MediaNews Group's decision to merge its 12 Bay Area newspapers into three has led to speculation that the company could do something similar with its nine Southern California papers, collectively known as the Los Angeles Newspaper Group.
I can only speculate myself, but I see the potential for structural mimicry if MediaNews succeeds in its stalled bid to buy the Orange County Register.
With the Register, LANG would look more like the Bay Area News Group did before yesterday's merger, with the Register playing the role of the Mercury News: a large paper with a statewide brand in a relatively affluent county that could serve as an editorial center of gravity for a larger region. The LANG papers already exist as three clusters of three, a structure that could be collapsed into two or three newspapers.
However, MediaNews would have to have a reason to further consolidate LANG. One obvious reason would be a desire to cut staff to lower costs - the BANG merger led to 120 layoffs. I might be wrong, but I think LANG was already leaner than BANG in terms of staff and so might not be able to stand such a huge "streamlining." (Indeed, the Register itself might be more vulnerable if cuts are a priority.)
Another reason could be that MediaNews actually believes the BANG model is more efficient and effective: Fewer brand names, a more uniform editorial approach, better positioning to do mobile, etc.
One reason MediaNews might leave LANG alone, even after a Register deal, would be to give it time to evaluate the Bay Area merger to see what works and what doesn't. Undoubtedly, there will be backlash from readers and circulation will probably drop (though the consolidation will mask some of this). But this feels like a post-print production plan and so BANG might be the guinea pig that gets isolated and studied until it recovers - or doesn't.
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32 comments:
Give them time to evaluate...they are incapable of coming to a correct decision. Do you really think this group will get mobile, or anything else right? Their record says otherwise. It is a ship of fools all scared that they are next. I am sure that there are worse publishing firms out there but I am hard pressed to come up with a name. Readers, advertisers, and especially their staff are a distant afterthought and will continue to be. They have no hope an no chance to recover. They are doomed.
Cat herding.
Eleven editorial staffers have left -- or put in notice -- at the SB Sun and the Redlands Daily Facts in the last three months.
Make of that what you will.
Hey 3:58, were the enlightened 11 also treated rudely on their way out the door?
11:09,
Not at all. To be honest, management has been really understanding and encouraging.
At least that was my experience.
understanding and encouraging...add talent and you now have three words that don't describe lang management.
Understanding and encouraging because they cut the cost without having to fire or layoff. Idiots don't know when talent walks out the door and heads for the hills. Those 11 are brave and should be happy they finally got the guts to leave.
talentless, rudderless, and spineless are better ways to describe what is left on that ship.
I'm expecting the next memo from Fred Hamilton to read something like this:
Dear employees,
Due to the ongoing difficult economic situation facing the nation and in no part due to our own ineptitude, our company is in dire straits. We appreciate the sacrifices you have already made to help us get through these difficult times.
Because profits fell $1 billion below their projected levels, we are now changing our company policy on wages. Effective immediately, all employees must now pay dues in order to keep their jobs here. One-third of each paycheck will now be garnished by the company. In addition, employees must log all of their activities on a new wage log in order to get paid for a days work. The wage log must then be entered into an online system on the 28th of every month, except months that have 30 days. On those months, logs must be entered on the 27th. In February, logs must be entered on the 25th, except on leap years, when they must be entered on the 26th. Employees who fail to turn in wage logs will not be paid. Employees who turn them in late will be written up. To protect your privacy, your user name and password on the wage log web portal will automatically change every 13 days.
This policy was enacted to help you keep track of tasks you perform and better manage your time. We expect it will increase efficiency. While we understand it may seem inconvenient, it is our belief it will help you in the long run.
Sincerely,
Mgmt
@ 4:26 - You work in HR or what? That sound eery familiar.
OK, I'll jump through your exasperating work-for-dues hoop, but I have my own demands: 1. I want my job back. No job, no dues! 2. A strict, no-nonsense limit on occasional salary cuts to no more than twice a year. 3. A better looking shower curtain than the one separating the remaining staff from empty former office space. Maybe a Sponge Bob motif.
That's not exactly fair, 7:18. Some people have no other way to support themselves. It's not like there are jobs growing on trees. While the company pays sh--, it's not as low as part-time service work, and even those kinds of jobs are hard to come by. Even the most talented among them are stuck.
the talented among them can leave. If they have talent they can find work. Many left on their own and are quite happy. I am tired of hearing about the tough economics out there...yes there are tough economics, figure it out. And to 4:26, bravo, very funny and spot on.
Look, if they had that much talent, the newspapers wouldn't be as bad off. Lack of talent and ability from the top down. And, of course there are some exceptions, but, for the most part, talent left the building a long time ago.
Business can only succeed if it is run correctly. So, what do you think about this groups chances?
9:33 you are spot on. only the victims and the desperados stay. they believe the hype and have bought into the hype that they can't do any better, that there is nothing else out there. that's a load of b.s. every single person who has left has gone on and done better. the one's that are left are just comfortable. let's face it, they are comfy.
the major problem that i see is that these folks have had sufficient warnings. years and years to start looking and get off the dime. i'll bet more than half have not even started looking for when the day comes that they have to. i have heard the complacency. one said they won't get off their tail until they are forced too. so it's that mentality. i feel for the current langers. it's going to get worse before it's better and the clock is ticking. folks, you aren't getting any younger. get your act together while you can and move on rather than waiting around and being a victim.
what do you mean by a shower curtain?
It won't get better for these yahoos...ever!
They are shoveling crap against the tide with a dying industr. Add to that their total lack of skills in running a company and you end up with a see you later on the calendar. Just pick your date in the future.
I am so glad the "people who work at LANG are too lazy to get another job" troll is back. I was worried about him and his single-anecdote evidence with which to paint hundreds of people he has never met as useless cowards. Thank you for returning! Also, thanks to everyone else who engages him in discussion. Keep up the good work.
Right 1:53. The "people who work at LANG are too lazy to get another job" troll reminds me of Ronald Reagan, insisting the economy is just fine because there are still job postings in the classifieds. People who are in complete denial of reality are kind of fun. Especially since this troll probably couldn't hack it in the tough newspaper environment, wussed out and got some sweet, cushy PR or government job, and now spends his work day playing Tetris and trolling.
poor, poor victims of lang. you need a hug?
hey 9:02! right. i totally agree. makes you laugh too when they talk about hacking the tough newspaper environment. tough? hahahhaa. more than 1/2 sit around on facebook all day posting while supposedly working. or surf the web. i could go on and on. the sad reality is there is no future there. and have you looked at how the the paper is? yeah, sooo much to do. they must be sooo stressed grinding day after day. so much newshole to fill. this is laughable. it's more like the people who don't leave are the one's who don't want to step up and get off the dime and find a real gig. when the day comes...and it will come....when it all shuts down or they are thrown out...these will be the one's crying and weeping andn in shock when the WRITING HAS BEEN ON THE WALL for years. they just refused to see it.
1:53, he or she is right...get over it. There are opportunities out there and people are free to go or stay. Thank youuuuuu
apparently there are a lot of unhappy readers out there in sgvn, not that there are a lot of readers, but those left are complaining about the prep football section. many were not delivered to homes as well as newsracks. why? if you can't count on a local paper to be local, what little value they provide goes out the window. can anyone there run a business and deliver a product as advertised? silly question. just another illustration of not doing basic blocking and tackling.
I'm convinced that the trolls here were the people initially laid off, in other words the ones chosen to go because they were the least talented and most expendable. Sure, it's a lousy company, but the people who remain are generally the ones doing the best jobs.
>the people who remain are
>generally the ones doing
>the best jobs.
Wow. Just ... wow.
wow is right! 7:30 is totally delusional. the one's who are left are the one's who can't do any better. when you can do better...you do better. facts are facts. and everyone who has left has done better. its sad b/c these papers lost talent a long time ago. that ship sailed a long time ago. the DN, San Gabe, The PT all lost talent a long time ago. small fish in a small pond just swimming swimming until they are thrown out and shown the door. poor thing 7:30is.
poor poor 7:30.
7:30, are you mad? Mad I say. The comments here appear to be pretty rational based on my personal experience at sgvn. Some talent may be left, but quite a bit walked out over the last four years or so. I am convinced that most here weren't laid off,but just dislike the company for very obvious reasons. Just look at who is in charge.
If you are abused, leave, if not continue to enjoy the beatings.
Media News has named John Paton, the great cut and slasher of the epically bad Journal Register company as CEO. From bad to worse. Paton uses "digital first" as an excuse for massive layoffs.
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