BANG is using words like "streamlining" and "rebranding" to describe the merging and cutting. The actions should not come as a surprise given the decision MediaNews made in June to consolidate editorial control of the papers.
Here's part of the story (which appears to have been written by an ad agency) published on the soon-to-be retooled Contra Costa Times website:
Bay Area News Group (BANG) today announced a rebranding of many of its newspapers to better reflect the scope of its regional coverage. The changes - which include a streamlining of its print operations - primarily involve its East Bay newspapers, and will result in greater emphasis on providing high-impact, regional and local coverage.
-snip-
The streamlining of its print operations will also result in a reduction of approximately 120 jobs - primarily in the production and editorial divisions - out of a local workforce of 1,500 employees.Management at MediaNews will argue, as it does in the story, that this consolidation is about much more than job cuts; that its a necessary step to position the BANG as a competitive news outlet in the rough and tumble 21st century. And maybe this smaller knot of news power will get the job done. But we cannot overlook the fact that this recently bankrupt company is trying to raise $350 million to buy newspapers from Freedom Communications. And we know editorial power wanes when you eliminate four dozen news staffers.
Or as the San Francisco Chronicles' Carla Marinucci tweeted: “Corporate PR spin: Release from CA’s Bay Area News Group, announcing decimation of its newspaper/staff chain tday, calls it ‘rebranding.’” (found via Romenesko)
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20 comments:
"Rebranding" is the new "efficiency."
Rebranding as what exactly? I wonder what meth lab they got the MediaNews decision makers out of...
more of the same crap and bs speak. they cant tell the truth. how about business sucks, we need to cut costs, we cant manage, we cant sell, our web products suck, we cant compete and we want to continue buying other newspapers so we can kill them too. where can i sign up?
more fun and games to come south as well?
i am sure readers and advertisers will flock to the improved scope of its regional coverage. cant wait to read the high impact regional and local coverage headed our way.
the one thing that rings true is that as always, you cant believe anything they say from no more layoffs to this crap today.
this is really just cover for cutting more staff. they had years ago consolidated everything there was to consolidate at those papers. universal copy desk, sports, photos, sales staff, circulation, you name it. all that was left renaming. but they figured, might as well use this "rebranding" as an excuse next time we have to cut jobs -- it'll make us look like we at least have a plan.
I'm convinced Media News is part of a class war to destroy democracy by ruining the fourth estate. It's not in the best interest of our owners to have us out there working, uncovering stories and doing our jobs.
I'm wondering when the same thing is going to happen down here at LANG.
to 7:52, that logic gives these no talents way to much credit. ypu really see this group sitting around a table and coming out with a well thought plan, right or wrong, they are not capable of doing that.
i wonder why it took all these years to get to this point. they have owned these newspapers for several years and anyone who has spent a few years in the business should have known years ago that a financial comeback wasn't going to happen. were they hoping for an economic miracle or did they think that their talent and hard work would get them out of the ditch?
if you had 100 great ideas and one bad one these "leaders" would pick the one crap idea...it is just the way they work.
as far as down south, i am not sure that they have 120 employees left.
in survival of the fittest, this group is headed for extinction, they may be there today but just dont know it.
i would think they'll eventually do the same thing in socal - and you can bet hatchet hack dave butler will be banking yet another raise.
Hey, why not. Whatever the right this is to do, they somehow always do the opposite.
As someone once said, "you can't fix stupid".
Again, I say, bend over and grab your ankles. With consolidation comes layoffs & closures of buildings. MediaNews can easily consolidate and house personnel in fewer locations. With laptops, cellphones & other modern technology they cut even more overhead. Don't be surprised to see Lang layoffs in the very near future.
I'm sorry 5:55, no disrespect intended at all but.... laptops? Cell phones?...and OTHER MODERN TECHNOLOGY? Aha..Ahahaha. BWAAAHAHAHAHA!!!
On the SF Peninsula the publication residents turn to for local news can be summed up in four words: San Mateo Daily Journal.
how do you create a failing company? let these clowns take over a good one.
Anonymous at 5:55 PM....
The acronym is BOHICA -- Bend Over, Here It Comes Again!
It is easy to talk down a decision when you aren't at the table. But, really, I wasn't there either. They are moving from a number of different mastheads, largely already only different mastheads but similar products, to less mastheads and zoned publications which is a truer representation of the products. So this is a clearer reality. I also know they are clearing out of buildings they own to fill up leased buildings they are committed to. That money must be destined for something... The consolidation certainly looks good to ABC and Advertisers by making a much cleaner brand set to buy and combine for greater apparent penetration into the market. I am not saying they are all right, or that the customers are the clear winners. I am just saying anyone here being at the table and having the same information would probably make similar decisions.
Hey 2:30 poster, are you on drugs? The consolidations looks good to ABC and advertisers? What advertisers? Based on their decisions over the last five years someone sure spent a lot of time at the table playing with themselves. You can't be serious.
A long time at the table to come up with a plan that they could have had years ago. You can put the lipstick on the pig, but, it is what it is. This was nothing more than an opportunity to reduce costs. I don't have an issue with hard business decisions, but, why lie about it. Call it what it is. Our business on the ad and circ side sucks, we aren't making any money, we are in bankruptcy, and this is the plan we need to follow to have a chance of success. Now, we all know they won't succeed, but, be honorable about it. You are a trusted news organization...right?
Rebranding as the town jester or idiot. Oh, wait, they are already that. Bang it, or dang it, they are rebranding as the Titanic and Vegas' Harmon Tower combined.
Hey @ 2:30 poster - Can I have some of what u smoked, or drank or both? PLEASE! WTF are you saying? You mean that they will be profitable once they get chopping down the tree? and taking the roots out with a mulcher? Oh yeah, because a tree grows back when you dig it out by the roots. You are probably part of the administrative genius' sitting at that table just coming up with plan after plan on how to take over the world, you *ing Plankton.
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