More cuts at USA Today?

It's a real thing.

Liza Koon, one of the sweetest and most loyal folks ever to set foot there, was escorted out of the building today.
I'd like to spit some Beech Nut in the eye of whoever pushed the button on that one.

Haven't really heard any other names at this point. Still waiting on them to fire one asshole. Just one.

 

Wow, the one Gannett paper where it's a surprise to see this.

 

The people getting booted were (mainly) all there when I left - which was in 1991. Pure salary play, I suspect.
Quietly, they'll refill many of those jobs at half the price. Or less.

 

If that's what's happening, it makes more sense. I had heard that the biggest complaint about the last overhaul was that there was a division between the people who had been there and those who were hired a couple years ago.

 

I'm hearing from some Gannett folks that there is a big corporate push on for social engagement (i.e. Twitter followers), figure they will use this metric to cut some experienced folks. Colleagues are going on Facebook begging for people to follow them on Twitter.

 

It's kind of hard to blame them on that one. If you're lucky to have a job there and you're refusing to utilize social media, that's a problem.

It's not always just an age thing. I know plenty of older (50+) writers who do a great job on Twitter. In this day and age, you have to be able to adapt and change with the times.

 

Nashville's Dave Ammenheuser - who famously had to reapply for his job along with most everyone else there - launched a @NashSportsEd Twitter account a couple of weeks ago. He has 33 followers.

 

Fuck that. FUCK THAT.

Dealt with her a lot a few years back, and she was the freaking best. Dealt with mountains of shit every single day and handled it all professionally, did a very good job and had a great attitude.

Fuck that.

 

Don't know him, but I have some friends who have worked for him who say he's a tremendous boss.

 

Update from the Romenesko website:

http://jimromenesko.com/2014/09/03/gannett-layoff-updates-are-trickling-in/

 

There's a difference between refusing to use the technology, and using it and not having anyone give a shit what you are posting.

The social media excuse is just that, an excuse, because Gannett doesn't A. Want an age discrimination lawsuit and B. Admit they're only doing it because they want to cut payroll.