Comments on: Head of content made redundant after three weeks http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/head-of-content-made-redundant-after-three-weeks/ The home of UK regional journalism news and jobs Thu, 23 May 2013 08:47:56 +0000 hourly 1 By: The Big Exclusive http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/head-of-content-made-redundant-after-three-weeks/#comment-19488 The Big Exclusive Thu, 03 May 2012 09:45:19 +0000 http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/?p=1628002#comment-19488 This is quite common - the poor chap who was brought in to replace me on a Newsquest-owned Yorkshire title was made redundant literally on the spot after about three weeks in the job. No reason other than the management suddenly decided they couldn't afford him on a whim. He'd spent a lot of money relocating and it was his first job in the business. The editor of the same title was also deliberately pushed out of his job (made to commute a long way to the regional head office three or four times a week for no apparent reason) as part of what appeared to be a plan to get rid of the weekly editors and replace them with one group editor. However, there was a sudden U-turn with that and now there's someone back in place. You wouldn't mind so much if those culling the jobs were doing it as part of a clever and well-planned survival strategy, but with them hiring one week and firing the next, you do get the impression they're literally making it up as they go along. This is quite common – the poor chap who was brought in to replace me on a Newsquest-owned Yorkshire title was made redundant literally on the spot after about three weeks in the job.

No reason other than the management suddenly decided they couldn’t afford him on a whim. He’d spent a lot of money relocating and it was his first job in the business.

The editor of the same title was also deliberately pushed out of his job (made to commute a long way to the regional head office three or four times a week for no apparent reason) as part of what appeared to be a plan to get rid of the weekly editors and replace them with one group editor. However, there was a sudden U-turn with that and now there’s someone back in place.

You wouldn’t mind so much if those culling the jobs were doing it as part of a clever and well-planned survival strategy, but with them hiring one week and firing the next, you do get the impression they’re literally making it up as they go along.

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]]> By: malcontent http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/head-of-content-made-redundant-after-three-weeks/#comment-19399 malcontent Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:12:03 +0000 http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/?p=1628002#comment-19399 content editors? all the rubbish and none of the authority that proper local editors had. I wish them all luck. content editors? all the rubbish and none of the authority that proper local editors had. I wish them all luck.

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]]> By: David Robinson http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/head-of-content-made-redundant-after-three-weeks/#comment-19392 David Robinson Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:25:39 +0000 http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/?p=1628002#comment-19392 Sorry to hear about your experience Tim. I've been a freelancer for about 3 years and I'm treated just as shoddily – all the time. Regrettably, I think that being unappreciated, disrespected and ignored come with the territory, regardless of ability or work ethic. Sorry to hear about your experience Tim. I’ve been a freelancer for about 3 years and I’m treated just as shoddily – all the time. Regrettably, I think that being unappreciated, disrespected and ignored come with the territory, regardless of ability or work ethic.

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]]> By: Tim Gillett http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/head-of-content-made-redundant-after-three-weeks/#comment-19390 Tim Gillett Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:58:01 +0000 http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/?p=1628002#comment-19390 It's a bit more than scraps Peter, but I thought I was going to be unavailable for any day-time work so effectively handed my notice in with several clients and understandably they looked elsewhere. I don't think that's really the point, though. It’s a bit more than scraps Peter, but I thought I was going to be unavailable for any day-time work so effectively handed my notice in with several clients and understandably they looked elsewhere.

I don’t think that’s really the point, though.

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]]> By: Peter Smith http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/head-of-content-made-redundant-after-three-weeks/#comment-19389 Peter Smith Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:35:49 +0000 http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/?p=1628002#comment-19389 So you worked for 12 years as a freelance and after a three-week "break" working full time, you could only then pick up scraps of work???? Why so? So you worked for 12 years as a freelance and after a three-week “break” working full time, you could only then pick up scraps of work???? Why so?

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]]> By: Sarah Juggins http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/head-of-content-made-redundant-after-three-weeks/#comment-19386 Sarah Juggins Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:08:16 +0000 http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/?p=1628002#comment-19386 As someone who lives in Cambridge, I can confirm that Cambridge First was a well-received newspaper and played a role in the community. The decision to close it down shows the management's remoteness from the community - the editorial was fine and the advertising would have worked if the distribution had been up to standard. What a shame for the committed team of journalists who seemed to really care and be knowledgeable about their community As someone who lives in Cambridge, I can confirm that Cambridge First was a well-received newspaper and played a role in the community. The decision to close it down shows the management’s remoteness from the community – the editorial was fine and the advertising would have worked if the distribution had been up to standard.
What a shame for the committed team of journalists who seemed to really care and be knowledgeable about their community

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]]> By: Oldhack http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2012/news/head-of-content-made-redundant-after-three-weeks/#comment-19385 Oldhack Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:36:34 +0000 http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/?p=1628002#comment-19385 I have no doubt that somebody will say: 'Tough. Should have known better,' but I think this merely underlines the atrocious behaviour of managements towards people committed to what is still a noble profession. My sympathies, and I sincerely hope that it all works out for you. I have no doubt that somebody will say: ‘Tough. Should have known better,’ but I think this merely underlines the atrocious behaviour of managements towards people committed to what is still a noble profession.
My sympathies, and I sincerely hope that it all works out for you.

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