Gannett Reviews

Pros

Pretty good compensation
Very nice benefits
Decent opportunity for professional growth
Good facilities
Can usually get tickets to very nice local events

Cons

They are in a declining industry and are struggling to make do
They have been laying off a lot of people

Advice to Senior Management

Figure out a way to make more revenue in the current economy
Find a new model for doing business

Pros

Gannett is a company where those who execute and get things done are rewarded for it. They value diversity, hard work and intelligence. In Reno, my managers were almost without exception smart and great people.

Cons

Unfortunately, Gannett at a national and strategic level is still a "ready, fire, aim" kind of place. Its senior management is competent but seems unable to successfully transition the firm into the media marketplace.

Advice to Senior Management

Just because you were caught flat-footed by other companies who invested in technological expertise (i.e. people), doesn't mean that has to continue. It's not over yet.

Pros

I have been lucky enough to have worked at three Gannett locations in six years. Recently moved back from CH to Delaware for a better opportunity. That's one of the things about this company, there are lots of opportunities even in a difficult job marketplace. Journalists are valued, and I have been through a lot as the company has gone through some unbelievably tough times. But through it all we've served our customers. And I've been able to move ahead, both in job responsibility and compensation.

I've been to several training programs with Gannett, and I think these have given me not only an increase in knowledge but also visibility with editors. That has helped, along with working on some really challenging projects, at allowing me to get ahead. I can only hope that business gets better in these tough times.

Cons

It's not Gannett, but the industry that is going through so many tough times. I see layoffs around the country as newspaper companies downsize. But with all the digital stuff we do, we see some bright lights out there. If we can solve the advertising issue, get some new business, we will survive.

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate as much as you can. And communicate in various ways.

Pros

1. The Benefits offered a quite comprehensive.
2. Pretty good comraderie among non-management empoyees.
3. A few highly skilled people do and formerly did work there.
4. The organization does try to make changes in their approach albeit a bit slowly.

Cons

1. Poorly organized and structured from corporate to the individual Newspaper level.
2. Extremely bad systems especially the advertising billing system which in the recent conversion went from bad to worse..
3. Too many Senior Level Managers at the Newspaper Level and the Corporate levels are out of touch with the way the world does business today.
4. Senior Management espcially at corporate sets unattainable goals which leads to projects constantly missing deadlines.
5. First level managers and Directors are incapable of giving proper performance appraisals and motivating employees through difficult times.
6. The idea of having separate units for Customer Service and Credit is really ludicrous. This is definitely an area of restructuring.
7. Limited ability for Senior Management at the Journal News to listen to feedback given by the ppeople who report to them. This relates to recommendations regarding where to invest revenue efforts.
8. A complete lack of support by Corproate IT in supporting the local newspapers. Their lack of availability in solving critical systems conversion projects specifically reporting issues led to much confusion and chaos that has continued unnecessarilly.
9. Way too many bottleneck within the Journal News and with the corporate office. Change happens eventually but way too slowly.
10. Rates are not competitive with other meia products in the industry.

Advice to Senior Management

Many layoffs and furloughs have taken place at the Journal News which is truly sad for this once proud company. Truthfully the management at the Journal News should consider proposing to sever ties with Corproate Gannett and making a special arrangement with them on a few issues. The Journal News has less to offer than smaller more efficiently run companies like Chase Media, More Sugar and The Examiner. The Journal News needs to restructure in relevance to todays market. I suggest they break away from Ganeett because Gannett is holding them back in some ways. If Gannett can be more cooperative then maybe the main product, the Journal News can ublish once or twice a week as opposed to every day and for daily news to appear on the LoHud site. Other areas of improvement are:

1. To slowly carefully expand the company's product and service base. Why not become more involved in printing services as well as direct mail, database services, digital media and computer consulting.

2. Think younger in the terms of social media.

3. Invest more money in the Beer and Food and Wine and Food Festivals as these events brought a great comraderie among the employees a well as attracted many people to the event.

4. Overhaul the business systems and move to a system that is not a customized program developed by out of touch programmers. Look towards an SAP or Hyperion which allows importing and reporting of data. The AS400 and Genesys Programs need to be dropped. If corporate does not like this, then maybe the propsoed break I express earlier for The Journal News should take place sooner rather than later.

5. Stress to first level managers and directors to give constructive feedback and take the time to explain things clearly. Managers and Directors who fail to reach out to their subordinates should be put on a progressive discipline program and terminate if they do not improve.

6. Under no circumstances should an employee have to work beyond 8 PM on any given day. If this is happening to often, this is an area of restructuring. There are employees have been taying pat midnight for too long. If this is happening something is either worng with the employee or the process. Action must be taken immediately.

Pros

I enjoyed the atmosphere wil working here. My position was in management of the contract carriers, the job was never boring and I gained alot of valuable experience in dealing with all kinds of personalities. The position required independent decision making and always thinking on your feet. Very fast paced work environment.

Cons

The early morning hours were tough to work, although after 13 yrs you did kind of get used to it, but it made for a difficult life outside of work sometimes. The weather could also be difficult to contend with as the job entailed being outside some of the time.

Advice to Senior Management

You should treat your employees on a fair basis. Promotions and the practice of how employees are retained should be based more so on their performance not strictly seniority. You have lost some very valuable employees.

Pros

The company is becoming more and more innovative. They are thinking of ways to get around decreasing circulation and are actively getting involved with viral marketing. Going up the ladder of success is easy within your first two years, but after that you hit a point where there is no place to go. Fellow sales people are great to work with, and its a very laid back environment.

Cons

There is very few management positions to move into, so you are stuck as a account executive selling the same things. They are terrible with goal setting. Its a company that is going to be happy making 5-7% below last year, but they still want you to make 20-25% above last year in a failing economy and with a longer sales cycle. It seems like they are on a path where you only make goal once every three months. Sometimes it feels like you are getting your hands slapped for doing well.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your employees and stop with all the closed door meetings to get things done. Its important to get feedback from the people who are out in the field all day. Work on a better goal structure.

Pros

A financially sound company, one that has been in a very tough industry that has been beaten up and left for dead but still has found a way to not only survive but excel. The company has numerous opportunities to advance, as I've found out given a couple promotions in the last decade. The company offers decent benefits, and I can make very good incentive for meeting goals. The thing I like is that I'm free to speak with my manager about things, and get feedback not only on how I'm doing but what has to be done to be a better employee. The company maintained its match on the 401k plan when many competitors cut it out, and I appreciate it.

Cons

Our industry is a tough one, and it's harder to sell advertising in this environment. But we have tools available to help and management gives strong guidance. It would be easier if we had more staff support and more help with difficult sales. I'd like to have more time off.

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate as much as possible with what is going on in the company.

Pros

I worked in the online division selling advertising. Pros - being part of a large company means more digital innovations than smaller companies, more room for advancement

Cons

A lot of politics and policies, from billing to working with other reps. Commission payout is a little funky and not always fair. Overall a good job though.

Advice to Senior Management

Old newspaper policies need to be revisited, they don't apply anymore especially since websites will be the core money maker in the future. More online training - need to get ahead of the game.

Pros

The bonus structure and pay were very fair and higher than competing papers in the area. Vacation time, sick leave, and personal time were very fair and better than other companies I have worked for.

Cons

The Central NY newspaper subdivision is a joke. I have never worked for a comapany who did less for there community. It was all about the bottom line. You never heard good job from any of management. Management would put you up against 20-35% sales increase over the previous years goal despite the company being down 40% in advertising revenue. Customers (business owners) were treated like they were idiots and should take whatever advertising package we give them. Our managers would contradict themselves constantly and blatently lie to your face. I personally had a manger who would always want you to push the highest priced package first despite the customers needs. I understand this is a business and making money is the goal. But why would she go to a customer and sell him on the lowest package we offer without ever offering a better packae that would bring more revenue to the comapany. Because she was a horrible salesperson and did not deserve her job. She was handed the job over 3 more qualified people because she was tight with her manager. They fired (laid off) the best sales person I have ever worked with because she was outspoken and would stand behind her sales reps when she knew they were right. Bottom line is this is a horrible company to work for. I recently called the corporate HR director to discuss some concerns over how employees were being treated and never called back.

Advice to Senior Management

Times are changing and those who will not change with it will be left beind. Treat your employees with respect and dignity. Give your employees positive feedback along with any advice youmay have for them to improve. This will get you better results.

Pros

Any of Gannett's properties would be a great place to pick up basic sales experience. Gannett was using a well thought out sales training program that was implemented companywide. Benefits were good. The majority of the employees are good people to work with.

Cons

Newspaper resources are being cut. The most expensive was labor of course. Instead of cutting corporate level positions and supporting individual business units Gannett made the mistake of cutting its community backbone deep. What's left are all competent employees juggling what should be the jobs of three or more individuals at the pay level of one. It would be a tough environment for a non-former Gannett employee to start out in management but good for entry-level. Gannett says they are family oriented but does little to back it up. They are 100% profit-driven. Expect to work 12 hour plus days 6 days a week or more if you're in a management role.

Advice to Senior Management

Reduce the number of employees at corporate to USA Today essentials and corporate financial reporting. All other positions are simply causing headaches for your local properties with their urge to micro-manage communities which are not homogenous.