Secrets of the City

No huge surprises, although I liked Jeremy Iggers’ ethics writing years back. Dane Smith is a major loss, though, and, well, then there’s Uncle Al.

Looking to that list, it’s not going to be a better paper when this is all over. There are some good people in there.
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No Katherine Kersten, though.

it’s not going to be a better paper when this is all over

I don’t know … that newsroom is pretty fat and full of people who don’t work very hard. A little trimming might not be the worst thing for them.

I worked a few of these folks, including editorial page editor Ron Meador, who has been at the Strib forever.

Well, not as long as Sid.

I don’t know … that newsroom is pretty fat and full of people who don’t work very hard. A little trimming might not be the worst thing for them.

That’s got to be one of the dumber things I’ve ever read — written, I would guess, by someone who has never spent any length of time working at a newspaper and has no clue about how we go about our business. Just because you don’t see a person’s byline in the paper every day or every other day doesn’t mean they’re not being productive. If you want “journailsm” that can be produced in a couple hours’ time, go watch TV. But in the newspaper business, we like to spend time on things like research, interviews, weighing various points of view, writing, editing, etc.

Anyone who thinks that the newspapers in the Twin Cities will produce better journalism with fewer experienced reporters and editors really doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

Aschburner is a huge loss as well. His work will be missed.

weighing various points of view

Ha ha. That’s funny.

To the first poster who especially liked Jeremy Iggers, I think Iggers will probably be working on Twin Cities Daily Planet which he started.

Sad to see all those people go, there are some great people on that list. Hopefully, though, this will stave off any layoffs in the newsroom.

“I don’t know … that newsroom is pretty fat and full of people who don’t work very hard. A little trimming might not be the worst thing for them.“

I know nothing about staffing levels at the paper. I just know that I’ve read good work by some of the people on that list. Fat or not, organizations don’t improve by losing good people.

Based on this list I will cancel my subscription.

Who I would have liked to see on the list:

Sid Hartman
Katherine Kersten
Jim Lileks
Colin Covert
Jeff Strickler

I don’t know … that newsroom is pretty fat and full of people who don’t work very hard. A little trimming might not be the worst thing for them.

are you kidding me? what crap.

What’s wrong with Covert? He’s not as crazy as Hewitt.

Dave Hanners is right. Journalism is a very labor intensive business. That said, almost all organizations have some fat that could be trimmed. By that I mean, people who aren’t pulling their weight. The problem is, strong organizations “trim that fat” and replace those people with others. Most news organizations simply trim.

Most of my experience is working with software engineering businesses where a guy can point to a plaque on the wall that signifies his patent or another guy or gal can point to their product design that’s generated the company millions in revenue.

I would think that it would be pretty hard for a guy in a news organization to claim that his contribution has been of X value to the company. In that world, I suppose no one’s job is safe when the bean counters come up short.

Am I hallucinating, or did Maz just write an entire post without saying something crazy?

I just point to my Premack award.

You’re right, Maz. I think advertising staff would have an easier time with that than the news side.

It’s a very subjective business in that way. Sometimes I wish I had some metrics I could point to in order to demonstrate my contributions. In other ways, I’m glad I don’t have to reach something like a concrete sales goal.

I get by simply by exceeding my goals while pointing to my crotch with both index fingers and saying “I got your revenue numbers right here”. Keeps them happy enough & keeps me sane. hey, whaddaya know…I gotta run in for my annual review in about 10 minutes. Can’t wait for the inevitable, “tell us about this MNSpeak website…”

Don’t you mean, “anal review?”

DeRooskie:

It’s called the Nielsen ratings.

Even the weather bunnies know that.

I keep telling my bosses if they get the minute-by-minute breakout of the ratings, they’d see the huge spike when I come on screen.

They tell me that I’d have to be prepared to be fired if the numbers show people fleeing the seth when I come on screen.

I like your stuff when you’re not being blocked by passing buses, Jason.

I actually just blogged about that delightful experience.

Sometimes I wish I had some metrics I could point to in order to demonstrate my contributions.

I just count the number of times I con the newsies into covering a Lung Association story..Oh darn, did I just say that out loud!?!

BTW: our media impressions for past 9 months: 191,761,479

My god!!! Do you ever get tired of talking about Jason DeRusha?

Just watched Jason’s video clip! Nothing funny about the subject matter, but the perils of live TV! Jason keep his cool…

That was hilarious. DeRusha, I could hear you trying not to laugh. Good reporting!

My god!!! Do you ever get tired of talking about Jason DeRusha?

He asks, on a site were a thread on IKEA shopping bags got 109 comments…

Roadking, as Mark Rosen says, mocking Don Shelby, “Enough about me. Let’s talk about me.”

That video clip just made my day. God, I love live TV.

Any dumb idiot who thinks newspapers get better by making staff cuts in the newsroom. I don’t know whether to kick your butt or ask for some of what you’re smoking.
I really like a lot of these writers and hate to see them leave the Strib.

“I don’t know whether to kick your butt or ask for some of what you’re smoking.“

You can do both if you can’t decide, but you need to do them in the right order.

Newsflash:

The reporters are not the NEWS, the NEWS is.

Wow, bud jr just blew my mind.

Oh, that clip … too funny.

Why were you shot from so far away? It looked like HD — lots of space on either side of you.

The Twin Cities’ rule of newspapers continues to apply: If you’re going to read a crappy paper, don’t pay more than a quarter.

I can’t say I know any of these names on this list very well (it’s always too bad to see a person lose his or her job). In any event, the writing is on the wall for newspapers in this country. There will be more of these lists in the future.

If the Strib’s prime directive continues to be “pithy headlines above all,” then it’s just a matter of time.

Thank you.

I thought I was the only one who yacks over their “headlines”.

Well, several of the people who are leaving are copy editors — the ones who write the headlines — so maybe you’ll get your wish.

Roadking, as Mark Rosen says, mocking Don Shelby, “Enough about me. Let’s talk about me.”

JD, you do know that I was just havin a little fun at your expense, right?

Who I would have liked to see on the list:
Colin Covert
Jeff Strickler

What’s wrong with Covert? He’s not as crazy as Hewitt

man, people are intense about their movie critics! but hewitt, crazy!?

someone is confused here. hewitt has to be one of the nicest guys I’ve worked with. Covert is cooky in a mad scientist sort of way, but he, Strickler and hewitt are all good guys. if ANY critic should be on a ‘not nice’ list, deserving the boot, it’s Rob Nelson. not only is the guy a pompus, egotistical jerk, but the C-Pages movie reviews are a load o’crap that never actually say anything.

He asks, on a site were a thread on IKEA shopping bags got 109 comments…

He asks, on a site were a thread on IKEA shopping bags turns into a political pissing contest…

Absolutely Roadking! I’m cool like that. In fact, if you’d like to talk more about me…….

He asks, on a site were a thread on IKEA shopping bags turns into a political pissing contest

Er, what thread on this site doesn’t?

Er, what thread on this site doesn’t?

Good point, not back to DeRusha…

So I got a teevee and an antenna, but have yet to see the derushinator. what gives?

*now*

You have to tune to channel number 4. It’s just above Pi on your dial. M-F at 10pm, usually. Although tonight we’re on after NCAA basketball.. so late.

We still have Chris Riemenschneider to kick around. Come to think of it, some did kick him around for his stupid remarks about the Minneapolis smoking ban.

oh you’re on the 10:00 news? I watch the one when I get home sometimes. Usually by 10 I don’t care about what’s on tv or I’m not in my apartment anymore.