I was not going to comment any further about me being laid off from the Springfield News-Leader but I must respectfully refute a comment News-Leader Publisher Tom Bookstaver made in today’s edition of the N-L.
Here is a link to the article, with Bookstaver’s comment below (bold is my emphasis):
“We did not reduce our reporting staff and will remain Springfield’s No. 1 source for news and information,” said News-Leader Publisher Thomas Bookstaver.
“The positions eliminated were primarily in production, accounting and advertising, where the slowdown in advertising has reduced the work, or we are using technology to improve productivity,” he said.
I refute this respectfully by asking that if no members of the reporting staff were laid off, then what exactly was I at the newspaper for? Did Mr. Bookstaver even know I existed? Did he view the content I helped produce?
My job as a multimedia reporter included, but was not limited to, gathering video and interviews, writing my own scripts based on info given, and turning the completed product into a news package. If that isn’t reporting, then can someone tell me what it is?
I worked very hard and was proud of my work. Bookstaver’s comment, regardless of intent, serves to trivialize the impact I felt my reporting had.
Again, I do not post this with disrespect to anyone, but I am publicly refuting Mr. Bookstaver’s comment that no reporter was laid off. The info he gave was erroneous and I would like this post to serve as an official rebuttal to that statement.
I appreciate everyone’s kind words of support and encouragement, and also those who have offered assistance with anything. My appreciation also still goes to my former co-workers, and I hope that Mr. Bookstaver realizes they too exist.
Not only that they exist, but that they continue to be the lifeblood of a paper struggling in an industry that can’t find its identity.
Wouldn’t be the first time misleading info’s been in the newspaper.
It is a shame it has come to this. At least call a spade, a spade Mr. Bookstaver.
“After that, we went to the Caminas’ house where a bunch of us young men hung out in the kitchen and ate food, reminisced about times past and looked forward to the day I shall return for good to the Northwest, although no one knows when it shall occur.
I just lied. I know when it will occur.”
When I read this last week, I thought you were doing a little foreshadowing. You survived the first cuts but not the second.
I watched your videos on line when I could find them,,,it seemed that the SN-L did it dangest to make them hard to find.
My suggestion, for what it is worth, is to take your GI bill and get your teaching certificate in multi-media production.
Then, teach Gannett how to make a web page that is user friendly. (all the Gannett websites are hard to navigate for an old fart like me….Mike Maness design them?)
Good luck in what you do and remember Hard word and good luck go hand in hand.
Jim
hard WORK and good luck go hand in hand!
ps— I bet the publisher put you in the production category.
Wow. In a moment of fast-moving, revolutionary change in journalism, the N-L gets rid of the multi-media reporter. There’s only one way to describe this: (superlative of your choice) stupid.
Gannett is doomed.
I totally agree with the degree idea. Would be worth your time!
I just dug up a June 19 column Bookstaver himself wrote, thanks to Dr. Cline who commented above.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090614/OPINIONS/906140330/1006/News-Leader+is+strong+and+healthy++publisher+assures
Why does the old Iraqi Information Minister, Mohammed Said al-Sahaf, come to mind?
Seriously move on and get another job, millions have been laid off this year and thousands from Gannett. You were a multimedia informer not a reporter.
John,
Thanks for your unwelcome comment two weeks and two days after the last comment was posted.
You’re entitled to your opinion but I don’t appreciate it.
By the way I am moving on, if you would read the rest of my site you’d see that.
John’s obviously not a very bright person if he doesn’t think a multimedia reporter is a reporter.
Or potentially a Gannett corporate person trolling my website. Same difference.