Sun-Sentinel Employee Soap Opera Played Out in Public

NewsBusters ^ | March 22, 2009 | P.J. Gladnick

[PJ-Comix]

This is a soap opera that is currently being played out in similar form at many newspapers around the country as they face imminent collapse. In this case, the melodrama is being played out at the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel but it could be happening at any of a number of newspapers. The departure of an employee, in this case one Pat Thompson who was the Deputy Managing Editor, along with a reshuffling of the personnel. This announcement, which was published in Bob Norman's The Pulp of the Broward-Palm Beach New Times, was described by him as "a heavily bureaucratic reshuffling of the deck chairs." What is really fascinating about this blog post is the comments section in which many of the current and former Sun-Sentinel employees voice their frustrations, anger, accusations, and defensiveness. The curtains of the Sun-Sentinel Soap Opera Theater now opens with this comment by "journalista":

I love it when "upper management" shakes up a newsroom or office by moving around people and then totally changing the titles to really goofy words they think sound "modern" or are filled with "changeability." Let me guess, I'd say that it took a handful of SS geniuses maybe two weeks to agree on these titles. No wonder the newspaper business model is crumbling before our very eyes.

[PJ-Comix]

As the Titanic sinks, the passengers bicker.

[PJ-Comix]

PING!

[hsalaw]

moving around people and then totally changing the titles to really goofy words they think sound "modern" or are filled with "changeability."

Enter Mr. HopeyChangey. This is how he won the election: not because he's any good, but because the words "hope" and "change" just sounded so darn "modern."

[Ed Condon]

As I read the article, I saw the word “journalist” many times.

I don’t think I saw the word “reporter” once.

If newspapers had more reporters, and less journalists, they might be able to market a desirable product.

[VeniVidiVici]

Typical. The “journalists” blame everyone but themselves.

One even blamed Sam Zell! Zell who will go down in history as the “Wrongway Feldman” of the newspaper world. The one person who probably prolonged their sorry-assed jobs for as long as possible is the one they are blaming for their demise.

[Ev Reeman]

As liberal rags continue to die across the country former employees and editors will begin the inevitable finger pointing but whom should they really blame. Id tell em to go look in the mirror.