Hopeful signs are on the horizon

This might not be obvious, but there are a lot of things to be optimistic about right now. At least, according to this editorial from the New York Times.

While they're not specifically talking about journalism, the author has a point.

Even before the economy bottomed out, our industry was under siege. Politically this has been one of the worst periods for middle-class workers, including journalists, in quite some time.

One of the biggest problems has been the pro-business National Labor Relations Board, the government body responsible for adjudicating disputes between employees and management.

The reality of NLRA enforcement falls far short of its goals. Many workers who try to form and join trade unions to bargain with their employers are spied on, harassed, pressured, threatened, suspended, fired, deported or otherwise victimized in reprisal for their exercise of the right to freedom of association...In the United States, labor law enforcement efforts often fail to deter unlawful conduct. When the law is applied, enervating delays and weak remedies invite continued violations. Any employer intent on resisting workers’ self-organization can drag out legal proceedings for years, fearing little more than an order to post a written notice in the workplace promising not to repeat the unlawful conduct and grant back pay to a worker fired for organizing....As a result, a culture of near impunity has taken shape in much of U.S. labor law and practice. — Human Rights Watch: “Unfair Advantage: Workers’ Freedom of Association in the United States under International Human Rights Standards”

Right now, the penalties for employers that engage in employee intimidation and retaliation amounts nothing more than a slap on the wrist. It's probably not a coincidence that union membership has gone down significantly in recent history, just as it shouldn't be surprising that harassment, intimidation, and retaliation have become commonplace for employees involved in union activity. 25% of companies fire workers involved in union activity. What do they have to lose?

The statistics have proven that unionized workers earn more, and receive better benefits than their non-union counterparts. Yet union membership is down to just 8% of the workforce.

So what's the fix? Well along with the appointment of a more balanced NLRB, which will help shape the economic reality for US workers, there's also the Employee Free Choice Act, which addresses some of the most egregious liberties taken by the business community and restores equality to American labor.

Perhaps most importantly for LANG journalists, there's the appointment of California Congresswoman Hilda Solis as President Obama's Labor Secretary. Solis is a familiar face to many at the Guild and CWA, well known for her unstinting support for California workers and journalists.

None of this specifically addresses the problems facing the newspaper industry. But efforts like these will have a significant impact on the US economy, the primary reason for our declining circulation and advertising, according to industry experts. Also, there's no question that providing strength and vitality to our newsrooms will mean better journalism.

That's not to say any of this will be easy. It won't. But few things of lasting importance come easily or without sacrifice. We're facing a long and difficult road back to equality. But change has never been more essential that it is right now.

Let's get started.

Toward a new and better year

A Message from Bernie Lunzer, President, The Newspaper Guild of the Communications Workers of America:

A Time of Change

The Newspaper Guild was founded in a similar time of change – the early and mid-1930s. It was a time of desperation and unemployment.

Good journalism was not a priority. Newspapers, however, were still the dominant channel for information distribution. Guilds developed all over America because workers understood it was their best hope to change things for the better. Employers fought against organizing, but the workers persevered.

Now we are at a new turning point, where even the term "newspaper" is an anachronism. But whatever form it takes, information will be gathered and disseminated. Will it be credible, well-researched information that makes our culture stronger, better, more honest? Or will it be entertainment and shock reporting, always chasing the newest, most provocative child's death or celebrity meltdown. Will workers be valued and paid, or will they be disposable, contingent and exploited?

The current captains of our industry have failed. They did not predict where the internet would take us. They did not invest in new skills, and new technologies. They worked for the profit margin of the next quarter – which they thought should be somewhere around 25 percent. When profits fell below that, they slashed jobs and the quality of our work.

Others saw the possibilities of free access to our product and linked their revenue streams to search. Our work was plundered by them for profit. Still others saw the possibilities for new ad vehicles and started up the ventures we should have and could have, but for lack of vision.

The luckiest owners pushed their last burst of creativity into selling our businesses and getting out while the getting was good. The debt that was left in their wake is now doing untold damage to the crippled industry left behind.

So now we are presented with the most serious challenge of all: While the ground shifts under our feet and we are overworked, we must fight for creative solutions and for the heart and soul of our industry. This, while we have been redefined as a commodity to be slashed by our owners, over and over.

Can we do this?
Can we find solutions that preserve quality information and good jobs?
Is there enough time?

We don't have any choice, and we don't know how long it will take. But we'll take the fight.

This business must be reinvented. It's already started and it's all around us. We must act while our brands and our Web sites still have value. This will require workers working together in extraordinary ways. We can be major players in reshaping the news and information industry, and ensuring that our work is compensated and that we are valued.

Bringing the front-line worker into the business plan is a key ingredient for those businesses that hope to survive. It will also mean stripping out unnecessary management positions. They are not only expensive, but they actually stand in the way of innovation. Healthy organizations will be diverse, worker-focused and nimble. Successful organizations will forge a new relationship with workers.

Why should a union lead the way? What's needed right now are democratic, value-oriented workplaces. They must be efficient and tap the greatest potential of their workforce. People do their best work when they really care about their product. A union environment is the way to ensure the promises necessary to make this kind of enterprise work. Owners, managers and editors who want success should welcome high-participation, unionized information workers.

Why are we that union? CWA has brought together the best, most-democratic traditions of broadcast, Web and print journalism by joining with NABET, the ITU and The Newspaper Guild. It is time to tap the potential of our groups to organize a new kind of workforce: highly-trained, highly-motivated and value-driven.

Rather than give up in the face of the current crisis, we can seize its potential. We represent professional journalists, salespeople, technicians and graphic designers. We represent the largest group of unionized web professionals. We understand the new work and the new worker.

We have the building blocks. But we can no longer simply rely on the current owners and managers to know what is best for our organizations. We must insist on building the new future together – with our ideas, at the table, as equals. If we're asked to give up wages to ensure survival, we must demand in return to have a voice in how the business goes forward. The information industry can be rebuilt. Our members have the best ideas for how to rebuild it. I also believe we can reach out to other workers in the industry and be the most credible, driving force for a new media industry in America.

There's every reason to have hope. But the time is now for us to act and take on that responsibility. Everything we know and care about started with an idea, and was built on hard work and shared values. We can do this.

From the TNG Web site

Retirement savings figures

This report by the Lake County News documents the numbers behind MediaNews' recent announcement that funds-matching will be suspended for the indefinite future.

We're getting similar accounts from groups across the country, so the move appears to be company-wide, although that remains speculation at this point.

But assuming that the plan affects all MediaNews properties without contractual language guaranteeing funds-matching participation, the Lake County News lists the company's 2007 expenses at $5.8 million for 11,880 employees. How many of those employees are unionized or under some other form of contractual protection is not known.

401(K)illed

As reported by Gary Scott, MediaNews Senior VP of Human Relations announced that the company is suspending their fund-matching program for employee 401(K) investments.

But all is not lost. From Janiga's email to Guild rep Vicki Di Paolo:

Based on the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement in effect for the Daily News and the status quo position of the collective bargaining agreement at the Press-Telegram the above is not applicable to the guild represented employees at those operations."Unless otherwise negotiated by the parties, the matching contributions will remain in effect."

It's unfortunate that this is happening to any employee, and you have to wonder just how much they could possibly save. The fund matching cap is low enough to minimize employer expenses already. But our members can be assured that their rights have been secured, and the provision remains unchanged for them.

An offer they couldn't refuse?

We found a link last weekend on Gary Scott's blog to this story from the Rocky Mountain News:

The Denver Newspaper Agency has issued an ultimatum to its six unions: Agree to $20 million in wage and benefit concessions by Jan. 16 or face even worse consequences.

The unions have asked to see the company's books, but so far no details have been released.

It's finally come to this. Driven to satisfy their $130 million in debt, the Denver Newspaper Agency (a joint venture between MediaNews and E.W. Scripps) is demanding that their employees sacrifice another $20 million from their wages and benefits.

$20 million also happens to be the amount the DNA's debt has decreased in the last three years. By one interpretation, that means the company is essentially asking the employees to shoulder 100% of the company's debt payments from that period.

It's worth pointing out that DNA heavyweights like MediaNews CEO Dean Singleton get a minimum 5% salary increase a year.

"You know, I'm not really into squeezing a few more million out. I'm not a money guy."

- Dean Singleton, 2003. (Columbia Journalism Review)

Unsustainable?

So the Detroit Media Partnership has finally decided that constant incremental cuts is a losing proposition.

According to media blogger Ken Doctor's Content Bridges blog, Detroit Media CEO David Hunke reportedly called the current model "unsustainable."

"And [Detroit Media Partnership CEO David] Hunke said, if we don't do this, the current model is unsustainable. So he'd rather take the calculated risk of going to a new format -- rather than sit back and do incremental cutbacks."

To prevent those small cuts, the Detroit News and Free Press are making one big cut - namely, home delivery has been reduced by four days, and the print edition will be reduced to 32 pages most days.

Scaling back print operations has been particularly supported by the tech sector, but it's uncertain just how beneficial the cuts will be.

To be sure, a segment of the newspaper industry is in real trouble. But cutting coverage further fails to capitalize on newspapers' strengths.

Obviously a strong Web presence is important, as is keeping up with the changing demands of a society that relies more and more on technology. But if your product (the news coverage) is only offered in print, are readers just going to give up on local news? People will always care about what's happening in their communities. The problem is, many newspapers aren't offering much to satisfy that need. Local newspapers have an insurmountable advantage when it comes to providing local news coverage. Focus on strengthening your product, and the packaging will be a lot less important.

To illustrate the point, let's compare the top Web headlines as of 1 p.m. today, from four random small and mid-market dailies, along with the headlines from four of the large-market papers.

Abilene Reporter News:
TV stations conducting blackout test prior to digital conversion

Helena Independent Record:
Forecast: Brrrrr

Adirondack Daily Enterprise:
Governor’s budget would close Camp Gabriels (third update)

Boca Raton News:
Boca Raton student continues his annual toy collection drive for needy children

Those stories have only two things in common:

1) They're boring as hell to anyone that lives thousands of miles away

2) No one else has those stories

Sure, the content might not be sexy and only appeals to a select audience. But most newspapers operate in a regional market. The nice thing is, they're the same people!

Now let's compare those headlines with the big boys...

Washington Post:
Federal Reserve Slashes Interest Rate to Historic Low

New York Times:
Fed Cuts Benchmark Rate to Near Zero

USA Today:
Fed cuts interest rates to near zero to combat economic recession

LA Times:
Fed cuts rates to record low: 0% to 0.25%

Now let's just look at one more news provider, this time a Web site

CNN.com:
Fed slashes key rate to near zero

Anyone see a problem here?

* Alan Mutter isn't a big fan of cancelling home delivery.

In the reports of not-every-day delivery are true, the papers in Detroit may be about to kick off a self-fulfilling cycle of decline that eventually may consume them.

Mark Potts is.

And if it does drive readers from print to online, then that's a good thing, because online is where the future is. The sooner the newspaper industry truly understands that–and begins paying truly serious attention to promoting online and working hard to find innovative sources of revenue online–the sooner the transition to the inevitable future will take place.

The future can wait

Our newspapers are listening to what readers want and we would expect there to be a continued extension of content, particularly online, as well as continued expansion of video, rich databases of local information and other content that is first and foremost useful to our audiences.

- Dean Singleton, 61st World Newspaper Congress, 2008. (BusinessWeek.com)


What a difference a few short months can make.

As usual, MediaNews' rhetoric fails to coalesce into reality. Once the newspaper of record for the burgeoning tech sector (and home of the first journlist blog), the San Jose Mercury News hasn't done much to gain an online audience, and now they plan on doing even less.

According to paidcontent.org, the plans for a strong Web presence at the Merc have been scrapped.

In order to compete with online, George Riggs, the paper’s former publisher, told the NYT that, “The answer for newspapers has to lie in building their Web sites better and better, and promote, promote, promote. We haven’t seen that.” But with others at the paper saying that “grand plans” have given way to day-to-day survival, the San Jose paper’s editor David Butler, online enhancements will have to wait. Butler: “Until or unless we see that those things pay for themselves, we make a serious mistake in focusing too much on that.” But the catch is, how can the website start attracting ad dollars and readers if Merc News doesn’t offer a better online environment?

Of course, this is the same company that scrapped the profitable San Pedro Magazine, arguably in an effort to keep ahead of their titanic debt. That decision, like the Los Angeles Daily News layoffs (and others) came without warning or preamble, stunning both staffers and readers.

When a company fails to capitalize on an opportunity, or abandons a lucrative product, it's never reassuring. What's even more troubling is that sacrifices like these don't solve the company's financial problems - it merely delays them. And in this case, that delay is likely to prove short-lived. The only real hope for MediaNews is a dramatic change in circulation or advertising. Unfortunately the odds of a resurgence decrease with each loss in content and coverage. How can readers and advertisers come back, when each day has less and less for them to return to?

Fortunately for San Pedro residents, former San Pedro Magazine editor Josh Stecker is taking matters into his own hands, launching the independent San Pedro Today to fill the void left by MediaNews. Gary Scott has the details.

One of our members was at a meeting with Stecker before the announcement, here's what he sent us:

...In the newsroom last week, just one day after an Pedro Magazine editor Joshua Stecker was told his services were no longer needed, Josh spoke to members passionately about his frustration with the cancellation of the magazine and the fact that it was making money. He was holding back when discussions came up about starting a publication and looked like he wanted to tell us something but didn't, and most likely couldn't. Guild members talked with him about the fact that the paper virtually has no food/ arts and entertainment section, despite the fact that Long Beach and the surrounding cities are loaded with talent waiting to have their story told. The travel section of the LA Daily news is now gone, and I'm sure the food section is on the block soon.

Experts: MN at risk of default

Moody's Investors Service has down-graded MediaNews because it "faces a heightened risk of near-term default ...." under Moody's definitions. From E&P:

Moody's said it calculates Denver-based MediaNews Group's leverage ratio as more than 8 times debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). When Tribune sought bankruptcy refuge earlier this week, it was widely reported it feared violating its credit agreement covenants of 9 times EBITDA.

MediaNews insists its "in compliance with all debt covenants, as has always been the case, and expects to do whatever is needed to stay in compliance during these difficult times."

Whatever is needed?

Singleton says MN “probably” won’t offshore copy desks

Well, at least not any time soon. During a series of outtakes from interviews for a feature story on the up-for-sale Scripps-owned Rocky Mountain News for Westward, a Denver-based alternative owned by Village Voice Media, MN boss Singleton said:

"We are doing pre-press work in India and have been doing it for more than two years -- and it's worked very well. We've explored outsourcing copy editing and page makeup in India, too, but we probably won't do that. I think we're finding we can consolidate within our newspapers and get the same savings we can offshore. We probably won't put any news operations there -- and we weren't talking about reporting and editing. We were talking about copy editing and page design, and I think we've found we can do it just as well ourselves here.

That's welcome news indeed.

Singleton's October revelation that the company is exploring outsourcing – even offshoring – copy desk and page makeup functions prompted California Guild-covered employees to issue a joint statement in which it pointed out that a "proposal to wipe out copy desks at newspapers across the country threatens not only hundreds of jobs, but also quality and credibility – values the beleaguered newspaper industry needs now more than ever".

If continued consolidation of newsroom functions is necessary to keep our newspapers viable, so be it. We can help make that work. We want our papers — and our jobs — to stay local.

Rumor becomes reality

In a matter of days, disputed rumors over layoffs at the Los Angeles Daily News have suddenly become sickeningly real.

An anonymous DN staffer described the details in an email:

Longtime prep sportswriter Gerry Gittleson, 11-year film critic Glenn Whipp and reporter Justino Aguila, who was a fairly recent hire, all got the hatchet. And Antelope Valley reporter Karen Maeshiro recently stepped down after the decision to no longer cover the AV. She was offered a reporting position, but would've had to commute from there every day. Her hand was essentially forced, making her decision a no-brainer.

Other news from today: The Travel section is folding. Pared-down travel news will, however, appear in Sunday's LA.com. Travel writer Eric Noland and LANG Sports Editor Kevin Modesti, both longtime DN employees, are being reassigned to News as reporters.

The news is especially shocking, coming on the heels of what appeared to be a denial by MediaNews rep Jim Janiga, who said that although layoffs were likely to happen at some point, there were no immediate plans in place.

It's hard to comprehend why or how things could happen the way they are. Actions like this not only hurt the quality of the product, but hurt the morale of the employees who are already suffering through a cataclysmic industry shakeup. At a minimum, you deserve to be treated like more than an entry on a budget spreadsheet, that can be erased at will. You deserve respect, just like any other hardworking professional, and this is not how a credible employer does business.

What's uncertain now is how the layoffs will affect the employees and the newsroom at the DN. The contract is explicit: "... in the event of a subcontract which may reasonably result in the layoff of employees, the Employer shall notify the Guild within two weeks of anticipated action and bargain the effects on employees to be laid off."

So we need everyone to pay attention to the workload. If the layoffs result in a freelancer or other outside source picking up the slack, we'll need information and details in order to enforce the contract.

How it's done

One of our loyal readers passed along an interesting piece of news from the Palm Beach Post today. According to blogger Bob Norman, management at the paper is freezing all management salaries, and giving regular employees a 2% raise.

"It is important for you to know that executives at PBNI will not receive pay increases during 2009," Franklin wrote. "This decision is reflective of the need to reduce expenses and demonstrate leadership as we confront our economic challenges together."

The cynics might argue that this is mostly a symbolic gesture, and they're probably right. But at a time when industry execs repeat the same baleful cries of falling revenues while hosting million-dollar parties and enjoy a mandatory 5% pay increase on a six-figure salary, even the little gestures can mean a lot.

And speaking of the DNC soiree, turns out that was notable for more than just fiscal irresponsibility - it was the inaugural debut of a partnership deal between MediaNews and the Politico Network. That partnership model has taken root, and the content-sharing company has just announced that their client list now includes almost 70 newspapers.

The growth spurt comes hot on the heels of recent complaints from newspapers about the Associated Press, whose new rate structure places an additional burden on businesses facing plummeting revenues and circulation.

Some of our members have suggested that the honeymoon deal, launched by MediaNews properties like the Denver Post (owned by Associated Press chairman Dean Singleton) is another example of big business eating its young. We disagree. Relevant, quality content is always a good idea.

Of course, if MediaNews and other papers hadn't slashed staff, thus forcing editors to rely on AP content, and giving the AP incentive to raise rates in the first place...

No layoffs (for now)

Rumors have been circulating regarding impending layoffs at the Daily News. Guild Rep Vicki Di Paolo has spent the last week tracking down the facts, and here's what she sent out to the membership:

In response to several inquiries about rumors of more lay offs at the Daily News, after one week, two email communications and a phone call Jim Janiga (Sen. VP of Human Resources) responded via email that there are no lay offs planned, but as the economy worsens we can expect there will be more. Also, he has no idea of what department(s) would be affected.

Not exactly an ironclad declaration one way or another.

Also, the Daily News announced that it is closing the Antelope Valley bureau and reporter Karen Maeshiro will leave the company after 20-years of service.

Telecommuting would have seemingly been an easy solution, but wiser minds decided to ask Maeshiro to commute from Antelope Valley to the Woodland Hills office. Maeshiro is said to have responded that "the prospect of that commute proved too daunting."

As always, the Guild will continue to investigate these situations and seek more information as it becomes available.

Holding the line

No movement was made at our bargaining session yesterday with the company. We again proposed the company's outsourcing language be shelved for 12 months. And again, the company resisted the proposal - ironically enough, by insisting they want to "negotiate a full contract now" that includes the ultimate flexibility to outsource — even offshore — all our jobs.

Our editor, Rich Archbold, said at last weekend's "Press in Transition" event that our jobs are not in danger, in defiance of all evidence to the contrary. He continues to assure the public – and disgruntled readers – that the newspaper will be around for another hundred years.

We know that our contract fight is not only about jobs. It's about the future of the Press-Telegram.

We go back to the table January 15th.

Many questions, few answers

If there's one thing that's clear after Saturday's League of Women Voters "Press in Transition" panel discussion, it's that there are no easy answers to the problems facing journalism today. Indeed, there isn't even much of a consensus on exactly what the problems are.

Approximately 60 people visited the Long Beach Main Library to listen as local journalists and other experts offered their opinions on the current state of journalism in Southern California.

Some panelists were unwaveringly optimistic. Rich Archbold, executive editor of the Long Beach Press-Telegram promised readers that his paper would be one of many still printing in the next century - although the format may not be what readers today expect. But despite falling revenues and circulation, Archbold believes today's environment is more opportunity than obstacle. The Internet, widely blamed for print media's loss of advertising revenue and readership, marks a revolution in Media, said Archbold.

"We're on the cusp of something amazing," he said. "This is almost bigger than Gutenberg."

Panelist Danny Paskin, assistant professor at CSULB, told the audience that online journalism is indeed growing, and represents a total change in the way Americans get their news. Paskin cited the rise of Web sites like the Drudge Report as evidence that online journalism has become a primary news source for many readers.

Other panelists were not as optimistic.

Former Los Angeles Times reporter Jeffrey Rubin offered a much more ominous perspective. For all the ease and accessibility, he said, the Internet hasn't provided "the same quality and depth of knowledge" as print media. Investigative journalism in particular, he said, has declined. Most importantly, the newspaper industry has yet to adjust their business model to reflect the changing times.

"I do not think daily newspapers will be here in 100 years," Rubin said. "I doubt they'll be on your doorstep in 30 years."

Rabin also stressed the need for journalism to maintain credibility in an era of fewer resources and instant information, arguing that accurate political coverage is vital to democracy, and "there is public trust in journalism."

"Our role [as journalists] is to present the why of events and explain ... how did we get to where we are, and that is not happening any more."

Neena Strichart, publisher of the Signal Tribune weekly newspaper, reflected on conditions at the Press-Telegram, and the ongoing reductions in content and staffing. The paper's circulation decline is estimated at more than 25% over the last ten years. Strichart said she's worried by the prospect of Long Beach without the Press-Telegram.

"Thinking about this city without a daily newspaper scares the heck out of me," she said. Strichart explained that for many readers, part of the appeal of a newspaper is its tangibility. A newspaper represents low-cost information that's highly accessible - and most important, it's information you can hold in your hand, touch and feel.

Harry Saltzgaver, associate publisher and executive editor of the Gazette newspapers, believes that focusing on the needs of your audience is key to newspapers' survival. Citing the Press-Telegram's evolution from a regional newspaper to one focused on a single city, Saltzgaver suggested that recent newspaper industry woes have actually been good for daily newspapers like the Press-Telegram because limited budgets have forced them to narrow their focus back to their core audience, and re-examine their presentation of community news.

"Newspapers are on the ascendency, but they're going to look a lot different - both dailies and weeklies," he said. "You need to find your community."

Saltzgaver noted that "10 years ago, we were a public service" that residents counted on, as essential as electricity or water service. "I hope we can go back to that."

The discussion closed with questions submitted by the audience. Guild members took the opportunity to ask Archbold for his position on MediaNews' vehement demand to eliminate all employee job security. Archbold did not answer the question, but said that the company was "looking for any kind of flexibility that will help us to be more efficient." He added that newsroom positions - the very jobs being fought over - are in no danger whatsoever. But Press-Telegram writer Joe Segura points out that whether by layoffs, attrition, or outsourcing, newsroom positions have already been sacrificed at the paper, and now only 11 reporters fill a newsroom held many more only a few short years ago.

S-T commentary: At the close of the panel discussion, audience members were encouraged to become active participants, and help shape the discourse on what newspapers should be in the digital age. We agree completely. Our readers can take action now and click here to support local journalism.

Board action on Guild charges expected soon

The Guild received word today that action is expected soon on six unfair labor practice (ULP) charges it filed with the National Labor Relations Board against the Press-Telegram following the staff slashing in February.

The Guild charges the company with the unilateral elimination of copy and design positions without notification to and bargaining effects with the union; offering deals directly with impacted staffers in its transfer scheme and bypassing the employees' collective bargaining representative (the Guild); failing to give the union the opportunity to bargain the company's intent to eliminate a P-T sports reporter position in connection with it's sports coverage deal with the OCR; bad-faith bargaining when the company finally went to the table to negotiate over the layoffs after the fact; and failure to provide information to which the Guild is legally entitled.

Stay tuned.

“Are the people losing their voice?” *

That's just one of the pressing questions that will be asked of six news industry experts, including Press-Telegram executive editor Rich Archbold, at a discussion forum this Saturday (Nov. 15) from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Long Beach Main Library Auditorium, 101 Pacific Ave. “Press in Transition” is sponsored by The League of Women Voters. You can download their flyer here.

What will be the effect on citizenship and democracy if newspapers continue to decline? Are you engaged citizens or consumers of infotainment? What does the future hold for newspapers?

These are the kind of questions we get asked when we are out in the community talking with citizens about our fight to preserve journalism jobs in Long Beach.

Along with our editor, other panelists will be Douglas Shuit and Jeff Rabin, former LAT reporters; Neena Strichart, Signal Tribune publisher; Harry Salzgaver, executive director of the MediaNews-owned Gazette Newspapers and Dr. Danny Paskin, journalism professor at CSULB.

Though newspaper companies remain profitable, we're told the industry is in the tank. The bloodletting continues in the nation's newsrooms — over 13,000 newspaper jobs have been slashed this year — advertisers are fleeing (ad revenue is expected to drop by 11.5% this year) and readers are left holding newspapers pretty much devoid of local news they can use.

We're looking forward to answers to other questions sure to be asked. See you there.

* 13,000 newspaper job cuts now number 13,111: FishbowlLA checks in with journalist Erica Smith who is keeping track of the death by thousands of cuts to newspapers. Asks FBLA: "We can't have a democracy without a free press and we can't have a free press without paying them -- so what's in store for the future?" More

Just like old times – sorta

“The meltdown of Unisys in Torrance had one upside ... I got to see all the great people that made working at the P-T so fun. I was glad to see you all on Tuesday.” — Former P-T staffer

To newspaper readers everywhere

People snatched up extra copies of local and national newspapers Wednesday, eager for very bit of news and information about Tuesday's historic election. Post-election newspapers sales sky-rocketed and additional press runs were ordered. For those of you who stood in line waiting for your extra copies, a memo from your newspaper ...

To: You
From: Your newspaper

Dear You:

Every day, I was there for You, rain or shine, good times and bad. I was always available. Like a puppy, all I ever wanted was to please You.

Was it lively conversation You wanted? Cackling opinions? The latest news and gossip? I gave You all that. I even tried to keep up on all the sports and business stuff because I knew you cared about that, too.

Oh, we had so many beautiful years together. Sometimes I made you mad. Often, I moved you. But we always made up.

And then a few years ago you rewarded my loyalty by straying. You went elsewhere. You sought the company of others who, you thought, gave you something that I could not. Fickle and faithless, you went looking for something faster, newer and younger.

Oh, You.

I wondered, incessantly, had I failed you? Was it me?

And then one day this week, You wanted me again....

Read the full memo on Romenesko's Letters.

E&P's Joe Strupp wrote "So I guess print newspapers are not dead after all. Well, for one day at least."

Carefully preserved and stashed away, we can pull out our November 5, 2008 copy of our local newspaper to re-read, ponder, marvel over, talk about and share proudly with others months, maybe years from now. What online or broadcast story can do that?

Sign our petition!

The online petition on our SoCal Media Guild Web site is now live. Quality journalism is something that benefits all of us, so please stop by and show your support!