News-Record.com

My best wishes to everyone there.

What I'd offer in terms of encouragement is that there are other jobs out there in this time of media fragmentation. The all-purpose newspaper isn't the sole source of information anymore; neither is it the sole source of employment.

Best of luck to everyone.

Scotch. Tonight. It sucks for everyone, only differently.

Take a hike. You're no longer welcome here.

JR,

You should quit.

Will you be listing those folks laid off who work in the newsroom?

Will you be listing those folks laid off who work in the newsroom?

Will you be listing those folks laid off who work in the newsroom?

I think Beau said it very well, and all I can really add is that my thoughts down here in Charlotte tonight are 90 miles up the road.

It's obsurd think that the quality of the paper will not be compromised. That is like saying all those who lost positions at the paper were never really needed to begin with.

A few questions N&R employees would like answers to, but are afraid to ask publicly:

With less circulation and less complexity in the operations, why doesn't the Company Leadership Team also get reduced by 10?

Salary increase of 2% isn't keeping pace with inflation, yet 2% of $150,000 salary is much easier to live on than 2% of $40,000. When will we hear that Senior Management bonuses are being eliminated? (The "talent" won't leave if Landmark stock still goes up.)

The Managing Editor position was empty for almost a year. If this position had been eliminated, two other jobs may have been spared.

Good questions. I've got a few more:

1. Why weren't employees given any kind of notice and a chance to find other jobs before they were laid off? That's the way most employers - well, most decent employers - handle layoffs.

2. Why were the laid-off employees escorted out of the building by security guards without even being allowed to clean out their desks or say good-bye to their co-workers? Way to treat your "valued employees" like criminals, Mr. Robinson.

3. One of the victims started work on Monday and was laid off on Thursday. Surely, the N&R knew in advance of these layoffs. Why was this reporter allowed to quit her previous job and come to Greensboro for a job you knew didn't exist?

I won't hold my breath for any honest answers here.

Geez JR... Why Maria Johnson ?.. She has been there at least 20 years. She interviewd me as a cub reporter straight out Louisvile. She has become an excellent staff writer and rifting her and keeping some with barely a year on the job is hard to understand.

As someone who left the N&R within the last year, I can say that the failure in leadership at the N&R goes to the very highest levels. Strategic, visionary leadership at the Company Leadership level would've really served to offset the changes in the marketplace. I can't say I was surprised to read about the layoffs. It's just one more failure in leadership to pile on all the others. It's a crying shame that a company that pays so much lip service to ethics and morality and loyalty puts it into practice with such rarity.

I'll repeat the post I made at Ed Cone's:

In the concern for the people laid off,and the a general discussion of media, no one has addressed the internal operating business dynamics at Landmark, and at the N&R.

Is this part of a change process at Landmark?

Did similar actions occur or will they occur at the other Landmark holdings?

What are the metrics by which Landmark made this decision?

Is this particular action singular, or are other actions going to be taken at the N&R?

Let's see:

* No, I won't be listing the names of the folks.

* Even though the question isn't logically-related to what we did here yesterday, I will note that there has been change on the company leadership team in the past six weeks.

* We don't announce what happens with bonuses so you don't know how they've been affected, and they certainly have.

* The managing editor position was empty for a year? What paper are you talking about? Not the N&R.

* Prior notice that layoffs are coming is the decent way to do it? And then let the uncertainty and fear that you could be let go hang around a newsroom for a month or so is the decent way to do it? As if you can get another job in a month or so. Sorry, don't agree.

* The people weren't allowed to go up and say good-bye because it would have caused a scene. They were emotional and we still had a newspaper to get out. It seems unfeeling, but I was here. I saw the shape most folks were in. To ask them to go get their stuff, in front of their friends, might have been fine for some, but it wouldn't even have been close for some.

* No one was hired after the decision to do this was made. Unfortunately, the start-date of one occurred after the decision, however.

Bubba, appreciate you having the courage to sign your name, even if it's not your name.

* Not part of a change process at Landmark.
* No clue as to what other Landmark holdings will do. They operate independently.
* This was a N&R action, not a Landmark action so your metrics question doesn't apply.
* Have to be more specific on the other actions question. Yes, we'll do other stuff to change our operation and content.

I can say for the record that other companies use security guards in doing layoffs.

Sad that I know these things, but I do.

"Bubba, appreciate you having the courage to sign your name, even if it's not your name."

My name is not much odf a secret, John. It's known among many in the local blog community, and it was published and linked to my blog on a B1 sidebar last February.

So if people could figure out your name if they really want to, there's no use actually blogging under it and signing it at the bottom of your statements?

That's something I've never really understood about the blogosphere, and not specific to you.

* This was a N&R action, not a Landmark action so your metrics question doesn't apply.*JR

Would you swear that under oath and let the public see the corporate memos from the home office? BS! Landmark owns it lock stock and barrel and calls the shots. Do you really think that Corporate does not give a flying concern about their investments producing.

The newspaper industry needs to shape up its act. The internet is not the great equalizer. News should be charged for.

This is the only business model in the country that gives it away for free. News has no value in Greensboro because it is free, even though somebody had to work to gather it.

Newspapers let television steal from them, instead of holding them accountable for stealing. What did we call that in j-school? (Plagarism!) The associated press should not be selling to yahoo, google or any other online pubs that give away ap stories gathered from independent content providers for free.

Would you manufacture soap then give it away? No, everyone stays clean because it is important to.

The users will get the message.

Content providers should hunt down users who cut copy and paste stories, (figure out a way!) instead of sending them through shared outlets that content providers offer (check how the Wall Street Journal does it). Patent technology that protects yourself, like the music industry. Forget about lofty ideals, news costs money. Even penny papers used to cost a cent.

Local news in greensboro has no value because anyone can get it for free.

Forget your ideas about how the internet is going to liberalize the news business. It is not. If newspaper reporters become a scant resource, democracy will suffer, watchdog journalism will suffer. Newspapers must forget the past, and invest in the future, and give up the idea of regaining thier former criminal margins.

Create value.

The world gets bigger and we have fewer people to cover it. Good grief!

"That's something I've never really understood about the blogosphere, and not specific to you."

People like Twain, O.Henry, Lewis Carroll, George Eliot, and Voltaire all had their reasons.

I have mine, too.

In my case, "Bubba" is what some of my family and friends call me. It's a term of endearment.

How I got the nickname is an interesting story, but this is neither the time or the place for it.

Most of the people you mentioned took pseudonyms so that they could write under a number of names for a number of publications/publishers simultaneously or remain hide from what they'd written in their personal lives. In at least one case it was easier to take a male pseudonym than try to be taken seriously as a female writer.

The first might be understandable, given their times and circumstances, but you're making no money writing as Bubba.

The second is just plain cowardice. Particularly in the blogosphere.

The third wouldn't seem to apply - but then, in this medium how can you tell?

I've changed my given name, too. But I answer to this one and sign it when I write something.

That should be "hide from what they'd written in their personal lives."

In my case, "Bubba" is what some of my family and friends call me. It's a term of endearment.

How I got the nickname is an interesting story, but this is neither the time or the place for it.*Bubba

Bubba! Who cares about your nickname or your real number in these trying times. You are correct! I wouldn't anybody to know that I was a big Bush supporter or a neo-con war mongering Republican either with your real name in public.

Just think Bubba 10 years ago, nobody ever heard of you in Republican politics because of the internet. Now look at you! You stay on the internet 24/7 addicted as hell promoting a retarded political cause where 75% of the American people want to hang your butte for treason and known to a blogging community of about 200 people in Greensboro out of a metro market of a million people who will never hear of you as a Blogging champ just like Ed.

"* The people weren't allowed to go up and say good-bye because it would have caused a scene. They were emotional and we still had a newspaper to get out."
__________

Wow. You're all heart and a class act, Mr. Robinson. You and Mr. Saul enjoy those big bonus checks.

Actually, Bubba, I was being sincere with that comment. I know your blog and your personality. I wanted to credit you with having the courage to identify yourself.

Connie Mack, really, you ought to know a little bit about what you're talking about before you start writing.

It's pretty common not to let people return to their desks. The emotions were running high here. People don't have individual offices; they have desks in the middle of a large room. It would have been unsettling, uncomfortable and bad for all parties, even as it sounds cold to you.

I lost my newsroom job in August 2006 when The Mount Airy News eliminated the news editor's and opinion-page editor's positions and fired two reporters – 4 people out of an 11-member staff. The newspaper still came out every day. One reporter and the sports editor later moved to two weeklies owned by the same chain. Two more gone. In the meantime, the paper replaced the three reporters with less-experienced (and probably lower-paid) new hires. As a net effect, 8-1/2 news-editorial people – an 20 percent cutback -- now put out a seven-day daily newspaper. Every day.

Has the news coverage suffered? Of course. The News has fewer features and daily news stories, boring editorials on trite topics, almost no letters to the editor, less local sports, fewer local columns. Naturally, the staff fills up the paper with more AP wire stories. The News now appears to run more local crime and courts stories – a reporter can get the facts quickly and they're easy to write – and on some days, judging by Page 1, “Mayberry” looks like Hell's Kitchen South.

However, there are no fewer obits and wedding, engagement and anniversary announcements. Also, the Surry Scene, a free weekly that goes to both subscribers and nonsubscribers, remains strong (and well supported by auto advertisers) with its mix of hyperlocal photos and a long-time columnist's chatter. I don't know how the daily newspaper's circulation has held up, but The News doesn't seem to have lost much advertising in the past 10 months.

The bottom line is the bottom line: the newspaper is a product being manufactured with greater productivity from fewer people and with less expense. Even if the revenue drops, the margin stays the same. Just show me another investment that returns 20 percent or more per year.

Lately, The News has been sold. I've heard the new owners want another 15 percent cut in expenses. That certainly won't leave any money to improve the print product, let alone its on-line presence and a totally lame Web site. When the local economy feels the full impact of losing 1,000 manufacturing jobs (already announced; more may be coming), the newspaper may not survive as a daily, in my opinion.

By comparison, a 10 percent cut in the News-Record's news-editorial staff (and the loss of 41 jobs overall) won't look so bad IF the company redirects its cost savings to improving its on-line presence, to delivering more Greensboro-area news to readers on the Web and to developing new revenue streams that will support remaining jobs.

Oh, one more thing, John.

When The Mount Airy News cut its staff last summer, it instantly evicted the news editor and two reporters. One was so upset, ranting and raving, that we called the police and locked down the building. One of the managers packed up the three staffers' stuff and left the boxes to be picked up later (under close supervision). After that experience, I understand and endorse the News-Record's decision to dismiss the 41 immediately. You just can't predict who might flip out.

It's certainly not an unusual situation. One of our local manufacturers announced last week it will close two plants, eliminating more than 500 jobs by fall. It also sent everyone home right away. In that case, though, the workers were allowed to come back the next day after having had some time to absorb the initial impact. I haven't heard any reports of problems there.

This week the company, Gildan (formerly Kentucky Derby Hosiery) announced it has arranged for job counseling services for all employees. I hope the News-Record will consider doing the same thing if it hasn't already.

One thing that might help, if you haven't done it already, is allowing your people to collect some of their files. When I lost my job last year, I lost access to my extensive list of e-mail contacts and website bookmarks. The company let me take home my research files, but I had few clips to send to prospective employers. I felt cast off and isolated and, as a result, probably missed some opportunities to put myself in a better position to find a new job. Fortunately, family and many friends have stepped up to help us.

I hope the News-Record can copy some of the best examples from North Carolina's many manufacturers and from other newspapers around the country who have eliminated jobs, but made an effort to help those faithful former workers find new employment.

No one -- and I mean NO ONE -- has ever cared what I've said.

I won't gloat here since people were actually hurt.

But, I will go back to the *facts* since I have been posting here.

The N&R website is held together (or really seems to be) with rubber bands and is missing SO MANY basic, full featured things as to be a joke.

Really.

This blog focus the last three years that Lex led everyone down was interesting. But, the traffic has not increased substantially (unless you count just MOVING content to a blog format which is NOT accurate counting). JR, your blog traffic in a year spiked a couple of times, but has not grown at all. (I clicked on the site counter last week and tracked it)

You say yourself that blogs haven't made money -- and yet think of ALL the work and energy (and brain power) you have devoted to them.

How about doing real things to get young readers and MORE people to your site?

The entertainment portion of this site is a joke. How about looking at MetroMix and doing that in Greensboro -- for real. Not this half-baked partnership with the Arts council or whoever... Who in N&R leadership cooked that up? Whoever it is needs to be fired themselves.

Think about what people do in their lives and then find ways to HELP THEM DO THOSE THINGS! People don't sit around and go "Gosh, I've got to go comment on a contentious blog today. Please give me more of those." No, they don't. A few, very few do.

Think about real people -- which is not who you have hired at the N&R. You are so insulated from reality it is sad.

Also, hire a real professional to run your site and do the things that are KNOWN to generate revenue and audience. Look at the Suburban Newspapers of America/Belden survey from late last year -- it's the template for WHAT TO DO!

You have been doing this for 11 years on the web now, but it's ALL been half-way.

You don't even have photo uploads? It's not the paneacea, but c'mon.. at least offer it.

And, the last thing you should do is look at what the N&O and Charlotte are doing. Look at what real, different companies are doing. The Pilot in Norfolk is full of crap, too. Don't listen to them. Most newspapers will just LIE to you about what is successful. Yes, they lie.

And, as usual, the most common sense approach you won't take. It will be the "most different" and unique. Think of how much attention the blog approach got you. Just doing good solid work wouldnt have gotten anyone that. Trust me.

Basically, putting all of your eggs in the blog basket over the last three years has been a HUGE mistake and these layoffs confirm it.

I'll include my email address on this if you want to actually email me more about real ideas, JR.

At this point, you really need help.

Case in point: the most popular thing people do on the web is email. The second is WEATHER. And you have already rejected that you should expand your weather offerings on the web because..... I don't even remember your reasoning but it makes NO SENSE.

Who is RUNNING your strategy?

Connie Mack, really, you ought to know a little bit about what you're talking about before you start writing.* JR

Your right JR! I know nothing of business and corporate board rooms moves. After all, I own and operated the 4 th largest Gold and Silver corporation on the planet for 25 years. So what do I know about the communcation business except how to place Ads with the media giants.

You never did answer the question JR!

CM, you may be all those things. What do they have to do with Landmark? You think every corporation is alike?

Actually, I did answer the question. Landmark did not demand or direct this action. You presume there are memos about it. I haven't seen any, but, then, as editor, Landmark doesn't send me memos. Independence means independence.