Lee Enterprises Reviews

Pros

The company is full of people who really seem to care about their work - professional journalists. They are dedicated to the idea of spreading news for the good of the community knowledge. Most people truly seem to work hard every day.

Cons

The company doesn't (or can't) offer competitive salary to keep the high talent people they need to turn things around.

Pros

- benefits are pretty good even for part time workers
- will compensate you accordingly depending on your skill-set
- employees friendly

Cons

- Little to no promotional opportunities, bonuses are pretty much non-existent (I've worked here a year with none)
- Very budget oriented (like any company) but it's felt on a daily basis and seems to effect every employee
- This largely depends on where you work, but in some areas where the newspapers (Lee owns) are more remote, it seems that Lee relies on "Good 'ole boys" as publishers who understand little about the digital world or how to make it work in a print industry
- Seems to be a disconnect between market and newspaper itself, much of community is dissatisfied (from what I have gathered), but newspaper I work for does not do anything to receive feedback to improve it's performance, they care more about advertising dollars than user experience, when it's UE that drives $$$

Advice to Senior Management

Encourage individual newspapers to seek feedback from the communities in which they serve to create a better user experience. Sometimes asking the tough questions will make the company better as a whole.

Pros

Thankfully, my supervisor was awesome. The newsroom leaders were supportive, competent and they genuinely seemed to care about you, which is probably rare. Good camaraderie on staff.

Cons

Due to constant layoffs, the work load continued to grow; you wondered when the breaking point would come or when a big mistake would be made. Worked there 5 1/2 years, didn't get a raise over the final 4 years. With all the layoffs, you were just lucky to have a job. Lots of younger/inexperienced people in the newsroom. That was because they couldn't attract top talent with their pay scale.

Advice to Senior Management

At some point you have to figure whether you serve the readers or the shareholders. Seems like the readers get the shaft most of the time.

Pros

Lee is a large company with media products in many parts of the country. There are opportunities to move to other cities and maintain your work for Lee.

Cons

The news industry as a whole is notorius for low pay. Lee is on the low end of even the news industry.

Advice to Senior Management

Start offering competitive salaries and you will begin acquiring more talented people.

Pros

My particular branch of Lee gives its employees flexibility to take time off. The work is fun.

Cons

The pay is poor and only getting worse. The company hasn't given raises in four years. Whenever somebody leaves he or she is not replaced. Employees are asked to do more for less money. I wouldn't advise anybody to work for Lee.

Pros

Great for an entry level sales person, or someone working in a non sales position. With over 20 years experience, I felt like I was being sent back to sales kindergarten.

Cons

Low team moral caused by too much stress and demoralizing treatment. The pressure level and compensation do not equal out. Low commission percentages, and minimal motivation.

Advice to Senior Management

Trust in the fact that you have hired professionals to do a job. If you feel the need to micro manage your team - you have the wrong team. True incentives, with professional compensation will lead to greater results.

Pros

With outside sales, you get lots of freedom. Developing ad campaigns can be fun, if the client is easy to work with. Most of all GAINING SALES EXPERIENCE is the the best part about this job. This a great place develop sales skills and get a few years experience under your belt. This is definitely just a stepping stone kind of job, I think there are difficult times ahead for newspapers and I wouldn't want to be a sales rep for the next 5 or 10 years.

Cons

There are many incompetent managers in Lee. However, the paper I worked for replaced the management with a very good staff. Although they try, they still do not embrace technology to the extent they should. Obviously, the industry is in a major transitional phase to online, so there is no guarantee how long you might have a job. At times, the sales goals are unrealistic.

Advice to Senior Management

embrace technology and the transition to online news

Pros

Very good benefits package with vision, dental and full medical. Locations throughout the US in 14 different states

Cons

Very long hours, pay does not come close the level of time invested every day for the job, was expected to be on call 24 hours a day, including days off. They even called me when I was on vacation and over 2000 miles away to attempt to resolve an issue that could have been resolved by another manager in the same department that was supposed to be filling in.

Advice to Senior Management

Consider your managers needs for personal time, you expect them to be there ahead of the carriers and to work well after the dead line has passed. A 14 hour day 7 days a week needs a better monetary compensation. Better training for managers that are taking over a district including spending a few days shadowing the manager that is leaving to know more about the district (circulation count, how many open routes, layout of the terriritory, etc. )

Pros

Overall, flexibility on coverage is valued. However, political views of senior editors sometime dictate editing of stories.

Cons

Men seem to be valued more than women.

Advice to Senior Management

Need competitive salaries otherwise, newspaper becomes a "stepping stone" along career path- which devalues news offered. Once a reporter masters beat and is delivering in depth, watchdog reports, they move on. It's fluff for sure until new reporter finds their feet.

Pros

Interesting work with lots of potential. fair benefit package,

Cons

Indecisive and inconsistent management, high employee turnover, poor employee morale and management just doesn't seem to care, lack of team spirit, less than comparable market wages, good old boy attitude with lack of respect for female employees, harrassment of employees, unhealthy physical work environment, publisher lacks management skills.

Advice to Senior Management

Start listening to employee comments, be open to change, offer market wages, provide a favorable work environment which would provide more productivity by employees who work for the Newspaper in Iowa owned by Lee Enterprises.