Comments on: Media General in Tampa: ‘Convergence’ Equals Layoffs http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/2007/04/11/mediageneral-in-tampa-convergence-equals-layoffs/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:37:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: cfa0e32e2006 http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/2007/04/11/mediageneral-in-tampa-convergence-equals-layoffs/#comment-15015 cfa0e32e2006 Fri, 09 May 2008 03:00:40 +0000 http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/2007/04/11/mediageneral-in-tampa-convergence-equals-layoffs/#comment-15015 <strong>cfa0e32e2006...</strong> cfa0e32e2006ad8b853a... cfa0e32e2006…

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]]> By: subdude http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/2007/04/11/mediageneral-in-tampa-convergence-equals-layoffs/#comment-14329 subdude Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:15:18 +0000 http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/2007/04/11/mediageneral-in-tampa-convergence-equals-layoffs/#comment-14329 Having worked for 5 years in sales for media General in the broadcast television division, the last three as a sales manager and the unititled market convergence coordinator in another market, I can tell you that convergence as presently defined presents numerous problems. It is important to note I did not get fired or laid off. I left on my terms, for my own reasons and maintain a healthy relationship with many within Media General. I have NO AX to grind with Media General. First is that with respect to having independent hyper local news content the whole concept of "together but seperate" is filled with land mines as discussed previously. Secondly from a sales and revenue aspect, in these extremely challenging times, there is tremendous potential to converged internet, print and broadcast promotions for clients. The issue is the "together but seperate" model here is just as problematic, not necesarily from an ethical stand point but from a revenue and client stand point. Sales operations are completely stove piped and therefor you essentially have an environment where sales personnel are asked to work together but are measured individually, a recipe for hidden, unhealthy competition, seperate goals and agenda's and just a general atmosphere of distrust. The ultimate loser is the client caught in the cross fire of all the tugging an pulling. So from a news point of view convergence, as presently configured at Media General, does not serve the reader/viewer best and from an advertising point of view it also comes up short in delivering the best product to the client. There is potential for this methodology to work but given how "dug in" Richmond appears to be in protecing their seperate turf I am not hopeful that in the near future anything good will come of any of this. Lastly the layoffs at the Tribune should serve notice of things to come, anyone ever remember a company, the size of Media General, just making one round of layoff's/buyouts/early retirements? Stay tuned! Having worked for 5 years in sales for media General in the broadcast television division, the last three as a sales manager and the unititled market convergence coordinator in another market, I can tell you that convergence as presently defined presents numerous problems. It is important to note I did not get fired or laid off. I left on my terms, for my own reasons and maintain a healthy relationship with many within Media General. I have NO AX to grind with Media General.
First is that with respect to having independent hyper local news content the whole concept of “together but seperate” is filled with land mines as discussed previously. Secondly from a sales and revenue aspect, in these extremely challenging times, there is tremendous potential to converged internet, print and broadcast promotions for clients. The issue is the “together but seperate” model here is just as problematic, not necesarily from an ethical stand point but from a revenue and client stand point. Sales operations are completely stove piped and therefor you essentially have an environment where sales personnel are asked to work together but are measured individually, a recipe for hidden, unhealthy competition, seperate goals and agenda’s and just a general atmosphere of distrust. The ultimate loser is the client caught in the cross fire of all the tugging an pulling.
So from a news point of view convergence, as presently configured at Media General, does not serve the reader/viewer best and from an advertising point of view it also comes up short in delivering the best product to the client. There is potential for this methodology to work but given how “dug in” Richmond appears to be in protecing their seperate turf I am not hopeful that in the near future anything good will come of any of this.
Lastly the layoffs at the Tribune should serve notice of things to come, anyone ever remember a company, the size of Media General, just making one round of layoff’s/buyouts/early retirements?
Stay tuned!

]]> By: tkarr http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/2007/04/11/mediageneral-in-tampa-convergence-equals-layoffs/#comment-2679 tkarr Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:46:31 +0000 http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/2007/04/11/mediageneral-in-tampa-convergence-equals-layoffs/#comment-2679 If the Tribune and WFLA were under separate owners, you wouldn't see the sort of journalistic malpractice that occurs when they fail to critique one another (As outlined above). You also wouldn't see as many layoffs as have occurred under Media General's dubious banner of "synergy". So, in short, better reporting and more employed journalists. Given the double-digit profit margins of both the newspaper and the TV station, I think they'd both survive and residents of Tampa would be better off for it. One question for you. Does your work for NAB include posting pro-Big Media talking points on this site? If the Tribune and WFLA were under separate owners, you wouldn’t see the sort of journalistic malpractice that occurs when they fail to critique one another (As outlined above). You also wouldn’t see as many layoffs as have occurred under Media General’s dubious banner of “synergy”.

So, in short, better reporting and more employed journalists. Given the double-digit profit margins of both the newspaper and the TV station, I think they’d both survive and residents of Tampa would be better off for it.

One question for you. Does your work for NAB include posting pro-Big Media talking points on this site?

]]> By: Nabisco http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/2007/04/11/mediageneral-in-tampa-convergence-equals-layoffs/#comment-2678 Nabisco Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:42:15 +0000 http://www.stopbigmedia.com/blog/2007/04/11/mediageneral-in-tampa-convergence-equals-layoffs/#comment-2678 I do some work with the NAB and think that this story begs the question of where would the Tampa Tribune be right now if it were not owned by Media General? With newspaper readership numbers falling steadily and showing no sign of a rebound, an independently-owned paper of the Tribune's stature would be hard pressed to compete with other print media, radio, television, and the Internet for the advertising dollars on which it relies. So while layoffs are an unfortunate reality of any business, I would argue that the Tribune would find itself in much more dire straits were the resources afforded by corporate ownership not available to it. I do some work with the NAB and think that this story begs the question of where would the Tampa Tribune be right now if it were not owned by Media General? With newspaper readership numbers falling steadily and showing no sign of a rebound, an independently-owned paper of the Tribune’s stature would be hard pressed to compete with other print media, radio, television, and the Internet for the advertising dollars on which it relies. So while layoffs are an unfortunate reality of any business, I would argue that the Tribune would find itself in much more dire straits were the resources afforded by corporate ownership not available to it.

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