Pileup of bad news for journos

On Friday Gannett stock closed at $22.87 a share. YIKES! I remember when it was trading around $90 a share! On Monday the poor employees at the Detroit News got the news that the paper must eliminate 150 jobs by July 18 — step forward to accept a buyout or else. That’s less than a month to decide if they want to stay with the orchestra on the Titanic… Get the full scoop over at Jim Hopkins’ http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/ I expect more bad news for Gannettoids is on the horizon.
     They’re not alone, of course. Here is a sampling of other grim news for other newsprint monkeys: The Star Telegram in Fort Worth; Dayton Beach News Journal; and The Sacramento Bee — all part of the McClatchy Group’s 1,400 layoffs.
     Time to go back to school and learn a new career. Perhaps vo-tech will be in some futures… Heck, you’ll always need plumbers and carpenters.

R.I.P. Mr. Russert

It’s always sad to learn of the passing of a fellow journalist. Today’s sudden passing of Tim Russert was especially heartbreaking, days away from Father’s Day — a holiday he gave more meaning through his poignant book on his relationship with his own father, Big Russ.
     As the videotape looped through endless tributes from politicians and his peers, it struck me that this man smiled all the time. (Not and easy thing today with the current cut-throat state of journalism.) Almost everyone commented on his strong faith, too, and how well he lived it. One of his last special moments on this earth was having a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI while visiting Rome to celebrate his son’s graduation from Boston College. They said Mr. Russert would pay attention to all the people under his wings as Washington Bureau chief for NBC. He was the one people would go to right away if they had a problem at home.
     Mr. Russert never gave an interviewee a free pass. He always asked the tough questions, yet delivered them with that same trademark smile.
     It’s a sad day. With the current chaos enveloping all forms of journalism, who could replace him? Would someone coming up through the ranks have the same work ethic? The same respect for friend or foe alike? It’s not certain. What is certain is that we will not see the likes of Tim Russert again.
     R.I.P.

While I was sleeping

Sorry for the length of my vacation away from this blog, but I was working on a big project.

So, while I was “sleeping” and Gannett’s stock was flirting with the $24 a share level this week, I missed some horrid, bastardly news. The mothership has frozen the pensions of all the employees except “120 exempt executives.” In it’s place is a new, improved, enhanced 401k with Xylitol! (Well it could have that in it for all I care.) Translation: We haven’t screwed our employees enough lately, and while we have them distracted with Pluck, it’s a good time to raid their futures. After all, it was easy enough to do to those idiot Brits we hoodwinked…

Of course, the best source for all of the latest on this highway robbery is Jim Hopkins’ Gannett Blog.