Print Is Deader
Gannett, the owner of USA Today, announced that it is spinning off its more than 80 newspapers into their own company, because, ah... hey, good luck to all you newspapers, we wish you the best!
Michele Norris Leaves NPR for Husband's Dumb Job Thing
In your magic Monday media column: Michele Norris takes a hiatus at NPR, fuckery at Gannett, The Daily Beast TV is here, newspapers roll out a false slogan, and Charlie Rose on morning television would be... good.
700 Layoffs at Gannett
In your threatening Tuesday media column: major layoffs at Gannett, Randy Michaels is back in radio, AOL eyes paid online content, rumors of OK! Magazine being sold, and Fortune poaches from the NYT.
Let the Intellectual Backlash Against The Daily Begin
In your warming Monday media column: Jacob Weisberg points out that The Daily has no clothes, CBS is still wooing Katie Couric, rumors of Gannett getting rid of USA Today, Arianna Huffington stiffs a high school reporter, Dan Le Batard hammers a word stake in Deadspin's black heart, and alpacas attack.
New Magazine Named After Extinct Creature
In your gusty Friday media column: a new fashion magazine, undermining at the Chicago Tribune, gay anchors invade the airwaves, the NYO hires a media reporter, and Gannett's money isn't as long as it looks.
• The deal between Comcast and GE to hand over control of NBC Universal to the cable giant is done; an announcement may come Thursday. [CNBC]
• Job cuts hit Gannett today; USA Today is reducing its staff by 5 percent. [AP]
• So much for Lou Dobbs moving over to CNBC. The cable network now says it has no plans to hire…
• The New York Times says it will cut 100 newsroom jobs, or roughly 8% of its editorial workforce, via buyouts and/or layoffs. [NYT, NYO]
• The Condé Nast cuts continue today at Wired, Glamour and Lucky. [Gawker]
• The bad news for NBC: It's facing blowback from its affiliates over Jay Leno's 10pm show. The good news:…
Layoffs at Gannett? UPDATE: Confirmed
A tipster tells us that Gannett's Westchester newsroom was told today that "50 out of 140 people would be laid off and everyone else would have to reapply for a job." This is unconfirmed. Know more? Email us. [UPDATED]:
1,400 Total Layoffs at Gannett
The final word on the layoffs at Gannett, America's largest newspaper publisher, which were confirmed earlier today: 1,400 employees will lose their jobs. This memo just went out to staffers nationwide, from Gannett US Community Publishing president Bob Dickey:
Layoffs, Closings & The Birth of New Network
• Cablevision is planning to launch an entire cable network devoted to nothing but wedding shows. So now you'll be able to watch Bridezillas 24/7. Yay. [B&C]
• It may not be over for Vibe. Quincy Jones, who founded the magazine in '93, says he's looking into buying it back and keeping it alive as a website. [Ebony]
• …
Massive Layoffs at Gannett Confirmed
The rumor we reported earlier today about Gannett Newspapers laying off thousands was true. According to the Wall Street Journal, Gannett plans to cut between 1000 and 2000 jobs in the coming days. [Google/AP]
Thousands of Layoffs Coming at Gannett?
Gannett, America's largest newspaper publisher, has already written down the value of its papers by almost $6 billion and instituted mandatory furloughs this year. But it could get worse—are thousands of layoffs coming next week?
No Social Networking in the Newsroom, Says Gannett Editor
The editor of some Gannett paper issued a memo asking reporters to "reserve social networking... for your private time," since it's not like you can find sources on Facebook and Twitter.
The Times Cuts Back, Trouble at ABC?
• The Times is folding in several sections of the paper (City, Escapes); scrapping the weekly fashion spread in the New York Times Magazine, and cutting the budget for freelance writers. Grim times, indeed. [NYT, Gawker]
• NBC CEO Jeff Zucker is reportedly concerned that CNBC has become too conservative and is…
D.C. TV Newsman Quits; Blogs Ruined the News
Alan Henney is an assignment desk editor at Gannett-owned WUSA-TV in Washington. He quit this week—mad as hell, the whole bit. In his farewell email, he blamed too much blogging, not enough news-ing:
Letterman Begins Negotiations, Cuts at the Journal
• A round of staff cuts at the Journal may come next week. [Portfolio]
• CBS and David Letterman are negotiating a new deal to keep him on the network after his contract expires in 2010. [B&C]
• Is The New Yorker in trouble? [Gawker]
• Gannett, the largest U.S. newspaper company, is writing off $5 billion. [E&P]
•…
Gannett President Hits Luxury Golf Course After Warning Workers
Bob Dickey promised he would "be sharing the financial hardship" after furloughing his workers. He warned the Tucson Citizen might shut. Then he joined fellow Gannett bigwigs at a golf resort.
Layoffs, Budget Cuts & Furloughs
• Gannett, the largest newspaper publisher in the U.S., is forcing thousands fo employees to a week of unpaid leave. [NYT]
• The NYT-owned Boston Globe is cutting its staff by 12 percent. [NYT]
• Penthouse is laying off staff. [Portfolio]
• Newspapers are saving money by outsourcing foreign news coverage. [WSJ]
• Hope…
Gannett lays off 1,000, spends $135 million on CareerBuilder
Gannett, the publisher of USA Today, said earlier this month it plans to cut 1,000 newspaper jobs. Probably not because of all those new potential customers, Gannett today announced its acquired another 10 percent of online jobs site CareerBuilder from Tribune for $135 million, raising its stake to a controlling…
5 ways the newspapers botched the Web
Here's our theory: Daily deadlines did in the newspaper industry. The pressure of getting to press, the long-practiced art of doom-and-gloom headline writing, the flinchiness of easily spooked editors all made it impossible for ink-stained wretches to look farther into the future than the next edition. Speaking of…
