So is McClatchy about to drop the hammer?

Should UPS go on the "life after journalism" thread?

Hell, if Kevin James can do it, I can do it, right?

 

I asked for a raise once and was told, "You're already the highest paid non-columnist writer in the newsroom." I said, "Well, then give me a column and I'll be the lowest paid in that group, and then you can give me a raise." They said no. I said, "So call me a 'senior' writer." They said, "What's that? We don't have 'senior' writers. A writer is a writer is a writer."

This was all told to me by an "Assistant Managing Editor/Sports."

Buncha blowhards.

 

Sorry, folks... UPS is fucked, too

-------------------

UPS lowers second-quarter outlook

ATLANTA (AP) — UPS Inc., the world's largest shipping carrier, lowered its earnings expectations for the second quarter on Monday because of slowing U.S. economic growth and high fuel costs.

The Atlanta-based company said it expects earnings per share for the second quarter to be within a range of 83 cents to 88 cents, compared with the 97 cents to $1.04 the company originally anticipated.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial were expecting UPS earnings of 97 cents a share in the second quarter.

UPS, also known as United Parcel Service, said the slowing U.S. economy and record fuel prices have resulted in lower-than-expected U.S. package volume and reduced use of premium air products.

UPS' second quarter ends June 30. It will report its results for the three-month period on July 22.

UPS is able to pass higher fuel costs on to customers in the form of a fuel surcharge on shipments. However, the surcharge increases haven't kept pace with rapidly rising fuel prices.

In April, as part of its first-quarter earnings release, UPS lowered its earnings guidance for the year and projected the weak U.S. economy would continue to affect the company in the second quarter. It acknowledged Monday that the current quarter has been even tougher than it anticipated just a few months ago.

At the time of the first-quarter earnings release, UPS lowered its earnings expectations for the full year to between $3.90 and $4.20 a share. Previously, UPS said it expected earnings per share to be between $4.30 and $4.50 for the year.

UPS did not update the projection Monday to reflect any impact its lower expectations for the second quarter might have on its full-year results.

UPS shares fell 11 cents to close at $66.26 Monday. In after-hours trading, the shares fell $2.30, or 3.5 percent, to $63.96.

 

fuckin debbie downer

 

What can brown do for itself?

 

The only difference with UPS' stock dropping a bit is that employees get it for a very small fraction of the price. They're still making money over time.
Example: Growing up, my buddy's dad was a regional director of some sort. He held sway over Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. For his son's 16th birthday, he got something like 1,000 shares of company stock. This was in 1995.
Me: "That must have been one expensive 16th birthday present for your son."
Friend's dad (slightly paraphrased): "Yeah right. Shit cost me a dime on the dollar."
Me: "Must be nice to be a big-wig."
FD: "Our drivers get it at the same rate."

Yes, the economy sucks, and just about every industry is hurting because of it. But that doesn't mean employees can be treated the way they have in some of the industries -- including ours.
I may be stretching here, but look at the KC Star employees from the late 70s. Economy wasn't exactly falling all over itself, but because the company was employee owned, the people who took buyouts when the paper was sold all left with 6 figures in the bank. There are people being bought out now who have a month to figure out how to put food on their table.
Meanwhile, CEOs are Scrooge McDuckin' their way through their swimming pools.

 

nobody, and i mean nobody pulls off "high falutin' " like you.

you'll always be one of my favorite posters here.

 

I covered the K-State beat last year for a paper in Kansas, so I knew Howard and I feel like someone has punched me in the gut knowing that he is gone from the Star. He was always very nice to me, despite the fact that few wanted to take me seriously as a girl, out there covering sports. He never tried to dominate interviews and was always out there, doing his job. I cannot believe that he's the one they got rid of.

Jeffrey Martin's coverage of K-State for the Eagle is also superb (in addition to his gamers and stuff, he also has a blog with the off-the-court/field tidbits that you wouldn't really find in other places, plus other exclusives. It's a really good example of a sports blog) but I really and truly cannot believe that they would outsource for K-State coverage. It's not like it's some I-AA school. It's a major Division I-A university, part of the Big 12 and major rivals with the two universities that the Star likes to kiss ass to. They can't ignore them. The thing that works against K-State's favor in this instance is that gas is $4 a gallon and it's two hours one way from KC to Manhattan. Plus, driving in the winter sucks in Kansas, so there's possibilities of wrecks and stuff on the interstate while trying to get there. My only thought would be that they might find a stringer that lives in Manhattan who can do that sort of thing.

This whole thing is scaring the crap out of me and I've only been in the industry (officially) for a month. Good luck to all of those who are at those papers (sorry it's late...but I was terrified to look at this post because I really didn't want to know who at the Star was getting the axe. I keep thinking it could have been me because they offered me a job there for the summer.)

 

Right back at ya, TP.

 

Update: The Lexington Herald Leader is offering more buyouts to its full-time employees.


http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/486757.html


Here's the best bet comment: "On Monday, Kelly said the Herald-Leader is profitable, just not as profitable as in the past."