Next in Line ... Milwaukee

Translation: We need to continue doing more of the "more" we've begun doing so well lately. However, we urgently need to do it all with less. Thank you so much, now go f*** yourselves.

 

When layoffs are announced, why the hell can't publishers just say, "We have to dump X amounts of people because the people who are in upper management at this paper fucked up and here's how they fucked up. We're sorry about needing to cut jobs. We wish everyone who leaves the best of luck in the future."

Instead of all the corporate gobblely-gook that they spew out of the memos now.

 

If they cut Garry Howard, could they save everyone else in sports?

 

Bottom line might only improve marginally, but morale would skyrocket and for a while, I believe those troops actually could do more with less.

 

How many in sports took the buyouts last year. I only know of one of the assistant sports editors. I don't know if there were others.

 

You talk to any of the worker bees there? The ones I know have very little respect for the journalism or character of their SE. Not just the usual griping-in-the-trenches, either. My impression is, SE manages "up" and "out" a lot better than he manages "down." Which, IMHO, is back-asswards.

 

Classic definition of managing "up" and "out." Gets him hired, keeps his spot at the table with cronies. All of which has little to do with putting out a paper or leading a staff. It's all second hand, I admit, but it's second hand from multiple inside sources.

 

Managing up is basically doing your bosses' bidding, making them feel good about themselves and their decision to hire you. That isn't necessarily bad, but it can be bad in the hands of a self-promoter and office-politicker. These are the lieutenants about whom it has been said many times: In battle, they would be shot by their own troops.

Managing out is what you alluded to, the fact that other SEs think highly of someone. Sure -- they don't have to work for that person. They don't need that editor to have their backs on tough stories or grueling work weeks or ethical stands. Again, there might be value in playing the role of SE to the readership, but that's not so much what I'm talking about.

And to me, both of those directions should be secondary to managing down, i.e., how you manage and lead your staff.

Guess the bright side is, some of those who have been troubled by the way things are done in Milwaukee won't have to be troubled by that much longer. :