Gannett Reviews in Philadelphia, PA Area

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

It was family oriented at one time. The employees that worked there were like family.

Cons

Management was no good. They only concerned about laying off people so their bonuses would be a good one.

Advice to Senior Management

Learn to understand the feelings of people and not your wallets.

Pros

Courier-Post newspaper was an exciting place to work at one time because something was always happening.

Cons

Because of layoffs, everyone worked harder to complete all the jobs. Nothing was eliminated and still had to be done.

Advice to Senior Management

Management should be honest with their employees and stop being secretive. Find out why employees are unhappy after the layoffs.

Pros

The newspaper was a great place to work. Many people worked there for years and everyone was very helpful overall

Cons

What a sad thing to see an industry literally dying before your eyes. This is old school technology and unfortuantely they did not jump on the electronic world soon enough

Advice to Senior Management

Too little too late--what a shame that management did not jump on the internet world as soon as it became apparent what the future was

Pros

People value me in and the job I do. Management gives decent feedback. Last publisher was very good, man of the people. Lots going on in our industry, but although times are tough and things have been cut we are still protecting the First Amendment with solid journalism. Good benefit package, people care about what we do and how we do it. Get lots of challenges and like the work.

Cons

The business is very difficult, especially in advertising. Philadelphia is having a tough time, so are we. Got to think it will get better as the country pulls out of the recession.

Advice to Senior Management

More information via as many ways as possible. It's depressing in the field and we need to more about some of the good things that are going on.

Pros

Gannett is a great company to begin or continue a sales career. Good work environments and strong products help the sales force to meet or exceed goals. Partnership and ownership of several top online verticals such as Cars.com, Apartments.com, Homefinder, Careerbuilder, allow reps to offer a slew of powerful solutions to advertisers.

Cons

Even with so many great solutions, all of these products are still burdened by the newspaper side of the equation. Revenue that should be recycled back into the program, often is allocated to failing print products.

Advice to Senior Management

If you spend all of your effort trying to save a crippled product, you'll won't be able to give the healthy ones the attention they need.

Pros

Decent sized paper. Had good coverage despite no real competition. Being an intern, I was tossed onto a lot of stories, which is good or bad depending on your thoughts (I enjoyed that). Seemed like they were genuinely excited about having an intern.

Cons

I was an intern, so take everything with a spoon of salt. Morale seemed very low. Aside from a few key editors, senior reporters felt extremely negative about management. Most of the negativety I feel toward Gannett stem from national stories and not personal experience.

Advice to Senior Management

Encourage people to try new things. Cultivate morale -- excited reporters are good reporters.

Pros

Ability to assume new responsibilities. I moved from one location to another in the last couple months due to a job posting, and I was very impressed with the professionalism of all those involved. I started working with several others who've been promoted as well. It's a tough marketplace right now and the company has lots of pressures, but I have found in my experience that management is well intentioned and has offered me the flexibility to succeed. That confident was rewarded with this recent promotion. I like my new workplace, my boss and management here in general. It's been a good move for me.

Cons

The business stinks, simple as that. Advertising is down and we are all working hard at doing the best we can in these difficult times. I take things a day and week at a time and hope that the economy will get better and some of that good stuff will help out our company.

Advice to Senior Management

Comminicate with employees, and give us hope! It's tough, really tough, out there right now. I know and believe the company will succeed.

Pros

This is an international company with a wealth of promotional opportunities. The company has operations throughout the United States and the UK, has an excellent reputation on Wall Street, and is one of the new traditional media companies holding its own in a very difficult advertising environment. Management is attempting to weave its way through the muddy waters and economic crisis, and it is a difficult task. But the company has ideas, ideals, and seems to have a plan of attack. It is not a candidate for a bailout, like so many other companies are these days. If it can figure out how to make its advertising model work going forward it will be fine.

Cons

It is a very difficult advertising environment, and with the lowering of business it has been forced to make difficult decisions, including layoffs. That is never a good thing. But the company has a plan, has dealt with adversity before, has a strong management team and has displayed financial acumen to deal with tough times.

Advice to Senior Management

Find a new line of business and shore up the existing business.