Globe staffers' letter to the NY Times Co. chairman (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Poynter Online ^ | June 9, 2009 | Jim Romenesko

[abb]

Boston Globe staffers' letter to Arthur Sulzberger Jr.; send on June 9

Dear Mr. Sulzberger,

We have long admired your commitment to producing the world’s best journalism. We know, as a former reporter, that you appreciate the work we do and how we have continued to publish hard-hitting, thoughtful papers throughout these hard times.

Despite all the rhetoric of the last few weeks, we believe you want to do the right thing – that, at bottom, you’re a mensch. We’re all too aware of the awful economic climate and the precipitous challenges to the newspaper industry. Most of us went into this work because of our love for it, not for the money. We never expected high salaries; we just wanted reasonable pay, enough to make ends meet.

We’re writing to you because we’re asking for you to step in and show us what we have admired about you for years – your fair-minded leadership. We’re asking you to call off the lawyers, head off a bitter fight, and come forward with a plan that would attract a bit more support from the Guild.

More than 130 members of the Guild – surely enough to tip the balance in any future vote – have signed a petition, saying we’re ready to take painful cuts and do what it takes to preserve the long-term future of The Boston Globe. Many of us voted against the contract because we saw it as inequitable – that we were being asked to take a steeper cut than management. If you could find a middle ground that would provide more equity – such as making our pay cut equivalent to that of management – I’m sure you’ll find significantly more support.

We believe that you don’t want us to take a 23 percent pay cut. We believe you understand that the consequences of such a drastic cut would be disastrous for many of us who have worked tirelessly for the Globe for years. Not only could many of us lose our homes and our child care, but too much of our top talent might no longer be able to afford to work for a newspaper that they’ve given their hearts and souls to for so long.

Mr. Sulzberger, we’re asking for your leadership. You can make a difference. We desperately need it right now.

We look forward to your response.

All the best,

Concerned Reporters at The Boston Globe

[Tenniel2]

A mensch is a good guy: a stand-up fellow who does the right thing.

Essentially the opposite of a putz, who is, shall we say, anatomical.

[abb]

http://cancelthebee.blogspot.com/

Publisher tells employees at The Herald (Rock Hill) to prepare for unpaid furloughs

[Maine Mariner]

I don’t know. There are excellent bricklayers and auto mechanics who are masters of their crafts. Then there was the tile guy who was complaining about the quality and levelness of the subflooring. My wife complained to the forman. His reply, oh don’t pay any mind to that tile guy, “you should have seen him when he was really drinking.”

[Chode]

[Charlemagne on the Fox]

"We have long admired your commitment to producing the world’s best journalism. We know, as a former reporter, that you appreciate the work we do and how we have continued to publish hard-hitting, thoughtful papers throughout these hard times." It's hysterical to see such poor sentence construction from "the world's best" journalists. In the second sentence above the clause "as a former reporter" should follow the words "that you", rather than precede them.

[Interesting Times]

"We have long admired your commitment to producing the world’s best journalism. We know, as a former reporter, that you appreciate the work we do and how we have continued to publish hard-hitting, thoughtful papers throughout these hard times." It's hysterical to see such poor sentence construction from "the world's best" journalists. In the second sentence above the clause "as a former reporter" should follow the words "that you", rather than precede them.

Good catch.

Then again, maybe it's a Freudian slip. Perhaps the writer is starting to understand that he/her/it is now a "former reporter."

[wintertime]

We know, as a former reporter, that you appreciate the work we do and how we have continued to publish hard-hitting, thoughtful papers throughout these hard times.

Shouldn't that read:

We know that you, as a former reporter, appreciate...

or

We know, as former reporters, that you....

[okie01]

Journalists just don’t produce a unique product anymore. Finding someone that can write stories about local events just isn’t that difficult. Journalism is no long a profession in the same league as a doctor or lawyer. It is now more like a trade like auto mechanic or bricklayer.

Journalists are expensive. Propagandists are a dime a dozen.

[okie01]

Mr. Sulzberger, we’re asking for your leadership. You can make a difference. We desperately need it right now.

Propagandists by day. Ass kissers by night.

[SkyPilot]

We have long admired your commitment to producing the world’s best journalism. We know, as a former reporter, that you appreciate the work we do and how we have continued to publish hard-hitting, thoughtful papers throughout these hard times. Despite all the rhetoric of the last few weeks, we believe you want to do the right thing – that, at bottom, you’re a mensch.

Somebody open a window.

This is full of a$$ kissing and blatant flattery.

What a joke!

These people think they are terrific writers?!

[SnuffaBolshevik]

It is now more like a trade like auto mechanic or bricklayer.

They're not even equal to the trades you mentioned.

If your mechanic screws up your tie rods, your car could swerve into oncoming traffic, killing you and your family.

If the "journalist" screws up, the reader cancels his subscription and lines his bird cage with something else. They are dead men walking.

[Tribune7]

Dear Mr. Sulzberger, We have long admired your commitment to producing the world’s best journalism.

Now, that's some serious and well-done bow-tie bumkissing but it's not going to cover the looming $85 million loss.