AJC ya later
If you read the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, or have been paying any attention to the news lately, you know something's in the air at 72 Marietta St...as in the AJC screwed.
Aside from the fact that just about every newspaper's ad revenues in this country are down, Atlanta's favorite print version to finger point to continues to do laps in the pool of poor writing and editing, and is even going off into the deep drama end of the pool. (I mean, seriously, how lazy does a writer have to be to write "etc..." in a big to-do story like that?)
I know that it's unrealistic to say that newspapers - or any professional organization at that - could possibly resist drama, but it seems to invite itself into the offices of the AJC. As explained in Mostly Media, one of my favorite media tell-alls, three (first it was two) of the paper's top editors were fired in August for less than appropriate behavior in one of Atlanta's favorite bare-all destinations -- the Pink Pony. I hope they got their monies worth that night, because it cost them their job. If they had any sense, the editors who have refrained from snapping pictures of *ah hem* nude dancers with company-issued PDAs and would have not sent the pictures with their AJC email addresses. Obviously the lack of common sense that got them to this joint in the first place failed to guide them through proper strip club etiquette. Is picture taking even allowed? Maybe they had to name-drop. Maybe they had to mention they're an editor for a "big time" newspaper. Guess that didn't get them too far...
But the drama doesn't stop there. The executive news editor of the AJC, Julia Wallace, made each of her employees' mornings with a "hey we're all doomed" email sent back in July. In this email, which was kindly posted in its entirety by yet another favorite blogger, Reporter-Cub, Wallace thanks everyone for their professionalism while the publication works through these difficult times after, of course, announcing that Cox is asking to cut approximately 50 jobs out of the newsroom. This is after a cut of 35 in 2007 during a reorganization. Hard times? Yes. Professional? Hardly.
The AJC can not waste its time singing a sad song right now. They need to keep in mind that today, anyone, anywhere can read the news for free...on the internet. This is nothing that a spiffier print version is going to solve. They need to be focusing as much as possible on a new media initiative. Whether it's more videos, more photos or interaction, they need a stronger web presence. Them and just about the rest of the news print industry.
Aside from the fact that just about every newspaper's ad revenues in this country are down, Atlanta's favorite print version to finger point to continues to do laps in the pool of poor writing and editing, and is even going off into the deep drama end of the pool. (I mean, seriously, how lazy does a writer have to be to write "etc..." in a big to-do story like that?)
I know that it's unrealistic to say that newspapers - or any professional organization at that - could possibly resist drama, but it seems to invite itself into the offices of the AJC. As explained in Mostly Media, one of my favorite media tell-alls, three (first it was two) of the paper's top editors were fired in August for less than appropriate behavior in one of Atlanta's favorite bare-all destinations -- the Pink Pony. I hope they got their monies worth that night, because it cost them their job. If they had any sense, the editors who have refrained from snapping pictures of *ah hem* nude dancers with company-issued PDAs and would have not sent the pictures with their AJC email addresses. Obviously the lack of common sense that got them to this joint in the first place failed to guide them through proper strip club etiquette. Is picture taking even allowed? Maybe they had to name-drop. Maybe they had to mention they're an editor for a "big time" newspaper. Guess that didn't get them too far...
But the drama doesn't stop there. The executive news editor of the AJC, Julia Wallace, made each of her employees' mornings with a "hey we're all doomed" email sent back in July. In this email, which was kindly posted in its entirety by yet another favorite blogger, Reporter-Cub, Wallace thanks everyone for their professionalism while the publication works through these difficult times after, of course, announcing that Cox is asking to cut approximately 50 jobs out of the newsroom. This is after a cut of 35 in 2007 during a reorganization. Hard times? Yes. Professional? Hardly.
The AJC can not waste its time singing a sad song right now. They need to keep in mind that today, anyone, anywhere can read the news for free...on the internet. This is nothing that a spiffier print version is going to solve. They need to be focusing as much as possible on a new media initiative. Whether it's more videos, more photos or interaction, they need a stronger web presence. Them and just about the rest of the news print industry.