Hello, friends.
It is with great joy that I announce that I have found a job. I have accepted the position of assistant news editor at the Springfield News-Leader in Springfield, Missouri. It looks like a great paper with a great crew, and I’m very excited. It’s a Gannett property, which also makes me happy. I’m happy to be working for a company that values its employees and its newspapers.
John recently posted a link to an article that detailed the astonishing loss of newsroom jobs this year. Gannett was not mentioned until, at the end of the article, a breakout box revealed the company had eliminated 14 jobs from Green Bay. Considering the size of the company and the number of people it employs, that is hardly a frightening number. Unless, of course, you’re in Green Bay.
For those of you who have held on to your allegiance to Scripps, I applaud you for your loyalty. But I also challenge you to analyze that loyalty. I have developed a profound distaste for the cable company after its unceremonious liquidation of the Post-Herald. We had all heard rumors for years that Scripps corporate would provide outstanding support for its employees in the event of a closure. Those rumors proved to be unfounded and perhaps were propagated to ease the heavy hearts of those who foresaw the imminent doom. Scripps corporate offices provided nothing beyond their legal obligations. I was there, too, Greg, when Rich shed his crocodile tears in the newsroom. When I spoke to him one on one, he looked right through me, and appeared not to register anything I said. I was not filled with confidence.
Any Scripps leads we got were because of the wonderful networking skills of Jim, John and Wade. Thank you, gentlemen, for you help.
Scripps papers were the first to hear that a fresh group of experienced journalists had entered the workforce. And many of them came calling. But they were not alone. Gannett also heard of the newly available talent. And it came calling, too – in the form of its in-house headhunter.
Gannett, and the News-Leader in particular, worked hard to recruit me. The News-Leader’s executive editor has fresh ideas about what a community newspaper should be, and he is building his newsroom piece by piece. In him I have great confidence.
Springfield appears to be a nice town – relatively quiet and friendly. Ticla, Zoë and I will be moving into a house up there in the coming weeks. We are eager to start our new lives.
I wish all of you the best of luck in whatever paths you chose, be they with Scripps or elsewhere. If you would like to keep an eye on me, I have set up a blog. Although it was originally designed to help me land a job, I will soon be updating it with random rantings and observations. You can find it at www.adamw23.blogspot.com. Sonja, I expect some comments.
Take care, everyone, and I’ll see you in cyberspace.
2 comments:
Congratulations Adam. I knew you'd land a pretty sweet gig soon. And Missouri ain't that bad, either--you can chill with Mark Twain and company.
Your comments on Scripps are well-written and accurate. I too was placated for two years by encouragement form the head offices that they were behind the Post-Herald "all the way." Unfortunately, those assertions were never in the best interests of the stockholders, and so were eventually untrue. Ah well. I'm glad you and Ticla and Zoe will have some new stuff to do. Best of luck, pal.
Congrats on the job man. Didn't really understand all the news jargon, but got the jist. Don't have much experience with old Mo. but did spend a couple weeks there at a rainbow gathering. That is where the snake landed on me and the fireflys light up the ridges in Mark Twain National forrest. Maybe I'll stop by for a visit with one of my hos sometime. Say hello to bart, Lisa and Marge and Homer.
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