Comments on: Desperate Zell Attacks Journalist Productivity http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/06/desperate-zell-attacks-journalist-productivity/ Chronicling the Decline of Newspapers and the Rebirth of Journalism Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:48:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Newspaperfan http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/06/desperate-zell-attacks-journalist-productivity/#comment-1720 Newspaperfan Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:10:50 +0000 http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/06/desperate-zell-attacks-journalist-productivity/#comment-1720 Palmer's post is right on the money. Their is significant deadweight at every paper, big and small. Mostly the employees in their 50s who never transsitioned to the new way of doing things. The problem is these people are protected by union deals in some cases and managers they worked with years ago who protect them as part of the good 'ol boys network. That leads to layoffs of younger, better workers, and the product gets even worse. There are many journalists in their 50s and 60s who do a great job, but many more simply think they are owed a living because when their papers were run by families, they'd get a few weeks pay as a Christmas bonus. This in turn leads them to slack off and not care. But since they are protected, why should they? Palmer’s post is right on the money. Their is significant deadweight at every paper, big and small. Mostly the employees in their 50s who never transsitioned to the new way of doing things. The problem is these people are protected by union deals in some cases and managers they worked with years ago who protect them as part of the good ‘ol boys network. That leads to layoffs of younger, better workers, and the product gets even worse. There are many journalists in their 50s and 60s who do a great job, but many more simply think they are owed a living because when their papers were run by families, they’d get a few weeks pay as a Christmas bonus. This in turn leads them to slack off and not care. But since they are protected, why should they?

]]> By: paulgillin http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/06/desperate-zell-attacks-journalist-productivity/#comment-1718 paulgillin Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:08:06 +0000 http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/06/desperate-zell-attacks-journalist-productivity/#comment-1718 Actually, I basically agree with both of you. Zell is attacking conventional wisdom and I think the industry needs more of that. I question the wisdom of openly confronting the editors in this manner, but desperate times may call for desperate measures. I agree that journalists have long cloaked their craft in a mystique that shields them from being judged by the metrics that most of us must live with. I do think Zell grossly underestimated the task that faced him when he took over a year ago and that his recent tactics are beginning to look like the actions of a man who's running out of options rather than someone who's intent on reinventing an industry. Actually, I basically agree with both of you. Zell is attacking conventional wisdom and I think the industry needs more of that. I question the wisdom of openly confronting the editors in this manner, but desperate times may call for desperate measures. I agree that journalists have long cloaked their craft in a mystique that shields them from being judged by the metrics that most of us must live with. I do think Zell grossly underestimated the task that faced him when he took over a year ago and that his recent tactics are beginning to look like the actions of a man who’s running out of options rather than someone who’s intent on reinventing an industry.

]]> By: Palmer Cruise http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/06/desperate-zell-attacks-journalist-productivity/#comment-1707 Palmer Cruise Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:19:21 +0000 http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/06/desperate-zell-attacks-journalist-productivity/#comment-1707 Sure, he's desperate. He knows a failing business model when he sees one and he has not only seen one, it has extended its knee and kicked him right in the groin to say "Hi!" That why Zell is so, so, so right on this. Listen, I know the truth hurts, and maybe Zell doesn't, as a lot of people have been crowing today, "understand how newspapers work." Well, guess what honey - that's exactly what the business needs. Someone who doesn't have any preconceived notions about how things "Were," or "should be," because that's not how things are EVER going to be again. If you've got someone who has written only 19 not-so-spectacular pieces in the first half of this year, as I do at the paper I work at, is he really pulling his weight? No. He isn't. He should be looking over his shoulder. Sam's on the right track. Give people what they want, how they want it, and quit thinking that it's 1985 anymore. It isn't. There's probably deadwood galore at the larger Tribune properties, and some of the smaller ones too. I look at any large daily and think one could put out the same paper with half the staff. You know how you find a few branches in your front yard after a storm? Well, there's a tornado coming, and the newspaper business is your trees. There's a lot of branches that have not fallen yet. I guess I can't tell if you think this is a good thing or a bad thing. This blog (which I do like, don't get me wrong) is usually full of straight talk but your tone seems a little angst-ridden now that we have a CEO who is actually talking about doing something. Sure, he’s desperate. He knows a failing business model when he sees one and he has not only seen one, it has extended its knee and kicked him right in the groin to say “Hi!” That why Zell is so, so, so right on this. Listen, I know the truth hurts, and maybe Zell doesn’t, as a lot of people have been crowing today, “understand how newspapers work.” Well, guess what honey - that’s exactly what the business needs. Someone who doesn’t have any preconceived notions about how things “Were,” or “should be,” because that’s not how things are EVER going to be again.

If you’ve got someone who has written only 19 not-so-spectacular pieces in the first half of this year, as I do at the paper I work at, is he really pulling his weight? No. He isn’t. He should be looking over his shoulder. Sam’s on the right track. Give people what they want, how they want it, and quit thinking that it’s 1985 anymore. It isn’t.

There’s probably deadwood galore at the larger Tribune properties, and some of the smaller ones too. I look at any large daily and think one could put out the same paper with half the staff. You know how you find a few branches in your front yard after a storm? Well, there’s a tornado coming, and the newspaper business is your trees. There’s a lot of branches that have not fallen yet.

I guess I can’t tell if you think this is a good thing or a bad thing. This blog (which I do like, don’t get me wrong) is usually full of straight talk but your tone seems a little angst-ridden now that we have a CEO who is actually talking about doing something.

]]> By: Newspaperfan http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/06/desperate-zell-attacks-journalist-productivity/#comment-1704 Newspaperfan Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:02:50 +0000 http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/06/desperate-zell-attacks-journalist-productivity/#comment-1704 As much as Zell is a fool, he's party right on this. Every paper has deadweight reporters and editors still working on the 1980s model that they are owed a easy living. Of course, his style of implementing the cuts is not exactly newsroom-friendly and will only lead to more resentment. As much as Zell is a fool, he’s party right on this. Every paper has deadweight reporters and editors still working on the 1980s model that they are owed a easy living. Of course, his style of implementing the cuts is not exactly newsroom-friendly and will only lead to more resentment.

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