Friday, December 5, 2008

End of the week

Chalk up another casualty. Lee Williams resigned today.

= = = = =

There's been a suggestion made for a get-together where folks who were laid off are treated to a night out. Any takers?

- basinroad950@yahoo.com

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Job leads

Job leads in the region:

- Longwood Gardens is hiring a membership manager. Desired skill set includes experience in marketing/publicity/journalism. See the class ad in Wednesday's NJ.

- The Washington Times in D.C. is seeking an online writer and an online editor. Details at JournalismJobs.

- CNNMoney is seeking a senior writer/producer in D.C. Details at JournalismJobs.

- The AP is seeking various editors in Philadelphia. Details at JournalismJobs.

- If you have a bachelor's degree and are looking for some extra income, consider substitute teaching. The state is on a hiring freeze, but school districts aren't, and subs are always in high demand. (One area the state is hiring for? Corrections officers. Hey, it'd be a job.)

Final note: Even if you have some time to relax and get things in order before severance runs out, be sure to check out the state's unemployment rules and regs. They take a flowchart to follow, but they might be important.

See http://www.delawareworks.com/Unemployment/information/clahand/welcome.shtml.

- basinroad950@yahoo.com

Comment away

A few items:

(1) To the list below, please add Steve Daily, night city/state editor and former business editor, and Cecilia James, in the library. To the best of my knowledge, Cecilia was one of the three "voluntary layoffs." (What an Orwellian phrase...)

(2) Please contact me if any of the information here is incorrect, names misspelled, etc. With so little information flowing out, wires get crossed.

(3) My apologies - I had neglected to fix the settings on comments. Anonymous posts are now allowed. But it's still good practice to post from a non-work computer if you don't want your name out there.

(4) It will be hard for people going ahead, as David acknowledged in the meeting today. We'll have new assignments, new hours, new jobs. But whatever minor quibbles we have to deal with at work pale in comparison to the people who now have to deal with getting a new job, and in some cases starting a new life.

(5) If you're on this list and you don't want your name out there, for whatever reason, e-mail me and I'll take it down. Not trying to infringe on privacy, just share support.

- basinroad950@yahoo.com

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Thoughts and prayers

Today the cuts began at The News Journal, as it did across Gannett. So far, we have lost 13 of our coworkers, close friends and even family members. The people who are departing have seen and done it all.

We have edited stories together, designed pages together, written A1 copy together, taken photos together, written headlines together. We have busted our behinds trying to make this the best newspaper in the country, worked countless hours, written countless stories, taken countless photos.

And it counted for nothing, in the end. None of us were safe.

As I write this, the count stands at 13. That may increase tomorrow. As of now, the newsroom has accounted for nearly half of all the layoffs in the building.

I hope this blog can be a place for people to keep in touch after they depart, and for those who remain to connect with friends and former colleagues. Please feel free to post your comments, share your memories, provide your contact information.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who lost their jobs today. We especially are thinking and praying for

Dorothy Lindstrom, night copy desk
Walt McDermott, day copy desk
Sara Liederbach, designer
Scott Nathan, photographer
Carla Varisco-Williams, photographer
Kevin Noonan, sports
Kristian Pope, sports
Tom Coburn, sports
Gary Haber, business
Al Kemp, metro
Chris Yasiejko, features
Rita Truschel, editorial

Please also post your thoughts about what people who remain can do for those who have left. Some of those on this list will be getting 26 weeks severance; others just one, which isn't a cushion at all. Job leads especially appreciated.