I know many on this forum have no love for the newspaper industry and frankly, I do not blame you. Because the writing is so biased, I can barely read the product I produce. The last year has been nothing but endless stories about COVID, racism, white supremacy, and telling their own "big lie" about what they call the "big lie": believing the 2020 election was stolen. I tell my wife that if I had an ounce of integrity, I would resign tomorrow and tell the publisher why. But, I've been there twenty-two years and I rationalize my employment by telling myself that as a printing professional, it's my job to produce a good-looking product. My benefits are outstanding and I have great flexibility. Besides - in all honesty, I need the money.
I knew this day was coming years ago: I have been attending school in the pursuit of an accounting degree and I am more than halfway there. Since Alden announced their intent to purchase Tribune, I have heard the whinging and whining from the newsroom and their union representation. These self-important "journalists" believe their "mission" and "craft" is somehow not subject to the law of economics and finance; it's the same song they sang when Sam Zell took over. They forget that advertising revenue has plummeted since 2005, and that revenue was what allowed them their "mission". As far as I am concerned, they can "learn to code."
My future with Tribune is tenuous; however, I cannot and will not worry about it: I will continue to strive to be the best at what I do and leave the rest in God's hands.
WaPo and NYTimes writers are amazingly adept at using weasel words in their articles so they are not sued for libel. They know that when other outlets refer to their article, the other outlets will not be so careful and then a total lie will be believed by most MSM-consuming people. It is very discouraging.
It’s also discouraging that many people think that a newspaper is a source. A person who participated in a conversation, invented something, attended a conference, etc., can be a source but not a newspaper.
“When the sea clashes with the rocks, it is the clams that suffer.”
As a Tribune reader of over sixty years and over twenty years as a subscriber.
Then things started to change, Royko was fired(?) demoted(?) in the late 1990s and I dropped the subscription.
The only Trib employee that caused me any concern at that time was a young delivery girl who once personally handed me the paper in a deep snowstorm.
Part of my job description for many years was to tell people they were being laid off, a most distasteful event.
As soon as I knew, usually weeks ahead I would personally tell them what was coming. Surprises of this nature are disgusting.
To let go of a good employee was not as difficult for me as the marginal employee, The good ones will quickly find another position and usually send a note or call.
One that still bothered me after many years was kind of a legacy to me from a senior director I had known.
The director used this man as a permanent aid and he did it well, he was grossly overweight and perhaps mildly retarded. They were connected from their church and he sheltered him for many years.
One day out of the blue the director’s wife wanted a divorce, he was crushed and took a transfer to NJ.
I kept the big guy on as long as possible.
That was the worst of the worst.
You survived the Zell years and you will also survive this event.
Godspeed on your journey, you will do well.