Community World

[Emily]

Their Web site doesn't mention this today, but the Tulsa World is ceasing publication of the Community World and has laid off the entire CW staff. I notice that the announcement on the front of today's Westside issue -- which was added after we'd proofed the Westside pages, and which resulted in a reporter's actual work being spiked to make room for it -- omitted that bit about the layoffs. The announcement also neglects to mention the fact that those laid off were given absolutely no warning and received eight days' pay and 26 days' benefits in exchange for their loyalty to the company. And it entirely fails to notify readers that two of the people laid off had been hired less than two weeks earlier.

One woman had signed a lease on a new apartment four days earlier. Another had put a down payment on a condo a week before the axe fell. One girl had quit a job at Urban Tulsa Weekly just three weeks ago to come to the Community World. A woman who has struggled financially for several years had just gotten back on her feet and was about to move into a house. Another has worked for the company for ... 13 years, I think? She repeatedly asked for an explanation of why we were given no warning that this was coming and no time to find other jobs or make other plans. She was given a reason for the layoffs, but she received absolutely no explanation for the callous manner in which the layoffs were handled. [B)]

Money will buy Armani suits and Ferraris and all sorts of other pretty toys. It will put a few kids through Holland Hall, and it will buy their grandma's best friend a byline on a column that someone else ghostwrites for her. But there is one thing money -- even old money -- can't buy: Class. And I've seen far more of that commodity in Oakhurst, Turley, and my beloved Red Fork than I see coming out of the mansions around Woodward Park this morning.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Emily

Their Web site doesn't mention this today, but the Tulsa World is ceasing publication of the Community World and has laid off the entire CW staff. I notice that the announcement on the front of today's Westside issue -- which was added after we'd proofed the Westside pages, and which resulted in a reporter's actual work being spiked to make room for it -- omitted that bit about the layoffs. The announcement also neglects to mention the fact that those laid off were given absolutely no warning and received eight days' pay and 26 days' benefits in exchange for their loyalty to the company. And it entirely fails to notify readers that two of the people laid off had been hired less than two weeks earlier.

One woman had signed a lease on a new apartment four days earlier. Another had put a down payment on a condo a week before the axe fell. One girl had quit a job at Urban Tulsa Weekly just three weeks ago to come to the Community World. A woman who has struggled financially for several years had just gotten back on her feet and was about to move into a house. Another has worked for the company for ... 13 years, I think? She repeatedly asked for an explanation of why we were given no warning that this was coming and no time to find other jobs or make other plans. She was given a reason for the layoffs, but she received absolutely no explanation for the callous manner in which the layoffs were handled. [B)]

Money will buy Armani suits and Ferraris and all sorts of other pretty toys. It will put a few kids through Holland Hall, and it will buy their grandma's best friend a byline on a column that someone else ghostwrites for her. But there is one thing money -- even old money -- can't buy: Class. And I've seen far more of that commodity in Oakhurst, Turley, and my beloved Red Fork than I see coming out of the mansions around Woodward Park this morning.

with the buzzer ads on TV and now this, I get the distinct impression TW is hurting.  Although the little people suffer, it is about time TW feel some pain.  Because through pain comes innovation and a renewwed sense of modesty.

[cannon_fodder]

I'm sorry to hear this.

I like the TulsaWorld.  It is a local newspaper that has a good amount of local content (as opposed to ALL wire service).  They have been doing a good job focusing on U of Tulsa sports the last couple of season and their business section is improved.  Sure they have some gaffs and in politics take obvious sides... but all in all I enjoy reading it and subscribe.

BUT.  BUT!  Their behavior over the last few years is disturbing.  Starting with the demo of the Skelly building for a handful of UNUSED parking spaces, piece meal stories that add filler later, and now following the trend of staff layoffs.  The manner indicated is particularly troubling.

Thanks for letting me know.

[edit]revised from "massive" to just layoffs[/edit]

[edit2]Upon request I change the line "piece meal stories to add filler later" to "that add filler later"[/edit]

[waterboy]

I was involved with the planning for the first "zoned" issues of the World back in the 80's and headed up its first sales staff. It slowly morphed into a good vehicle to serve neighborhood stories that may not have fit well into the regular edition and allowed advertisers an economical way to reach their target customers.

But its purpose was to respond to the growth of ad revenues in surrounding community papers at that time and allow a budget advertiser to sample the Worlds effectiveness. It never made money during the years I was there. Since its inception, the zoned sections content has improved but the small town competition has dwindled. Retherford is gone and there are no other strong contenders in the burbs. Since it is in effect a drain of full price ad revenues, it probably doesn't make sense to keep offering it.

I'm sorry for the way it was handled. World management could have done better. If I hadn't made note of where the bones were buried they would have nailed me as well. Though most employers in a corporate setting give you very little notice and often have terminated employees escorted by security to the front door regardless of the reason for termination. There is proprietary info involved and the World still competes with other print publications who would love to have you and your contacts. Probably the sales staff lost their jobs too.

Good luck to you and the staff. Having the World on your resume doesn't hurt.

[AngieB]

quote: COMMUNITY WORLD ENDS PUBLICATION

World Publishing Company, publishers of the Tulsa World, announced today that it is ending its publication of the Community World.

THE COMMUNITY WORLD PUBLICATIONS, which have provided local news in a weekly format for numerous metropolitan Tulsa areas, began in 1993 with production of the Central, South and Broken Arrow editions. Later, editions in East, Midtown and West were added. Today, Community World editions are published in Broken Arrow, Eastside, Westside, Southside and Midtown. The editions have been inserted every Wednesday, according to geographic location, in the daily Tulsa World.

"IN 2006 WE CHANGED THE CONTENT of the daily
Tulsa World to incorporate more local news, entertainment and information," said Publisher Robert E. Lorton III. "Our readers are telling us that they enjoy reading our intensive local coverage and they want to see local coverage of our metropolitan areas in all editions of the newspaper — not just in zoned weekly editions which only go to a geographic segment of our subscriber area."

LORTON SAID THE TULSA WORLD WILL continue to incorporate intensely local news into the daily product with additional coverage available on Tulsaworld.com. Some personnel from the Community World editions will be reallocated to provide the additional daily coverage. This will involve added positions in the Tulsa World newsroom and for Tulsaworld.com.

Here's the text of the announcement that I pulled from the PDF of the front page of the section. Nice how there's no link (that I could find) to this story on the TW site, therefore no place to make comments on the story.

From your post, you say the "entire CW staff" was laid off, but in the story they state: " Some personnel from the Community World editions will be reallocated to provide the additional daily coverage. This will involve added positions in the Tulsa World newsroom and for Tulsaworld.com. " So that's a total lie. Jerks.



Emily, I've told you before that I admire your motivation and ability to "get things done". You'll be fine. I hope the best for your coworkers too. Good luck.

[Conan71]

Emily, I certainly understand what a heartbreak and challenge this represents to the employees.  Look at it as an opportunity to find something which will pay better and have better benefits.

Sorry to hear of the lay offs.

[NellieBly]

There have been discussions about closing down the Community World for years. It costs a lot of money to maintain all those offices. It's been a great place for starting journalists to hone their skills and move on to the daily eventually. Many chose to stay there for a career, however. It's a loss because it fills a newshole the daily has shamelessly neglected - real hometown news. The Tulsa World is becoming less relevant every day.

The insensitivity of the Lorton family is well-known. I've seen it firsthand. When you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth it's hard to relate. Yes I know they do a lot of "good" in Tulsa, but being a good employer is important.

Good Luck Emily. It's tough finding a decent job at newspapers these days but your skills will come in handy in many different fields.

[AngieB]

Found a link: http://www.tulsaworld.com/community/article.aspx?articleID=20080305_9_ZB1_NoArt47455

So if you want to make a comment, there ya go. We'll see how long it lasts before they quash it.

[T-Town Now]

The Tulsa Whirled is a second rate newspaper at best. I learn more about local news in the Dallas paper than I ever got from the local one.

I used to subscribe, but stopped years ago and I haven't missed it a bit.

I don't like the way the Tulsa Tribune was forced out, I don't like how the Whirled tore down a historic building just to build a parking lot, and the Whirled will have to pay a price for those abuses.

I heard subsciber numbers were down, advertising is down, etc., so they are going to have to look within to fix the problems. Tulsans would benefit greatly from an objective, complete, newspaper.

We don't have that now.

Edit to add: I'm sorry to hear about the layoffs. I would have hoped the ownership would value employees more than it does, but this is also a reflection on what a lousy organization the Whirled truly is.

Good luck to everyone in locating other jobs.

[Conan71]

Based on my ex-wife's experience working for them, (she worked there same time as Waterboy), their pay scale sucked.  She actually worked for what was known as NPC at the time.  NPC was controlled far more by the World than the Trib.  

Pay sucked especially for female ad reps.  It was a fairly well-known practice that females were paid less than their male counterparts right out of college because it was thought they didn't need to earn as much.

They did have excellent insurance at the time, I'll give them credit for that much.  

Maternity leave at the time?  Not bad if you didn't mind arm-twisting.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by TulsaMINI

quote: COMMUNITY WORLD ENDS PUBLICATION

World Publishing Company, publishers of the Tulsa World, announced today that it is ending its publication of the Community World.

THE COMMUNITY WORLD PUBLICATIONS, which have provided local news in a weekly format for numerous metropolitan Tulsa areas, began in 1993 with production of the Central, South and Broken Arrow editions. Later, editions in East, Midtown and West were added. Today, Community World editions are published in Broken Arrow, Eastside, Westside, Southside and Midtown. The editions have been inserted every Wednesday, according to geographic location, in the daily Tulsa World.

"IN 2006 WE CHANGED THE CONTENT of the daily
Tulsa World to incorporate more local news, entertainment and information," said Publisher Robert E. Lorton III. "Our readers are telling us that they enjoy reading our intensive local coverage and they want to see local coverage of our metropolitan areas in all editions of the newspaper — not just in zoned weekly editions which only go to a geographic segment of our subscriber area."

LORTON SAID THE TULSA WORLD WILL continue to incorporate intensely local news into the daily product with additional coverage available on Tulsaworld.com. Some personnel from the Community World editions will be reallocated to provide the additional daily coverage. This will involve added positions in the Tulsa World newsroom and for Tulsaworld.com.

Here's the text of the announcement that I pulled from the PDF of the front page of the section. Nice how there's no link (that I could find) to this story on the TW site, therefore no place to make comments on the story.

From your post, you say the "entire CW staff" was laid off, but in the story they state: " Some personnel from the Community World editions will be reallocated to provide the additional daily coverage. This will involve added positions in the Tulsa World newsroom and for Tulsaworld.com. " So that's a total lie. Jerks.



Emily, I've told you before that I admire your motivation and ability to "get things done". You'll be fine. I hope the best for your coworkers too. Good luck.

I get better local coverage out of the GTA News rags that land on my porch for free.  Too bad they don't offer a more regular publication.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Based on my ex-wife's experience working for them, (she worked there same time as Waterboy), their pay scale sucked.  She actually worked for what was known as NPC at the time.  NPC was controlled far more by the World than the Trib.  

Pay sucked especially for female ad reps.  It was a fairly well-known practice that females were paid less than their male counterparts right out of college because it was thought they didn't need to earn as much.

They did have excellent insurance at the time, I'll give them credit for that much.  

Maternity leave at the time?  Not bad if you didn't mind arm-twisting.

That's all quite true. When I started there we had a 90% male ad staff. Then some dim bulb realized that we could get a young female college grad or a wife looking for a second income for far less than what it took to keep a male with a house payment and a family. Soon the percentage had flip flopped and the ad revenues were suffering. Men were fired for little reason and replaced with younger inexperienced workers (as long as they were white). I told them they were courting a lawsuit with that behaviour but they said it was just good business.  Obviously we didn't see business management quite the same way.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Based on my ex-wife's experience working for them, (she worked there same time as Waterboy), their pay scale sucked.  She actually worked for what was known as NPC at the time.  NPC was controlled far more by the World than the Trib.  

Pay sucked especially for female ad reps.  It was a fairly well-known practice that females were paid less than their male counterparts right out of college because it was thought they didn't need to earn as much.

They did have excellent insurance at the time, I'll give them credit for that much.  

Maternity leave at the time?  Not bad if you didn't mind arm-twisting.

That's all quite true. When I started there we had a 90% male ad staff. Then some dim bulb realized that we could get a young female college grad or a wife looking for a second income for far less than what it took to keep a male with a house payment and a family. Soon the percentage had flip flopped and the ad revenues were suffering. Men were fired for little reason and replaced with younger inexperienced workers (as long as they were white). I told them they were courting a lawsuit with that behaviour but they said it was just good business.  Obviously we didn't see business management quite the same way.

She ended up making less than she earned at Uptown News, but at least her paychecks from NPC would actually clear the bank and the insurance was great.

[MichaelBates]

quote:Originally posted by TulsaMINI

From your post, you say the "entire CW staff" was laid off, but in the story they state: " Some personnel from the Community World editions will be reallocated to provide the additional daily coverage. This will involve added positions in the Tulsa World newsroom and for Tulsaworld.com. " So that's a total lie. Jerks.

I was told that two new "suburban reporter" positions have been created, for which some of the already-laid-off CW staffers may choose to apply. So apparently "reallocated" means, "laid off, and maybe eventually recalled from layoff."

[Cirage]

What I can't understand is how management justified the new hires.  A coworker of mine just started there two weeks ago as a reporter for the South Tulsa edition.  Even if the individual branches had no idea that the axe was about to drop, someone from the top should've put a hiring freeze in place to keep more lives from being disrupted.  I know I 'm a new kid in town, but I expected more from a paper like the Tulsa World.