The Tallahassee Democrat “could not get where we needed to go by simply tweaking an outdated operation,” Executive Editor Bob Gabordi writes. “So, we called a timeout and a reset.”
As at the Tennessean and other papers that, like the Democrat, are owned by Gannett, the Democrat will retool its newsroom structure.
Fewer people will work locally on production tasks and more will focus on reporting and creating content. We’ll have more people focused on breaking news and important watchdog and investigative reporting.
Staffers will get a list of new jobs this week, Gabordi writes. “We’ll interview them for the new jobs they want in late September and announce results to them – and you – after that.”
The Tennessean announced its “newsroom of the future” last month. Similar changes were due to roll out at four other Gannett papers. The goal was to get to “self-sufficient reporters producing publication-ready copy,” Tennessean Executive Editor Stefanie Murray told Poynter. (The newsroom of the future has about 15 percent fewer employees, The Nashville Scene reported.)
Gannett’s USA Today laid off about 70 employees earlier this month, saying it was “working to align its staffing levels to meet current market conditions.” Gannett plans to spin off its publishing division next year.
Comments