Archive for September, 2009
More Plain Dealer Editorial Staff in Job Jeopardy
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Media on September 28, 2009
September 28, 2009… The Plain Dealer’s management people now face the same fate as union editorial staff and reporters – job loses – despite a long-standing promise called the “Newhouse Pledge” of no layoffs.
According to a piece in Poynter website by Mark Holan the Pledge will go out of business on February 5, 2010.
Holan reported, “The so-called ‘Newhouse Pledge,’ named after the family that founded and controls the New York-based media company, guaranteed that in most cases, employees would never be laid off. The pledge, which according to a recently filed lawsuit has been in place for at least 25 years, applied to all full-time, non-union employees. Newhouse has a reputation of being an anti-union company, and some believe the pledge was intended partly to discourage employees from organizing.”
Holan adds, “But like hot type and afternoon editions, the pledge has become a relic.”
The PD has had significant job lost in its editorial staff, some 40 percent of the editorial staff, according to some reports.
Many notice that the Plain Dealer has reduced its size and content in recent times.
A publisher at the Newhouse’s Mobile Press-Register has decided to use the pledge as a means to sue Newhouse for his dismissal.
“(Howard) Bronson wants a jury to award damages for breaking the pledge and forcing him into retirement,” Holan writes.
This puts another level of PD editorial staffing in jeopardy by early next year.
A Newhouse family member quoted saying that “the pledge does not apply ‘to the kind of transitional moment in the newspaper industry that is basically struggling to survive.’”
The Newhouse Pledge, therefore, wasn’t really a pledge.
The full story is available here: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=170645
Casinos Invite ‘Corrosive Influences” says Columbus Dispatch
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Media on September 27, 2009
September 27, 2009… As The Plain Dealer propagandizes for the Casino industry, the Columbus Dispatch editorially says, “No Thanks!”
At the same time, the Pee Dee has a cartoon front-page heralding a poll saying Ohioans want the casinos.
The Dispatch said that casinos COST a community $3 for every $1 of benefit.
In a Sunday editorial the Columbus Dispatch reminded voters that allowing casinos into their communities invites “corrosive influences.”
The Dispatch noted that casinos would pour money into buying the allegiance of state lawmakers with campaign contributions.
The paper also cites the fact that the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, which is backing Issue 3, has been promised 2 percent of receipts by the casinos for “police training,” suggesting a payoff.
The paper also has reported that the casinos have promised annual contributions to Experience Columbus – the city’s convention bureau.
Experience Columbus has endorsed the casinos.
The suggestion is that the city’s convention center has been bought off by the casino, which will have a monopoly in Columbus as it would in Cleveland if Issue 3 passes.
In Cleveland, Positively Cleveland – this city’s convention bureau – has endorsed casinos.
Could Cleveland and Cuyahoga County use more “corrosive influences” in this political life? I don’t think so.
Here’s a link to the Dispatch’s editorial: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/09/27/nothanx.ART_ART_09-27-09_G4_BPF68HU.html?sid=101
Vote NO and protect your pocketbook and that of Cleveland.