Sports Editor, Montgomery Advertiser

Yeah, this is true and somewhat old. Wanda Lloyd has taken some hits, a few justifiable, but she too is a Gannettoid. And that is the problem. It doesn't matter if Jimmy Cannon came back from the grave, he too would have to conform to the Gannett way or leave.

 

It's being too corporate with both the product and views. What's good for Gannett as a company isn't necessarily good for the area where they have papers.

 

Yeah, what might sound good in Herndon, Va., might possibly be a bad idea in, say, Shreveport.

 

I'm left wondering if they actually make an outside hire on this one, considering the impending layoffs.
From the Gannett point of view, it makes more sense to promote from within and eliminate a position.

 

They won't eliminate the position. Water it down, I can see that, but not eliminate. This will be done from within the Gannett family. That's the way its done, as a reward of sorts.

 

Pretty confident of that, are you, or is that just more of the usual throw it against the wall and see what sticks?

 

Slappy, there are few if any people who post on here who can tell you what will actually happen. If I knew what will happen, I damn sure wouldn't be posting here and if could see in the future, I'd be doing more than pulling lint out of my pocket. Like you, I'm just giving an opinion of the situation.
If you know more about what will happen and care to share, please do. If you are on the outside looking in, like many along here are, then share your speculation if that pleases you.
At any rate, I'm glad there is another job opening out there. The business needs a few more.

 

But that's what's shocking about this whole thing. On Dec. 3 (or Dec. 10, depending on which shop you're at), Gannett is making a 10% cut in the newspaper division among all their 80-or-so community newspapers. Yet, at least a dozen or so Gannett jobs come up every week.

So, what's the deal? They're gonna cut 10% of their workforce, but they're still hiring? Yeah, OK.

I think Montgomery will hire from within their department and consolidate that person's position. That's the Gannett way -- "promote" someone to make it look like you're rewarding loyalty, then streamline the department by never actually replacing the departed SE.

 

Someone please explain the "Gannett way" please. Also, any idea what this might pay?

 

You assume someone inside that department would want it.

 

Well, in most Gannett shops, it's not whether you want it or not, you pretty much have to take it.

I've seen it happen quite a few times at my Gannett stops, where a person is "promoted" and is usually the last to know. I shit you not. Just recently, we had someone "promoted" to a newly created position and that person found out when everybody else did, when the newsroom-wide e-mail went out congratulating said person on said promotion.

I don't think anyone at the Advertiser would want that position, especially knowing what they know about that power struggle. But it may not be their choice in the end. Sad to say, but it happens.