gannett plans to layoff 3,000 by december.

That, and putting lap dances on your expense account to make up for all the work-related things you forget to put down are two of the biggest rationalizations in the business.

 

Well, that was their plan originally. Problem is, like many of Gannett's plans of the month, it blew up in their faces. Almost no one wants to move, especially when there's no guarantee the job will be there at the next round of cutbacks.

 

That's the problem with a Gannett job. You can't move and depend on it to be there before you're done unpacking. You can't plan a vacation, to renovate the basement, attend a conference etc. etc. etc...

You are just constantly waiting for the call that confirms you are on the list for this round.

 

FYI, they announced yesterday that are merging copy desks in Louisville, GReenville and Asheville. Louisville will be main place for copy and Gre and Ash will have skeleton staffs.

 

Greenville and Asheville are in North Carolina, right?

 

Based on how the Louisiana regional copy desk is going with only three of the five papers currently on board with the copy desk, I can only wish the "Ville" group the best of luck.

So far, it's been a disaster in Louisiana. Missed deadlines (by hours), busted headlines, incorrect photo credits and countless other SNAFUs in the first few weeks. And to think, there's still two more papers (including the largest paper in the Louisiana group) to go before it's fully implemented.

 

What a travesty. I feel for all my friends at Louisiana Gannett papers.

 

This was cumbersome when I worked at a place and had to talk with copy editors at a hub 30 miles away. I can't imagine what it will be like dealing with someone out of state.
There is something valuable about not only working under the same roof as a copy editor, but getting to know them, hanging out with them, getting an appreciation for each other's jobs.
That said, I've also known veteran reporters who couldn't name or identify three copy editors who worked in the same room as they did.

 

This is insane.So does that mean the Louisville group will handle staff copy from Greenville?

 

That was my point. A desk in Kentucky is editing copy for papers in North & South Carolina.

Fucking brilliant.

 

Someone please tell Dubow to stay home and for Gannett to give it up. These cost-cutting moves are beyond ridiculous. The regional copydesks don't work for so many reasons. Poor planning and poor execution.