tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post4674797245358612193..comments2023-05-17T04:29:24.591-05:00Comments on DMNcuts: All the information I have at the moment about the cutsDMNcutsadminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04656155776293093412noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-72043003536823106212009-04-11T18:37:00.000-05:002009-04-11T18:37:00.000-05:00"The Dallas Morning News has no competition in the..."The Dallas Morning News has no competition in the Metroplex"<BR/><BR/>FW Star-Telegram?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-25756074900378196422009-04-11T16:12:00.000-05:002009-04-11T16:12:00.000-05:00The Dallas Morning News has no competition in the ...The Dallas Morning News has no competition in the Metroplex. How can you lose with that situation? I'll tell you how, let the corporate zombies make the decisions. Sure, the internet is the next big thing. But who is better suited to make the best of that situation? Let the newsapaper go bankrupt and allow others to run the assets better. Firing talent is the wrong way to improve content! A former subscriber.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-29234527049003057362009-04-10T17:21:00.000-05:002009-04-10T17:21:00.000-05:00All,I have been a DMN subscriber since 1990. In th...All,<BR/><BR/>I have been a DMN subscriber since 1990. In those years, I have seen what was once a great paper, with a world-class sports section, deteriorate into a shell of its former self. When I look at the talent that has worked here, only to be pushed out the door with no ceremony, I wonder why I continue my subscription.<BR/><BR/>This latest bloodbath signals to me the final demise of the institution that was DMN. Tomorrow, I am ordering a Kindle from Amazon, and I will subscribe to RSS feeds from countless former DMN staffers who continue to produce great content on their own. I will miss going out to the curb to get my paper each morning, but the time has come to stop my patronage of this inconsequential source. <BR/><BR/>To those of you let go today and in the past, my heart-felt thanks for all your hard work over the years. I wish you much success in the future. I trust you will land on your feet - the delivery method has changed, but talent wins out in the end - really!<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/><BR/>PHEPHEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03560875563889075902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-55137449591342079392009-04-10T13:03:00.000-05:002009-04-10T13:03:00.000-05:00Anybody reread Fahrenheit 451 lately?Anybody reread Fahrenheit 451 lately?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-31492314853529164562009-04-09T21:31:00.000-05:002009-04-09T21:31:00.000-05:00The Web training consisted of asking Web editors t...The Web training consisted of asking Web editors to determine what should be taught to the print folks. The Web editors decided they didn't want to train anyone to do their jobs, so they offered information about "Why" the Web is important. Can you list places to get information besides a newspaper? That's good class. Now here is what a slideshow looks like. Can you say Search Engine Optimization? <BR/><BR/>Those classes were idiotic. But at least they were expensive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-59943322373513897552009-04-09T18:35:00.000-05:002009-04-09T18:35:00.000-05:00Goodness, don't remind about the Web training in 2...Goodness, don't remind about the Web training in 2007. That was such a JOKE. I can't believe the company spent tons of money on that training and what they considered "propietary information." I remember the back of that stupid Web binder had a message about how the information contained in there was propietary. Gimme a break. That Web traning shouldn't have been required for everybody if anything. Oh well. At least the free food offered during that training was fairly good and edible. And I feel sorry for the employees who got roped into training that stupid, waste of a class.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-71698329478104145722009-04-09T15:34:00.000-05:002009-04-09T15:34:00.000-05:00A lot of talented people -- both on and off the Br...A lot of talented people -- both on and off the Breaking News Desk -- learned video, web and other skills deemed crucial to the survival of our company. One or two or however many rounds of cuts ago, we were told something to the effect of, if you can't live with change, you know where the door is.<BR/><BR/>And now many of those people who adapted are sacked. And guess what? More "change" ahead. Any bets on how long the next great philosophy will last?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-4099672832436686312009-04-09T15:23:00.000-05:002009-04-09T15:23:00.000-05:00Um. I guess I'll weigh in here. I'm the reporter a...Um. I guess I'll weigh in here. I'm the reporter assigned to the BN desk. (anon 2:33, google up the poem "The Owl Critic.")<BR/>I did not "interview for the job." Whether the editors "interviewed" or were simply assigned, deponent saith not. All three editors do some reporting, though the percentage varies by the person and by the day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-50936067833858191872009-04-09T14:33:00.000-05:002009-04-09T14:33:00.000-05:00There are three editors and no reporters on the BN...There are three editors and no reporters on the BN Desk. There is also a Web champion who is supposed to help get content from metro reporters to the Web. What does it matter that they were at the paper before there was a Web site? Blanca and Dan both worked for Belo before they were hired for the BN desk. All of the editors on that desk had to interview for their jobs on the BN desk. What's your point?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-9123978075847147412009-04-09T14:28:00.000-05:002009-04-09T14:28:00.000-05:00Ooooh! Web "training!" I had put that out of my mi...Ooooh! Web "training!" I had put that out of my mind. The worse use of company money ever. And I realize I am setting a high bar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-52888076916439324792009-04-09T14:26:00.000-05:002009-04-09T14:26:00.000-05:00Breaking News Desk: Four people total. One is just...Breaking News Desk: Four people total. One is just reporting. One is pretty much just editing. Two are mostly editing but are also doing some reporting. That makes it a little hard to assign editor/reporter numbers. None of them are sitting on their hands or eating bon bons. The MoJos had been assigned to this desk, so there were 6 people total before the RIF.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-85903585271315988392009-04-09T14:04:00.000-05:002009-04-09T14:04:00.000-05:00How is there 2 1/2 editors and 1 1/2 reporters? I ...How is there 2 1/2 editors and 1 1/2 reporters? I don't understand that. I might have missed something there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-48477808586109693622009-04-09T13:51:00.000-05:002009-04-09T13:51:00.000-05:00About the Breaking News desk: Currently at 2 1/2 e...About the Breaking News desk: Currently at 2 1/2 editors more or less, and 1 1/2 reporters. Of the four people, three have been with the DMN since before there was a website, so it's not like they were hired for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-49402684841745498912009-04-09T13:26:00.000-05:002009-04-09T13:26:00.000-05:00Yes, a lot of young metro reporters got burned in ...Yes, a lot of young metro reporters got burned in a political power play. At least one, a winner of a prestigious award that commends young journalists. But what makes Dan and Blanca's plight so interesting is that they were hired less than a year ago as mojo's for the new Breaking News Desk with much fanfare, only to be told those jobs are not important afterall. During the alleged transition from print to Web, those in power can't decide the big picture goals of the Web or eveb determine WHO is in charge of DallasNews.com. This let-them-fight-it-out-until-the-last-editor-is-standing philosophy doesn't work in a company that's in crisis. If the Web is the future, and surely everyone has that figured out by now, then making your weakest editors in charge of it may not be the best survival strategy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-37177989449217656782009-04-09T13:19:00.000-05:002009-04-09T13:19:00.000-05:00Anon @ 7:04 AM...I think "watchdog journalism" IS ...Anon @ 7:04 AM...<BR/><BR/>I think "watchdog journalism" IS being done. But, the News doesn't own Jim Schuetze.Gadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13075757287807731373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-22398065167103565782009-04-09T12:28:00.000-05:002009-04-09T12:28:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-35879696402435030062009-04-09T11:50:00.000-05:002009-04-09T11:50:00.000-05:00Anon @ 11:32: Well said. How may editors does it t...Anon @ 11:32: Well said. How may editors does it take? We may need to hire more. Sheesh.<BR/><BR/>A lot of the young metro reporters got the shaft in a political power play.Deathhttp://metrostillsucks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-83099026809432999242009-04-09T11:32:00.000-05:002009-04-09T11:32:00.000-05:00Dan and Blanca getting RIF'd wasn't a strike again...Dan and Blanca getting RIF'd wasn't a strike against the MOJO idea or the reporters themselves. The online content will still include quick-hit breaking news briefs and video. This is a power play between Metro's breaking news desk and Interactive's Web editors. The control of breaking news now goes back to a politically astute Web editor and a band of interns that get paid even less than Dan's sub 40k salary. Of course now the interns will have to compete with the Breaking News Desk editors originally hired to manage Dan and Blanca. How many editors (with large salaries) does it take to post content to the Home Page, particularly when they have no reporters? This had nothing to do with the Web reporters performance or skills and everything to do with the struggle between two departments and the ill-fated effort for editors to save their own jobs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-43327401973613089322009-04-09T11:10:00.000-05:002009-04-09T11:10:00.000-05:00Dan,Dan,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-39879056330872639672009-04-09T08:02:00.000-05:002009-04-09T08:02:00.000-05:00Dan:Someone from photo here. Your rif was just as ...Dan:<BR/><BR/>Someone from photo here. Your rif was just as senseless as all the others. And I know a lot of us were equally impressed with your ability to "double fist" video and news reporting. You did a great job on both. I'm sorry the higher ups couldn't recognize that.<BR/><BR/>Take care, Dan. I hope you continue to pursue video in any way you can, if that's your wish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-22230680993626247062009-04-09T07:38:00.000-05:002009-04-09T07:38:00.000-05:00Anon 2:37 here: Dan, let me try to be more careful...Anon 2:37 here: Dan, let me try to be more careful about what I wanted to say: You did exactly the job they wanted from the position And more. But the justification for having the position at all was fatally flawed. The theory of the MoJo was that it would draw enough local eyeballs to the website particularly with the videos -- while also feeding the print edition. The web half of the assumption -- the reason the positions were created -- turned out to be false. This is also what happened with CueCat. The staffers who produced the CueCat content did exactly what the mission was and more. But the mission was bogus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-73671673437637125592009-04-09T07:04:00.000-05:002009-04-09T07:04:00.000-05:00NEWSFLASH: New idea to save the DMN!!!!! WATCHDOG...NEWSFLASH: New idea to save the DMN!!!!! WATCHDOG JOURNALISM, yeh, that's the ticket!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-4370125353287655992009-04-09T01:59:00.000-05:002009-04-09T01:59:00.000-05:00I'm all for Dan, man. You can find plenty of phot...I'm all for Dan, man. You can find plenty of photogs who shoot good video and make good pics on the same assignment, but it is extremely rare in this business to find a reporter who can write a decent story and edit and post a quality video too. And to do that sometimes twice in one day -what more can you ask?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-83900213266611712282009-04-08T21:29:00.000-05:002009-04-08T21:29:00.000-05:00And please let's not forget that Belo sold the Foo...And please let's not forget that Belo sold the Food Network - yes, that's right, The Food Network - to Scripps in 2000. Granted, Scripps isn't doing too hot either right now even after diversifiying its portfolio with an entity such as the Food Network. But c'mon, really. How do you sell off a property such as that? Guess they didn't see the potential behind it....but I guess that's to be expected from these execs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3831336050432377467.post-33347225492699938692009-04-08T20:15:00.000-05:002009-04-08T20:15:00.000-05:00Don't forget The Arlington Morning News.Don't forget The Arlington Morning News.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com