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More MG News

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Moderator1, Mar 23, 2009.

Page 25 of 40
  1. Jake_Taylor

    Jake_Taylor Well-Known Member

    I don't know for sure about Waynesboro, but in Culpeper there is a sports editor and a sports reporter that share the design and writing duties. The management says they don't expect either of the sports guys to be sent to Lynchburg, but who knows if that will hold true.

    Big Circus and Cosmo are right about all MG papers being short staffed. In Culpeper the sports staff size is actually fairly appropriate for the circulation, but the problem is the shortage in other areas means they call on the sports people to do things outside their job description helping with the news side.
     
    Jake_Taylor, Oct 16, 2009
    #289
  2. SportsGuyBCK

    SportsGuyBCK Active Member

    FYI ... just posted on the N.C. Press Association jobs board also hearing that some of the people they've hired for the N.C. universal desk have already quit and/or been shown the door ...

    Copy Editor/Page Designer (posted 11/10/09)
    Media General is accepting applications for openings on our universal copydesk in Hickory, N.C. Top applicants will have two years experience designing news, sports and/or feature pages for a daily newspaper. E-mail your resume and samples of your best work during the past six months to Managing Editor Mike Fuhrman at mfuhrman@statesville.com.
     
    SportsGuyBCK, Nov 11, 2009
    #290
  3. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    Why are people quitting or being shown the door?
     
    Drip, Nov 12, 2009
    #291
  4. SportsGuyBCK

    SportsGuyBCK Active Member

    Because the people doing the hiring are taking just about anyone who can read, write and spell ... they then find out that the hires can't cut it, or the hires figure out quickly that they're being asked to do too much for what they're being paid (I heard one person left after being trained for two days, and had done a total of three pages) ...
     
    SportsGuyBCK, Nov 12, 2009
    #292
  5. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    Got bits and pieces of this from a number of people today, most of them seemed confused over some details If anyone has more, knows more - please add it here or PM me.

    The consolidated desks will be in Richmond AND Tampa. Not W-S. No losts jobs. The twist is that a sports person in, say, Richmond may not continue as a sports person if sports is handled in Tampa and the person doesn't want to move. Or isn't allowed to move. Or something.
    Only told that it will start "this year" and there are still details to be worked out. No one seemed sure what cities would handle what.

    Clear as mud, I suppose.
     
    Moderator1, Apr 6, 2010
    #293
  6. SportsGuyBCK

    SportsGuyBCK Active Member

    Who in the HELL came up with THAT bright idea?

    Had to be some corporate moron ... if MG would lay off 2/3rds of the people on the corporate side (and not the worker bees like the secretarys, but all those VPs just sitting around drawing a hefty paycheck), their money problems would be solved ...
     
    SportsGuyBCK, Apr 6, 2010
    #294
  7. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    This e-mail went out today, not sure if it makes things any more clear:

    Media General to Consolidate Copy Editing and Page Design for its Three Metro Newspapers

    RICHMOND, Va. – Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG) said today it will consolidate copy editing and page design for its three metro newspapers, The Tampa Tribune, Richmond Times-Dispatch and Winston-Salem Journal.

    The consolidated metro editing and design operation will have two groups, one in Tampa, Fla., and one in Richmond, Va. The operation will be led by a single managing editor located at the Richmond facility. Each of the two groups will have primary responsibility for particular sections and pages for all three metro newspapers. The next steps are to select the managing editor, install common production software and establish common design elements that will facilitate production efficiencies. The consolidated operation is expected to start up in the third quarter of this year.

    The metro operation will be the third of its kind for Media General. The first became operational in Lynchburg, Va., in April 2009. The second started up in Hickory, N.C., in October, 2009. At this time, 12 of Media General’s 23 metro and community newspapers are either part of or transitioning to a consolidated editing and design operation. The company expects to have all of its newspapers in a consolidated editing and design operation by the end of the year. Once all newspapers have completed the transition, Media General expects to realize annualized cost savings of more than $1 million from efficiencies related to this initiative, starting in 2011. The company intends to use a portion of the savings to focus on intensified local news coverage.

    “Our consolidated editing and design operations allow our newsrooms to focus on strong local news reporting. Stories will be edited once rather than multiple times, and we can take advantage of economies of scale and centralization of top talent,” said Donna Reed, Media General’s Vice President of Content. “Our customers will be unaffected by this internal process change and all news decisions will continue to be made by our local editors,” said Ms. Reed.

    Over the past 10 years, Media General has consolidated and centralized a number of broadcast functions, including traffic, master control and graphics, and newspaper functions, including printing and distribution and various call centers. This approach allows the company’s properties to focus on their local communities while creating resource groups that both increase quality and provide significant process efficiencies.

    The Lynchburg editing and design center produces the pages for The (Lynchburg) News & Advance, Danville Register & Bee, and the company’s Rockingham, N.C., community newspapers. The (Manassas, Va.) News & Messenger and The (Waynesboro, Va.) News Virginian are in the process of transitioning there.

    The Hickory, N.C., editing and design center produces the pages for the Hickory Daily Record, Statesville Record & Landmark, The (Morganton) News Herald, The McDowell News, and the weekly Mooresville Tribune. The Florence (S.C.) Morning News and (Concord & Kannapolis, N.C.) Independent Tribune are in the process of transitioning there.
     
    Moderator1, Apr 7, 2010
    #295
  8. reformedhack

    reformedhack Well-Known Member

    Another outstanding decision for the Media General braintrust. Might as well send all the copy to India if you're going to ask editors in Tampa to edit content for Richmond and Winston-Salem, or vice versa. Let a few out-of-towner mistakes such as "Dale Mabry Boulevard" (it's supposed to be "Highway") or "U.S. 64" (it's supposed to be "Interstate") get into print a couple of times, and soon they won't have to worry about producing a newspaper at all -- because no one will trust it or buy it anymore.

    On the other hand, maybe that's the intent. Just sayin'.
     
    reformedhack, Apr 7, 2010
    #296
  9. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    The emasculation of Glenn Proctor continues in Richmond.
     
    Drip, Apr 7, 2010
    #297
  10. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Once all newspapers have completed the transition, Media General expects to realize annualized cost savings of more than $1 million from efficiencies related to this initiative, starting in 2011. The company intends to use a portion of the savings to focus on intensified local news coverage.

    The over/under on this "portion" is $31.68.
     
    playthrough, Apr 7, 2010
    #298
  11. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    What??

    I've been trying so hard not to respond to your horsecrap but damn. What does this have to do with Proctor? Don't get all defensive and dodgy like you normally do. Just answer the question.
     
    Moderator1, Apr 7, 2010
    #299
  12. Furry Tractor

    Furry Tractor Member

    Just awesome. These people have no clue.
     
    Furry Tractor, Apr 7, 2010
    #300
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