Advance Publications ending job pledge

Sometimes, I hate being right, Last night and early this morning, I noticed the searches for Advance Publications and jobs pledge were way up plus, the traffic from cities where Newhouse newspapers originate was up ... way up. So this Editor & Publisher article on Advance ending job pledge not surprising.

I think Advance signaled its intentions long ago when higher ups clarified the pledge was for full-time staff only. When The Flint Journal bought a bunch of weekly newspapers, employees learned the pledge was for those working for the daily only. Of course, that daily only guarantee was one of the drawbacks of the three Michigan newspapers - Flint Journal, Bay City Times and Saginaw News - publishing three times a week starting June 1.

The pledge never guaranteed you kept your job. I'm looking for the link* to an article about newsroom employees in New Jersey booted to the mailroom. I remember hearing the Flint publisher telling some employees we could be pushing brooms, not punching keyboards, if enough employees did not accept company buyouts. I remember the new post carved out for me.

But, then I stopped believing in the corporate gods when I met the man who learned he was replaced when he walked into his empty office at a major car company - 1978. That belief was reinforced when I saw the in writing, "guaranteed lifetime medical benefits" no matter what erased for my stepdad with a company ownership change in name only. The bosses, paychecks, rules and more stayed the same for employees as the expensive incentives for early retirees were wiped out. That was 1987. Too many tales like that, aren't there.

The real job pledge is the one you make to yourself - keep learning, keep growing and keep saving.

(*It's a link to a blog post, the original story seems to have "left" the Internet.)

New jobs: Building on skills, interests leads to non-media jobs

A newspaper designer who started her own firm and a former business editor who became a financial planner are two of the latest career changers featured in Joe Grimm's ongoing Monday series.

When Tiffany Hurt's post as a designer at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was eliminated she became creative director at a her own graphic design business, Immanuel Designs, LLC. Learn how networking helped her make the transition and benefit from some of her hints.

David McPherson started planning his new business before leaving the Providence Journal. McPherson shares what he wishes he had done differently and why he left.

Joe Grimm, who left the Detroit Free Press a year ago, talked about his experiences post buyout in an online chat with Poynter last week. You can still read what was said online. (He ended his career at the press with an ice cream party. The last year has included teaching at Michigan State University, spending five weeks with high school students, delivering speeches - including one to copy editors, hosting many chats and Twittering and Twittering and blogging and blogging and answering questions as a recruiter.

Want to keep reading about people who moved out of media jobs into new ones? I looked at the growng number of people looking at the growing number leaving, or read Beyond the Buyout, Beyond the Byline or pick up a few ideas on surviving in Buyout journalists, remember this or Journalists not the first to start over or Talent will outlast jobs or careers.

Solveris: Was Condé Nast's Decision To Stop Paying For Newspapers Smart?

Solveris: Was Condé Nast's Decision To Stop Paying For Newspapers Smart?

News choice: Some like it hot, some like it cold, I want it all

So many choices for news these days.

This comic was shared with me awhile back and I tried to read the artist's name to track the original. No luck.

It's the same frustration I face when I read an Associated Press story and try to determine where the story originated. If possible, I'd like to link to the original source.

I try to remember to leave comments, including "likes" on the original source of blog posts but that gets harder and harder as I expand my river of influencers. There are my friends who publish notes and posts on Facebook. Others share via Google Reader or FriendFeed.

My latest frustrations are with two Michgian online news sources. One offers only partial posts in its feed, a move I'm sure it hopes drives me to its site to view ads Unfortunately, what I get rarely is attractive enough to entice. To its credit, though, the short post in its feed includes an author. The other news source leaves off the author. Plus, I can't figure out the reasoning behind why some posts are the whole thing and some are not. Perhaps it is time to stop the feeds.

Journalists band together to offer services

If imitation is flattering, then the California photojournalists behind the ProPhotography Network are flying high with with the launch of The Journalism Shop.

The former Los Angeles Times employees, including former Detroit News reporter Scott Martelle (September 1986 – July 1995,) will match your needs with their skills:

• If you're looking for someone to report and write a traditional piece of journalism, check out the "Reporting" page.
• Veteran writers interested in tackling non-journalism projects, including public relations, ghost-writing and corporate (for-profit and nonprofit) reports, can be found on the "PR/Marketing" page.
• Experienced page designers, copy editors and line editors are on the "Design/Editing" page.
• Skilled project managers can be found on the "Projects" page.
• Experienced librarians and researchers can be found at the "Research" page.

And, of course, if what you want isn't listed just send an email and someone will match you up.

Martelle, who took a lead role in developing the web site with Brett Levy, blogs about it in "A new web venture for a bunch of us laid-off journos."

It's an idea others - including alumni of the Hartford Courant - have considered.

(By the way, Levy writes DadTalk when he's not doing a "new web venture" or keeping WriteThru together. WriteThu is Levy's attempt to help launch the new renaissance of journalism. The first mission is "offer affordable, if not free, educational webinars on how to use all these new-fangled publishing tools." He even defines success:

"... those who go out there and create a weblog or create a hyper local news site. After all, any journalist can launch a blog or website in just an hour at no or little cost with ZERO technical abilities."

Son follows father into top role at Advance's business journals

Whitney Shaw has been named president and chief executive of American City Business Journals, according to S. I. Newhouse Jr., chairman of ACBJ parent company Advance Publications

Shaw, son of late CEO Ray Shaw, has been tapped to lead the 40-newspaper chain. Formerly the company’s senior vice president and president of its sports publishing division, Shaw moves into the job two weeks after his father died at age 75 from complications following a wasp sting.

Shaw's brother added executive vice president to his title, while remaining the chief financial officer.

Additionally, American City’s sports publications include Sporting News, NASCAR Scene, Sports Business Journal and Inside Lacrosse. It also publishes Hemmings Motor News.

The full press release is on portfolio.com, which the American Business Journals took over this spring.

Blogging nightmares come from missing dreams, words

The responsibilities of blogging overwhelm me at times. So does this ongoing struggle of how to define yourself to others.

Honestly, I thought I had found - and republished - all the missing posts dropped in an early-morning mishap. Honestly, I thought my husband was teasing when he said the blog was all messed up today.

And health wise, I was sure I was up to a session of batch-cooking until the stove heat delivered an ultimatum of "rest NOW." That rest order let me catch up on some reading, including G.D. Gearino's post on interviewing the interviewer. This paragraph stops me:

"When Donald asked what, exactly, my title was, I declared that “blogger” didn’t have have sufficient dignity and that instead I preferred “creator of online literature.” "

Even though he explains the answer was a wiseguy's reply, I think it reveals an uncomfortableness some struggle to shake when they move away from a media-company paycheck.

Dream Bigger blog blinder

Gearino, who I first met when he was just Dan Gearino, not G.D., and came to report for my former employer, is paying the bills with a Stephenville Dreams blog, also called Dream Bigger Blog. As I wrote in In search of dreams: Company paying for blogging, I struggled with who signed Gearino's new paycheck. But this question:

"Is the artist's integrity compromised by accepting that commission?"

helped me realize it was my traditional journalism background that led to my uneasiness. Still, when I read where he's living - right there in the 111-year-old home that is serving as its headquarters for the "Sleep Better, Dream Bigger" initiative, surrounded by the "innovative sleep products" - the uneasiness comes back. What erases the feeling is reading Gearino's blogging.

Today's rest-reading time also alerted me to Jim Romensko's noting a Fast Company post: Ex-N&O columnist's blog walks the line between journalism and marketing.

Chuck Salter writes about Gearino's latest venture in From a Texas Small Town and a Bedding Company, the Future of Journalism, Marketing, or Both.

Salter notes that the rapid layoffs of journalists is leading to new models and writes:

"Maybe there's a role for corporate-sponsored journalism and a way to do it without turning writers into NASCAR drivers or shills -- starting with the corporate sponsor keeping a safe distance from the journalism. Of course, if it doesn't help sell more bedding, dream on."

In the Fast Company post, Salters says that the project reminds Gearino of " the Federal Writer Project, when the government paid thousands of writers, including the likes of John Cheever, Saul Bellow and Studs Terkel to capture everyday life during the Depression."

Is Dream blog an answer?

This excerpt of a comment, by Mouli Cohen, reminds us that:

"Many of the stories from Stephenville Dreams are the same kinds of long form reporting that everyone fears will be lost with the demise of traditional media.I suppose one's feelings on this are a matter of whether you want to save traditional media outlets or traditional journalists. Keep the storytellers."

Cohen expands on his comments in Reporting plus marketing equals one future of journalism, asking

"Needless to say, it will be interesting to see if this project is merely a flash in the pan or something that will inspire an industry wide trend in the way our stories are reported."

Gearino is indeed a storyteller and, as he reminded me, storytellers still get bills.

More about Gearino's dream job

Gearino's new blog also is examined in a Future of Journalism post, "Journalist in bed with corporate sponsor." Its ending is worth your visit. So is Gearino's "regular blog" once he returns to writing that.

Gary Scott brings on lots of questions on Gearino's job in "Strange bedfellows"

An official press release - Texas Town Overcome by Sleep - is out Aug. 3. Or read about the venture through Furniture Today or even
Sweet dreams and high hopes, which was published July 31 in the Stephenville Empire-Tribune

Oh, by the way San Antonio may try to recruit Gearino next-- or at least the bigger dreams campaign.

Here, then gone, back again

This whirl of references to Gearino's blog today helped me discover some lost postings including my original take on Gearino's new job. I believe I've restored the lost posts with the original publication dates, but if I'm wrong let me know.

Final Sun Newspapers out in Ohio; staff down to 34

Advance Publications will cut staff to 34 and eliminate 11 of 22 weekly Sun Newspapers in northern Ohio as a previously announced consolidation .that includes shifting some work to its Cleveland Plain Dealer continues.

The last edition of 11 newspapers in the weekly chain appeared on newsstands for the last time July 30. Ideastream, facing its own layoffs, reported readers in Euclid, Bedford, Maple Heights/Garfield, Twinsburg, and Nordonia Heights will no longer get any Sun newspaper.

NewsNet5 reported the remaining newspapers will expand their coverage boundaries to include the other six communities losing their newspapers.

The Cleveland Scene reported "Sun CEO Keith Mathis filed paperwork with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services projecting the elimination of 115 jobs, including 30 reporters, 26 sales reps, three photographers, and dozens of support staff and skill positions."

The Cleveland Plain Dealer will take over accounting, payroll and retail duties and deliver Sun papers to homes, the Scene reported.

Online, the newspapers published a few farewells, including:

• Euclid Sun Journal had front seat to Euclid history

• I enjoyed my time covering Euclid sports
  

• Linda G. Kramer, editor of the News Sun, Sun Star, Brunswick Sun and Medina Sun, wrote: Saying goodbye is also a good time to say hello

"Journalism has come a long way since I first picked up a reporter's notebook. I was the first woman editor of an Air Force newspaper. Right now, I'm looking at a newsroom where the executive editor is a woman, three women are line editors, my assistant editor is a woman and every reporter on my staff, except for the sports writer, is a woman."

She was one of 11 editors; the reorganization calls for four editors and four assistant editors, according to the Cleveland Scene.

• The Reward was worth the risk for Jarrod Zickefoose, who is moving to a new assignment and ends seven years of column writing that began reluctantly.

• Mary Jane Skala says Thanks for 20 years of memories. She'll continue writing a column, but first "I'm going to throw my sleeping bag in my car and head West. As I gaze at the stars and raft a river or two, I'll reflect on 20 years of editing these papers, a job I've loved. "

• Remarkable Ronda (Armstrong) tells us in This chapter is ending, but another beginning. that she will "move forward with the mission of my organization, the Morning Glory Literary Society -- taking the transformational power of writing into prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, drug treatment centers -- any and everywhere people are suffering in order to help them find peace, healing and balance."

The first ever front page of Garfield-Maple Heights Sun is published.

Sun Newspapers will publish under 11 mastheads when the reorganization plan is complete, according to a post on cleveland.com

The Cleveland Scene also reported that enough employees accepted a severance package so no layoffs were necessary.

You can learn more in a post I wrote: Inside Out (mcwflint): 'Nifty content' not enough so Advance Publications closing weekly newspapers in Ohio

Fascination with journalists, jobs leads to suggested reading

Stroll over to Free From Editors if you want to read about the newspaper days when

"... you would get drunk and screw up and get fired, but it wasn't a big deal because you would go to another newspaper."

Jim of L-Town starts with a tale from his dad about reporter John Clark and gangster Mickey Cohen in "a story from the "Front Page" " and embellishes with some findings from a Google search.

If you want to know more about journalists of today, Charles Apple continues his tradition of wishing folks in the field a happy birthday with biography posts.

Or perhaps you're more interested in a job in journalism. Jim of L-Town had a request for journalism job resources on a day when emailing, not commenting or posting, was in the realm of my possibility. I sent him my hot list - hey, a girl can dream - and Jim pulled them together in a post.

Tonight, I sent him a link to another - Scooping the News, which also posts five newspaper jobs a week.

Speaking of scoops, make sure you know where you are online before you interview for a job. It's an uncomfortable feeling when a prospective employer is the first to tell you about your 3,000 posts on a Staten Island web site

Finding advice on surviving the layoff

Doom and gloom at Conde Nast properties drew in some advice to those who might get laid off.

Or read about the SARA model in a post which also describes how poorly one laid-off employee handled the news.

The model, by the way is:

"Surprise, Anger, Rejection before finally Accepting the bad news."

Once you get to the last step, head over to another post where there's more advice for those laid off and those staying.. Among those quoted is tech journalist Robert Scoble, who reminds those of us without jobs that:

"Getting a job is now your profession."

Consultant: A next generation in Ann Arbor

Project consultant Jeff Jarvis posts about the possibilities of annarbor.com

Commenters weigh in, asking might if this be an Advance plan and complaining of a wasted opportunity with this launch.

Ouch! That was one mean set of words

Who says you need sticks or stones to hurt?

"So you're the one who took Frank's place" draws the ire of a new reporter at a Michigan newspaper.

"How are you liking your retirement? still hurts Hal Tarleton nine months after a layoff that followed 29 years of employment at the same newspaper.

A simple "So you’re the new Frank” would work better for Holly Setter, now working at the Ionia Sentinel-Standard, not "So you're the one who took Frank's place."'

"Perhaps I’m being touchy, but that seems to imply that he left it unwillingly, that I was cheaper labor that the paper hired to cut costs. Which isn’t remotely true — Frank opted to leave for a number of reasons (so I’ve been told, from Frank himself among others) but in large part because he wanted to explore another career and life in Texas."

Holly, who got the job one day before graduation, is one of two full-time reporters at the daily. She did not steal the job.

Time to move on

Frank Konkel says he started at the small daily in the Gatehouse Media Group in September 2007, but knew it was time to leave in May 2009. His original plan was to use the job as a stepping stone and then move on to for a better wage. He had expected to stay longer.

"I was initially grateful for the opportunity, even if I was making less than $10/hour."

He left determined to figure out if he wanted to continue a career in journalism in another location or pursue other interests, including fitness training, government work and freelance writing. Nothing's settled yet and the 2006 Michigan State University graduate is still in Michigan.

"I do miss the people and relationships I made along the way. Those things are, in my opinion, the best aspects of being a journalist."

Told to move on

Hal Tarleton also found much to like about journalism, did he not retire and he's back in the crowded job market - just not in journalism. these days. He wrote:

"My wife brought me back to reality: It's bad enough that I have to start over; it would be even worse if both of us had to start over."

He wrote back in March that the odds of finding something are poor. and not much has changed.

He is getting tired of community members thinking he had something to do with his former newspaper's new look and news emphasis.

"Everyone I've talked to has expressed disgust or exasperation with the redesign. And, unfortunately, I still run into people who think I'm still working there. For them, let me make it clear: I had nothing to do with it!"

The Erstwhile Editor recognizes that perhaps some do so because the announcement of his leaving was " one sentence at the end of a long and rambling "editor's note" without a headline or any real point."

"I have repeatedly had to tell people that, no, I have not retired; I did not want to leave gainful employment. I'm convinced that the newspaper encouraged the misconception that I had retired early. ... I've been gratified by the many people, some of them strangers, who have expressed their disappointment and even anger at my departure from the newspaper. But what's done is done. I'm moving on."

He's moving on in the job search, not moving into retirement.

Wikipedia for Journalists and other advice coming at Digital Journalism Camp

If I were closer, I'd be over at Steven Walling’s presentation of “Wikipedia for journalists” on August 1. The video is a preview of one of the programs at the Digital Journalism Camp in Oregon.

What's a Digital Journalism Camp?

A post on the camp site says:

"It’s where traditional print and broadcast journalism, blogging and web-based innovation meet. This is not some far-off future for the industry. It’s happening right now, all around us. And reporters, bloggers, editors, and broadcasters have a lot they can learn from each other."

There's even a why posted:

"I want us to shut up about about the death of newspapers and start talking about how we, as journalists, are innovating right now — what’s working, what’s not, and how we can get better at what we do."

Abraham Hyatt left a comment on my original post today to let me know that The Oregonian is only providing space, not hosting, the Digital Journalism Camp on August 1. By providing the space, though, the Advance Publications news organization let the organizers eliminate an admission fee.

How is it going at the Flint newspaper? Who is going and who is returning?

Michigan
newsrooms
The Flint Journal

Those affected by the changing of The Flint Journal from a daily newspaper to a three-times a week newspaper can talk by phone to some of the editors this week.

John Hiner, the executive editor of the Flint newspaper, announced the call-in on page one Sunday. (As of 2:01 a.m. Monday, it's not online so I can't link to it and my paper copy recycled.)

Taking the calls is one of the last things editor John Foren will do before leaving July 31. Also heading out after an employee-only cake reception Thursday is Adrienne Wells, most recently director of employee relations.

Why Foren stayed

Foren planned to leave May 31 but stayed when the woman who now has the top role in the newsroom found out May 12 she would be a mother. Ten days later, Marjory Raymer and her husband brought their son home.

She's been gradually returning to work, with her official full-time start Aug. 3. She'll answer calls Wednesday night with Hiner, Foren and others, including the Bay City-based features editor.

Raymer likes how the news is being covered.

"I must say it has been so rewarding to watch how the dedicated and talented crew in the newsroom has adapted to our new model. There is a real hunger in the newsroom to continue to find new and better ways to hone our craft on the Web."

Raymer ready to return

She's anxious to get back - it's the longest she's been away from a newsroom since college.

"This is an exciting time for us all. Reporters have been empowered like never before. And, we are all encouraged to be innovators -- question the way things always have been done and to try things differently. This feels like the new frontier in journalism and The Flint Journal is blazing the trail."

Foren praised Raymer, who he said "is not only a colleague but a friend. I'm not sure I would have basically canceled my summer plans for anyone else."

GM blog praised

Raymer praised Ron Fonger's beat blog on GM and said plans are to continue increasing the number of videos posted.

"There is also a renewed dedication to finding other content of interest to our readers. By aggregating content, our Web site will be the best and most complete source for news and information in Genesee County.

Along with our dedication to developing our Web presence, you will find the same hard news and investigative journalism that makes The Flint Journal great."

Foren, 48, was named The Journal's interim editor in December when Tony Dearing was tapped for an Advance Internet project (AnnAbor.com). Foren got the permanent job in January.

Advance changed Michigan newspapers

Then, this spring Advance Publications announcd changes that affected nearly every newspaper in the family-owned chain. In Michigan, besides pay cuts and pension changes, the changes included the July 24 shuttering of the Ann Arbor News, reducing three mid-Michigan newspapers to three tmes a week while changing their personnel and news structures and creating the AnnArbor.com.

Changes include one publisher and executive editor now over sees the Flint Journal, Saginaw News and Bay City Times. Each news organization also has a female Community Editor (Raymer's new title). The three newspapers, which also became morning newspapers on June 1, share some services and printing through what has become known as Booth MidMichigan. A joint weather package is offered to the Great Lakes Bay Region. A joint business package is labeled Mid-Michigan Business News.

"It was my decision to leave and, while it was a tough one, it feels like the right time to do it.," John said.

Foren ready for new pace

The married father of two teenagers says he looks forward to being around Lansing and his family more.

"My daughter has a year left before college; my son will be a high school sophomore in the fall and has football, basketball and baseball on the schedule. I really want to be around them as much as I can in the next few years. "

Nothing is lined up

"Given the hectic pace of the past few months, I'm also just looking forward to a break. I'm in a position to do that and for that I'm grateful. - Ultimately, I'm guessing I'll steer toward something political in Lansing; I like policy stuff but I know whatever I do will probably also involve writing in some form.

Foren says 'bye in print, online

Speaking of politics, it was his appearance recently as a moderator in the Flint mayoral debate that got some folks asking why he was still in Flint after announcing he'd be gone June 1.

He had a farewell column - Flint's spirit will see it through to its possibilities for the future - in Sunday's newspaper and online. Much of it focused on Sybyl Atwood, before he ended it with two pleas to the community:

"Keep up the good fight. It will yield results, maybe incrementally and in small doses, but progress will come.

And keep reading The Journal, both in print and online. It's part of Flint's fabric and, like the community, is full of spirit and possibilities."

Foren agreed to stay on through July to help with the transition, praising John Hiner and publisher Matt Sharp for being "very good to me" while the three worked on Flint Journal coverage "in our new journalist world."

Foren's career path

Foren was the newspaper's local news editor, overseeing the newsroom and Flint-area coverage, 1999-2009. He joined The Journal in 1985, reporting on some suburban communities before covering Flint government and politics. From 1990-1992, he covered Congress at the newspaper's Washington D.C. Bureau. He then spent three years based in Lansing, covering the Michigan Legislature and the 1994 gubernatorial election. He returned to Flint as a local editor in 1995.

Raymer's career path

Raymer was named Local News editor in January and promoted to the new position of Community Editor in April. She became the newspaper's business editor in January 2008.

Raymer began as a reporter at The Journal in 2000, covering the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. She also covered Flint City Hall, social services and environmental issues. She previously worked as a reporter and copy editor at the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Her husband worked as a copy editor for the Saginaw News before leaving the news business. The last news article on Raymer said her husband, Eric Wisniewski, is an analyst in the Michigan Department of Treasury.

---

Leaving or coming into a Michigan newsroom? Send me an email with contact information so we can all keep in touch. I've recently wrote about changes in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo and Muskegon and even Livingston County.

Final words on Ann Arbor News

I'm heading to Ann Arbor today to pick up a paper copy of the first AnnArbor.com print edition. But first, let me share a few more links about the closing of the Michigan newspaper.

Innovations in Newspapers says the Ann Arbor News was dead long before it closed. AnnArbor.com came out with "Local community saddened by closing of the Ann Arbor News." (Its earlier stories on the closing are in either land - all earlier blog entries disappeared.)

A Chicago Tribune columnist writes the "Requiem for the hometown newsaper," speaking with a former neighbor Geoff Larcom, who worked for The Ann Arbor News for 24 years.

The Ann Arbor News coverage of itself includes:

• Farewell Ann Arbor: News closing ends decades-long tradition of daily newspaper publishing


• The AnnArbor News covered the big stories for 174 years


• Download four commemorative Ann Arbor News pages


• Photo Gallery: The end of an era, the last day of The Ann Arbor News


• Video: We remember what The Ann Arbor News has meant to this community


• The Ann Arbor News covered the big stories for 174 years


• Readers lament the end of their daily paper; some say they understand forces behind closing


• News employees embarking on varied endeavors after News closing


• Geoff Larcom: We loved our town, we loved the news, and we loved bringing it to you every day


• Jo Mathis: This one comes to you with no tears attached


• News Publisher Laurel Champion: It's been a great run; thanks and goodbye


• Ed Petykiewicz: Pain of closing blends with pride in staff dedication


• What's next? AnnArbor.com will deliver local content; iconic Ann Arbor News office building to go up for sale


• Image from a bygone era: Wilbur Winkle delivered The Ann Arbor News by pony


• Ann Arbor News' Warm the Children program will continue


• Ann Arbor District Library will receive Ann Arbor News photo negative archives


• and What's next? AnnArbor.com will deliver local content; iconic Ann Arbor News office building to go up for sale

I earlier pulled together many links to the coverage in a Community says goodbye post, including videos of Ann Arbor staff members and the community.


It looks like mlive.com is pulling in a feed from AnnArbor.com to replace what the Ann Arbor News once did to cover the community.

But there are a few kinks to work out, so we know who is writing what.

AnnArbor.com also is linking to some features on mlive.com, at least temporarily. That linking includes an entertainment calendar.

In love: Blogging leader skillful in reply

The directness of a reply to a criticism is exactly why hiring a long-time, curious Internet user was/is a good decision for a news organization.

I first heard about a Tweet criticizing an Arbor Michigan, company for painting its logo on sidewalks. A quick response explained that the logos were chalk, not paint.

The mumblings may have first been posted on Ann Arbor Chronicle's Stopped. Watch. page. where "stories are observations recorded by various Correspondents for The Chronicle in 140 characters or fewer."

Edward Vielmetti, who knows how to find information, responded to the mumblings with Sidewalk chalk is not a crime - AnnArbor.com

In that post, he shares the city ordinance, a video on the day chalk art took over Grand Rapids, Michigan, and another featuring the work of Ann Arbor born artist Kurt Wenner, "who creates the illusion of 3-D images in his anamorphic street paintings."

In comments, that include a comment implying classiness, not legality, is the real issue, Ed and others adds some more links to policies and chalk art.

(Those with long memories or good RSS readers will remember that the site's content leader Tony Dearing told us chalk was a planned marketing tool in a July 3 posting now off the site.

"We're working with an award-winning local marketing agency, re:group, to develop a campaign that will include billboards, posters, radio, bus wraps, Facebook advertising and street marketing that involves everything from chalk ads to coffee sleeves.")

That's how the content rolls when you open the "presses" to people who listen in the community.

Growing number looking at the growing number moving to "Life After Newsroom"

Being an unemployed journalist may lead to a job in a different industry. It might mean creating your own job. It helps me to learn about those who did this successfully, especially in Michigan where the job market is bleak. (See a report about what the employees of the just closed Ann Arbor News face.)

An ex-editor, John Temple is looking at what it means to lose thousands of journalists by looking at one journalist at a time, a journalist who earned what many consider a sign of greatness, a Pulitzer Prize.

He's asking them eight questions, drawing meaning from that. First in the series is Deborah Nelson, whose last newspaper job was Washington investigative editor for the Los Angeles Times.

Then Andrew Schneider of The Pittsburgh Press, another newspaper that no longer exists, answers the questions.
Find some nspiration from a guy who doesn't like unemployment, has a lapel pin that says "write until you die" and just celebrated the $10 made via his blog.

Kim Komenich, who last worked for the San Francisco Chronicle, is now teaching. He began thinking about teaching before the buyout he accepted, allowing him some flexibility. And, it is flexibility that journalists of tomorrow will need.

New jobs in word moving

Joe Grimm has modified the format of his Ask the Recruiter blog to focus on a former journalist each Monday. There are two examples already: The first is Garth Kriewall, a "communications office supervisor" for St. Clair County (Mich.) Regional Educational Service Agency and the second is with Battinto Batts, who holds multiple jobs: Independent contractor, running public relations and marketing business, Batts' Communications, LLC.; and journalism professor at Hampton University.

New jobs: Boy Scout, rentable reporter, car sales

A joint venture with a radio station and the Cleveland Plain Dealer led to a post and show about three journalists finding new careers.

ideastream®'s David C. Barnett brings us the stories of some who've had to leave the media altogether and re-invented themselves in new careers:

• Jeff Stacklin, who was working for Crain's in Ohio before becoming a professional Boy Scout.

• Bob Paynter once did investigative reporting at the Akron Beacon Journal and the Plain Dealer. Now, he's an "investigative reporter for rent."

” I’ll look stuff up, I’ll find stuff out, I’ll write it up if you want it."

• Michelle Maloney, who "lost her job as co-host of a popular morning talk program on Cleveland’s WGAR in January," and is selling cars now.

You can listen plus read about the three.

Cops beat to nursing beat

Another blog, the Ink-Drained Kvetch led me to a cops reporter who turned to nursing. Tracy Gordon Fox wrote about her decision in the New York Times.

Temple's eight questions by the way:

1. What work did you winner Pulitzer for, when?
2. Why did you leave your newspaper? When?
3. What are you doing now? Any reflections on life after newspapers?
4. What do you hope to do going forward? Will you stay in journalism? How?
5. What has the downsizing of your former newsroom or closing of your former paper meant to the quality of journalism in your community? For example, are there types of stories not being told? You could use your own experience to provide examples here.
6. What, if anything, do you think your newspaper should have done differently to prevent the downsizing or closure that cost you your job?
7. What would you advise young people wanting to pursue a life in journalism today?
8. Finally, is there anything else you'd like to say about your experience or journalism's future that we haven't covered in these questions?
   

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I wrote about ex-journalists before including Beyond the Buyout, Beyond the Byline or pick up a few ideas on surviving in Buyout journalists, remember this or Journalists not the first to start over or Talent will outlast jobs or careers.

In search of dreams: Company paying for blogging

An early version of this post was published July 24, then chewed up in a redesign. I republished Aug. 3, prompted by a Fast Company blog post on the same subject.

Knock me over with a feather because this is one job I would not have expected G.D. Gearino to take on: Blogging for pay.

He's in Stephenville, Texas, to "determine how people maintain their dreams for the future in tough times."

The trip, new living quarters and blogging at Stephenville Dreams is being paid for by Carpenter Co.
That's its sleep better site, where you learn the company "has been providing the ultimate in comfort products for over 60 years.... including bedding, carpet cushioning, furniture, bed pillows and mattress pads."

The former Flint Journal reporter says it is an experiment, a test of privately funded journalism.

"It’s rare for a corporation that’s not in the news business to finance a long-term reporting project."

His orders are:

1) Travel to Stephenville (Texas);
(2) find interesting things to write about; and
(3) then write about them.

The gig was arranged through a pr firm, the connection an old buddy Joe Slay. Joe worked with Jon Newman, who gives some background on the campaign in in "the 4th PR idea... OK, maybe 3 1/2")

Says Jon, right after recognizing that all journalists can not blog:

"We’re hoping to follow the NPR model of journalism in which foundations underwrite good journalism. The difference here is that the blog is “underwritten” by a company and its topic is loosely connected to the company’s brand and products."

They tapped "G.D. Gearino, a longtime (30 years) print journalist/columnist and author who has also authored his own blog for more than two years."

"Gearino will spending several weeks in Stephenville, telling the story of the town, its people and their dreams. It is the type of long-form journalism that reporters would kill for but that the current economics of journalism frankly find it hard to support."

Gearino tell us:

"Not only is Carpenter Co., the financier behind this project, not dictating the content of the site, I haven’t yet even met anyone from the company."

There's Twitter stream under Dream_bigger as well as posts already up.

You can read more about Joe and G.D. in the first post. and how an email that should have had a subject line "Fabulous gig awaits willing writer” hooked G.D.

Eavesdrop on his first impressions of the town. Plus since we are late to the game, here is a link to the reason why this town was picked.

Gearino, who wrote "What the Deaf-Mute Heard,” Counting Coup,” "Blue Hole", and "Wrong Guy,"has had a way with words from way back when so the storytelling is mighty fine.

The more that I thought about this "rent a reporter" idea the more comfortable it becomes. The money comes quicker then those who write and wait for the Google ad dollars to flow or books to sell.

What matters is that good writing and interesting stories that probably would remain untold get out there on the medium that people are using. The financing is fairly clear on the site.

Why would a business hire a reporter and stay out of the way? Gearino answers it this way:

"To me, it's like commissioning a famous artist to do a mural at your corporate headquarters. You want the attention that comes with that kind of investment, but you have to be smart enough to get out of the way. If you're gonna hover over the famous artist and tell him how to do his job, why hire him in the first place?"

Or ask yourself this question:

Is an artist's integrity compromised by accepting a commission?

Let's see how this model turns out.

Dancing on the grave: How can nothing be better then something?

So nothing is better then something? That seems to be the reaction of some commenting on the last stories of the final edition.

The comments on stories of the final edition puzzled the Ink-StainedWretch. In Death to the news, the journalism professor, who was an editor of three newspapers says:

"I understand that problem. We tend to overlook viewpoints that support our own because we view those as reasonable and correct. We tend to remember those that oppose our point of view because they seem so extreme and wrong-headed. That’s just human nature.

But what I don’t understand is that some people don’t see the paradox of their celebrating the death of an outlet in which to express their views. The daily Ann Arbor News published comments from people cheering its demise. Tomorrow, those people won’t have that option. How is that a good thing?"

So let's speak of good things - a daughter who loves me and knows me. After today's radiation treatment, she stopped at a newspaper box and picked up one of the last newspapers to carry the name Ann Arbor News.

It was a pleasant surprise on a day that multiple sclerosis has delivered another one-two punch to my body. Or is it the heat that delivered the punch that wakened the ms?

Updated: A community says goodbye to its newspaper; Ann Arbor News, staff says it right back

More photographs of the last days
online at Mlive.

There are photos and comments on Facebook, sadness on Twitter, and even more in the newspaper that will publish its final edition on Thursday.
In some ways, there's a let's hurry up and get it over with as desks are emptied, belongings carted home and every day brings a new round of lasts at the Ann Arbor News.

A Facebook event asks:
"Leave flowers, notes, cards or mementos on the steps of the Ann Arbor News this week on Thursday, July 23rd, the last day it will be printed after 174 years. Show the employees that we appreciate their work and that we'll miss them and our paper."

Send them jobs instead. A Twitter plea says wear black on Thursday. Journalists take to blogs, posting last photos of the last employees left and other farewells.

Radio host Lucy Ann Lance pens her own "Requiem for the Ann Arbor News" and plays out week of farewells on air:

"Listen for interviews with retired crime reporter Bill Treml, former newsman Jeff Mortimer, former sportswriter Jim Carty, editor Ed Petykiewicz, reporters Tom Gantert, Dan Meisler, and Sven Gustafson, and a panel discussion with reporters Jo Mathis, Geoff Larcom, and Tracy Davis, just to name a few.

"In addition, University of Michigan Professor Anthony Collings (a former CNN international affairs correspondent and author of Words of Fire: Independent Journalists Who Challenge Dictators, Drug Lords, and Other Enemies of a Free Press) will comment on the changing world of journalism."

Over on the newspaper's web site is more evidence of farewells: Letters, photos and videos.

NBC also put together a report last week (Find it on MSNBC)

Even the AnnArbor.com, the online-two-day-a-week on paper noted the final day.

There's acknowledgment that consuming media becomes more difficult in a almost paperless town with multiple outlets of online news.

Lance asks:

"Do you have time to log onto AnnArbor.com, AnnArborChronicle.com, A2Journal.com, MLive.com, DetNews.com, Freep.com, etc. to keep up with your community? Each of those publications offers a unique look into our world.

"Also, are you going to have the time and interest to navigate through 75 different community journalists (bloggers) who will be providing content to AnnArbor.com?"

Further north, those in towns now served by three times a week or weekly newspapers look on in envy. Will we ever get used to obituaries on the television? Will we one day wonder how we did without obituaries over the phone? Recognize the datelines now served up as local that once were identified as "state news."

So many times I've heard the moans of news organizations losing the historical knowledge when buyouts, layoffs and retirements thin the employed ranks. Imagine what's lost when the newspaper closes its doors.

Listen to some of the memories:

Bill Treml, Famed former Ann Arbor News Crime Beat Reporter – Mon., 7/20/09 – Recalling the glorious days of the newsroom and insight on his most famous case, John Norman Collins and the Coed Murders.

Jeff Mortimer, former Ann Arbor News Reporter – Tue., 7/21/09 – Before Level Larcom there was Dump the Dope. Jeff Mortimer pinpoints the day he knew the Ann Arbor News was doomed.

Ed Petykiewicz, Retiring Editor of The Ann Arbor News -Wed., 7/22/09 When Ed Petykiewicz decided to retire from the Ann Arbor News, he had no idea he’d be ushering everyone out and locking the door behind him.

Ann Arbor News Media Panel: Jo Mathis, Geoff Larcom and Tracy E. Davis -Wed., 7/22/09 Between them they have spent nearly 50 years reporting about the Ann Arbor community, and when the Ann Arbor News closes all of that will be gone.

Find many of the Ann Arbor News stories leading up to its closings online. Read some of the shared memories. Folks are writing fan letters to the Ann Arbor News as it crawls to its end.

The news organization gathered own photos, videos and memories for a grand exit:


The Final Videos:

• Pat Austin
• Jesse Bernstein
  
• Ralph Buehler
• Joe Chenier
• Russ Collins
  
• Colleen Ericson
• Loren Estleman
• Cheryl Farmer
  
• Mike Finney
• Peter Fletcher
• Art Gallagher
  
• Bob Guenzel
• Tammy Graves
• Lon Horwedel
  
• Lucy Ann Lance
• Joan Lowenstein
  
• Jo Mathis
• Jenn McKee
• Taylor Robinson
• Joe Slezak
• Leisa Thompson
• Dawn Tobias
• Yolanda Whitten

More online on mlive.com and elsewhere. Best taken in small doses.