Comments on: Tribune Co. Gambles With Deep Newsroom Cuts http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/ Chronicling the Decline of Newspapers and the Rebirth of Journalism Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:34:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: biscayne http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1880 biscayne Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:43:55 +0000 http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1880 Aside from all these fixes that are being thought up to save newspapers throughout the land-could it be that it's to late? Yes the paper business has been strong for 100 some years but just as Guttenberg revolutionized print with movable type the internet and computers seem to be feeding this mass change in outlets and formats for information. Admit it- everyone (well a large enough group today) shops, reads, lives via the computer, phone, blackberry and various other formats that basically are making the printed image on paper somewhat obsolete at least from my take on it. I've been in the printing/Graphics field since leaving college in 1996 when computers had basically no influence on life to what 12 years later and it's growing faster than anyone would have imagined. I rethink the idea of reinventing myself every day and re-entering school for the fact that I KNOW my skill set might need change to stay competitive but I realize this now- early enough that I won't be caught with my pants down per-say. They say death and taxes are the only certain things in life- well add change to that. Former Sun alum Aside from all these fixes that are being thought up to save newspapers throughout the land-could it be that it’s to late? Yes the paper business has been strong for 100 some years but just as Guttenberg revolutionized print with movable type the internet and computers seem to be feeding this mass change in outlets and formats for information. Admit it- everyone (well a large enough group today) shops, reads, lives via the computer, phone, blackberry and various other formats that basically are making the printed image on paper somewhat obsolete at least from my take on it. I’ve been in the printing/Graphics field since leaving college in 1996 when computers had basically no influence on life to what 12 years later and it’s growing faster than anyone would have imagined. I rethink the idea of reinventing myself every day and re-entering school for the fact that I KNOW my skill set might need change to stay competitive but I realize this now- early enough that I won’t be caught with my pants down per-say.
They say death and taxes are the only certain things in life- well add change to that.

Former Sun alum

]]> By: Former Sun alum http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1876 Former Sun alum Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:52:04 +0000 http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1876 Wow, all those years I tried to be a reporter and they kept me down. In five months at another publication I wrote 350 stories and garnered 4 newspaper awards. Maybe they should open their eyes to who really works there. Byline counts are a start. I am sorry for the demise of The Sun, it was once a glorious newspaper, one of the top 10 in the country when I was there. Tribune tore it down and made it mediocre with all of its hair-brained redesigns. People want the news, about their neighbors, about their lives, about the country and the world. But the shortsightedness of the higher ups only wanted to dumb it down for the sake of cost cutting. Their talent is gone, their readership is dwindling. I am saddened at the losses and hope those who are let go get back on their feet. Best wishes to all of you journalists who gave it your all, your life and loyalty. Wow, all those years I tried to be a reporter and they kept me down. In five months at another publication I wrote 350 stories and garnered 4 newspaper awards. Maybe they should open their eyes to who really works there. Byline counts are a start. I am sorry for the demise of The Sun, it was once a glorious newspaper, one of the top 10 in the country when I was there. Tribune tore it down and made it mediocre with all of its hair-brained redesigns. People want the news, about their neighbors, about their lives, about the country and the world. But the shortsightedness of the higher ups only wanted to dumb it down for the sake of cost cutting. Their talent is gone, their readership is dwindling. I am saddened at the losses and hope those who are let go get back on their feet. Best wishes to all of you journalists who gave it your all, your life and loyalty.

]]> By: paulgillin http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1872 paulgillin Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:24:13 +0000 http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1872 Do you really think a redesign will make a difference? Maybe the audience wants a dull design. Who's to say that the idea that works in Orlando will work in Hartford? Do you really think a redesign will make a difference? Maybe the audience wants a dull design. Who’s to say that the idea that works in Orlando will work in Hartford?

]]> By: Newspaper Fan http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1864 Newspaper Fan Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:25:06 +0000 http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1864 The Courant is a diaster of a newspaper that needs a redesign, but not the kind Tribune is proposing. They have some good reporting, but the presentation/layout is some of the worst in the industry. Gray, gray and more gray. Lousy mastheads and headline fonts and way too much white space. They jump local news stories from inside pages to other inside pages when the jump length is usually two or three graphs at most. The new design will look like a child went wild with a crayon. They are heading for more disaster. The Courant is a diaster of a newspaper that needs a redesign, but not the kind Tribune is proposing. They have some good reporting, but the presentation/layout is some of the worst in the industry. Gray, gray and more gray. Lousy mastheads and headline fonts and way too much white space. They jump local news stories from inside pages to other inside pages when the jump length is usually two or three graphs at most.

The new design will look like a child went wild with a crayon. They are heading for more disaster.

]]> By: al http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1863 al Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:39:35 +0000 http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/2008/06/26/tribune-co-gambles-with-deep-newsroom-cuts/#comment-1863 As a recently laid off tribune employee, I will only remark that in a speech to Hartford Courant employees earlier this year, Zell said that future layoffs would not come from the newsroom or sales, but from rear echelon and administrative positions. As a recently laid off tribune employee, I will only remark that in a speech to Hartford Courant employees
earlier this year, Zell said that future layoffs would not come from the newsroom or sales, but from
rear echelon and administrative positions.

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