Layoffs coming at the OCR...

Here's why I disagree with you on something: Social media is part of reporting. Most of our reporters have no desk work, assigning or editing work, but social media is expected. But that's just another platform for getting your story out. That, to me, is part of reporting. Just because it's not what reporting was 20 years ago doesn't make it less a part of reporting.

 

Bumping it up. Seems like after the disaster that accompanied having a new contractor delivering papers, which resulted in hundreds, if not thousands of complaints from people who didn't get their paper, the new suit in charge has a brilliant idea.

He's asking reporters and editors to "volunteer" an hour to take customer service complaints and call subscribers. Oh, and another suit wants them to do it "to show that we care."

Predictably, it has not gone over well for the staffers who really aren't in the mood to cover for the suits' fuck-ups.

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/11/rich_mirman_oc_register.php

 

Feel free to disagree but it would do most reporters some good to spend some time in other parts of the operation.

Catching complaint calls might actually make them better employees instead of the newsroom usual of bitter, jaded and absolutely clueless about the business.

 

Sounds fine. Let the publisher take some JV swimming results over the phone.

 

Oh, boy, a telethon! Does everyone get a T-shirt?

 

Back when I worked in newspapers, my phone line as the night news editor doubled as the general phone line after-hours. So I'd get complaint calls all the time, except they were almost rarely legitimate complaints. More random bitching from elderly shut-ins who just wanted someone to yell at. Along the lines of "the newspaper deliveryman tossed my paper two inches into the grass." Or, if they legitimately did not receive a paper, I'd redirect their call to the circulation after-hours line. That was rarely good enough; they'd call back and demand that I personally drive to their home with a paper. (For the yucks, in my last week at the paper, I actually drove one out once. Turned out Edna May just wanted someone to talk to.)

I guarantee absolutely none of the bean-counters and their flunkies who worked during the day would have gone the meager above-and-beyond steps I did taking those friggin calls. If anyone needs to Do More For The Business, it's the daytime cubicle jockeys.

 

I couldn't tell if they were seeking employees to work an extra unpaid hour (which would be illegal), or just wanting them to take an hour from their paid 40 to do their 'volunteer' work. Which of course, then means cramming 40 hours of work into 39 hours.

 

Been a long time since I've written here, but this one fascinates me.

I moved to Orange County a few months ago. Subscribed to the Register for a weird reason: I took my kids to an Angels game, and there was a woman sitting at a table inside the stadium, peddling print subscriptions. Felt awful for her because nobody approached. Went up to chat, felt even more guilty—signed up for a cheap two-month print subscription. Have actually sort of enjoyed the paper. The sports guys are clearly busting their asses, and the work is strong. The news is v-e-r-y thin, the paper is more inserts than content, etc.

But here's the weird thing: I recently went away for a few days, and I called to put my delivery on hold. And I could not reach anyone. I called, I e-mailed—nothing. Like, I could not suspend delivery because nobody was available to suspend delivery.

I'm planning on canceling my subscription shortly, but I don't even know if there's anyone available to handle the request. I feel awful for the employees, because they're clearly working hard, employed by a sinking ship. The whole situation sucks.

And my driveway was filled with rolled-up old newspapers.

 

A few years ago, I subscribed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for basically the same reason- I felt sorry for the person promoting the paper. And figured, hey, coupons are good I guess. Had a trial subscription that was next to nothing with an automatic subscription renewal that jacked up the price something fierce. I called a couple days before the subscription was sent to renew and I swear, I've had easier experiences getting out of Comcast plans than trying to get out of that AJC subscription. I'm actually doing missionary work in Haiti and won't have an address for you to send the paper was an actual line I had to use.

The bean-counters and flunkies are either desperate, as in my case, or have checked out entirely, as seems to be yours. (And probably in most places, IMO.)

 

Yeah!

You tell those "suits"!!!