An interesting managing editor job?

A reader sends this:

I'm looking to fill a Managing Editor Position . If you know of anyone qualified and interested, please feel free to pass on this email.

Show Initiative is an established trade media and events company with a background in games, virtual worlds, and social media.. We already run two successful blogs, but are preparing to expand both in content and scope. We're looking for an experienced managing editor to help set the tone, direction, and team for a new network of blogs.

More details here: http://www.showinitiative.com/managingeditorjobdescription

A question about how the cuts were decided

Here's a comments thread on another post:

1) A person I know who was laid off let me see the list of positions selected for termination. According to it, 136 people lost their jobs this go-round. We were told that all positions in our small dept. were being considered for termination. On the list, all positions in each department were listed and an "X" was placed by the position(s) selected for termination. However, the person in our dept. who lost their job's position was the only one on the list, which leads us to believe she was specifically targeted, that perhaps her name/position was submitted in advance. If all our positions in this dept. were subject to the RIF, as we'd been told, why weren't all the positions on the list?


2) A friend showed me the list and I noticed there were no photo editors or any photo management on the list. I echo the above question, why weren't all the positions on the list?

3) Good question.

Similar examples can be found elsewhere on the list. For example, for "Editorial Page," only four positions were listed, one of which was "selected" for layoff. There are a lot more than four people in that dept.

Also, the list of those who apparently were considered for layoff included no line editors for national, foreign, TSW, Downtown Bureau, Metro Central Zone, Metro West Zone or Metro East Zone.

If I read this right then these people are saying that there were certain positions that were never considered for cuts -- no matter who was filing them. Unless there was a prior evaluation during which everyone in those positions was already determined to be necessary before the creation of the lists these people say they saw. Anybody have first-person information to contribute?

Another farewell note

The invitation is still open to others. Here is the latest:

Hello all,

A week after the cuts, I finally feel like my head is screwed on straight enough to give a proper farewell (that is, farewell for now).

Thanks to everyone who has offered condolences, encouragement and assistance during this very difficult time. I am deeply appreciative. You have helped replace despair, uncertainty and even self-doubt with hope and optimism.

To those who are still devastated by last week: I hate to get cheesy with the glass-half-full metaphor, but sometimes a different perspective really helps. I was in a serious car crash three weeks ago, and the outcome would have been very different had I not been wearing a seat belt. Before the accident, I was already a bit of a wreck because I fretted the possibility of losing everything (i.e., my job). I thought journalism was my entire life. But that mentality changed after the accident. When you almost lose it all, you realize everything else from that moment forward is actually a bonus. Hopefully you don't need to get in a terrible wreck to feel the same way.

To both the DMN exes and remaining staffers: It takes an admirable level of commitment, passion and determination to stick it out this long in such a turbulent industry. Don't forget that. Jobs can disappear, but our common dedication to educating the public and doing what we do best is untouchable. And it will translate well to anything we do in the future.

I am truly honored and humbled to have worked with such remarkable colleagues and friends. I wish you all the best. Please keep in touch.

Holly Yan
HollyEYan@yahoo.com

Sports job in the region

A reader posted this message today:

Found this today:
SPORTS FANATIC? Waxahachie Newspapers Inc. (WNI) is seeking an
experienced SPORTS WRITER to serve on our award-winning sports team.
Candidates should have a minimum of three years experience with a
daily or weekly newspaper and possess the ability to juggle a lot of
balls in the air at the same time. This is not a 9-5 job as this desk
is responsible for the assignment and coverage of the sports, athletes
and coaches in the communities we serve. "Didn't get to it" is not
acceptable. We are looking for an enterprising individual capable of
writing compelling sports stories, covering games and assisting the
sports team to ensure all bases are covered. Excellent writing and
time management skills are a must. Preferred candidates will also have
experience in photography, Photoshop and Quark. This is a full-time
position with competitive compensation and excellent benefits, which
include 401(k) plan, health/dental insurance and annual paid vacation.
Waxahachie Newspapers Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. E-mail
cover letter, resume and three writing samples to WNI Editor Neal
White at neal.white@wninews.com

Posted by Anonymous to DMNcuts at April 15, 2009 9:52 AM

Question from a reader

One of the recently cut asks:

The severance agreement contains a requirement that you not seek re-employment or any remunerative relationship with the company. This would seem to prohibit freelancing. But some who left in prior layoffs and buyouts have freelanced for the paper.

Anyone know if this was part of past agreements? Wondering if it's just not enforced or if this is a new issue.

Thanks.

I know there are managers out there who read this blog. Can we have something like a definitive answer, please? Anonymous would be fine.

Question from the comments

A reader writes:

What are they going to do about the reporter rotations? We're 11 people short now. Will projects people be included in the rotations--how can they not be? Many of us don't mind getting the overtime (and many of us are now the sole supporters in our homes), but I can't imagine they'll keep paying OT every weekend, holiday etc. Clerks are already short and having to rotate regularly. What's the plan here?

Speaking for myself that's a very good question.

Quo Vadimus?

This blog was created for a very specific purpose: To provide information about this round of layoffs. The layoffs are over. Before we move on, I think we need to note that we all committed some remarkable journalism on deadline.

With no help or hindrance from our corporate overlords we: Were able to publish the size, departments and categories of the layoffs in one day. Which if you missed it was:

11 from Local News. 10 reporters, one news clerk
1 production editor from Editorial
6 from Lifestyles: Two part-time editors, one full-time editor, two writers, one Guide listings editor/writer.
3 from business: One reporter, a wire editor and an assistant editor.
13 from the sports: 8 from desk, 4 writers, 1 phone clerk
6 from Photo (Photo details: 4 photographers, 1 color tech, 1 photo librarian)
3 from News Art: One graphic artist, two designers
6 off the news copy desk
1 off the news desk

(As I look at it, we could still use the specifics from Photo and News Art. Update: Photo and News Art info now supplied. )

Engage a community in spirited and sometimes useful discussions. Feature some astonishingly good writing -- not mine, but some of the farewell notes are amazingly good. Distributed useful information about some of the kinds of help our now-former colleagues might be able to find.

If only dallasnews.com was as consistently successful at taking advantage of the possibilities of online journalism. Cloud-sourcing, immediacy, error correction, interactivity. Also, with very few exceptions, the tone of the comments has been civil enough. Some were pretty strong, but we were all entitled to that.

Are we done? I'm still getting a trickle of farewell notes, and I promise I will always get those posted. A few job and seminar notes are also coming in.

My question for this community: Do I need to keep DMNCuts going after this week? Is there a purpose that is not being met in other places? I'm incredibly proud of what we all did here, but like all of us, I need to spend my energy and time wisely. I'm open to staying open. I could go on hiatus and shut off the comments until the next round of cuts is announced. Or I could let the mask pass to someone else, as Mr. Sunbeam and RockOfTruth did to me.

What do you think?

I've put all the farewell notes on one post

And the link is in the "links" list on the right. If anybody else wants to send me a note or to post one in comments, the invitation remains open. I will, of course, add any new ones to that other post.

Here's a new one that was posted in comments that I'll pull out here:

Though the ax has fallen on my head this go-round, too, i will always be glad for having had the opportunity to be a part of The Dallas Morning News.

And while it may sound like patting myself on the back, I can truly look back and know that while I felt lucky to be there, I also worked hard to stay. While I may not have walked away with any big journalism awards in my box, I could walk away knowing i did a good job.

In my time there I led the Metro coverage of the first Breeder's Cup race ever in the Southwest, I was the first to report on Farmers Branch's efforts to make illegal immigrants unwelcome there - a story that would put them in the national spotlight - and continued to top every other media outlet in the country in following that story over the next two years, and my reporting on a mayor's lies about her background derailed her bid for re-election.
Not bad for a small-town girl with no degree, lol.

I am proud to have been a part of what was long considered one of the best papers in the country, and to have known each and every one of you.

Today, i remain heartbroken to have been let go after 13 years with the company. I also am at a loss to explain it. Coming in from the old suburban newspapers I know my salary never reached those of many of my colleagues. So the didn't save much by letting me go.

But it is what it is, and it was time to move on.

I with all of you who remain the best of luck. i really don't expect newspapers to be around much longer, and that's the saddest part of all.

To those of you who were laid off, this time or previous times, I hope you find happiness and fulfillment and stability, whereever the road takes you.

Stephanie Sandoval

Job fairs in the near future

A reader sends this in:

Link to complete list of upcoming job fairs:
http://www.cityofirving.org/library/jobfairs.html


Tuesday, April 14
Cities of Carrollton and Farmers Branch Job Fair, 2 to 6 p.m., Addison Convention Center, 15650 Addison Road, Addison, TX 75001, (972) 573-3533
University of Phoenix Career Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West, 1590 LBJ Freeway at Luna Road, Dallas, TX 75234, (214) 675-3059

Wednesday, April 15
Grand Prairie WorkForce Solutions Greater Dallas Job Fair, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 801 W. Freeway St., Suite 500, Grand Prairie, TX 75051, (972) 264-5881
Spring Career Fair, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mountain View College, 4849 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas, TX 75211, (214) 860-8553


Additional Job Openings:
Dallas County Community College District
Openings for teaching and non-teaching. The pay is good. I'm happy to provide my name for applicants. They ask for people you know who work in the district. Appplication is online and timed so have your materials ready.
http://www.dcccd.edu/Business+Community/Jobs/DCCCD+Job+Openings/

Collin County Community College District
Also an online application. Have your materials ready.

https://jobs.ccccd.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1239472779857

UPDATE: Check the comments for more job ops. If you have more jobs, this is a good post to use. Add to the comments.

Help with resumes

A reader writes:

I was wondering if you could get word out on the blog that Assistant News Editor Michael Apuan and I willing to help anyone who might need a resume designed …

We’ve been helping some folks with this already — we have the graphics equipment at home to handle almost any project. We’ll tailor your work history to fit your needs; it won’t be a templated resume that will get lost in a heap of others.

We both work night shifts, so this would mean we’d be available during the day to have discussions on what would work best for you.

We lost a hell of a lot of great colleagues this week across multiple departments. If we can help anyone with this or anything else, please don’t hesitate fire one of us an e-mail at jschnick@dallasnews.com or mapuan@dallasnews.com.

Thanks …

Jeff Schnick
Assistant Business Editor