Monday, March 9, 2009

Big changes coming to Flint, Bay City and Saginaw papers

Some information has come to me that indicates that as early as next week, huge changes will be announced at the Flint Journal, Bay City Times and Saginaw News. Not sure if similar announcements are planned at other Booth properties.

Before I publish the information that has come to me, I want to double check a couple things because the changes are significant enough that a number of very good people will be affected.

Maybe the management, realizing that I have the information now, will do the right thing and make the announcements sooner, rather than later. But stay tuned as I will likely put up some information as early as tomorrow.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jim, not to be picky, but it's affected, not effected...don't want to give those who slam your blog any more ammunition than they need. and we KNOW the current editor (I use the term very veryloosely)is a stickler for corrections. And the truth. If he knows it, especially as it refers to circulation numbers.

Anonymous said...

I did happen to hear a rumor that the BC Times was abandoning the downtown building. Not sure if it was valid, but I geuss we'll see. Looking forward to your information...

Karin

Anonymous said...

thank you jim. we have been in the dark for weeks. editors out of the office every day for the past few weeks. awaiting your information ... we'll take even half-truths at this point.

Jim of L-Town said...

Thanks anonymous. I knew the difference, and even mulled it over in my mind, and then made the wrong choice.

I always struggled with the effect and affect thing.

Jim of L-Town said...

Oh, and just to be clear, I fixed the affect and effect error after the fact.

Anonymous said...

Let's hear it Jim....

Anonymous said...

We're all desperate for any information, even if it proves wrong. No one else will tell us even the options at this point. Life's been totally on hold for about 9 months now.

Anonymous said...

If you post something, it better be accurate. I'd hate for you to scare people unnecessarily. In your reporting days, didn't you ever give a source time to let them inform their boards or employees before information went public? It's not like someone else is going to scoop you.

For you to say, I'll give the bosses a day to do the right thing and tell their workers doesn't cut it. And it certainly doesn't hold you any less reponsible.

I seriously think you get off on causing panic.

Anonymous said...

It was evident when the paper went online that it would be digging its grave

Anonymous said...

"It was evident when the paper went online that it would be digging its grave"

I disagree.. You can have a good paper and a website. But they should work together. If you have to pay 75 cents for a hard copy of the info that day you should be expected to pay for the online edition too. The website should add to the stories you're telling in the paper. "Go here for more info or video" etc.."

Subscribers to the paper get total access to the info. People that buy a paper that day get a password for the site good for that 24 hours etc.. It's not that hard to figure out. Newspapers need to quit worrying about people that will never pay for the product no matter what they do.

They're not customers they're deadbeats.

Anonymous said...

Hey 13 march 17:36, you could attach a little envelope to the paper and a person could send a quarter in and in return they can get a magic password, maybe one like "remember to drink your ovaltine" and that will get them into the site for the rest of the information not stated in the paper.

Anonymous said...

"Hey 13 march 17:36, you could attach a little envelope to the paper and a person could send a quarter in and in return they can get a magic password, maybe one like "remember to drink your ovaltine" and that will get them into the site for the rest of the information not stated in the paper."

Newspaper customers for years have sent envelopes with money in them to get the paper each day. Still do. For now..

So what are your ideas?