Newsday

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 10:08am on Friday, January 29th, 2010

OK, so you thought only 35 online subscribers for Newsday after three months was funny? On January 28, 2010, The New York Observer says that the Long Island paper doesn't want your stupid money anyway:

"Although the "press had a little fun with a recent remark" made by publisher Terry Jimenez, Newsday would like everyone one to know that everything is going fine with their paywall and this basically exactly how they planned it and it is fine.

Cablevision local media president Tad Smith explained in a memo:

Newsday's web strategy has two parts: 1) to provide Newsday's print subscribers with a rich web experience that goes far beyond what they can get in the newspaper alone, thereby motivating them to remain, return, or choose to subscribe to Newsday; and 2) to provide Cablevision's high-speed Internet customers with reasons to remain with Cablevision, reasons to return to Cablevision, or reasons to choose Cablevision.

The way to measure success for newsday.com is not, therefore, to count how many people sign up to pay $260 per year for access to the website.

The memo refers to the site's "approximately three dozen subscribers"; John Koblin's more precise count is 35."

The full story:
http://www.observer.com/2010/daily-transom/newsday-does-not-want-your-stupid-money-anyway

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 10:20am on Thursday, January 28th, 2010

After Three Months, Only 35 Web Site Subscribers for Newsday

The New York Observer reported on January 26, 2010:

"In late October, Newsday, the Long Island daily that the Dolans bought for $650 million, put its web site, newsday.com, behind a pay wall. The paper was one of the first non-business newspapers to take the plunge by putting up a pay wall, so in media circles it has been followed with interest. Could its fate be a sign of what others, including The New York Times, might expect?

So, three months later, how many people have signed up to pay $5 a week, or $260 a year, to get unfettered access to newsday.com?

The answer: 35 people. As in fewer than three dozen. As in a decent-sized elementary-school class."

The full story:
http://www.observer.com/2010/media/after-three-months-only-35-subscriptions-newsdays-web-site

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 7:55am on Monday, January 25th, 2010

Newsday Employees Turn Down Contract Offer with Pay Cuts

The New York Times reported on January 24, 2010:

"Following the lead of their national union president, employees at Newsday on Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a contract with pay cuts and other concessions. The vote by members of Local 406 of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters was 473 to 10 against the proposed pact.

Early this month, leaders of the local called the deal “horrible and unprecedented,” but said it was the best they could get in negotiations with management. They said that Newsday, which has been owned since 2008 by Cablevision Systems, lost at least $7 million last year.

But James Hoffa, president of the Teamsters, urged a “no” vote. The proposed three-year contract called for pay cuts of at least 10 percent, a longer work week, reduced vacation time and other concessions. The current contract, covering newsroom employees, press operators, drivers, electricians and others, expires on March 31."

The full story:
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/newsday-employees-reject-contract-containing-pay-cuts/

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 2:45pm on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Cablevision To Cut Newsday Workers' Pay By 10 Percent

The New York Post reported on January 5, 2010:

"Newsday's 1,100 unionized workers are fuming at a proposal by owner Cablevision to slash their pay by an average of 10 percent, lop off a week's vacation and impose a longer work week under a new three-year contract.

"It was like a cold slap to the face," said one Newsday journalist shortly after hearing about the new proposal. "There has been almost immediate outrage."

The cuts are part of an effort by Cablevision to wring $8 million in savings out of the Long Island daily, according to one person. The cable operator bought Newsday from Tribune Co. in 2008."

The full story:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/cablevision_to_cut_newsday_pay_vacations_SN2qQnHysQfLE4QUwnw0nL