It's probably a mistake, but below is a Pearl Harbor Day diatribe by Cleveland Scene. You might want to let them know that is it not a laughing matter for BJ retirees who worry not only about pensions and health benefits, but also about JSK turning over in his grave, the future look of all communications in a society that gets news by sound bites--and yes--even about the Cleveland Scene.
Save the pencils!
The Akron Beacon Journal, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning paper now operating as a 'zine for the geriatric set, is getting squeezed to comedic proportions by San Jose's Knight Ridder, its parent company.
Knight Ridder is under a dual assault by investors, who are demanding 30 percent profit margins, and the company's own leadership, namely CEO Tony Ridder, the heir-in-charge who's proved strikingly adept at running Knight Ridder into the ground.
Executives recently asked employees to share pens and notepads with other departments, since no more office supplies will be purchased this year. The problem is that some departments have already run dry, including the photo department, which ran out of batteries and paper. "They did make an exception and ordered the photographers new batteries," says reporter Paula Schleis.
"It's been a tough year," concedes managing editor Mike Burbach. "The budget has been very tight and we're saving where we can, but I don't think it's gotten to the point where reporters are without pens and notepads. At least I certainly hope not."
Plain Dealer reporters were prepared to launch an emergency relief effort by shipping office supplies to Akron, but they were told not to bother. "Frankly, with all this talk about the Knight Ridder sale, we don't want them wasting their goodwill on notebooks," Schleis says. "We'd rather they wait and use it to help the people who are going to lose their jobs."
In the meantime, if the Beacon is soon printed on piles of stolen bar napkins, you'll know why.
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3 comments:
This whole thing is scary! For some reason I always assumed that our pension fund was not part of the BJ but rather separate and adminstered by some outrsiders, my mistake...
.....Ott
I did, too, Ott. I always thought that the BJ bought an annuity when you retired, and KR was out of the pension business and let the insurance company handle it. Sure wish we both were right. The really scary thing is that companies that are financially HEALTHY are doing it, too, not just those in bankruptcy. And there's no one in politics who wants to stop them.
Harry... what's the beef here? It's NOT a mistake. There really is such an order at the Beacon. And It's a cinch you're not going to read about it in the BJ so let's give Scene a nod for reporting it.
The tip btw came from several Beacon staffers.
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