When I was in college, I studied journalism and was editor of the college newspaper for a while. We studied Gannet and its CEO Al Neuharth, who created USA Today. We saw then how his financial focus was impacting newsroom operations, even as he innovated. The demise of l community newspapers cannot be laid entirely at his feet, but he gave it a hearty push down the hill.
Ken, my wife and I both worked for Gannett and the Arizona Republic. I was there for 6 years. At its peak Sunday circ was something like 386k, now it hovers around 95k. Oh times have changed. Fantastic journalists leaving some on their own. Others victims of Gannett cost cuts. I believe Lee is another Gannett, there are to many similarities in how the organization is run.
Remember Ken I was the GM for the Auburn Citizen, when we shared a publisher in Rob Forcey. I joined Lee, after I left Gannet, in 2014
The similarities are there. From cost cuts, which include implementing furloughs, early retirements and layoffs and some of their newsrooms choosing to unionize.
I was just reading yesterday about a new nonprofit The Maine Journalism Foundation, which aims to buy all of the papers in Maine. The goal is to support sustainability AND keep local control. I'm not crazy about a single owner- even a nonprofit one- but if there are safeguard to maintain editorial independence, it could work. And the reality is, it is one company in Maine that owns almost all of the papers in the state, anyway. it is open to selling all of its holdings to this new foundation.
I had not heard of that project in Maine. There are lots of new models that are searching for the way to serve the community, but still be financially viable.
Jill Lochner (R) from Saratoga Springs and challenger to Elise Stefanik (MAGA) j will be in Canton for a meet and greet on Saturday May 6th at Noon at litleGrasse Community Farm on Miner Street Road.
This is a Democracy in Action event.
Frosty reception
Lochner said she’s reached out to the Republican committee chairmen for the counties covered by NY-21, but has had a frosty reply so far.
“I mostly didn’t get a reply, and I got a few replies that were very pro-Elise,” she said. “It’s exactly as I expected, and it’s a challenge for sure.”
But she said she believes she’s got a strong message that can resonate with the voters of the 21st District; a bona-fide Republican who supports small government, Constitutional rights, and who is committed to honest and service. She said her own experience outside of government, compared to the long political pedigree of Stefanik, who worked in the Bush administration right out of college, gives her an advantage.
"I have been following the race in NY-21 since the beginning, since Elise Stefanik’s first run in 2014. I even thought about running back then. But my life situation at the time just didn't allow it. And frankly I liked her back then. She presented herself as more moderate, more like myself. You know, I voted for her. But over the years she has become increasingly far right. She has become extreme. She's been using her position only to climb and to serve herself and not to serve the people of New York 21. And also the Republican Party in general and politics in general has been very disappointing to me as a whole in this country. The loudest, angriest voices getting the airtime and we've just lost respectful conversation and dialogue and I really think we need to get back to that. And now I have just decided to put myself out there and run.
The loss of local newspapers is not good for America...but I wonder if a lot of it is self-inflicted by employees who didn't and still don't know their audience. Like what Bud Light is experiencing...you've got to know your customer.
This is truly SAD about Gannett & what it has done to so many lives in the newspaper business - again greed and bad decisions can & does ruin a lot of lives whether in lack of information to the general public or unemployment caused by the layoffs. You just have to be thankful for the newspapers that are still in print and keep on subscribing to them, Amen - Thanks Ken
ISN'T IT AMAZING how many people who are in the media are dumber than a box of rocks when it comes to QUALITY OBJECTIVE REPORTING AND ADVERTISING INSTEAD OF trying to FIRST increase subscription AND advertising rates to TRY and QUICKLY MAKE MONEY???? BUT, the consumer says, "HELL NO" and the likes of Fannett wonder why they have to lay off QUALITY employees AND closed newspapers altogether. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY BUYING ANY NEWSPAPER OWNED BY GANNETT!!!! OCT., 2021 https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/10/gannett-local-newspaper-hawk-eye-iowa/619847/?fbclid=IwAR0AiC_nKsUuor8Xm7z0oKf7jx-QV
When I was in college, I studied journalism and was editor of the college newspaper for a while. We studied Gannet and its CEO Al Neuharth, who created USA Today. We saw then how his financial focus was impacting newsroom operations, even as he innovated. The demise of l community newspapers cannot be laid entirely at his feet, but he gave it a hearty push down the hill.
Part of Gannett’s philosophy was to own newspapers with little or no competition so they did not have to invest in product.
The did even more (less?) than not invest.
Saratogian is a good example.
These papers exist for the legal ads and obituary revenue. As for the former, it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Do you mean Elise was lees that honest? wow. Well at least she got the Amrak trains rolling to Canada. With one phone call! She is remarkable!
Elise is often accurate in what she says, while still being able to mislead her constituents.
Ken, my wife and I both worked for Gannett and the Arizona Republic. I was there for 6 years. At its peak Sunday circ was something like 386k, now it hovers around 95k. Oh times have changed. Fantastic journalists leaving some on their own. Others victims of Gannett cost cuts. I believe Lee is another Gannett, there are to many similarities in how the organization is run.
I hope you are not right, but Lee has become extremely large chain as well and the Buffalo News folks are finding out now the down side of that.
Remember Ken I was the GM for the Auburn Citizen, when we shared a publisher in Rob Forcey. I joined Lee, after I left Gannet, in 2014
The similarities are there. From cost cuts, which include implementing furloughs, early retirements and layoffs and some of their newsrooms choosing to unionize.
My recollection was Lee followed mostly in Gannett’s footsteps.
Exactly
I was just reading yesterday about a new nonprofit The Maine Journalism Foundation, which aims to buy all of the papers in Maine. The goal is to support sustainability AND keep local control. I'm not crazy about a single owner- even a nonprofit one- but if there are safeguard to maintain editorial independence, it could work. And the reality is, it is one company in Maine that owns almost all of the papers in the state, anyway. it is open to selling all of its holdings to this new foundation.
I had not heard of that project in Maine. There are lots of new models that are searching for the way to serve the community, but still be financially viable.
context matters, she's pro at not crossing the outright lie barrier, but she does far to often..
So, is she another Tucker in the making, or in disguise?
Okay. So let's talk about solutions.
Encourage your friends, book club members, church pals, etc. to subscribe (read: pay for) a subscription to local newspapers
Newspapers, get creative! The TU just ran their annual "Best Of" competition. That sure seems like it boosted readership. (Did it, Casey Seilor?)
Alternatives/The Future - will tomorrow's journalists be bloggers or podcast hosts?
I agree that the loss of local journalism is/will be a catastrophe. I'm just not ready to say "uncle."
Great to hear the optimism!
Doesn’t matter to her, absolutely the truth doesn’t matter to her, how very sad.
Jill Lochner (R) from Saratoga Springs and challenger to Elise Stefanik (MAGA) j will be in Canton for a meet and greet on Saturday May 6th at Noon at litleGrasse Community Farm on Miner Street Road.
This is a Democracy in Action event.
Frosty reception
Lochner said she’s reached out to the Republican committee chairmen for the counties covered by NY-21, but has had a frosty reply so far.
“I mostly didn’t get a reply, and I got a few replies that were very pro-Elise,” she said. “It’s exactly as I expected, and it’s a challenge for sure.”
But she said she believes she’s got a strong message that can resonate with the voters of the 21st District; a bona-fide Republican who supports small government, Constitutional rights, and who is committed to honest and service. She said her own experience outside of government, compared to the long political pedigree of Stefanik, who worked in the Bush administration right out of college, gives her an advantage.
"I have been following the race in NY-21 since the beginning, since Elise Stefanik’s first run in 2014. I even thought about running back then. But my life situation at the time just didn't allow it. And frankly I liked her back then. She presented herself as more moderate, more like myself. You know, I voted for her. But over the years she has become increasingly far right. She has become extreme. She's been using her position only to climb and to serve herself and not to serve the people of New York 21. And also the Republican Party in general and politics in general has been very disappointing to me as a whole in this country. The loudest, angriest voices getting the airtime and we've just lost respectful conversation and dialogue and I really think we need to get back to that. And now I have just decided to put myself out there and run.
http://www.jillforcongress.com/
https://poststar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/saratoga-county-woman-mounting-primary-challenge-to-stefanik/article_d6e65dbe-c9b3-11ed-87c0-275aae3c9007.html
I agree. It is a VERY sad legacy. And people are unfortunately not aware of it except thru people like you.
The loss of local newspapers is not good for America...but I wonder if a lot of it is self-inflicted by employees who didn't and still don't know their audience. Like what Bud Light is experiencing...you've got to know your customer.
That was not the case during my 21 years as editor. We had reporters and editors from all walks of life.
Typical military waste and useless/deceptive Elise spouting.
This is truly SAD about Gannett & what it has done to so many lives in the newspaper business - again greed and bad decisions can & does ruin a lot of lives whether in lack of information to the general public or unemployment caused by the layoffs. You just have to be thankful for the newspapers that are still in print and keep on subscribing to them, Amen - Thanks Ken
ISN'T IT AMAZING how many people who are in the media are dumber than a box of rocks when it comes to QUALITY OBJECTIVE REPORTING AND ADVERTISING INSTEAD OF trying to FIRST increase subscription AND advertising rates to TRY and QUICKLY MAKE MONEY???? BUT, the consumer says, "HELL NO" and the likes of Fannett wonder why they have to lay off QUALITY employees AND closed newspapers altogether. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY BUYING ANY NEWSPAPER OWNED BY GANNETT!!!! OCT., 2021 https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/10/gannett-local-newspaper-hawk-eye-iowa/619847/?fbclid=IwAR0AiC_nKsUuor8Xm7z0oKf7jx-QV
The scale of local news destruction in Gannett’s markets is astonishing
It might not be as mustache-twirling a villain as Alden Global Capital, but its enormous scale has meant enormous losses for local journalism. https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/03/the-scale-of-local-news-destruction-in-gannetts-markets-is-astonishing/?fbclid=IwAR0EE4BvMxAh-wtaRMsGiEx