It takes a lot of nerve, but the Joplin Globe is back to publicizing everyone else's layoffs while sweeping its own under the rug.
In today's edition, in an article written by Wally Kennedy, the newspaper reports "fewer than 20 people in middle management at St. John's Regional Medical Center could be laid off this month."
And this is just a case of "could be." The Globe firings of at least 15 workers, including veteran reporter Mike Surbrugg, has still not been mentioned in the pages of the area's "newspaper of record." And we know for sure those people are unemployed.
As I have said before, it appears that firings are news when they happen at other businesses, but are a private concern when it comes to the Joplin Globe.
That is hypocrisy.
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I would provide a link to the St. John's story for you, but as far as I can tell, it is only in the print edition.
4 comments:
Just FYI, Randy: It is hypocrisy, but it's corporate-level hypocrisy, not local-level. CNHI corporate does not let its newspapers report bad news about the company (and there's plenty of it). Sure, it's bad journalism, but to them it's not about journalism. It's just business.
This isn't bad news. CNHI should be bragging about this move. They are "trimming the fat!" and "improving efficiency!" and "staying competetive!" When Leggett & Platt has layoffs and plant closings they do a press release so investors know that management has a long-term business plan with vision. CNHI should do the same thing. Newspaper stocks are in the toilet because investors fear that papers have no long-term plan for survival.
When the Washington Post effectively let go of dozens of senior staff earlier this year through buy-outs and similar actions they put it on the front page. They have also put out front page articles on the papers slipping distribution numbers and economic issues. It may have a liberal bent, but it's still up front and honest. The Graham family has a lot more integrity than CNHI.
What other reporters have been laid off at the Joplin Globe? I used to be a reporter, too, for Miami and Tulsa. I think the switch to virtual media is going to make paper newspapers obsolete in the very near future.
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