction of a newspaper there.

About 20-25 years ago, Gannett bought the Iowa City Press-Citizen, moved it out of its historic downtown building and built a new office/newsroom/printing plant on the outskirts of town. The idea was they'd print the P-C and USA Today there, if I recall.

Fast forward to 2009. The new building that once had 200 total employees now has only 37. The printing of the paper was farmed out long ago, to the Des Moines Register (another paper Gannett ruined). But now, with recent cuts in Des Moines, the P-C isn't printed there, either. Apparently its quasi-competitor, the Cedar Rapids Gazette, prints the Press-Citizen these days.

I heard this on Thursday during my Iowa City visit and couldn't believe it, but I guess that's what Gannett has come to these days. Pathetic ... and very sad for the people who used to work at the P-C.

 

What is the press doing in Iowa City? Just sitting there? Too expensive to run it or something? I don't get why they wouldn't print it there still.

 

While the fruit is a bit silly, I would love to get an apple for a quarter instead of getting gouged 85 cents for a potato chip back with 10 potato chips in it from the vending machine.

 

Fuck me... I just got done working with Dave on a "The Back Nine" story. He did a nice piece on one of the teachers in the movie who worked with my client.

And John? Well, enough said there. Class, class guy.

Like PC said before me, not like there's any golf being played in the Valley of the Sun or anything. . .

Thanks for making sure Dave and John got their proper due, Luke. Send them both regards.

 

yes, we have no bananas.

now get back to work (if we haven't laid you off).

-- love, gannett.

 

And it wouldn't surprise me if, in the next couple of years, the Gazette buys the P-C with all the money they've saved by the people they axed earlier this year.

 

Can somebody change the title of this thread? For those old enough to remember, McDonald's used to change the number on its signs. "Over 90 billion served" or whatever.
In this horrible thread, it's now it's more than 4,000 served.

 

What the hell? Just recreate yourself as Jackie Kennedy, and get kissed into an editor's
job at Viking.

Another great job -- if you don't need one.

 

Please tell us more about the fruit. How did it go over?? Who do you give the 25 cents to when you dig into the fruit? Who has to bring in the fruit every day? Was the plan mocked openly or did people have to act like they were Stepford Wives and say, 'thank you boss for your great gesture?'

As a morale booster how about giving raises again? This begs the question. Are we locked into our salaries forever? Is anybody ever going to see a raise again? Keep enrolling in J-Schools, kids. It's a GREAT profession; great future for you.