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La Socialista’s Restructuring

FIRINGS … ERR, BUYOUTS … LEAD TO RESHUFFLED NEWSROOM

FITSNews - July 7, 2008 - One of the questions we’re frequently asked is how a newspaper as liberal as La Socialista can continue to function in a state as conservative as South Carolina.

It’s pretty easy, actually.

After failing in its attempt to sustain a statewide presence, La Socialista basically retreated back into its comfort zone - the government/ University town of Columbia, S.C.

There the newspaper finds a built-in audience for its tax-and-spend philosophy - thousands of government bureaucrats and college professors who savor every last bleeding heart appeal and politically-correct morsel designed to separate the citizens of this state from their tax dollars.

Of course, things aren’t nearly as profitable in the big government enclave as they used to be, prompting the dismissal - or buyouts, rather - of nearly a dozen newspaper staffers this summer.

And while we could care less which E.J. Dionne wannabe sits at what desk in the wake of these layoffs … err, buyouts, the fact is that many of the same big government backers who read La Socialista also read our little news outlet (along with lawmakers, lobbyists, agency chiefs, public information officers, etc.) - which means that the reshuffling of responsibilities over at the paper is probably worth printing.

Besides, we wouldn’t be FITSNews if we didn’t have the inside scoop on exactly what’s going down inside the newspaper we love to hate.

So relax, all you bureaucrats, lobbyists and the like … we’ve got you covered.

Reprinted below is an e-mail obtained exclusively by FITSNews which was sent from La Socialista ’s Executive Editor Mark Lett to the entire newsroom last week. In the e-mail, Lett describes the changes that are taking place at the paper in the wake of the layoffs … err, buyouts.

From: Lett, Mark
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 5:26 PM
To: CS Newsroom
Subject: Staffing

Colleagues,

To adjust to a smaller newsroom and more sharply focused priorities, assignment changes are necessary across our newsroom.

Editors have spent much of Monday and today discussing these changes with affected individuals. With that process completed, I am sharing a memo describing the changes.

Tonnya, Steve and I spent several days last week and deep into Monday reviewing how newsroom needs could est be met. Our plan incorporates some of your suggestions.

Throughout, we have been mindful of the experience and talents of individuals, as well as the strategic direction of this newspaper and future needs.

These considerations were made against “core” content priorities — a checklist of topics, beats and practices essential to meeting The State’s commitment to this community. Following is a list of priorities, in no particular order, for staff-generated content:

I. Public Policy

a. State government

b. Local government

c. Politics

d. Education

e. Military affairs

f. Environment

II. Sports

a. USC/Clemson

b. Midlands high schools

c. Golf

III. How We Spend

(Our money, our time)

a. Personal Finance

b. How the economy affects us

c. Jobs, security

d. Personal health, costs

e. Entertainment/lifestyle

IV. News urgency

a. Owning the story of the day

V. Visual Journalism

VI. Online

VII. New Opportunities

a. For the web

b. In print (magazines, etc).

Changes to help meet these priorities follows:

Mark Lett will supervise Steve Brook and managers responsible for newsroom administration, features, online and visual journalism. Reporting to Lett will be Diane Morrison, Betsey Guzior, Gary Ward and Tom Peyton.

Brook will supervise managers responsible for local news, governance, sports, copy editing and business. Reporting to Brook will be Eileen Waddell, Leroy Chapman, Rick Millians, Joette Riehle and Sara Svedberg. Tonyia McGirt, online news editor, will continue to report to Brook.

Waddell will supervise local news operations, with responsibility for daily, Sunday and enterprise content. Waddell will manage overall planning for the Sunday edition. Reporting to Waddell will be Chrysti Shain.

Chrysti Shain will supervise managers responsible for Neighbors, education, local government, general assignment and local breaking news. There are no plans to fill the soon-to-be-vacant position of PSJ editor. Reporting to Chrysti will be Dawn Kujawa, Shelley Hill, Kenley Young, Rick Brundrett and Ish Tate.

Other moves:

– Sammy Fretwell will move to the local desk and will continue to cover the environment, DHEC and related topics.

– Wayne Washington will cover the University of South Carolina and higher education. He will remain in Governance and report to Chapman.

– The Governance staff will assume responsiblity for covering the State Board of Education, as well as K-12 funding and policy issues on the state level.

– Lee Higgins will report to Night News Editor Kenley Young. Bertram Rantin will continue to report to Young.

– Carolyn Click will cover Richland One and Richland Two schools, reporting to Kujawa.

– John Monk will cover Kershaw County and issues and news related to faith/religion. He will report to Kujawa.

– Marjorie Riddle will cover high school sports, reporting to Gerald Davis.

– Neil White will cover “pocketbook” and “spending” issues, as well as retailing. He will join the Business staff and will report to Andy Shain.

– Jeff Wilkinson will cover economic development and commercial development. He will join the Business staff and will report to Svedberg.

– Czerne Reid will cover public health, the health care industry in SC and personal health. She will join the Business staff and will report to Svedberg.

– Chuck Crumbo will continue to cover military affairs, but also will cover public utilities and SCANA. He will join the Business staff and will report to Svedberg.

Other changes and adjustments will be necessary. Conversations are under way in various departments about how to shuffle responsibilities, hours and practices.

And, yes, these changes will make it necessary for some staffers to relocate desks, phones and files. Details to follow.

As you can see, it’s a pretty big shake-up … yet the question remains, will anything shake some sense into the paper itself?

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