Gannett furloughs affect KSDK
Employees of KSDK (Channel 5) were told Wednesday that they all will have to take one week of unpaid “vacation” this quarter. This order comes down from parent company Gannett and is a move to avoid layoffs. KSDK wouldn’t comment except to refer to Gannett. Unclear at this point what the unions will do about this and whether contracts allow the furloughs.
Gannett CEO Craig Dubrow is quoted as saying in a memo to employees: “After much consideration, we decided a furlough program would be the fairest and least intrusive way to meet these fiscal challenges in the first quarter, which is traditionally the lightest time of the year. We sincerely hope this minimizes the need for any layoffs going forward.”
Here’s a good story from Editor & Publisher about how Gannett-owned newspapers (85 including USA Today) are affected.
Hey Craig, maybe you should quit now and not take any severance package. That might free up a few million in lost revenue.
American business has become a criminal enterprise.
CEO’s making hundreds, if not thousands of times the worker’s salaries.
Dumb decisions on their part, costing the company its livelyhood, and costing us jobs.
Terrible reporting, not telling the public what is really going on.
Well it’s all come home to roost, and still we aren’t being told the truth of what caused the financial crisis.
And nothing is being done to correct the underlying problems that caused it.
Great. This just means more jockeying for spots at the bar. When reporters aren’t working, they drink.
Sam Zell refused to accept that the internet had changed competition. Now readers can get more news faster and cheaper on the web - and Tribune Corporation has simply ignored the shift. Lowering paper cost will not save the Chicago Tribune and LA Times. It will take a new leader, and a new strategy. Likewise, making employees work for free is no solution for the market shifts making USAToday and Gannett less viable. Read more at http://www.ThePhoenixPrinciple.com
Does this apply to on air talent? Mike Bush et al should schedule their “vacations” for Feb. sweeps. Would anyone notice? Channel 5’s longtime stranglehold on local news ratings is a well earned thing of the past.
AMEN, greggh!! not having to watch KDSK’s “award” winning news team of MB, DL, CP, and RK would be a relief! and fire that female who promotes the station constantly on their self-serving commercials and news intros; her voice is as irritating as Mary Harts…Fuller, Gray, Edlund, et al perhaps are beginning to realize the favor KDSK did them…some of the on-air staff should take a permanent hiatus-they are horrible…”mom’s to you”…
Dear Cornhead,
Why are you watching Channel 5 if you hate it so much?
The relief you seek is this: Turn to another channel or turn your television off.
I laugh at people like you who complain and bitch, but still drink their Kool Aid. I guess some people just love self abuse.
BTW, I happen to like Channel 5’s voice over announcer Roberta Soloman. She’s one of the best in the business, now lives in KC, grew up right here in Creve Coeur.
First, they dont do sweeps anymore. This is a continually rated market. Second, every top executive from Craig down to the secretary has to take a one week non paid leave. I’ve never heard of such approach but I guess EVERYBODY taking a tiny hit is better than XX number being FIRED.
I think if I worked at a company, in today’s world, if I could afford it, I would walk in to my bosses office and offer to take an immediate 10% pay cut. (Now the cynics on this board would say that such a grand gesture would go unappreciated but…). To those who are taking the week off…use the time to read, take a class, visit the children’s hospital, plant some trees, volunteer for United Way, do some freelance work, go to Branson and spend some money (I know cynics…you got no money cause you lost a week’s pay)…
to scott simon-my opinions are “mine”. if you don’t like my comments, don’t read them. your comments regarding PD entertainment journalists irritated me…why read them if you don’t like them? god bless you, scott…you’re special!
After 10+ years with the market leading Hearst-Argyle CBS affiliate in Iowa I’m sure my son would have preferred a furlough as opposed to a pink slip. What remains a mystery is where did 2+ years of political ad revenues go to? We’ve all read about the record political ad spending, both print & television ~ did it jusy buy bigger golden parachutes, or vanish into thin air like most of our Wall Street and Manhattan based financials?