San Jose Mercury News Reviews
Updated Jun 19, 2019
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Found 25 of over 25 reviews
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- Oldest First
- Former Employee, less than 1 year★★★★★
Pros
Super friendly people willing to go out of their way to help you learn
Cons
I heard repeatedly that the paper isn't what it used to be due to cutbacks. But as an intern, still a great experience.
- Former Employee★★★★★
In my early years, people who worked with the San Jose Mercury News were proud to speak out about their employer.
RecommendCEO ApprovalBusiness OutlookPros
The San Jose Mercury News was a well thought of representative of the Silicon Valley community. When you mentioned that you were employed there, people smiled, nodded and said they loved the paper and how much of a help it was to them.
Cons
As with the newspaper industry as a whole, the emergence of the internet meant a decline in paid circulation and readership. People felt sorry for you if you worked there.
Continue reading - Former Employee★★★★★
Potential for advancement but organization so large you sometimes get lost in it and can't make an impact
RecommendCEO ApprovalBusiness OutlookPros
Large company with potential for advancement, fair compensation, good benefits
Cons
Budget cuts due to challenges in the publishing industry and economy overall, change in ownership, short-term thinking to make bottom-line profit without thinking about long-term future
Continue reading - Former Employee★★★★★
Pros
It used to be a paper with ambitions and you could move to other beats. I loved my colleagues, many of whom became really good friends. Now all of my friends have left of course, after so many layoffs.
Cons
I no longer work there but from what I hear, it's a sausage factory. The staff is so thin these days, especially in the business department. Used to be one of the best business reporting around. Reporters who are there still crank out good stuff, but there's lots of cranking it out and feeding teh best.
Continue reading - Former Employee, more than 10 years★★★★★
It was among the top 10 newspapers when I started and ended as one of the worst, horrible management style now.
RecommendCEO ApprovalBusiness OutlookPros
In the 1980s - 1990s, The San Jose Mercury News did a lot of international coverage. The Mercury News was first newspaper to establish a Vietnam Bureau, and first to build a newspaper website.
Cons
Management treated editorial staff poorly. Salaries did not keep up with inflation. The union was powerless, in many instances, to defend their members from accusations of poor performance. If you get a job there get in, get good, and get out.
Continue reading - Former Employee, more than 1 year★★★★★
Pros
I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with the editors in the sports section. Their attention to detail and the time they spent with me was impressively over the top.
Cons
There were no full-time positions available, and I was told there might never be another opening.
Continue reading - Former Employee, more than 10 years★★★★★
Pros
Was there through the 80s (good times) and 90s-00s (less so). Was in Marketing, belonged to Newspaper Guild. Better benefits than most; great coworkers; company you could brag about. Sigh.
Cons
The Merc and the entire industry are no longer what they were, so this is essentially an old guy rant.
- Former Employee, more than 8 years★★★★★
Employee Experience Quality Declined After Company Was Acquired by Media News Group.
RecommendCEO ApprovalBusiness OutlookPros
The Mercury offered the best bonus plan and training during the Knight Ridder ownership. Knight Ridder made the employees feel appreciated and they took pride in their work.
Cons
Media News Group was constantly reducing cost without considering the impact on quality of the product. They eliminated award winning writers and their best advertising people to reduce cost. It was difficult to watch the loss of these key people who had been there for years.
Continue reading - Current Employee, more than 10 years★★★★★
Pros
Lots of room for growth, pretty good management,
Cons
Women paid less than men for same job.
Continue reading - Former Employee, more than 3 years★★★★★
Pros
Made amazing new friends, learned a lot about my writing style and how to improve it
Cons
Commute was hard as a high school student from South Bay to drive all the way to Oakland during rush hour
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