Oregon Media Insiders

Oh sure, I was this close to a degree in computer science. Then got this crazy notion that newspapers were more fun.

I wonder, is 50 too late to go back and finish a computer degree? I wonder if my credits still count.

Not that high tech is any better, but old faithful is starting to look more and more like every other industry all of a sudden...

I guess there is always drive thru, I might even be management material...

Not too long ago, I left college and went into journalism, and things were OK.

And things got a little worse, but I was promoted to management, and things were OK.

OK enough that I decided to move to the greatest city in America and take a paycut and go back to being a foot soldier at an outpost. Because things would be OK.

A year later, things are still, well, OK. I'm still at the outpost and I ain't leavin' any time soon. I could move back to the old stomping grounds, but I'd rather stick it out.

But what happens on that horrible day when things aren't OK out in the 'burbs, either?

As governments, both local and federal were spending as there were no tomorrow, these oracles were as silent as the mouse in the cupboard. Just maybe if the media were doing the job they should have and questioned the electives over the mishandling of the economy they might not be in the predicament they are now faced with. Ironically, when the educated are laid off it is a tragedy, when the uneducated are laid off it is blasé.

Word on the street has it 10 or more heads may roll. They've offered a buy-out for employees age 60 and older with at least 10 years tenure at the paper. It's all supposed to happen this week,
possibly as soon as Tuesday.

It is not the governments job to create jobs that should be done by the private sector. The less the government does the better everyone is.

The Columbian is doing what any company that wants to survive has to do which is to cut expenses. If you want to survive you can't spend more than you take in. It is math 101 and the easiest way to stay afloat: spend less and make more.

It doesn't make them evil just realistic.

The irony in these big changes — read it bloodletting — is that the newspaper just moved into new digs earlier this year.

If only my oregonian delivery person could actually get my paper somewhere near my driveway.....

Three staffers — two metro reporters and a photographer — were the first victims at The Columbian today. One of the reporters was eligible for the buyout package for staffers age 60 and older with at least 10 years tenure at the paper, but he gambled and lost. The word is that another round of layoffs will take place tomorrow. Reporters have been told to be at their desks at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to await a telephone call. First at bat Wednesday morning will be the business section. Sports is due a call in the afternoon. At least five staffers are eligible for the buyout, and at least two are believed to have accepted.

I felt very sad reading the last entry about the latest round of terminations at The Columbian. I wonder what kind of severance packages will be offered? AND!.. I also wonder what the hell the "management" of The Columbian was thinking when they decided to spend all that dough on a new headquarters building! The newspaper problems have been evident for quite some time, maybe SOMEONE should have thought about saving money for the tough times ahead. Perhaps those who made the stupid financial decisions- such as the new building, should be FIRED first!

Any more news on staff cuts?

The staff cuts at The Columbian are *yes* a financial decision that any company has to face. However, the fact that the owner/publisher spent $30 million on a fancy new building to show off to all his country club buddies – at the expense of all the "support staff" and NONE of the managers, is sickening. Especially coming from a publisher who over the years espouses his belief in a community/family owned company - his decision to retain overpaid talking bobble heads at the top of the food chain – who do nothing to add to the company's bottom line – while cutting the hours of an entire division to help curb expenses is a bunch of crap.

In economic times like this people turn inward, to what they know. One of those things is the community newspaper. To get valued information about their communities – especially since most lower-middle income people can't afford the gas to get out of town. And now what are they treated to? The same subscription price, with less value – that's right. They're cutting the size of the paper. And along with that staff. And yes, while most people (Clark County pop. = 400k+, Columbian circulation = 40k±) don't even get their news from newspapers, there are still a few who enjoy washing ink off their hands after enjoying a morning read.

The Columbian is facing the same problems the government is facing. Too many overpaid cooks in the kitchen, and between them, they can't figure out how to get the f**king oven to turn on. Campbell (the publisher) should've watched CNN/CNBC a bit closer and kept his operation small and in the old building.

Final tally of two days of cuts:

Fired:
Two metro reporters
Two business reporters
One sports reporter
One sports clerk
One photographer
One features reporter

Accepted buyout:
One editorial page writer
One business clerk

Two others signed the buyout offer, but have until Aug. 14 to actually accept it. Three more staffers didn't sign the buyout offer. There is speculation that some copy desk reduction could come in the fall, after a new system is up and running.

Couple years ago publisher ScottC promised Columbian employees that his new building wouldn't affect staffing levels. The commercial tenants haven't arrived and he's dumping his newspaper staff.

LouB has been editor of the Columbian during the highest period of growth Clark County has experienced and circulation remained flat or declining. Not true for other newspapers in the state during this time a few years ago, Tri-City Herald and Tacoma News Tribune saw circulation gains during this same period of growth. All Lou can claim during this time is an empty case of hair dye in his lame efforts to be "funky." (Oh yeah, and that pesky discrimination settlement involving one of Lou's managers that ScottC wanted kept out of the courts.)

A typical corporate newspaper would now be sending LouB on his way. He knows this. The blood-letting is done and it's time to bring in someone new to lead the healing process. Keeping LouB around now will be suicide for the Campbell family newspaper. Journalism deserves better.