Comments on: Outsourcing to become a reality, but in a deal that helps most

By: Kimberly McAllister Sell

Kimberly McAllister Sell — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:29:50 +0000

Get a clue. Yes, the employees do have a say-so in how a business should be run. It’s called collective bargaining, And since you believe so firmly in authoritarian and draconian measures for employees, why don’t you move to a totalitarian country where you belong? These people aren’t whiny cry babies. They’re people who’ve worked hard for a company which is only interested in profits and doesn’t value its employees. Entitlement lifestyle? Do you even read anything? Print journalists make far less than broadcast journalists and less than other professionals with degrees. Most people do it for the love of it. That’s why they stay. So, don’t lecture journalists about hard work. You’re the 5-year-old — because you opened your mouth and began talking about something which you obviously know nothing about.

By: Kimberly McAllister Sell

Kimberly McAllister Sell — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:17:48 +0000

Seriously? You think any print journalists make enough money to live near Carmel? Wow. The only journalists I know of that make enough money to take regular vacations and live near Carmel are broadcast journalists. The only people making money in the newspaper business are the execs.

By: Bobbalouie

Bobbalouie — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:04:24 +0000

All you so-called conscientious Gannett employees need to answer a few questions for Marion County residents:

HOW MANY SMALL, INDEPENDENTLY-OWNED, WEEKLY OR DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN THE INDY METRO AREA HAS YOUR COMPANY KILLED SINCE IT TOOK OVER?

How many of you actually helped destroy these papers?
And you just sat there and cashed your paychecks?
And now you’re whining about it?

You enable Gannett.

By: Indianapolis Newspaper Guild

Indianapolis Newspaper Guild — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:06:56 +0000

Mark,
Thanks for your comment. As a group of 125 journalists and building service workers, we don’t have a few hundred million needed to purchase the company. But we’ve been seeking potential local buyers. A great many of our folks have quit. Those that remain care about the community and the journalism and are trying to bring about positive changes. As for turning down the $37-Million bonus, four of our Guild’s leaders were offered bonuses last week. They turned it down because the vast majority of their coworkers weren’t getting one. It wasn’t $37-million. But in relative terms it would have helped pay a few bills. We’re a hard-working bunch. We don’t want riches. But if you still think the vast majority of Americans can work their way to wealth in the current corporate climate, you haven’t been paying attention. Despite what you’re hearing on talk radio, that happens about as often as you winning the lottery.

By: Mark Webber

Mark Webber — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:30:06 +0000

You’re all a bunch of crybabies. If you want to run a company, then go out and buy your own. Nobody has the right to tell an employer how to run his/her business. If you don’t like the way things are being done or the wages you are earning, you do have the right to leave!! Quit your constant whining and get out of your entitlement lifestyle. It’s a new era boys and girls. I’ll bet if somebody offered you a $30M bonus you wouldn’t turn it down. What a bunch of hypocrites. You’re like a bunch of 5 year olds, you get all bent out of shape becuase somebody else has something you don’t. WORK FOR IT and you will achieve.

By: Bobbalouie

Bobbalouie — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:53:49 +0000

One day? That’s all you’ve got?
Wow. That’s courageous.

By: Indianapolis Newspaper Guild

Indianapolis Newspaper Guild — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:09:13 +0000

Dear Bobbalouie,

I’m not sure what reporters you know. But the two vehicles that belong to this reporter and his wife were built in the last century and each have 180,000 miles, door handles that are broken, windows that don’t work and other signs of their age. Our home is modest and very middle class. Vacations? How does a long weekend with family in Kentucky sound? Lavish, right.

I’m not the exception on any of these fronts.

As for overlooking journalistic affronts, have you been paying attention? That’s a good part of what our little revolt is about. We’ve been battling with the powers that be for ethical standards regarding the influence of advertisers on the news. We’ve been trying to preserve the jobs of the people who investigate and hold accountable the powers that be in this state.

As for growing a pair, more than 100 of our people stood out on a public street Wednesday before God, the world, their employer (whose office windows overlooked the scene and the TV cameras — all to say that they object to what’s happening to their newspaper. If you don’t recognize that as courage, there’s no hope for you.

Bobby King
President, The Indianapolis Newspaper Guild

By: Bobbalouie

Bobbalouie — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:48:36 +0000

Apparently Star employees aren’t sick enough to leave and quit enabling Gannett. A few bailed out shortly after Gannett took over. But, even they continue to simply complain about The Star, taking no real action. I wonder if there will ever come a day when modern journalists tell the corporations … “No more.”

Sadly, I think I know the answer to that question. Of course, there are still some good reporters and editors out there who aren’t on the corporate VIP list. But, so many modern journalists want new cars and expensive homes. They’re willing to overlook major corporate affronts to basic reporting and journalistic integrity, if it means they can vacation in Cancun again this year and live near Carmel.

Get your heads out of affluence, people. Grow a pair and get with the program.

By: michael houchin

michael houchin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:25:59 +0000

I was a employee of the transportation department of the Indianapolis Star, then they sold us to Penske and we did the same job. But like everyone else associated with Gannett, we took pay cuts and concessions. At the end of it all we found a copy of the contract between Gannett and Penske, and we were lied to. The two companies planned to get rid of us all along. It was in the contract that when Penske laid us off for good, The Star would re-imbursde Penske for the severance money that would be paid to us, but Penske refused to pay us anything. We never got to even vote to save our job with ANOTHER pay cut. Penske came to us every year and said if we want to “save our jobs” we need to give up something and we did. Penske was getting more money each year in return from the Star. Then at the end of it all they just booted us out the door. In the worst economic times in the history of the world. Thanks, teamsters 135, thanks Penske, and Thanks indianapolis Star. There is still a pending law suit against them for 6.9 mil from the transportation department, pray for us. That’s how we need to “save” the Star.

By: donnamonday

donnamonday — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:27:37 +0000

Wow! I am discouraged by how negative these replies are. I am concerned about all the people in the city not receiving decent wages and about all the efforts to undermine and destroy unions. Apparently, it is affecting you. My best to all the Star employees and to society in general. May we returnto the realization that people are the greatest asset of any business. Life is short. We need to care for each other in the decades that are ours. Donna Monday