Beacon Journal Cutbacks Hit Browns Writer?

[fmrsped]

Pat is very solid, if it happens it will be a significant loss.  If memory serves, when he departed for the website a few years ago they offered the job to the Cleveland AP guy and he turned them down.  Then they sat on the position for a year and gladly grabbed Pat back when he quit because he didn't want to be a shill anymore even if it was for six figures as rumored.  This is a situation of union rules hurting the overall cause, but he is indeed the last writer hired and thus the first to go in sports.

For what it is worth there's wild rumors coming out of Akron that they could layoff anywhere from 15-50 people in the newsroom.  Sports, which has been reduced from like 18 writers 10 years ago to like 10 today, is bracing for as many as three lost writers with Pat being the most high profile.  I guess the paper is still making millions, but about half as many as five years ago.  Someone I talked to said there might be buyouts, but with the business the way it is today I'm not sure how many people would take them.

Also the rumor is 3-4 guys on the Plain Dealer staff are planning on taking their buyout.  Not sure who, but I'd guess longtime beat writers Burt Graef and George Sweda along with Bob Dolgan, who has been there like 40 years, would be on that list.

Interesting stuff, Ohiowriter, thanks for the head's up. I'd assume the PD would reorganize some stuff then? Are you privy to that info?

 

[wheels89]

Livingston has been there forever too and might do it.

 

[Tiger16]

I'll believe the author of that article is plugged into the Beacon Journal situation when he identifies the correct owner.

I've never heard of the author, but it appears he spoke directly to McManamon. The details of why and what were pretty similar to what I had already heard.

 

[WordMP]

It seems the number at the ABJ is going to be around 40 and include 9 managers. The announcement is supposed to come in the next week. McManamon is at the bottom of the seniority list due to his departure to Browns.com for more than year about three years ago. If the reporter hits are deep enough, Brian Windhorst on the Cavaliers and Tom Reed, the award-winning columnist, also could be out. Sad situation there. Two or three other younger sportswriters will be out, too.

 

[shockey]

besides being a top-notch beat man, pat is also one of the truly fine people in the biz. just wanted to add my 2 cents that this would be a crying shame. :'( :'( :'(

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

How big is the ABJ sports staff?

 

[Ohiowriter]

The ABJ has about 10 writers including columnists, they used to have around 20 about 10 years or so ago. I guess they're afraid of losing three writers with Mcmanamon being the highest profile person with maybe a few prep writers. Brian Windhorst and Tom Reed, I hear, are safe because they've both been there like seven years or so. There is still a chance they'll have buyouts, which might bring Sheldon Ocker into play. He's been their Indians writer for like 25 years. Doesn't leave much of a sports staff there does it? And to think that was an annual APSE top 10 daily and Sunday just a few years ago.

No way Livingston takes the buyout at the PD, he has a kid in college. Graef and Sweda I'm pretty sure of.

 

[slappy4428]

Couple things might save his job, depending on how the union contract is written.
If he left for Browns.com and came back, the contract might guarantee his seniority if he returned within x period. For example, if I worked at a place for 10 years, left for 23 months and returned to the place, I would keep the 10 years seniority if the contract has a clause saying anyone leaving and returning within two years maintains the seniority. Two years and a week would be a week.
Another is where is his job classification on the food chain. If it's reporter, then copy editor, then paginator, for example, and he has more seniority than two copy editors, he might be able to bump to keep his job. Won't keep him on the Browns beat, but it might keep him employed -- even if it's designing lifestyle pages.
Some places also don't make the distinction between departments. Reporters are lumped into one class, not news, sports, features, business. Might mean he's covering city council or arts, but it a job.
All depends on how the contract is written

 

[wheels89]

Plus McManamon was gone less than a year. Left the BJ before training camp '04 and was back before or just after the draft in '05.

 

[Satchel Pooch]

It seems the number at the ABJ is going to be around 40 and include 9 managers. The announcement is supposed to come in the next week. McManamon is at the bottom of the seniority list due to his departure to Browns.com for more than year about three years ago. If the reporter hits are deep enough, Brian Windhorst on the Cavaliers and Tom Reed, the award-winning columnist, also could be out. Sad situation there. Two or three other younger sportswriters will be out, too.

If Tom Reed is let go by the ABJ, he'll be unemployed for about 15-30 seconds.

(No, I'm not him.)

 

[The_Equalizer]

It seems the number at the ABJ is going to be around 40 and include 9 managers. The announcement is supposed to come in the next week. McManamon is at the bottom of the seniority list due to his departure to Browns.com for more than year about three years ago. If the reporter hits are deep enough, Brian Windhorst on the Cavaliers and Tom Reed, the award-winning columnist, also could be out. Sad situation there. Two or three other younger sportswriters will be out, too.

If Tom Reed is let go by the ABJ, he'll be unemployed for about 15-30 seconds.

(No, I'm not him.)

You speak the truth, Satch.

 

[FootballScribe]

No doubt on Reed, same goes with Windhorst. Both would have no problems finding another, perhaps better, gig elsewhere. Good writers and even better reporters.