Comments on: Newspaper restructuring — think steel, cars and airlines

By: Robin B.

Robin B. — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 20:12:58 +0000

LOL, federal government? I would not trust the feds to my pension. I worked for the Register 22 years and I will be shocked if I see any of my pension when I’m ready to retire. Everyone I talk to keeps telling me I have nothing to worry about but I simply can’t count on it which angers me just a little bit….

By: Red Right

Red Right — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 02:49:01 +0000

First off, many newsrooms – especially those with JRC – are not unionized and thus their staffs have fewer benefits even as they make far less than does/did auto workers and airline workers. As a result, cutting the pensions of these people will far more dramatically impact their “golden years.” A promise that was made appears to be a promise that won’t be kept. No wonder Wall Street and big business have such poor reputations.

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:21:17 +0000

How will this bankruptcy affect the delivery agents of home delivery? D. Williams

By: George Greven

George Greven — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:11:10 +0000

I am confused about this conversation about the pensions. Will JR be able to stop paying the pensions of retired employees or does it off-load future pension plans. I thought pensions were protected by the federal government.

By: Amarpreet Kalkat

Amarpreet Kalkat — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:26:14 +0000

It is not the falling print revenues that is the only problem, it is also their legacy cost structures. You cannot have ‘digital delivery’ without having, well lets just call it, ‘digital manufacturing’. Or whatever the supply side of media ought to be called.

By: Rolando Peralta

Rolando Peralta — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:13:55 +0000

Great analysis. I don’t think the Digital First is a 100% safe land, most if we bring a legacy business model with strong focus on advertising “only”. A fractured landscape for publishing industry is quite a giant wave to ride.
Thanks for mention it. I’ve already blogged about it.
@RolandoPeralta

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 20:45:59 +0000

Thanks for the comment. They’re definitely having it both ways. I wish them the best but am skeptical about their claims. Jeff Jarvis should encourage them to go fully transparent. (Though it seems like he’s not altogether on board with transparency when it comes to money.)

By: Mathew Ingram

Mathew Ingram — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 20:35:32 +0000

That’s a fair point, Randy — I’ve been frustrated by the lack of hard numbers as well. But it is a private company and they don’t have to release anything at all if they don’t want to, unfortunately. I agree it doesn’t really jibe with their position on transparency with readers though.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:58:05 +0000

We can sympathize with the newspapers because they surely won’t do what the record labels did: make incredibly stupid and hostile moves like suing their own customers.

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:18:01 +0000

Wouldn’t you feel better about this company if Paton ever disclosed actual numbers, rather than just percentage changes?

I feel like it’s impossible to determine what’s really happening at JRC.