The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger

[Gannettoid]

From the Blog:

At The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, 20 people will be laid off today, according to a letter from the publisher sent to employees this morning.

According to the letter, "eight are from operations; five from revenue-producing areas; and three from news. The remaining employees are from support departments."

Here's another line: "Additionally, we have elected not to fill several open positions for the balance of the year to help offset revenue shortfalls."

About 10 positions at The C-L are open or are coming open over the next couple of weeks, and that includes five in the newsroom. So the newsroom will be down about eight or nine spots.

As I get information on who the three are in news and possibly in other divisions, I'll post.

[haleybarbour]

Please do.

[Gannettoid]

names I heard:
_____________________________________________

[Gannettoid]

_______________________________________________

[haleybarbour]

Why are you censoring the names of the people who are laid off? It's important to know who they are -- especially if they are reporters because the community has a special relationship with reporters and needs to know if they've been knocked off their beats.

[Gannettoid]

Others have mentioned not wanting their names up until they notify all they want to. The initials make it clear for co-workers, but keep their names from being plastered unless they are a very well-known name or a top editor.

What do others think? I'm open to your thoughts.

[sdecvd]

Numbers are cold heartless figures much like the Directors that rushed people out the door this morning. Names however flesh out the real tradedies that happened in the past and today.

[oxbow3]

Why is a job loss from the newroom always so much more important that Advertising-Circulation-Production or any other dept. Networking works for all not just "reporters"

[sparkzz]

Probably because they whine more.
The newsroom has always been full of overpaid prima donna crybabies, the greater majority of which actually contribute relatively little or nothing to the big picture. Most are just fixtures. Because of their seniority, they have been allowed to be non-productive for so long, they are like lost little sheep.
Note the ones with the crappiest, most cluttered workspaces -- they are usually the most worthless -- they think having all those papers and junk stacked around their terminals makes them look productive. (Research material -- give me a break).
Good riddance to them all.

[Embarrassed for you]

Sparkzz, what in the hell is wrong with you coming on here and saying things like that on a day like this? You are a disgrace to humanity.

[guest2]

Obviously Sparkzz is misinformed. Everyone at the paper plays a vital role, even the cleaning crew. Newsroom employees are generally in the public eye more than some others, so they tend to be singled out in situations like this. So far as overpaid goes, the cars I see reporters drive would not indicate a lavish lifestyle, most being less expensive than the students' cars at my son's high school. Research? A couple of our reporters do a tremendous amount, so far as I can tell. (As you may have guessed, I am not a reporter)
This is clearly a case where it is better to remain silent and let people think you're an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. I am sorry Sparkzz is so bitter.

[Guest]

So what positions were layed off? The publisher's note leaves plenty of room for guess work.

[oxbow3]

Circulation
Single Copy Retail Merchandiser
Single Copy clerical
Circulation clerical
Home Delivery
Retail Sales Manager

Circulation Director and wife Advertising Director
Bailed week before to family group Freedom Newspapers to be bases in Colorodo Springs
I assume they put names on list in their Depts and then left

Not sure of other positions

[another guest]

In the newsroom, three employees were laid off, including an assistant metro editor and the assistant news editor as well as a third unidentified employee who is still there for now but will be out soon.

In addition, all open newsroom positions have been eliminated for now.

[Zippy]

The Advrtising Director and her husband, the Circulation Director did bail after offering up their sacrificial lambs. Splitting from Gannett was a smart move for them. I will say this, the Advertising Director did go to bat for those under her protective wing which was much more than any of the other directors at TCL did.

Funny thing is, TCL kept some advertising employees with ridiculously high salaries for what they do while putting other who actually produced on the chopping block. I'll never understand the mentality of these decision and who goes, who stays and why.

Also the Online Director cut the Online manager to save (her/his - you figure it out) own job when (she/he) should be retiring! Shameful!

[No Name]

They did have a couple let go from the production dept, also from maint. Do you believe we only have to maint techs for the whole building. These guys have to take care of the whole freaking building. Can you see running your dept with only 2 people.

[Zippy]

Personally, I believe the so-called "Publisher" was sent to Jackson with the single purpose of bilking as much money from the community and as much work from the remaining employees as possible before he methodically dismantles the entire property. The majority of the employees there don't even know him and he does absolutely NOTHING in or for Jackson and the surrounding communities. His first order of business was to eliminate the $40.00 Christmas gift certificates the employees got each year (to be used at the company store) then he HAD THE FLOORS IN HIS OFFICE REDONE IN HARDWOOD!

The prior Publisher (may he rest in peace) was a wonderful, honorable, trustworthy man who genuinely cared about the employees. He was replaced with the present "Terminator" there now. Just amazing.

[Oxbow3]

Amen!!! rest in peace Bill Hunsburger, a true man if the employees, not like the current publisher ah... you know ah..... Larry something you know ah.....

Spot on he sits in his ivory tower on Meadowbrook looking down on his employees and the people and community of Jackson.

[Jerry the Prize winner]

Oxbow is that a veiled reference to the movie "Oxbow Incedent" where people are hung by the blind follows of a very bad leader, with a huge ego and superior intellect?

[Guest]

Circulation
Single Copy Retail Merchandiser
Single Copy clerical
Circulation clerical
Home Delivery
Retail Sales Manager

Circulation Director and wife Advertising Director
Bailed week before to family group Freedom Newspapers to be bases in Colorodo Springs
I assume they put names on list in their Depts and then left

Not sure of other positions

2 in Finance as well