This Just In: APC Blog

According to a Reuters article posted this afternoon, Gannett Company Inc., has announced in a memo its plan to cut 1,000 newsroom jobs in its Community Publishing division, which accounts for more than 80 publications (not including USA Today). About 600 people will be laid off, and the remaining cuts will come from retirements, resignations and unfilled vacancies. The memo asked publishers of the newspapers to notify the impacted employees by August 15. The reasons cited include the same ones given by print publications: declining advertising and circulation revenue.

I’ve found it interesting some of the stories coming out of Beijing these last few days since the Olympics started. First was the report that some of the fireworks we saw on TV during the Opening Ceremony were fake. Then there was the cringe-worthy story of the sweet little girl who appeared in the ceremony who lip-synched to a Chinese tune sung by a peer with a pretty singing voice but apparently a not-ready-for-primetime face. I’ve also read about the IOC turning its head amid questions about the ages of China’s female gymnasts: are these youngsters really 16?

Though the Olympics are important for the world unity, dramatic back stories of the athletes and tremendous feats of said athletes, I’ve been intrigued by the “fringe” stories that poke holes in some of the euphoria. I am NOT a cynic but at least it’s a sign that journalists covering the Beijing Games are telling many stories, including the unpopular ones.

Spirited Atlanta Braves announcer Skip Caray died in his sleep Sunday, having faced numerous health problems over the years including diabetes and congestive heart failure. A part of Braves history for more than three decades, he will be missed by the team as well as his many fans. We at the Atlanta Press Club extend our condolences to his family. Read AJC reporter Tim Tucker’s thorough obituary of Skip Caray here.

In her column published Saturday, AJC Public Editor Angela Tuck shared with readers how leadership at the paper made its decisions about many of its changes. “The newspaper puts more resources into covering those areas where we have the most readers — Atlanta, Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett…the AJC will continue to have bureaus in these areas. Clayton, Henry, Fayette, Cherokee and Forsyth are covered, but to a lesser degree,” she writes, also noting when various sections of the paper will cease publication.

Several longtime popular AJC writers also will cease publication in those pages soon, including business columnist Maria Saporta, auto editor Rob Douthit and tech columnist Bill Husted, all of whom accepted the paper’s buyout offer.

Disclosure: Angela Tuck and Maria Saporta are board members of the Atlanta Press Club.