This Just In: APC Blog

Gannett Cutting 1K Newspaper Jobs

Melanie Levs — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:44:30 +0000

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.

Olympics: Covering the Cringe-Worthy

Melanie Levs — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:59:33 +0000

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.

R.I.P., Skip Caray

Melanie Levs — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:36:14 +0000

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.

AJC Public Ed. Explains Changes

Melanie Levs — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:12:51 +0000

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.

“We Ask the Tough Questions”

Melanie Levs — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:38:18 +0000

Bob Edwards, host of The Bob Edwards Show on XM Satellite Radio and Bob Edwards Weekend on Public Radio International, reminded the audience at tonight’s annual awards gala that our job as journalists is to ask the tough questions. Investigative reporters in our midst are expected, perhaps mandated, to take months or even years to uncover the truths and report them, he said. While “any idiot can blog,” he half-joked, announcing that he himself is guilty, he’s worried about the state of journalism. With the prevalence of blogs about the mundane and celebrities, “no one’s an editor, but everyone’s a journalist.” Are we giving the public what they need as opposed to what they want?

Edwards also alluded to a memoir he’s writing, and noted that one publisher wanted him to attack National Public Radio for letting him go in 2004. He says he never will because he believes in the mission and audience of public radio. The only negative about the medium is “it lives in mortal fear of being called `liberal,’” he said. But that label should be of no concern to true journalists, he added. “We use our eyes and ears to report what we see and hear, and people’s reactions be damned,” he told the crowd to applause. “That’s our job.”

Congratulations and Thanks!

Melanie Levs — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:27:35 +0000

Congratulations to the 2008 Journalists of the Year, Alan Judd and Andy Miller of the AJC, recognized tonight at the annual awards gala for their 2007 series on Georgia’s mental hospitals. Congratulations also to the JOY category winners: Janet Conley of The Daily Report, Kyra Phillips of CNN, Dana Fowle of WAGA-TV, Joe Ivansco of the AJC and Jason Bronis of The Associated Press. Atlanta and Georgia journalists from the AJC, Bloomberg News, Georgia Trend magazine, Marietta Daily Journal, News/Talk 750 WSB, Georgia Public Broadcasting and GPB Radio also picked up Green Eyeshade Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), which partnered with us for the evening. Thanks to SPJ, our sponsors, the gala committee and our featured speaker, Bob Edwards of XM Satellite Radio and Public Radio International, who enlightened us with his ideas on the state of journalism today (see above). It was a wonderful evening!

Big Week for Natl, Local Media Outlets

Melanie Levs — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:26:12 +0000

Unless you were in outer space, you have heard about the controversy surrounding this week’s The New Yorker magazine. It’s said any publicity is good publicity! Personally, I was more taken with Jill Lepore’s story on the evolution of children’s literature within public libraries.

On a local front, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently reported on its own internal changes, including laying off 189 employees and doing away with several sections. However, Metro and Sports will expand to include news from Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb and North Fulton counties, according to Publisher John Mellott. While this news isn’t as compelling as satire’s role in presidential politics, we look forward to following the continuing changes in our city’s major metro daily.

Another Gone Too Young

Melanie Levs — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:33:42 +0000

My same age and a lifelong news junkie like me, Chanda Taylor sounds like someone I would’ve been friends with. Unfortunately, I will never know the CNN producer and former WSB-TV news producer, who died last week of brain cancer. She also was a former president of AABJ, the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists. We at the Press Club extend our condolences to all those Ms. Taylor touched. Our industry is taking quite a hit these days, in more ways than one.

Sad Losses

Melanie Levs — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:41:14 +0000

Atlanta’s media community has lost two of its own recently.

Former WGCL-TV reporter Fred Powers died of cancer Monday. Though he had not been on the air for a few months, Powers was known for being willing to do most anything for a story, including enduring a dog attack and being Tasered. Visit his family’s website honoring Powers here. WGCL-TV has set up online memorial photos here.

On June 12, well-liked CNN executive producer Bob Coleman died after a long illness. I love what he often told his daughter, Nancy: “My favorite day is a day where I learn something new.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of these well-respected journalists from our community.

He Will Be Missed

Melanie Levs — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:16:46 +0000

Tim Russert.

Enough said.