Age + Experience + Journalistic Talent = Ripe for Layoff

     The dust hasn’t quite settled at our paper (there may be a few more cuts to come) but the realization of what we’ve lost is becoming quite clear: irreplaceable talent and knowledge of our readership area. Their value seems lost on the moneycrunchers at corporate. They think anybody can step in and do the work of those lost (in addition to the workload each already carries). That’s certainly not the case. How long would it take to fill a cheaper new employee with such knowledge? Years, if ever.
     It’s been difficult to read about targets at the other papers. Age above 40 is a common thread. So is wiping out those with that deep knowledge of place. It’s almost as if there is a form of journalistic eugenics under way, clearing out the local memory genes on staff to make the workers more pliable for the day when our newspapers are merged into one and “local news” is a paragraph or two on the states page.
     We’ve been forced to go against all we’ve been taught about good journalism. Instead of focusing on loyal readers, we’ve been told our sole purpose is to “connect advertisers with their targeted audiences.” This makes us sick to our stomachs. It’s wrong, and we KNOW it is. Yet… we also have bills to pay, children to raise, mortgages to pay…
     We’re at the dawn of a new day of journalism. Who are we going to let shape that future? The greedy corporate bastards who have done their best to ruin our field? (Sorry, but a mental image of John Belushi giving his pep talk to Delta brothers is running through my head as I write this…) Or are we going to be proactive, and envision a new world where things such as wisdom gained from experience and a sense of place are valued once more?
     It’s up to all of us to save journalism. What are YOU going to do about it?