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Phawker: Stephen A. Smith loses Inquirer column

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by beanpole, Aug 22, 2007.

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Page 13 of 18
  1. fishwrapper

    fishwrapper Active Member

    It depends on the paper and the Union CBA.
    Many times, a columnist will make close to what the Editor is pulling in. There is no scale for that kind of columnist. So, the columnist prefers to negotiate outside the union parameters.
     
    fishwrapper, Aug 23, 2007
    #145
  2. wickedwritah

    wickedwritah Guest

    Not trying to be an asshole, boots, but which one is it?
     
    wickedwritah, Aug 23, 2007
    #146
  3. Elliotte Friedman

    Elliotte Friedman Moderator Staff Member

    Wicked,

    I will not defend Smith's work. Unfortunately, he's prone to bad errors due to a lack of preparation.

    But I do believe the paper is going out of its way to smear him. As several posters here have noted, the Inquirer could simply announce it is re-assigning him. Smith may not like it, but it's certainly within the newspaper's rights. However, the story the Inquirer published and the Slate column linked on the website clearly indicate some kind of p.r. campaign.

    It reminds me of when a sports team is about to make a move it knows will not be popular. (For example, trading/failing to sign a beloved player.) We've all seen cases where the team does everything it can to try and lessen the impact, somehow make it seem like that player is not as useful as the fans believe.

    Now, I'm not saying that Smith is so beloved in Philadelphia. Honestly, I don't know. But I know he had an impact there. And, I know the fact Smith is black could also reflect negatively on the newspaper in the community. To me, it's as if the decision-makers said, "We're going to face some scrutiny and criticism here, so when we want to announce it, let's make a pre-emptive strike."

    He's not my favourite, and you could certainly make the argument that he deserved this demotion. But the newspaper could handle this in a much classier manner.
     
    Elliotte Friedman, Aug 23, 2007
    #147
  4. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    OK, what happens first...

    Stephen A. writes an actual GA story, not a column, on something other than the NBA...

    or...

    We get a release of how he's leaving the paper...
     
    Mizzougrad96, Aug 23, 2007
    #148
  5. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    I agree with all of this... I just wonder if the paper's hands are tied because of the union and they're having a big pissing contest over what will happen first, SAS covering actual GA events or him telling everyone to fuck off and quitting...

    I have a feeling this will be settled by lawyers, with Philly paying SAS to go away...
     
    Mizzougrad96, Aug 23, 2007
    #149
  6. boots

    boots New Member

    Not trying to be an asshole, boots, but which one is it?
    [/quote]
    Wicked, didn't think my first post made it. SAS will stay ONLY if they increase his pay. He will not take a pay reduction.
    The newspaper guild's sellout at the Inky has been rehashed so many times. When they put together the contract, they made sure senority was preserved. The guild in Philly is both toothless and gutless.
     
    boots, Aug 23, 2007
    #150
  7. Joe Williams

    Joe Williams Well-Known Member

    By giving management the freedom to "carve out" in its layoffs? Yeah, that's a bad one. Most editors don't want to go by strict seniority because the newest hires generally tend to be one or more of the following:
    A. People that those particular editors have hired and thereby think are better than the people they inherited.
    B. Younger or less experienced people, with smaller salaries.
    C. Minority hires, since most papers only have gotten busy with diversity hiring in more recent years, relatively.
    So a union never should give permission to management to selectively throw people overboard. Make them sweeten the buyout offers if they can't reach their numbers. Or make them get rid of the people even they don't want to get rid of.
     
    Joe Williams, Aug 23, 2007
    #151
  8. Zeemer

    Zeemer Member

    The guild in Philadelphia did not "sell out," boots. That implies it got something in return.
    The guild in Philadelphia got crushed.
     
    Zeemer, Aug 23, 2007
    #152
  9. Sportsbruh

    Sportsbruh Member

    Aye, I woulda been here earlier, but Dig - can ya'll get that mod off my tail?

    ****************************************

    This is LAUGHABLE. It's not like Steven needs them anyway. He's STILL stretched too thin. Besides, what's the name of that newspaper anyway?

    What's the circulation?
     
    Sportsbruh, Aug 23, 2007
    #153
  10. jgmacg

    jgmacg Guest

    The reasonable protection of seniority is bad?
     
    jgmacg, Aug 23, 2007
    #154
  11. boots

    boots New Member

    The guild sold out.
     
    boots, Aug 23, 2007
    #155
  12. jgmacg

    jgmacg Guest

    Sold out what? To whom?
     
    jgmacg, Aug 23, 2007
    #156
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