Wisconsin group

[Gannettoid]

That was a pretty lean operation to begin with, and (according to comments elsewhere) they lost another newsroom staffer this round.

Is that one counted in our total of three: http://www.Gannettoid.com/layoffs.html?

[guest]

Heck, what about Appleton? They barely got scratched. Unbelievable.

Barely got scratched? Lost a truly world-class editor (and Best of Gannett winner) in Rob Kaiser. And December wasn't exactly a walk in the park, though the rest of Gannett Wisconsin benefited by getting some of Appleton's best talent that was inexplicably laid off.

Oh good christ get over yourselves. And who in the hell capitalized on your "great losses" of December? No one was hiring. You guys are so top heavy it's ridiculous.

[Guest]

That was a pretty lean operation to begin with, and (according to comments elsewhere) they lost another newsroom staffer this round.

You consider an off-site publisher, general manager, executive editor, news editor, opinion page editor, features editor, online editor and sports editor a "pretty lean operation" management-wise for a 13,000-circulation daily? Really? Especially considering the situation of the other, larger papers in the Wisconsin group?

[Guest]

Heck, what about Appleton? They barely got scratched. Unbelievable.

Barely got scratched? Lost a truly world-class editor (and Best of Gannett winner) in Rob Kaiser. And December wasn't exactly a walk in the park, though the rest of Gannett Wisconsin benefited by getting some of Appleton's best talent that was inexplicably laid off.

Oh good christ get over yourselves. And who in the hell capitalized on your "great losses" of December? No one was hiring. You guys are so top heavy it's ridiculous.

Let's see: Green Bay got Mike P. King and Sheboygan got Kate McGinty. Both are better than most at their positions. Top heavy? You clearly have no idea of the structure here. Don't mistake group operations, which just happen to be housed here (and in a totally separate part of the building) but work for all sites, for the Appleton newsroom.

[GB]

So what happens to the pubs who do remain? I'm thinking Kevin in GB. Any news about them staying/going? Are larger operations going to retain their publishers?

[Guest]

So what happens to the pubs who do remain? I'm thinking Kevin in GB. Any news about them staying/going? Are larger operations going to retain their publishers?

There's no reason to think the publisher of one of Gannett's most profitable and rapidly improving newspapers is going anywhere. Cutting publishers at the smaller sites made sense. The increasing consolidation of finance, marketing, circulation and marketing functions means publishers at the smaller sites simply have far less to supervise. There remains much larger operations at Green Bay and Appleton, and it would be very difficult to run either place without a publisher.

[Topa]

Cutting publishers at the smaller sites made sense. The increasing consolidation of finance, You said: "marketing, circulation and marketing functions means publishers at the smaller sites simply have far less to supervise."

You forgot the added burden, however, of answering phone calls from angry subscribers and advertisers, because, since consolidation of everything but the bathroom sink, stuff is, what is the military term so fitting: FUBAR. There are more f'd up problems every day - I see it taking up so much of management's time.

[Guest]

Central Wisconsin Today

I recall a former coworker talking about a regional paper in the works when the first talks of consolidating the Ad Services departments started.

More and more it appears headed in that direction.

From someone who worked at the Wausau office in 2008, the Wausau Herald, Rapids Tribune, Marshfield News Herald, and Stevens Point Journal are separate papers in name only. Whole articles have floated from one paper to the others for at least the last two years or more and the Central WI Sunday that use to print 4 sections in 2007 in July 2009 is down to 2 thin ones. In a practical sense they are a Central WI Today already. Wausau appears to dominate and the down slide of the Point Journal has positioned the Portage County Gazette to be more popular than ever. Suspect that Wausau's City Pages Weekly is also doing well.

[FRMRGnttr]

Yes...

All 4 papers share content and have for some time. Readers as well as Advertisers are keenly aware of it, and is part of the reason for declining sales across the board.

PC Gazette is still a weekly paper however, and unless they are poised to expand operations to a daily, I don't think they will be cornering the market any time soon.

[FDL]

FOND DU LAC REPORTER
IN THE EARLY HOURS OF7-21-09, OUR PRESSROOM RECIEVED A LETTER THAT ALL PRESSROOM AND MAILROOM WILL BE DONE AS OF 9-20-09. ALL OPERATIONS ARE GOING TO APPLETON.
47 EMPLOYEES WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS.

[FRMRGnttr]

Was this an e-mail memo or hard copy?

If a memo, could you post it here please?

[Gannettoid]

Thanks for posting. The totals have been updated.

Here's a link: http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/local_wluk_fonddulac_reporter_jobs_200907211155_rev1

And from the FDL:
http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20090721/FON0101/90721060/1985

[FDL]

In a milestone development in the history of The Reporter, it was announced today that the newspaper offices will move to a new location in Fond du Lac.

The Reporter building at 33 W. Second St. will be closed, and all offices of The Reporter, Action Publications and Action Printing will be housed at the current Action location at N6637 Rolling Meadows Drive.

The Reporter, Action Publications and Action Printing are owned by Gannett Co.

“Having been at the current downtown building since 1977, and having been at a nearby downtown location for many decades before that, the move will be a significant event in the 139-year history of The Reporter,” said Richard Roesgen, general manager and executive editor of The Reporter and Action Publications. “While it will be a day of reflection, as we look ahead this move more so is a welcome opportunity for our company and for the community. We’ll be able to run the operations of The Reporter and Action more efficiently at one location. As a result, and most importantly, our service to our customers — our valued readers and advertisers — will be only that much better. We’re excited about the move and looking forward to it.”

Coinciding with the move of The Reporter offices, the printing and production of the newspaper also will move.

The Gannett Wisconsin Media Production Facility in Fond du Lac, now located in the same downtown building, will close; and printing and production of The Reporter will move to the Gannett Wisconsin Media Production Facility in Appleton.

“Most of the 10 Gannett Wisconsin daily newspapers have been printed outside the newspapers’ hometowns for many years now,” Roesgen said. “It’s common across the newspaper industry. The move of The Reporter printing and production will result in additional operational efficiencies, just as has benefitted the other operations.”

About 45 positions will be impacted with the closure of the production facility. Affected employees are encouraged to apply for positions within the company.

The Reporter office relocation, and closure of the production facility, are scheduled to be completed by the end of September.

More details about the changes will be communicated with customers as the move progresses in stages.

“I welcome anyone who may have questions about the move, to call me at The Reporter at 922-2227, or at Action Publications at 907-7880,” Roesgen said.




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[pterodactyl]

Talk about burying the lead....

In a wonderful exciting move we're going to consolidate office space in FDL.
Oh by the way we're going to layoff about 50 people by shifting printing to Appletown....

[Topa]

The anguish is thick... like the air in Mordor.
Just when we had taken our first breath after layoffs...

And the newspaper will no longer be located in the heart of downtown, but off of a freeway.

Never feel safe on the evil plannet gannett, where the bottom line is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[guest]

This news is breathtaking.

If Fond du Lac and Oshkosh will print at Appleton, what about Sheboygan? All three now print at the Fond du Lac plant.

[ann-nony-mouse]

Wausau prints 4 papers at their site and has for over a year.

[wjohnson]

I heard that there might still be at least one more cut in Stevens Point......I beleive it's someone in management that ruined a great sales staff....who knows the opposite usually happens

[wjohnson]

Isn't it screwed up that Central WI offers 250,000 in free advertising. There was no disclaimer that new custumers had to buy 3x5 ads. I have had a lot of new cutomers calling in that want to advertise but they can't afford that price. And to top it off my manager keeps changing the rules....Does Gannett want revenue or not?

[FRMRGnttr]

Obviously, like may other initiatives, Gannett hasn't thought things through.

Chalk up another failed plan. Can't sell something that is set up for failure from the get go.