Posted on 11/04/2010 2:39:05 PM PDT by abb
Don Hudson, managing editor of the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., and Rod Richardson, who held the same title at the Times in Shreveport, La., have been laid off in another round of cost-cutting under way at Gannett Co. newspapers, Hudson confirmed on Thursday. Both are black journalists.
Hudson said he left on Wednesday after informing reporters and editors who reported to him. Gannett "worked extremely hard to try to find a spot for me," he said, but without success. In the office "there were lots of hugs, a few tears," and a few cross words, which he discouraged, Hudson said.
After that, Hudson said, he and his wife kept their plans to attend Jackson's Anderson United Methodist Church, where they lead a marriage ministry.
Hudson, 49, said he'd like to remain in journalism. "I still have that passion." Layoffs were reportedly still underway on Thursday throughout the Jackson newspaper.
Hudson joined the Clarion-Ledger in 2003 from Gannett's Lansing (Mich.) State Journal, where he was managing editor. In 2004, he received the President's Award from the National Association of Black Journalists for keeping NABJ's comprehensive list of African American newspaper executives.
Richardson could not be reached immediately, but Hudson, who helped recruit him to Gannett from the Associated Press, said the two men had talked.
Richardson was assistant bureau chief for the AP in Dallas when he was named managing editor of the newspaper in his native Shreveport in 2004. The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors named Richardson its AP Staffer of the Year in 2001.
Meanwhile, the Gannett Co. flagship, USA Today, is implementing a dramatic overhaul announced in August. USA Today will "focus less on print ... and more on producing content for all platforms (Web, mobile, iPad and other digital formats)," according to a slide show shown then to employees.
"In the first wave of change, USA Today, which is based in McLean, Va., will no longer have separate managing editors overseeing its News, Sports, Money and Life sections," an AP story said at the time.
"The newsroom instead will be broken up into a cluster of 'content rings' each headed up by editors who will be appointed later this year. The newly created content group will be overseen by Susan Weiss, who had been managing editor of the Life section. As executive editor of content, Weiss will report to USA Today Editor John Hillkirk."
The new arrangement will mean new roles for black journalists who were deputy managing editors at the paper, but not all of the assignments have been fleshed out. Rodney Brooks and Geri Coleman Tucker, who were in the Money section, now lead "content rings" that serve all USA Today platforms. Brooks oversees personal finance, markets and small business, while Tucker has technology and autos. Robert Robinson in Sports and Dash Parham in Graphics are the other two former deputy managing editors.
Robin Pence, Gannett's vice president of corporate communications, did not respond to inquiries.
Week Nov. 1-7 | Your Layoff Comments: Part 3
http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/week-nov-1-7-your-news-comments-part-3.html#comments
ping
Paper or plastic?
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-ad-recovery-boosts-cablevision-but-newsday-fails-to-ride-the-wave/
Ad Recovery Boosts Cablevision, But Newsday Fails To Ride The Wave
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/11/ta110410.html
Think Again: War for the Hell of It: The Sad Decline of David Broder
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/11/graydon_carter_editing_newswee.html?mid=twitter_DailyIntel
Graydon Carter: Editing Newsweek Would Be ‘A Completely Hopeless, Thankless Task’
Well, at least they kept the Fe, Ca, and Zn editors.
ROTFLMAO!
This is big news!!! I have found some of their headlines in the print edition to be pure biased propaganda. They have always managed to put the USA Today proudly on display in newstands and in the machines so that they can be seen by all passersby. The intention (when coupled with the biased headlines) was to affect people's thinking...even if those folks didn't buy the USA Today. If their print editions disappear it will be a very good thing.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/459429-Copps_to_Attend_Open_Internet_Event_in_New_Mexico.php
Copps to Attend Open Internet Event in New Mexico
http://pressthink.org/2010/11/im-committed-to-the-destruction-of-the-old-media-guard-abc-news-and-andrew-breitbart/
“I’m committed to the destruction of the old media guard.” ABC News and Andrew Breitbart.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/nov/03/bbc-world-service-cuts
BBC World Service cuts risk 300 jobs
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-11-04-healing-journalism-one-beat-at-a-time
Healing journalism, one beat at a time
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Headlines/newsprint-price-increases-begin-to-bite-into-us-newspaper-earnings-63161-.aspx
Newsprint Price Increases Begin To Bite Into US Newspaper Earnings
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/the-story-behind-the-chris-matthews-michele-bachmann-election-night-interview_b38222
The Story behind the Chris Matthews-Michele Bachmann Election Night Interview
And some of the EE’s!
Gannett should hire kids straight out of high school to fill their editor positions — the editor of my h.s. paper was better than the clowns they employ for big bucks
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0313328420101104
Media sector wrings hands on 2011 outlook
http://www.fastcompany.com/1699898/state-of-the-blogosphere-technorati
State of the Blogosphere: Blogs Growing Up, Overlapping Mainstream, Embracing Brands
http://gigaom.com/video/dish-exec-hulu-is-destroying-the-tv-industry/
Dish Exec: Hulu Is Destroying the TV Industry
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/459382-EXCLUSIVE_Disney_to_Sell_Two_Stations.php
EXCLUSIVE: Disney to Sell Two Stations
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/midterm-ratings-abc-news-tops-the-broadcast-networks-but-all-are-down-from-2006-midterms_b38296
Midterm Ratings: ABC News Tops the Broadcast Networks, But all are Down from 2006 Midterms
http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-press-let-us-get-in-mess-were-in.html#comments
How the press let us get in the mess we’re in
Apparently Gannett's management are a bunch of RACISTS!
mmmmm, I feel a tingle run up my leg!
Translation: less money coming in from advertising as we sink further into the quick sand:
“focus less on print ... and more on producing content for all platforms.
Translation: While lay offs are definitely not because of bias, we’re even willing to try playing grade school musical chairs as a solution rather then fix our obvious bias:
“The newsroom instead will be broken up into a cluster of ‘content rings’
Huh? I can't think of anything ONLY blacks of any sort should be tasked with doing.
Gannett is racist.
I work for the big “G” and they are far from racist. Diversity is highly looked upon there.
great news
The print edition is not disappearing. In fact, we are in the process of adding additional print sites across the fruited plain to cut down on distribution costs.
CNN is likewise imposed on viewers in doctor's offices, waiting rooms, excercise clubs, hotel lobbies ad infinitum.
Get rid of the captive audience and both would be MUCH diminished.
May they all RIP, especiall TIME!
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