USA TODAY losing all NBA Reporters

It's bizarre, primarily because it's a cluster-bomb of their NBA coverage.

But in terms of anal-retentives cheapening the product, while expecting morons to keep buying it at the same rate . . . Gannett, baby.

 

Geez, Ace, assuming you're not missing the sarcasm font, even in times like these, a million-plus national newspaper with RISING circulation losing its entire NBA reporting staff, and all of them being allowed to go, is not ordinary, unless my scrutiny of the business hasn't been nearly as good as I've thought over the past five years.

 

I wonder if there will be some restructuring and a little relying on AP. Does USA TODAY use staffers for the NHL?

It's kind of a slippery slope -- it could give other papers "bright" ideas. I'm not an NBA fan at all, but from a writer's perspective I still think it stinks.

 

Just because the folks who took the buyout were covering the NBA doesn't mean they won't cover the NBA. I assume they will simply shuffle the survivors around.

Unless USA Today specifically structured the buyouts so only NBA writers were eligible.

 

Wholly expect them to slot new folks into the NBA coverage.

Cheaper folks, of course.

Gannett, baby.

 

Nice to see they're following my advice as an "industry consultant."

Happy Holidays. You know, Chemotherapy can be Fun!!

 

What does race have to . . . have to do with it?

 

Nothing as far as I can tell. Perhaps just an interesting sidenote (i.e. Despite the industry push for diversity, the bottom line always wins out).

 

The item is from a blogger who takes particular note of African-Americans in the media.

 

USA Today has an audience. It's just not the same one everyday.

 

Maybe I was wrong to make light of the situation.
Lord knows, in 19 years of doing this, I've seen 11 rounds of buyouts/layoffs/separations/voluntary separations/involuntary separations at various stops. I've seen parking passes not work. Badges not work. Sign ons not work. I've seen coworkers tapped on the shoulder. I've seen it all.
The current industry trend is to replace the veterans. And when a company -- or a corporation -- offers buyouts, they run the risk of this situation occurring. USA Today will reshuffle. Perhaps need to backhire.
But, this is what they will do. There won't be four experienced journalists. There might be three. And they will be at lesser salary.

 

There's only one funny thing about this: That the suits' desperation to run people out of there has simultaneously stripped their sports section of all the expertise on a mainstream sport. I hope they're sweating.