McClatchy Watch

Time to exit

2009-12-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

Update: This blog is inactive but you can follow McClatchy Watch on Twitter.

After blogging for 27 months it's time for me to hang up my laptop.

I've wrestled for the past 2 weeks whether to keep blogging, and decided it's time to quit McClatchy Watch. I have more responsibilities at work, and I have plans for more time with my family. I need a break, too. No, this won't be a temporary break; I don't plan to start blogging again.

There is a definite demand for newspaper watchdog blogs. McClatchy has over 9,000 employees and I know from my stats that tons of them checked in here on a regular basis. My traffic also benefited from people -- plenty of them -- fascinated by the decline happening in the newspaper business. Somewhere a blog will rise to meet the thirst for information.

There are only a handful of newspaper watchdog blogs: Lee Watch, Gannettoid, smaller ones here and there. Jim Hopkins ended Gannett Blog in July.

Coincidentally, Jim Hopkins started Gannett Blog the same month I started McClatchy Watch. I consider it a minor achievement that I outlasted Jim by a few months. But Jim now says he might restart the blog.

Newspaper watchdog bloggers will mostly be hobbyists who don't do it for the money. For the past several months I have averaged 2,000 hits on weekdays, about half that on weekends. Not bad for this little blog but not a solid business model -- my monthly income from this blog was never more than about one sixth of my mortgage payment.

Publishing this blog has been fun and rewarding. Many thanks are in order. I appreciate, more than I can say, my readers, especially those who posted comments, who emailed me with tips and articles and personal stories. Thanks also to the other bloggers who linked here.

I might post a handful of times between now and Friday but the shutdown has started.

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas.

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Modesto Bee dismantles its printing press

2009-12-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

A reader emailed a photo of the cavernous room that used to house the Modesto Bee printing operation. The Mod Bee outsourced printing to Sacramento over a year ago and the press has been completely dismantled.
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Tri-City Herald looking for customer service rep -- $10.50 per hour

2009-12-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

The Tri-City Herald is advertising for a customer service representative. Here is the announcement:

The Tri-City Herald has an immediate full time opening for a Customer Service Representative. Candidates must have exceptional phone etiquette and listening skills, impeccable attention to detail, basic computer skills, be able to accurately type 30 WPM or more, be able to to multi-task efficiently, the ability to work in a fast- paced, sometimes high stress environment and the ability to spell correctly. Starting wage is $10.50 per hour.

Click here for more info.
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Press problems at Merced paper delay delivery for some Modesto Bee subscribers

2009-12-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Story here.

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Wednesday December 23 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-23T02:10:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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What's going on with the Miami land deal?

2009-12-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

With the $190 million Miami land deal scheduled to close next week, it's time for another round of speculation about what will happen.

If the deal doesn't close, McClatchy is entitled to a $6 million termination fee on top of the $10 million already collected.

Looks like one of three things will happen: (1) the deal will close; (2) McClatchy will agree to extend escrow another six or twelve months; or, (3) McClatchy will take the $6 million termination fee and run.

Under one scenario being bandied about, if the deal doesn't close next week, McClatchy will take the $6 million and package the parking lot with some bayfront property, then put it on the market at a much higher price.

That might sound good but it would surprise me: due to its weakened condition, McClatchy is not bargaining from a position of strength and might not have the stomach for another big real estate deal.
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The Herald (Rock Hill, SC) looking for a graphic artist

2009-12-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

The Herald is advertising for a graphic artist. The announcement:

Description:

The Herald has an immediate opening for a Graphic Artist in our creative services department. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package including health insurance, 401(k) and more.

Requirements:

Qualified candidates will have excellent people skills and the ability to create, design and conceive advertising layouts. Experience with Macintosh systems and in using Quark Express 6.0, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop 7.0, and the ability to design in Flash, creating effective online ads. Candidates must be able to type 35 words per minute and have the ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Click here for more info.

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At least 6 newspaper publishers filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009

2009-12-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

See the list here. (Hat tip: Paper Cuts on Twitter)
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Blog post of the day

2009-12-22T12:30:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama’s Approval Index Plunges After Health Care Rammed Through Senate
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Wonder what media elites talk about at "holiday parties"?

2009-12-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

According to an account by Clay Waters, when media elites get together at "holiday parties," the most popular topics are the atrociousness of Joe Lieberman and Sarah Palin, and the greatness of Obama's speeches. Plus some shop talk for good measure. Full story here.

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Former Bee reporter named editor in chief of hyperlocal site in Sacramento

2009-12-22T09:25:00.000-08:00

Former Bee reporter David Watts Barton has been named editor in chief of The Sacramento Press, a hyperlocal internet site in Sacramento. Barton, who has been managing editor at The Sacramento Press for nearly a year, reported on arts and culture during his 25 years with the Bee.

Web site here.
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27 months and 6,100 posts...

2009-12-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

My Blogger dashboard says I've posted more than 6,100 entries since I started blogging September, 2007. Time for me to get a life!?
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Tuesday December 22 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Charlotte Observer looking for news systems analyst - $50,000 - $65,000 per year

2009-12-21T15:25:00.000-08:00

The Charlotte Observer is advertising for a "news systems analyst". The announcement:

The Charlotte Observer, the region’s leading information source, has a full time opportunity for a professional to join our team as an Applications Analyst II- News Systems. The Charlotte Observer is one of the largest newspapers in the Southeast area with circulation at 209,218 daily and 258,722 Sunday. The Charlotte Observer employs approximately 750 employees and is owned by McClatchy.

The Applications Analyst II- News Systems position is responsible for the evaluation, planning, technical support and development of the CCI news system application environment. Working to ensure, we provide Tier 2 support services to the Newsroom, meeting the users’ needs in a reliable, timely and professional manner. This position works under the direction of the Applications Manager – News Systems to manage change control and solution implementation. This position is subject to on-call, after hours duty.

The Applications Analyst II- News Systems positions must possess CCI experience. Microsoft Developer certification will be an advantage or equivalent experience using Visual Basic and/or TCL (Tool Command Language). UNIX certification or equivalent experience desired. Position requires self-direction, some project administration and special assignments.

FYI to the people who posted the ad: The CO doesn't have 209,000 daily subscribers, not even close: according to the Audit Bueau of Circulations, the Charlotte Observer's daily circulation is 167,585.

Click here for more info on the position.
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Executive editor on the Miami Herald's panhandling experiment: "an encouraging steam of gifts"

2009-12-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

Miami Herald executive editor Anders Gyllenhaal says the Herald has received "an encouraging steam of gifts" ranging from $2 to $55 in response to requests for donations on the Herald's site.

Can't help but notice he didn't disclose the total amount given, or the number of donors.

Update: as of 4:40 EST, the Herald article still has Anders saying "steam" instead of "stream".

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More on the Bee Guild negotiations...

2009-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late with this update...

Last week the Bee Guild posted a summary of their negotiations with management.

The biggest sticking points: management wants to reduce severange pay from 40 weeks to 26 weeks -- which would make it $10,000 to $20,000 cheaper to lay off veteran workers. Management also wants to make it easier to reduce some workers to part-time, and, hire freelance writers.

The next round of negotiations is January 19. Click here to see the update on the Guild's web site.
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Kansas City Star advertising for a Financial Analyst

2009-12-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Click here for the details.
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Another spam attack at the Kansas City Star web site

2009-12-21T05:30:00.000-08:00

Above is a screen grab of spam taken from the comments section at Prime Buzz last night. It's happened several times in the past few days.
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Monday December 21 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Quote of the day

2009-12-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

"...the American people are just about to find that their medical care got a whole lot worse and a whole lot more expensive and cumbersome."
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Jeez, now the Anchorage Daily News is looking for freelancers

2009-12-20T09:45:00.000-08:00

The Anchorage Daily News is advertising for freelance writers. From the announcement:

The Anchorage Daily News is looking for experienced free-lancers to write fresh, compelling stories for special sections and a new magazine produced by the advertising department. Story topics will include health, fitness, home and garden, lifestyle and personality features, adventure and travel, food and the arts. We are looking for dependable people with strong writing and reporting skills who can pitch story ideas as well as take assignments. Must live in Alaska.

Click here for the details.
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Christmas presents for the corporate bigwigs

2009-12-20T05:43:00.000-08:00

More details on the Christmas presents given to corporate management by the board of directors:

Gary Pruitt CEO: 450,000 restricted stock units, no appreciation rights
Patrick Talamantes VP, Finance: 70,000 restricted stock units; 100,000 in appreciation rights
Robert Weil VP, Operations: 80,000 restricted stock units; 120,000 in appreciation rights
Frank R. J. Whittaker VP, Operations: 80,000 restricted stock units; 120,000 in appreciation rights

The restricted stock units vest in full on March 1, 2012. The stock appreciation rights vest in four equal installments beginning on March 1, 2011. The exercise price of the stock appreciation rights is $3.42 per share.

No Christmas presents for the worker bees. Pruitt's lifting of the companywide wage freeze doesn't count since it happens in 2010, and will be based on the financial situation at each individual paper.
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Sunday December 20 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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"Rescinding Obamacare needs to be the organizing theme of the 2010 elections"

2009-12-19T17:52:00.000-08:00

William A. Jacobson on the awful health care bill the Dems are ramming down our throat:

Yes, it is that bad. The Democrats are about to put in place the legislative, regulatory and bureaucratic infrastructure for a complete government takeover of health care. Just read the comments from the supporters and you will see a common theme -- this is just the beginning. They know it, we know it, and Ben Nelson knows it but doesn't care because he scored some pork for his home state, just like Mary Landrieu
This is the worst of Washington. Payoffs, lies, deceit, and deception. Oddly enough, I've come to have more respect for the left-wing advocates of single-payer than the so-called moderates who will sell their principles for money. At least the left-wing has principles, even if I disagree with those principles. The moderates like Nelson and Landrieu have no principles, at least none that cannot be sold.
Where is Evan Bayh? His silence has been deafening.
How amazing is the number of circumstances which caused this perfect storm, without any one of which we wouldn't be on Obama's precipice: Massachusetts changes its rules for a second time to allow appointment of a Democrat in Kennedy's place rather than having to wait for the special election; Al Franken outmaneuvers and out-litigates Norm Coleman to steal the Minnesota race; Rahm Emanuel recruits "blue dog" Democratic wolves in sheep's clothing and people fall for it; the media covers up the Obama agenda during the campaign, portraying Obama falsely as a moderate; [added] George Allen says "Macaca," and so on.
Democrats do not care about the 2010 election cycle, or 2012. Obama has said it. He'd rather get his restructuring of society in place and be a one-term president, than be a two-term president and not succeed in perfecting our imperfections.
There is a slight, slight chance this legislation can be stopped in the House, so don't give up until the last vote is taken..

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Former newspaper union president charged with embezzling more than $200,000

2009-12-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

Beautiful.

A former newspaper union president was free on $100,000 bail yesterday after he was charged with embezzling more than $200,000 from the union he ran.

Wayne Mitchell, president of the New York Mailers Local No. 6 until May 2008, faces five years in prison if convicted on the one count of embezzling union funds. The Post reported yesterday that Mitchell was preparing to turn himself in to federal authorities in Manhattan.

Mitchell's troubles began last year, when a union member noticed the union payroll included a name believed to be a fake and alerted federal authorities.

Thanks to the reader who sent this in.

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Star agrees to settlement with company that stiffed the Star out of $2.4 million

2009-12-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

Wow, lots of Kansas City Star news this week... The Star went to bankruptcy court Friday and accepted a settlement in its dispute with Janice Eillis and her bankrupt company, RiseUp Publications LLC.

The Kansas City Star and the owners of RiseUp, a short-lived magazine on race relations, have agreed to a settlement in a dispute over fees owed to The Star.

In 2008 The Star contracted to print several weekly issues of RiseUp. But the magazine ceased publication, and The Star said it was owed $2.2 million.

Two months ago, The Star won a judgment in Ray County Circuit Court against RiseUp owners Janice S. Ellis and E. Frank Ellis, the principals of Ellis Management Marketing Group.

The court awarded The Star $2.4 million, including legal fees.

In a court filing Friday, The Star accepted a settlement with the Ellises. The terms were not disclosed.

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Saturday December 19 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Photo of the day

2009-12-18T16:00:00.000-08:00

Hat tip: Doug Ross

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Spam attack at the Kansas City Star web site

2009-12-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

John Landsberg has the story. I just checked the site and it seems to be working OK now.
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Traffic down at Miami Herald, Kansas City Star web sites

2009-12-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

The latest Nielson study of traffic at the nation's top 30 newspaper web sites shows traffic at the Miami Herald and the Kansas City Star -- the two McClatchy papers on the list -- declined compared to a year ago, and compared to last month.

MiamiHerald.com had 1,751,000 uniques in November 2009, down 22% compared to a year ago. And down 146,000 from last month when it had 1,907,000 uniques.

KansasCity.com had 1,614,000 uniques in November 2009, down 13% compared to a year ago. And down 161,000 from last month when it had 1,775,000 uniques.

The two McClatchy sites weren't alone; more than half of the top 30 newspaper web sites lost unique users in November 2009.

Click here for the November results.

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The State (Columbia, SC) looking for a press operator

2009-12-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

The State newspaper is advertising for a press operator. From the ad:

Description:

Operates in all areas of plate, reel and pressroom functions, including loading newsprint, installing plates, and operating press console, folder and ink-setting system. Performs routine maintenance of press, mixes ink, operates water and ink controls, inspects paper visually for quality. Cleans press units and related components.

Requirements:

Two years lithograhpic or offset print and knowledge of ink mixing and process color procedures required. Goss Headiner Offset/Metro press and folder experience preferred. Excellent mathematical aptitude, mechanical and communication skills are essential. Must be able to lift up to 90 pounds and work effectively in a deadline-driven environment. High school diploma or equivalent is required. Work schedule rotates five nights per week, including weekends. Shift typically starts at 8:30 p.m. and runs until approximately 4 a.m.

Click here for more info.

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Early Christmas present for CEO Gary Pruitt -- update: "shameless"

2009-12-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt was given 450,000 shares of derivative securities that mature on March 1, 2012, according to a Form 4 filed with the SEC late Thursday. The securities convert to one share of Class A stock on the maturity date, if I understand it correctly.

Click here to see the SEC filing.

Other corporate suits got nifty presents, too.

Update: a reader points out there is something shameless about Pruitt's gift:

"Not only incompetent, he's a shameless liar. Restoring the 401(k) match in 2010? Lifting the pay freeze by giving "raises" in 2010 that are less than the amount that was cut from paychecks in 2009. Great "work," Pru."

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Friday December 18 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Rating services hint at possible McClatchy upgrade

2009-12-17T18:36:00.000-08:00

Fitz and Jen bring word that McClatchy's attempt to refinance some of its outstanding debt could help the company's liquidity and might result in an upgrade to its credit rating. Standard & Poors and Moody's both hinted today that a McClatchy upgrade could be in the works.

But S&P says it still has major concerns about McClatchy's debt and the overall decline in the newspaper business.

“We still remain highly concerned about steep leverage levels at McClatchy and long-term secular rates of decline in newspaper ad revenue. The current 'CC' rating reflects our belief that the company's high leverage would not be manageable over the long term given significant negative secular trends in the U.S. newspaper industry.”

McClatchy's "CC" rating reflects junk bond status.
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Blog post of the day

2009-12-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

Scare Tactics: Obama Says USA Will ‘Go Bankrupt’ if Senate Bill Not Passed
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Why the Herald's tin cup won't work...

2009-12-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

Rick Aristotle Munarriz says the Miami Herald's plan to ask for donations won't work.

Allow me to be the first to burst McClatchy's bubble in saying that its panhandling efforts will be wasted. These virtual tip jars rarely work. Wikipedia has been successful in soliciting reader donations, but it's clearly positioned as a nonprofit site that refuses to advertise on its pages. Strumming away in front of an open guitar case won't work for McClatchy.

Click here for the whole thing.

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List of newspapers that have gone web-only

2009-12-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

Click here to see the list. No word on whether these web-only papers are turning a profit.
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Left wing blog to Obama: "You lie!"

2009-12-17T12:30:00.000-08:00

Lefty blog Firedoglake has gone Joe Wilson, calling Obama a liar. Click here to see it.
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Bee management wants to make it $10,000 - $20,000 cheaper to lay off veteran employees

2009-12-17T11:10:00.000-08:00

Management wants to cap severance pay at 26 weeks instead of the current max of 40 weeks. Click here for the story.
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Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Georgia) axes three management positions

2009-12-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

You know things are serious when newspapers start cutting management positions. From a reader:

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer axed 2 more manager positions and one director position in the fourth quarter.

In November one circulation management position and one finance management position were eliminated. In December the Human Resources director position (which also served as the regional HR director for both Columbus and Macon) was eliminated.

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Charlotte Observer hiring freelance writers

2009-12-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

The Charlotte Observer is looking for freelance science writers. Check out this post on the Observer's Facebook page:

Are you a freelance science writer or know somebody who is? The Observer is looking for NC-based freelancers interested in writing science stories for the paper. Particularly looking for people with a background in journalism; who have existing contacts at NC universities and colleges and who have strong clips.

Hat tip: Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists
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Thursday December 17 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-17T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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McClatchy moves to refinance some of its debt (updated)

2009-12-16T23:29:00.000-08:00

Via an SEC filing Wednesday afternoon, McClatchy disclosed it is negotiating with lenders to refinance its 2011 debt maturities by taking on about $875 million in refinancing debt to pay down amounts under its credit agreement, and extend maturities out another two years. Click here to see the disclosure.
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Not sure this means anything in the short term, since this filing deals with 2011 debt.

Update: Best explanation I've heard: McClatchy realizes things will get much worse in 2010, which means the banks would be less likely to refinance then. Time to move now.

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The News Tribune wins recognition for one of the year's best corrections

2009-12-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

A correction published in The News Tribune came in for honors as one of the years favorite corrections at Regret the Error.

"A photo caption on Tuesday’s Page A8 said a student was performing the Heimlich maneuver on a dummy. The student was actually playing around and pretending to choke the dummy."

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Lee Enterprises cancels company-paid health insurance for more than one hundred retirees

2009-12-16T09:45:00.000-08:00

Click here for the story.
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The News Tribune (Tacoma) looking for an Interactive Media Specialist

2009-12-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

The News Tribune is advertising for what is calls "Interactive Media Specialist." Which I'm guessing is really an outside sales position. From the ad:

Description:

Meet set revenue goals & sales standards; sell, manage, & develop the interactive media business. Solicit new advertising business opportunities; determine market trends & conditions & make effective sales presentations to existing & potential advertisers; advise & assist advertisers with ad copy, & ad layout; advise on electronic submission of ads or ad elements; assist with ad budgeting & effective ad merchandising; prepare & process contracts, credit memos, layout orders, art requests & a variety of other associated paperwork to ensure the customer’s advertising needs are met in a timely fashion; schedule, monitor & track apts.com leads sold by the advertising staff to run on network of websites including Yahoo; train customers to effectively utilize apts.com; & resolve any outstanding issues that may arise.

Requirements:

An AA degree plus two years of prior sales experience, or equivalent required. Daily newspaper sales experienced preferred. Ability to communicate with and understand the needs of technical and non-technical customers. Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business publications, procedures or regulations. Ability to effectively and efficiently communicate, both orally and in writing. Knowledge of proper English usage, spelling and grammar. Personal computer experience needed, using Microsoft Office, and the knowledge of basic office practices. Ability to analyze situations and adopt an effective course of action utilizing tact, patience and courtesy. Time management and organizational techniques are needed.

Why don't they mention "sales" in the job title.

Click here for more info.

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Miami Herald publishes tips on how to cheat on your spouse without getting caught

2009-12-16T05:30:00.000-08:00

Guess the Miami Herald has stopped all pretense of being a family newspaper. Via Random Pixels comes word the Miami Herald published an unsigned column in its entertainment section entitled "Adultery 101," listing five ways to keep from getting caught cheating on your spouse.

A commenter on the site has the best take:

I know the herald is hemorrhaging money but, this goes beyond the test of what is in good taste. This article confirms my decision to stop purchasing this paper. In addition, it's interesting how the reporter(s) of this article chose to remain anonymous -I don't blame them, I would have too!

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Wednesday December 16 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Miami Herald asks readers for donations

2009-12-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

Things must be getting bad at the Herald -- the Huffington Post says the Herald is asking readers for donations:

The Miami Herald is taking a page out of Wikipedia's playbook.

Starting Tuesday, the McClatchy-owned newspaper is using its website to invite readers to donate to the newspaper.

A link appears on every story that reads, "Support ongoing news coverage" and takes you to a page where readers can donate any amount they'd like.

"If you value The Miami Herald's local news reporting and investigations, but prefer the convenience of the Internet, please consider a voluntary payment for the web news that matters to you," the prompt reads.

The newspaper's parent company, McClatchy, said last week that advertising trends had improved. The company expected ad revenue "to decline in the low- to mid-20 percent range in the fourth quarter compared with a decline of 28.1 percent in the third quarter and 30.2 percent in the second quarter," the AP reported.

Blog post of the day

2009-12-15T13:00:00.000-08:00

What Do House Democrats Know That The Rest of Us Don't?
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Cartoon of the day

2009-12-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

Cartoon by Gary Varvel

Backing and filling at the Anchorage Daily News

2009-12-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

A reader posted this item yesterday:

The Anchorage Daily News has axed their Production Manager and given the duties to Circulation. Is this type of restructuring happening elsewhere?

I guess you could call this "restructioning"... "retrenching" might be a better word. Companies make moves like this after axing 30 percent of their employees in 2 just years.
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Kansas City Star leaves signage up on bureaus it closed long ago

2009-12-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

The Kansas City Star hasn't taken down its signage on bureaus that it closed months ago, according to a report from John Landsberg. Above is a photo of the former Northland Bureau, which closed this past spring. Click here for the full story.

Meet Mindworks, the new copy editor at the Miami Herald

2009-12-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

A reader pointed me to this comment on Alan Mutter's post on outsourcing newspaper jobs.

Mindworks has been doing some (mostly substandard) copy editing of wire stories for the Miami Herald, so McClatchy is probably one of the two large publishing groups with which the company is in "advanced" stages of negotiation.

Here's a shock: the MindWorks corporate office is in India. I understand MindWorks is being used only for the Herald's international edition. But you know where this is headed, don't you.

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Tuesday December 15 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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ClimateGate Research Unit Disables Its Website

2009-12-14T16:00:00.000-08:00

A new twist to ClimateGate that the dinosaur media won't cover -- The Climatic Research Unit at the center of ClimateGate has taken down info previously available on its web site.
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Debra Kuykendall named publisher at the Merced Sun-Star

2009-12-14T13:30:00.000-08:00

Debra Kuykendall, a 36-year McClatchy employee, was named publisher of the Merced Sun-Star today.

Debra Kuykendall has been named president and publisher of the Merced (Calif.) Sun-Star. She most recently served as vice president of sales and marketing, and assumed the duties of interim publisher on Nov. 27.

She replaces Hank Vander Veen, who has left the paper.

"Debbie is a dynamic, experienced executive who knows Merced and the Central Valley inside and out," Gary Pruitt, McClatchy CEO, said in a statement. "She's an ideal fit for the newspaper and the community."

Kuykendall joined McClatchy 36 years ago, starting her career at The Modesto (Calif.) Bee and working up to vice president of operations after a stint as director of operational services and prepress manager. She began her career in classified advertising.

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Cartoon of the day

2009-12-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

Cartoon by Chip Bok

Newspapers look to outsource news editor jobs, photo editor jobs, and copy editor jobs

2009-12-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

So says Alan Mutter.
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Looks like the ObamaCare implosion is imminent

2009-12-14T08:50:00.000-08:00

Dan Perrin explains here. This is great news for the tens of millions of Americans who want to keep their existing health plans and who oppose rationing of health care. And great news for Americans who don't want the national debt to skyrocket.
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Has McClatchy stopped reporting on its own layoffs?

2009-12-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

Here's an odd development I'm noticing about recent McClatchy layoffs...

Early this month this month a reliable source informed me 4 employees at the Macon Telegraph had been laid off. Since then, there has been no official word from the paper. Which is a change from how the Macon Telegraph handled its last layoffs (March, 2009), when the information was published in the newspaper.

Last week an anonymous poster said several employees at the Idaho Statesman were pink-slipped a few weeks earlier. If true, the Statesman hasn't reported the story.

Then there is the Miami Herald... reports of the Miami Herald axing 24 positions on December 2nd were widely reported by several news organizations, including the Associated Press, the Sacramento Business Journal, Broward New Times, and, Miami New Times.

But good luck finding any evidence the Miami Herald reported on its own layoffs. The Herald did run a correction of the original AP story but I haven't seen a Herald piece reporting on its most recent layoffs. Last March, though, the Herald reported the news when it laid off 175 employees, the Herald published a story on the layoffs.

What happened to reporting the news?
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Monday December 14 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Cartoon of the day

2009-12-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

Cartoon by Gary Varvel

A leap of faith for Erick Erickson

2009-12-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

Getting personal today, Erick Erickson talks about learning to trust God.
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Sunday December 13 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Got your Christmas lights up?

2009-12-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

I first saw this a couple of years ago, still fun to watch.

X-Mas Lights - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
by RavenTV

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Matt Burden update

2009-12-12T05:45:00.000-08:00

Matt Burden of Blackfive fame has an update on his run for political office in Illinois. Click here for the update. To donate to his campaign, click here.

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Saturday December 12 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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"Camp Durbin"?... memo says Gitmo prisoners will be transferred to Illinois prison

2009-12-12T00:54:00.000-08:00

The Obama administration plans to transfer Gitmo prisoners to Thomson Correctional Center in Illinois, 150 miles from Chicago, according to a draft memo published Friday at Breitbart's Big Government site. Click here for the memo. The administration is saying the memo is "pre-decisional" -- yeah, right.

What hath Obama wrought? I keep thinking of the dozens or more of these detainees who will spread their murderous Jihad by proselytizing inside the prison. And think of the grandstanding attorneys who will file bogus lawsuit after bogus lawsuit on behalf of these detainees. I see almost no upside to this move, and the potential downside is massive.

Did Romenesko kill Editor & Publisher?

2009-12-11T14:33:00.000-08:00

John Temple, former editor of the Rocky Mountain News, thinks so:

It's easy to underestimate the power of aggregation. But the truth, in my view, is that Romenesko replaced Editor & Publisher long ago as the place where journalists turned to find out what was going on in their world. It's not limited by one medium or industry. It's timely. And it's deep. The magazine couldn't compete. And it's not just Romenesko. There are many sites and blogs to turn to today to learn what's going on in journalism. Which is why E&P couldn't survive as a viable business. I know many would like to think that the same thing couldn't happen to other publications.

Blog post of the day

2009-12-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

Lefties lose a billionaire sugar daddy
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More on the demise of Editor & Publisher

2009-12-11T07:45:00.000-08:00

The LA Times has a good piece on the decline of Editor & Publisher. Best quote is from former Merill Lynch newspaper analyst Lauren Fine, who sees some irony in the situation:

The number of people fascinated by decline of the newspaper industry is enormous, and E&P did a great job keeping them interested," Fine said. "But the number of people who can pay for the publication and depress themselves by reading about their industry, well, that's a shrinking population."

"There's nothing there" -- subscriber explains why she'll cancel her subscription to The State

2009-12-11T05:35:00.000-08:00

A reader at Brad Wartham's blog explains why she'll probably drop her subscription to The State:

I will probably let my “State” subscription lapse this year. I am currently getting local fluff news (who killed whom, prom queen, etc), comics (that I like), the AP wire news (one column), the death notices, and limited opinion. I also get a heck of a lot of advertising, and that is not the reason I take a paper. I’ve been reading a newspaper since (and probably while) I learned to read. But now there’s nothing there. Do I go to the N.Y. times, or WSJ? But why go to a newspaper that’s talking about another area altogether, and can provide no local news...?

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Friday December 11 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Andrew Breitbart launches "Big Journalism" site to combat "Democrat-media complex"

2009-12-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

The mainstream media left itself wide open for Andrew Breitbart's latest project.

Big Journalism will be run by former Time Magazine staffer Michael Walsh, who is also a former journalism professor and film & television professor at Boston University. Walsh and Breitbart met at a casual gathering of like-minded people and hit it off. When Breitbart made the decision to launch a new site covering journalism, he says that Walsh was first person that came to his mind. The fact that Walsh is a media veteran going back to the early 70s didn’t hurt, he said.
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Walsh and Breitbart share a similar distaste for the day-to-day work of “institutional journalists.” In an interview, the new editor of Big Journalism boiled down the mission of the site thusly: “Our goal at Big Journalism is to hold the mainstream media’s feet to the fire. There are a lot of stories that they simply don’t cover, either because it doesn’t fit their world view, or because they’re literally innocent of any knowledge that the story even exists, or because they are a dying organization, short-staffed, and thus can’t cover stuff like they did before.”
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“Big Journalism will be the go-to site for solidly backed-up stories, sharp points of view, and really great writing,” he said. We are defenders of the First Amendment and resolute enemies of political correctness. That’s the key to the site’s philosophy.”

Hat tip: Patterico
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McClatchy Interactive looking for a systems engineer

2009-12-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

McClatchy Interactive, located in Raleigh, is advertising for a systems engineer. Click here to see the announcement.
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Cartoon of the day

2009-12-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

Cartoon by Michael Ramirez (Hat tip: PowerLine)
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Shocker of the day: Editor & Publisher shutting down

2009-12-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

Unexpected:

The journalism trade journal Editor & Publisher is shutting down after 108 years of publication.

Editor & Publisher is being closed as its parent company, the Nielsen Co., sells several of its other business publications such as The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.

I'll have more info later as it comes in.

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McClatchy makes list of troubled companies that might not see 2020

2009-12-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

Click here to see the list.
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Survey: most LA Times journalists think their paper will go bankrupt

2009-12-10T07:55:00.000-08:00

Pessimism prevails among employees at the LA Times --- in a recent survey, more than half of LA Times journalists surveyed said they believe the Times will eventually go out of business. Among the findings:
Even if newspapers survive, several expected a much lower quality product,” the survey report says. “’Most papers will evolve into local rags with a heavy emphasis on entertainment and other “news you can use” and time-wasting blogs to keep people entertained,’ wrote a former male staffer, whose job was cut.
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Click here for the full story.
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Mutter's dose of reality

2009-12-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

Alan Mutter offers a dose of reality to the glib presentations by Gary Pruitt -- and the New York Times -- at Tuesday's USB conference. Instead of listening to the happy talk by newspaper front men, look at what is happening with actual advertising revenue.

Newspapers are on track this year to produce their lowest advertising sales since 1986, representing a 43% drop from their all-time peak of $49.4 billion in 2005.
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Based on the historic sales slide in the first nine months of the year, newspapers are likely to generate no more than $28 billion in advertising revenues in 2009, thus shedding more than $21 billion in sales since 2005.
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In other words, newspapers appear to have gotten mighty close to losing almost half of their revenue base in a mere four years – a decline that began well before the economy began unraveling.
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Advertising sales matter because they traditionally have generated 80% of the revenues at most newspapers, with circulation fees providing the balance. The profound contraction of the advertising market has caused some publishers to begin ratcheting up subscription and single-copy prices, but the industry at the moment will live, or not, by advertising.

Click here for the whole thing.
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Thursday December 10 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Why lifting the wage freeze isn't much help to McClatchy employees

2009-12-09T15:00:00.000-08:00

McClatchy employees learned Monday the company will lift the wage freeze that has been in effect for more than a year.

The news initially cheered workers who haven't had much to cheer about over the past couple of years.

But how much real benefit is this for employees?

When you look at the actual numbers, MNI wages have retracted -- due not just to the wage freeze but also to the salary decrease that hit most employees this past spring.

Check out the numbers an employee emailed me.

I was hired in 2006 at 52,000

I received a merit pay increase (3%) to 53,560 in 2007

US cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 3.3% (spanning 2006) would have been 53,716.

Before my next review, my wage was frozen.

COLA for 2007 would have been 2.3% (which would have brought me to $54,951)
COLA for 2008 would have been 5.8% (which would have brought me to $59,139)

BUT, 2009 was actually a 5% decrease, meaning my actual salary decreased to $50,882

So at the end of 2009, there's a difference of $8,257

That means for me to get back to even, I would need a raise of 16.25%

McClatchy employees are still in a deep hole and wait for the company to get serious about making things right with employees.
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New York Times "ethicist" uses platform to get in digs at Republicans

2009-12-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

Phony New York Times "ethicist" Randy Cohen can't resist hurling baseless barbs at Republicans. John Hinderaker explains.

Blog post of the day

2009-12-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

'Gore Effect' Slams Copenhagen With Subfreezing Temps
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Surprise news of the day

2009-12-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

AP assigns fact-checkers to Obama's TARP claims. No, really.
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The State (Columbia, SC) looking for a machinist

2009-12-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

The State is advertising for a machinist. From the ad:

Description:
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Temporary position is responsible for maintaining and repairing production equipment. Works on electrical and mechanical components of machinery. Must be able to understand relative software components that may affect both components and to read schematics. Work schedule is 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.; days vary, including weekends.
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Requirements:
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Five years of mechanical/electrical experience required. Two-year technical degree preferred. Must possess strong communication skills and mathematical aptitude. Must be physically able to stand for up to two-thirds of shift. Requires ability to climb, bend, stoop, crawl and kneel to access machinery. Lifting, pushing and pulling requirement can be up to 90 pounds.

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Click here for more info.

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Former Miami Herald reporter Natalie McNeal launches new blog

2009-12-09T05:35:00.000-08:00

Former Miami Herald reporter Natalie McNeal has started a new blog at thefrugalista.com. McNeal, who acquired some notoriety awhile back after she trademarked the name "frugalista" and sent out cease and desist letters to other bloggers using that term, started "The Frugalista Files" blog at the Miami Herald in 2008.
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Wednesday December 9 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Front page photo goof at the Kansas City Star

2009-12-08T16:30:00.000-08:00

John Landsberg has the details.
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Pruitt says McClatchy will cut expenses by more than 25% next year, despite signs ad revenue is improving

2009-12-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Saba reports McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt delivered an optimistic assessment -- he announced ad revenue has improved and all McClatchy newspapers are profitable -- in his speech before the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference today, but warned the company will need to cut expenses by more than a quarter next year.

Forgoing the McClatchy tradition of opening the presentation with a song, Pruitt took a defiant tone and said that advertising revenue is "finally, finally, improving," that all 30 of its newspapers are profitable and that McClatchy expects to maintain, if not grow, cash flow in 2010.

Pruitt acknowledged the increase in ad revenue isn't nearly enough to cover current expenses and the company will make significant cuts -- more than 25% -- in 2010.

... McClatchy is expected to trim expenses in the "high 20" percentage range next year. McClatchy is looking to outsource more production, financial and back-office functions -- it already outsources the printing of eight of its papers -- and to continue partnering with other news organizations, increasing shared editorial content.

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CNN hits a grim milestone

2009-12-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

CNN has landed in 4th place 100 times this year in the 25-54 demographic -- a historic low.
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Award-winning reporter leaves the Miami Herald to join the LA Times

2009-12-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

Random Pixels is reporting Jack Dolan, investigative reporter at the Miami Herald, has taken a job at the LA Times. Along with fellow Herald reporters Matthew Haggman and Rob Barry, Dolan won the top award in the Barlett & Steele Awards for Investigative Business Journalism for their 2008 series, "Borrowers Betrayed".
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Sacramento Bee guild in second round of talks with management

2009-12-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

The Bee Guild is gearing up for second round of talks with management... looking for a 3-year contract. Click here for more info.
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Pruitt: "We think ad revenue will improve"

2009-12-08T05:30:00.001-08:00

Ahead of Gary Pruitt's talk at the 37th Annual UBS Global Media & Communications Conference today, McClatchy issued a press release saying it expects ad revenue to improve. An excerpt:

McClatchy management noted today that it expects a continuation of the improving advertising revenue trends that began in the third quarter of 2009. Advertising revenues in the fourth quarter are expected to be down in the low- to mid-20s percent range compared to down 28.1% in the third quarter and 30.2% in the second quarter.
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Gary Pruitt, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "In addition to improving revenue trends, we expect cash expenses to be down in the high-20s percent range in the fourth quarter as we continue our focus on permanently reducing our costs. As a result, we expect operating cash flow in the fourth quarter to grow compared to last year. Similarly, in 2010 we expect to at least maintain if not grow operating cash flow."

Click here for the rest.

If you are interested, you can watch the presentation live at www.mcclatchy.com, and on www.ibb.ubs.com. I won't be watching but if you see it and have a reaction, email me or post it in comments.
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Tuesday December 8 -- Got news or an update?

2009-12-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

If you have news or an update, leave it in comments.
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Star-Telegram to reinstate merit increases January 1

2009-12-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

Here is the email sent to employees today by Star-Telegram publisher Gary Wortel:

December 7, 2010

To: All Employees
Re: Lifting of Wage Freeze

I am sure by now you have had the opportunity to read Gary Pruitt’s message about the company lifting the wage freeze for 2010.

The Star-Telegram will be reinstating merit increases on January 1, 2010. Salary review dates will be adjusted forward four months. Ex: a) Your last merit increase date was September 1st. The new date will be January 1st. b) Your last merit increase date was March 1st. The new date will be July 1st. Although we continue to experience a challenging revenue environment and we’ll need to remain diligent in managing expenses, we believe it’s important to lift this wage freeze -- especially during this difficult economic climate. The Star-Telegram could not be successful without you.

Thanks,
Gary

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McClatchy to lift company-wide wage freeze

2009-12-07T16:09:00.000-08:00

CEO Gary Pruitt announced today the McClatchy company will lift the company-wide wage freeze that has been in effect for more than a year. I'll have more later. If you have details or more info, email me or post it in comments.
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ACORN clears itself of wrongdoing

2009-12-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

Well that's a relief.
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Funniest SNL skit of the year?

2009-12-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

My stomach hurt from laughing after I saw this. (FYI, an annoying 15 second commercial comes first, but the skit is worth the wait.)

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