Unless something else major comes up, I'm taking a short sabbatical from newspaper blogging. I am working on one large think piece about "What went wrong?" but it will be a couple weeks before that's done.Too many hurting friends, too many stupid management decisions and too many restless nights. I noticed this morning that Jim Carty has the first of three parts of an interview with the former editor of the Flint Journal and the new "content director" of AnnArbor.com.
Those who remember our former editor will be stunned by some of his comments about what he encouraged and wanted in Flint. But it's a good job by Jim Carty to at least try and flesh out what this new product is trying to be.
You can read the first installment here. But you'll have to go back and find the rest for yourself, I'm not sure I can stand anymore.
I'll still be writing here (it's hard for me not to write and the wonderful writers I have worked with will certainly understand) but it will not be about newspapers for awhile, except for the "What Went Wrong?" piece that I'll post in a couple of weeks. Hint: December 2000.
Feel free to continue to post on the stories already here, but unless you want to read about what movie I'm watching or an occasional anti-Republican or anti-Democrat rant you can spend your time somewhere else more productively for at least a couple weeks.
Some of you are upset with me, and I apologize for any unintended offense. Many people have encouraged and thanked me, and for that you're welcome. I have always believed that information is power, that's why I got into the news business to begin with.
But the reality is what it is and Booth has lost its ears. There's simply no point, at least right now, in further outlining the corporate deafness.
For those of you on my wife's employment search list, she is still actively looking for related jobs and I'll be in touch with you off line.
Best of luck to everyone. If you need to get a hold of me, my e-mail address is in my profile. But, as always, don't do it from work.
7 comments:
I'll still be reading either way, Jim.
I also won't be surprised if it's harder to stay away from the subject than you think, but certainly understand your decision.
JC
Thank you for the information you have provided. It may not have been the news that I wanted to hear, but at least somebody was giving us something.
Jim,
The other day I left an anonymous, negative comment on your blog about wanting to see something constructive.
I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I don’t really believe in leaving anonymous comments. I try not to look at your blog because I think you’re better than your blog. I like my memories of you more, I guess.
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you great only your brothers, what are doing more than others? Don not even pagans do that?” --- Jesus
When I entered the field of journalism, it was with an English Major and I never felt fully a part of the club. I worshiped at the alter of Shakespeare and not Woodward and Berstein. Still, I see some parallels in the two fields… both literature and journalism seek truth. The best of both fields are measured and nuanced.
While I never fully felt part of the club, I did feel part of the family and this is very painful to watch happen. I’m sure people will just label me as naïve but I don’t believe that everything that is happening right now belongs solely on the shoulders of the new “content director” in Ann Arbor or the “editor” at Flint.
This is happening all over and yet, many of you posts just point to “mismanagement” as if this thing is happening in a vacuum. It’s not.
There is so much venom in what people are saying, I’m just not sure how profitable it is…I’m saying this as someone who is dealing with a lot of Booth fallout…I fight bitterness a lot.
I know you try to maintain some decorum, but sometimes it seems a little like someone yelling “Fire” in a crowded theater and then adding the quiet caveat, “Don’t panic.”
Maybe I am just naïve, but I wish you would appeal to “our better angels.”
I’m going to try to not look at your blog… not sure if I’m welcomed here anyway… Just wanted to say my piece.
Rene Wheaton
P.s. I’m sure this is riddled with mistakes. I, unlike some, benefit from editing.
Dear Rene:
We agree on one thing, I like the memories of me more too!
You are always welcome here. I started this blog as a way to reflect on a 30-year journalism career. Circumstances and my caring for my fellow employees have often led it in another direction.
No one needs come here if they don't like what happens. Heck, there are times I don't like what happens here. But this is the brave new world of the Internet. I don't like it, but it is an outlet. My other one evaporated.
There are a number of posts I'd like to take back, but you can't unring a bell. I'm the worst of sinners (like St. Paul) but I try to do what in my heart seems right at the time.
My observations over the past few years have shown me that while even the best management wouldn't have stopped the losses, better management, a management that listened and learned by colloborating with its employees instead of dictating to them, might have found a way to minimize the damage and maybe even find a way to exploit both the print and online product. It has happened elsewhere.
I don't think you are naive, just nice. That's a good thing. On my better days, I'm nice too, but when I see things that are wrong and I am given the means to change, or at least illuminate them, I can't stand back. It's not in my nature.
In my career, I fought with politicians, police officers, angry subscribers, subjects of stories and frequently with editors. Not because I disliked them, but because I wanted things to be better. Many of my editors were willing and able partners in that effort and made my stuff better. But there were those who couldn't see past there own ego and self-worth. Shame on them. I admit, I rebelled against that until it almost cost me my job a few years ago.
After that I just became a journalism robot, the last few years I worked hard, but I can't say that my best work came out because I was swimming against a tide.
You feel badly about what has been said about the new "content producer" of AnnArbor.com." That's because you're nice. Again, not a bad thing.
I'm more upset about his missed opportunities and tin ear than what has been said to him here. Afterall, he's got a fancy new job and title. Many of our friends are now without work or dealing with severely reduced pay in part due to his decisions. Same for the current FJ management. I always try to emphasize that I don't believe they are bad people (although I don't know how good ones could have pulled off what happened yesterday) just bad managers. I'm sure they love their families, take care of their kids, etc.
My major focus now is to concentrate on looking for job opportunities for as many of my journalism friends as I can.
They don't know it yet, and I think maybe you do, but they will be much better off in the long run with the daily newspaper monster off their back.
No one loved newspaper reporting more than I did (at least I can't imagine it) but while I miss the writing, the pursuit of the story, the daily interaction with cops, lawyers and crooks, the racing to the scene of an accident, fire or homicide, I haven't missed, not for one second, being in a newsroom where my ideas, my suggestions and my frustrations were dismissed out of hand by people who wouldn't know a PI from a PD accident.
As I said earlier, I sometimes get disturbed by the toxic comments here, but the First Amendment is pretty important in my book so I err on the side of letting people have their say or to simply vent.
But if I, in any way, have offended you, I do apologize. My best to you, Jack and Bob.
That little boy is more important than anything you will ever find on here.
Jim
So, "THE" Flint Journal has proven, as only it could, that the sword is mightier than the pen afterall. Add another IN to the slogan ... INCOMPETENT. So glad that the arrogant socialite management fools there who interviewed me three times last year picked someone else to carry the coffin; and that the new editor saw my samples as not "enterprising" enough for his liking, without even bothering an interview. Keep recycling those same old editorial themes you pass of as news and trying to convince people in this market to buy space at $40 bucks and inch plus. RIP Flint Journal, and your "Community" weeklies. Perhaps the day is not far off that we may have a new daily, maybe even a county-wide weekly in town.
Jim thank you for your thoughtful response. I disagree with you about several things but in this life we can only do what we think is best.
I didn't mean to come across holier than thou in my quoting of the Bible verse ... but I know you appreciate the Bible and I was trying to speak in a language we both understand. (Easy to understand but something we mortals can only strive for...)
I know of the many hours you've spent to service of tose in need and admire you for that service.
If I came across as "holier than thou" I'm sorry. I'm fiercely loyal to my friends and if I feel arrows are being launched unfairly in their direction I get angry ...but like I said earlier, we all have to do what we think is best in the end.
I hope at some the FJ family and the Booth family will see this time as rough storm that eventually passed.
I'm probably not cut out for commenting here... I probably don't have a thick enough skin ...it seems that dissenting voices are often maligned.
Jack does keep me very busy and in that I'm very blessed.
Thanks again for your thoughtful response,
Take care,
Rene
sorry you won't be blogging it is a good place to let out steam! our paycuts are higher than 25% and i can barely stand working with these people. Trying to get something else and all i can say is that the management will get theirs!!!! they are a bunch of liars who want a bunch of nimrods working for them. little suck up idiots that can't offer this company anything much but big fat brown noses. This will force me to look for something better i am too qualified for this place of losers anyway. May the losers all be happy together as the booth papers die...slowly.
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