McClatchy Watch

Friday, November 20, 2009

I added a new blog to the blog roll today. The Medium, The Message is published by Christopher Nelson, former writer and copy editor for the N&O until he was laid off in August. Go there for good info on the newspaper business and other media, plus developments at the N&O.

.
.
Sphere: Related Content

Five McClatchy newspapers now available on Kindle

McClatchy announced today it has launched digital editions on Kindle. Available now on Kindle: The Sacramento Bee, The Charlotte Observer, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Anchorage Daily News, and the News & Observer. The Miami Herald and the Kansas City Star are next. Here's how it works:

The Kindle editions are free for a two-week trial. The monthly subscription price is $6.99 a month.

The editions are delivered wirelessly once a day in the early morning but will not be a complete version of the print edition or even the Web site of each paper. The editions will not have advertising.

The New York Times, Washington Post, and the Boston Globe are on Kindle. Haven't heard how well those programs are doing.
.
.
.
Sphere: Related Content

Nick Sloan's blog is back

Never mind about Nick Sloan quitting his blog.
.
.
.
Sphere: Related Content

Nielsen: time spent per person at the top 30 newspaper Web sites dropped in October

The average time spent per visitor at top newspaper web sites dropped during October compared to the same month a year ago. Bucking the trend, the average time spent at the Kansas City Star's web site was 8:58 in October 2009 -- almost double the 4:43 spent per visit for October 2008. Also bucking the trend was the Miami Herald's web site: 6:04 per visit in October 2009, compared to 5:12 per visit a year ago. Click here for the story.
.
.
.
Sphere: Related Content

McClatchy reporter blames the Army for the media's poor reporting after the Fort Hood shooting

I missed this item from a week and a half ago. On the Nukes and Spooks blog, McClatchy reporter Nancy Youssef blames the Army for the media getting so many facts wrong after the Fort Hood shooting. But Youssef doesn't explain why McClatchy's first report on the shooting didn't mention the shooter's religion or that he had expressed sympathy with attacks on the US -- even though these facts were widely known before the McClatchy piece was published, as I noted here.
.
.
.
Sphere: Related Content

A 17 year old girl meets Sarah Palin -- and an MSNBC anchorwoman

Jackie Seal stood in line at a Barnes and Noble in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to meet Sarah Palin. Along the way, she had an encounter with MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell, who proved herself a first class clod. Jackie Seal blogged about what she learned. More info at Newsbusters.

.
.
Sphere: Related Content

Friday November 20 -- Got news or an update?

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
.
.
.
Sphere: Related Content

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Report: newspaper industry ad revenue fell 28% in third quarter from a year ago

Third quarter newspaper ad revenue fell 28% compared to a year ago.

U.S. newspaper industry ad revenue, helped by a slowdown in the drop of print ad sales, fell 28 percent in the third quarter, Newspaper Association of America data show. It was a narrower decline than the previous period.
Industrywide ad revenue fell to $6.44 billion from $8.94 billion a year earlier, according to figures released today by the Arlington, Virginia-based trade group. Total ad sales plunged 29 percent in the second quarter.

“The broad consensus is that the worst has passed,” NAA Chief Executive Officer John Sturm said in a statement. “These numbers are inline with most expectations.”

Click here for the full story.
.
I didn't know there was a "broad consensus" that the worst has passed, as John Sturm claims.

.
.
Sphere: Related Content

The State (Columbia, SC) looking for preprint specialist

The State is hiring a preprint specialist. The announcement:

Description:

Provides sales support, coordination and assistance to major preprint accounts. Processes preprint, ROP and other advertising orders. Provides customer service, billing fulfillment, communicates initiatives with other departments and assists the operations manager with special projects as needed.

Requirements:

Candidates must have good communication, organization, customer service, mathematical and data entry skills. Must be able to juggle multiple tasks and competing priorities while working in a deadline driven environment. Preprint account relationship specialist must posses strong detail orientation, effective problem solving skills and ability to demonstrate initiative in developing new business. Some college preferred. One year administrative experienced required, preferably within a marketing or sales environment. Typing requirement 40 wpm.

Click here for more info.

.
.
Sphere: Related Content

More Palin Derangement at the AP -- article on Palin book links to anti-Palin Dem web site

Talk about continuing to dig after you hit bottom.

Days after disclosing it had assigned 11 reporters to fact-check Sarah Palin's new book, a new AP article on sales of the book ended with a link to an anti-Palin web site.

Here is a screen grab of the bottom of the article:

The full article by AP reporter Rachel D'Oro is here. Click here for the anti-Palin site.
.
(Do you have to ask if the AP has assigned any reporters to fact-check the Dem web site?)
.
Thanks to the readers who sent the link and the screen grab.

.
.
Sphere: Related Content

AP Guild says layoff count has risen to 71

Like the death count after a big earthquake, the AP layoff numbers keep rising, day by day.

The count of Associated Press union employees laid off has risen to 71, according to the News Media Guild, which states that an additional 14 employees received termination notices Wednesday.

It also said more cuts may occur today, according to members. Additional non-union and managerial layoffs have also been found, the guild said, but no specifics were available.

A guild report to members said the additional staffers include nine newspersons, three editorial assistants, one photographer, and one office assistant. It also adds that the cuts affect correspondents in Dayton, Ohio; Roanoke, Va.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Jacksonville, Fla.

"Guild members, citing managers, have reported that more people may lose their jobs Thursday," the notice added. "The AP has not informed the union about future staff reductions, despite Guild requests for information. AP has not provided any assurance to the union that the company is ‘finished’ with this current round of staff reductions."

.
Sphere: Related Content

Checking in on the Bee's new editorial page editor

Stuart Leavenworth has been in charge of the Bee's editorial page for several weeks now. What kind of imprint has he made on the editorial pages? I took a look at the Bee yesterday, and judging by the editorials, it looks like Leavenworth is moving the Bee farther toward the goofy left.

Check out the unsigned editorial below:

The editorial suggests Dem politician Darrell Steinberg, the Senate Pro Tem leader who is "acting governor" while Schwarzenegger is in Iraq, should tweak the governor while he is out of state.

... Imagine the mischief Steinberg could cause in these final minutes and hours.

He could:
• Close down the governor's cigar tent in the Capitol courtyard that wafts smoke into neighboring offices.
•End one of the furlough days for state workers by reducing the size of the governor's staff and entourage.
• Pass a law that the governor of California must live in Sacramento. No jet commuting to Brentwood allowed.

With the state government looking at a $20 billion shortfall, and Californians facing a 12% unemployment rate and other challenges, it's nice to see the Bee fantasizing about juvenile stick-it-to-you games against Schwarzenegger.

.
.

Sphere: Related Content

Thursday November 19 -- Got news or an update?

If you have news or an update, post it in comments.
.
.
. Sphere: Related Content

The Sun Herald, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper, is looking for a motivated staff writer. This staff writer will work under the direction of the City Editor to report and write daily, weekend and project stories; emphasis on stories will be in the area of Hancock County; provide suggested headlines, taglines, budget line and photo captions for each story; coordinate and assign photos and graphics; expected to be a general assignment reporter as the need arises; accept questions, complaints, suggestions, and other comments from the public; respond to emails and faxes from the public in a timely manner; check out story suggestions from the public, editors, etc.; maintain source lists and keep track of upcoming events so coverage can be planned. Qualifications include a degree in Journalism or English preferred; time management skills, organizational skills (planning ahead, scheduling), writing and editing skills, oral and written communication skills; and skills in identifying news and assessing its importance.

Click here for more info.
.
.
.
Sphere: Related Content