Gannett to Newsers: You Will Not Work, You Will Not Be Paid

The emails poured in from local newsers at Gannett stations Wednesday as they reeled from the company’s latest effort to cut costs:  everyone’s getting a week off, without pay:   “Today Gannett is implementing a furlough program across all U.S. divisions and at corporate headquarters. This means that most of our U.S. employees – including myself and all other top executives – will be furloughed for the equivalent of one week in the first quarter. This furlough will be unpaid. Unions also will be asked to participate,” wrote Gannett CEO Craig Dubow in a memo to employees.

The upshot?  Everybody will take a week off, and they will not be paid.  The company calls it a “difficult decision.”  The cold facts came as tough reading for employees who will be asked to kick in a week’s pay to help Gannett:  “To be clear, a furlough means you will not work and will not be paid for furlough days.  Exempt, salaried employees must take one full payroll week within the payroll period.  Non-exempt, hourly employees may take five days at any pre-approved time before the last weekend in March.”

Wow.  A tough financial punch, and everyone’s taking it NOW. 

Gannett folk:  what’s the reaction inside your newsrooms?

Superstarr Blog Love–Postie Style–from NYP’s Michael Starr

Standupkid’s localtvnews gets a nice mention in today’s Starr Report column in the New York Post, and that’s real estate that a novice blogger like myself can just not afford to pay for:  “Site seeing: (they DO love their puns at the Post) Ex-Ch. 5 reporter Mark Joyella, who’s now at WPLG in Miami, has started a local news-centric Web site,” Starr reports–in the very same column where he has news on former WVTM/Birmingham colleague and friend Rene Syler (most recently on the CBS Early Show) has landed a hosting gig for a new show.

So thanks very much for the mention, Michael;  and congratulations, Rene!

DISCLOSURE:  I have done freelance reporting for the New York Post (most recently yesterday), and have on at least one occasion made chitchat with Michael in the Post break room.  Also, as he mentioned, I previously worked at Post-owner News Corp’s NYC station, WNYW.