gannett plans to layoff 3,000 by december.

Someone posted on a design board the Trib strategy and it sounds like Gannett has taken at least a portion of it to heart.
Pagination is a production expense and an expense that can be reduced by going to regional desks.
On paper it makes sense and I've worked at a place with a regional copy desk, but in practice it was a complete and utter disaster. No one has been able to make it work right and think that's because it is an idea that is simply built not to work.
Newspapers aren't widgets.

 

And why do I have the sneaking suspicion that the genius who thought to merge the three desks did so because the three cities have the phrase 'Ville' in it?

 

It is a widget. You're talking about decision-makers who have no idea what newspapers are. So they can call it what they damn well want.

 

Damn skippy.

 

OK, surely no one can be that dumb.

 

I guess hyper local is no longer the motto at Gannett?

 

I think Gannett's current motto is "Fuck you."

 

At least Craig Dubow's back is good.

Poor guy, been carrying the company for so many years.

 

Real Life, Real News, anyone?

 

From a friend who is an executive editor at a Gannett paper:

In October they will announce the next round of layoffs, likely to be more than 2,000. He doesn't know when the layoffs will take place. Photographers and photo editors will likely be the first to go.

 

And who said that the big G isn't a trend setting organization?

 

I was told the same thing last week about more Gannett cuts within the next 8-10 weeks.

Additionally, I'm hearing of more cuts in South Florida at the Herald by Christmas.

Fucking economy.