What's next?

June 22, 2011 By Fred Clark 141 Comments

“Giving the customer the absolute finest automobile that General Motors could possibly produce has proven to be the correct approach to the automobile business because this finance-generated effort to skimp and see how much cost can we strip out before people actually protest, I think is something that’s taught in the business schools and it has been extremely damaging to American business — and it doesn’t have to be that way.” — Bob Lutz, former vice chairman of GM

What Lutz describes there as this “effort to skimp and see how much cost can we strip out before people actually protest” used to be the business model of my employer, the nation’s largest newspaper chain.

The past-tense there is for two reasons. First, because this is no longer really the chain’s business model. They’re no longer skimping and stripping out to see how much quality can be reduced “before people actually protest.” Now they’re pretty much just stripping out costs to see how much profit can be drained from the husks of their regional papers before they walk away.

And the other reason for the past-tense is that, as of yesterday, I am no longer an employee of the nation’s largest newspaper chain.

Gannett lays off 700 newspaper division employees

Gannett layoffs are a leading indicator of a permanently shrinking newspaper business

Gannett’s Multimillionaires Regret to Inform 700 Workers of Their Layoffs

Still processing all the scary uncertainty, hope for something better, daunting financial arithmetic, disappointment, relief, hope and fear, fear and hope, etc.

On the positive side, this will mean more time for blogging.

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  • Anonymous

    Yes it is horrible, and I’m so sorry, for you and your wife who gets kicked in the head just for being a bystander. Actually it gets better once the deed is done, but that’s cold comfort for now.

    In a reasonable world it’s unimaginable that someone with your journalistic talent could remain out of work for a week. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a sane reasonable world.

  • Caravelle

    On the positive side, this will mean more time for blogging.

    Which is all that matters ! Yay !

    (okay Georgia-from-the-other-thread, I do deserve eternal punishment…)

    I’m really sorry to hear that, and I hope things work out. I wish you all the luck possible.

  • Anonymous

    Ai, Fred. I’m sorry to hear that, and best wishes to you and your family. Also second/fifth/nthing the Would Buy Your Book (or subscribe to your newsletter, or anything that may be in that direction). Also, the is there anything we can do? questions. And the prayers.

  • http://profiles.google.com/scyllacat Priscilla Parkman

    Oh, Fred.  I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the situation.  As a former newspaper writer, I cannot think that the age of dead-tree publication is on anything but its last legs, at least for periodicals.  I guess that means, if you continue as a news writer, that you’ll have to throw your hat into the mishmash of Internet publications.  If so, I would be much enlightened to hear of your endeavors.  

    I’m sure you have a myriad of well-meaning suggestions by now, so I will leave it at that, along with, of course, my continued hopes, prayers, and good wishes.

  • http://profiles.google.com/scyllacat Priscilla Parkman

    Oh, yes, they farking do; they’ve just decided they don’t NEED it.  Content is free now, haven’t you heard?  Quality is useless to them.  Sorry, I guess I’LL be the bitter one.

  • http://profiles.google.com/scyllacat Priscilla Parkman

    I know there was one on the old site.  Perhaps Patheos isn’t into that.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ouri-Maler/1017109188 Ouri Maler

    I also tried to look for the Paypal button on the old site, but no luck…

  • Cat

    Fred, I’m so sorry. 

    But about the book thing: it’s not just that I’d buy what you write; when I was looking at the LB books as postcolonial literature for a grad course in 2007, your work filled a scholarly niche, and to my knowledge, is still the only thing that does so.  There are fourteen and a half zillion books out there about Left Behind, its readers, the history of prophecy in America, et cetera, et cetera, and every one of them starts out with a variation on “Well, we all know that these books are terrible, but let’s talk about…”  You actually articulate WHY.  And then you link the faults in the books with particular features of American evangelical subcultures.  Nobody else does that.  I couldn’t have done my work without yours.

    If academia is a place where you’d be comfortable–and if the resources are available, from whatever it is in the American system that makes resources available–you could probably get a dissertation out of this, which is a few years of security, albeit relatively impoverished security.  But mostly the book would help.  It’d help you, of course, but it’d also help the people who study this stuff.

  • Anonymous

    Sharing other people’s hopes that you are surrounded by people who are giving you the support and encouragement you need, and hoping that you will allow them the grace of giving to you what you would undoubtedly provide for them.

    You’ve given so many people, so much, over the years. You’re an absolutely fantastic writer (maybe you should try to land a book deal?) and while this may be a bad chapter, I’m going to hope that things get better for you over the next page.

    Good luck and best wishes.

  • http://www.facebook.com/imathers Ian Mathers

    Awful to hear this, Fred. Hope something better comes your way, and soon.

  • http://mmycomments.blogspot.com/ mmy

    Coincidentally, I was fired on the same day that you were laid off, Fred. Solidarity, brother worker! “Arise, ye starvelings from your slumbers…”

    Sympathies Andrew.

    Seems like this is a tough time for Slacktivites.

  • http://lightupmy.wordpress.com Jessica

    My sympathies, Fred.  I…. well, shit.  I don’t know what else to say. 

  • Anonymous

    Good grief!  Fred, I’m so sorry.  You and your family have my hopes for… for some sort of good to come your way and deliver you from unemployment. :(

  • http://dzikaroza.blogspot.com/ Rugosa

    Fred -  Please know how valuable your voice is to the blogosphere, whatever happens in your work life.  I hope you find a new paying gig soon. 

  • http://dzikaroza.blogspot.com/ Rugosa

    Fred -  Please know how valuable your voice is to the blogosphere, whatever happens in your work life.  I hope you find a new paying gig soon. 

  • Spjung

    Oh man. I’m sorry your bosses’ greed cost you and your co-workers.

  • http://twitter.com/shaenongarrity Shaenon K. Garrity

    Good luck, Fred.  My heart is with you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Patrick-McGraw/100001988854074 Patrick McGraw

    My thoughts and hopes are with you and your family, Fred. And I’m yet another person who will buy anything you may decide to write.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sue-White/1605859612 Sue White

    Argh!  Worst time ever for being laid off.  I had it happen to me a couple of times way back when.  I know you’ll find something soon.

  • Jim

    Fred, I’m so sorry to hear this news. I have been in your shoes, and I know what you are going through. I was just told that my position with America’s Largest Bookseller has been eliminated. I can stay with the company, but at a reduced pay rate for doing pretty much the same work I have been doing. I do love this new world we are in. Anyhow, hang in there, brother.

  • Brad

    I’ve been struggling with unemployment myself for five years now… It’s not fun. But I feel positive someone with your talent and drive will find a place for himself. Good luck!

  • Alex

    Been reading for five years now and this is my second comment.

    Sorry to hear that, Fred.

  • Anonymous

    Fred, I too am very sorry to hear of this. I myself was laid off last month after a twenty-year career when “a major pharmaceutical company” underwent yet another round of reoganization. 

    I have no new advice to add to what’s been given above.  I would just stress that there’s going to be a turbulent emotional journey ahead, and to go easy on yourself while you’re on it.  I’m not through mine yet (I still can’t think of what happened without getting angry and panicky), but I’m beginning to see the light ahead, and I hope you get to that point sooner rather than later.

    A supportive spouse is a blessing in times like this, but we have found our tempers running high with each other lately.

    And check into whatever social services your state offers.  Our state knew this was coming (it was a big layoff) and had already arranged group meetings and seminars and handouts with information on services offered (including unemployment insurance).  Just knowing how I can get my children on state medical insurance for low income kids has eased my mind a lot.

    Have there been other layoffs at your comapny?  There have been many over the last several years at mine, and the “diaspora” has been a wonderful, supportive network, because they’ve been through it all before.

    Best of luck to you.

  • Jason

    Oh no Fred,  I’m so sorry to hear that.   Sympathies.   I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers

  • Jason

    Oh no Fred,  I’m so sorry to hear that.   Sympathies.   I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers

  • Lila

    Fred, best wishes that a new door opens very soon. I add my n+1 to the chorus of “I’d buy a book by you”. If you set up a tip jar, I’d be happy to contribute in return for the many, many posts of yours that I’ve enjoyed up to now.

  • http://agirlcalledraven.blogspot.com sarah

    Yikes. Adding my voice to those expressing sympathy.

  • Froborr

    My condolences, Fred, and I share in the hopes that you quickly find something new and better.

  • Froborr

    My condolences, Fred, and I share in the hopes that you quickly find something new and better.

  • Julezyme

    Fred, I’m so sorry. Best wishes to you and your people in this tough time.

    I won’t say the glibness about mysterious ways. But maybe what you have built here will take you to the next step?

  • Sean K

    When I read about the latest rounds of newspaper layoffs, I had a sinking feeling you were going to be one of them this time, Fred. I’m very sad to stop by and discover that this is indeed true. I hope you find something soon.

    Have you considered writing or compiling some sort of book? I would buy it.

  • Vze35xda

    Just been over a year since I was where you are now.  It’s scary and pretty lonely.  What helped me was to start a project then devote about an hour a day to that.  It’s really important because a lot of what you will do now is wait for other people to call and you need something to take your mind off that.  (A book of your blog posts would be GREAT!!!).  Good luck and don’t get discouraged.

  • Fermion

    De-lurking momentarily: I am terribly sorry to hear this.

    Also, if you wrote a book, I’d buy it. If capital’s an issue (and when isn’t it?) you could always make it a Kickstarter project.

  • ChristianPinko

    So sorry to hear this, Fred.  God bless you and the Slacktivixen.

  • Anonymous

    Oh, Fred, I am so, so sorry.  I lost my job 10 months ago, and although I’ve had several interviews I’ve received no offers.  If not for my spouse getting a job at the very last second, we would likely be moving back in with my parents in Alabama.  I hope that you, with your amazing talent, will be able to get another job more easily than I have.  Nthing support for a book, if that is something you are considering.  I would definitely buy it.  My thoughts are with you.

  • http://guy-who-reads.blogspot.com/ Mike Timonin

    If a shitty newspaper chain lays off enough good workers, can those workers get together and form a decent newspaper chain? Or at least a decent newspaper? I mean, 700 workers – there has to be some gold in there. And Gannet has been firing people for years. You all know what doesn’t work; perhaps this is an opportunity to show people what does work.

    I dunno. It’s been a long time since I was significantly unemployed. Another option, perhaps, is to join the ranks of the underemployed – see if there’s a journalism program at your local community college and work as an adjunct. The hours are shitty, but at least the pay sucks.

  • Anonymous

    Crapity.

    You would make a great tech writer. You would also write a great book — have, in fact, if not necessarily in the standard format. You probably didn’t need anyone to tell you this, much less the several score to whom I now add my voice (or pixels, as the case may be). If Patheos won’t let you publish a L.B. book, maybe a modern-day Father Brown…

  • chris the cynic

    It has been done, somewhere in the vicinity of New Mexico I think is where the example I heard about happened, but it requires having the capital to either buy or start a newspaper.  I don’t think Fred has that.

    -

    The example I heard of was someone laid off from a major paper found out that their hometown paper was up for sale, somehow cobbled together the funds to buy their hometown paper, and was successful.

  • http://guy-who-reads.blogspot.com/ Mike Timonin

    Yeah, small independent newspapers have existed in the past, but a donor of fairy godmother proportions helps a lot. Witness PM, the news magazine where Izzy Stone worked for a good portion of his career. It was advertising free (and thus fully independent), but only stayed in business due to regular infusions of cash from a rich benefactor. C’est la vie, I suppose.

  • http://profiles.google.com/erdehoff Elizabeth DeHoff

    I’m so sorry, Fred. For what it’s worth, now you have time to write columns for the New York Times op-ed page.

  • Nev

    Oh Fred, I’m so sorry. Best of luck to you and your family.

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