Friday 25 September 2009

Examiner -1

Rob McCormick, a 25-plus year vet at the Peterborough Examiner, has quit to "pursue other journalistic endeavors" and won't be replaced by Sun Media, says a TSF tipster.

The tipster writes:

"Today marks the last day for editor Rob McCormick at the Peterborough Examiner. He handed in his notice in order to pursue other journalistic endeavors.

"It's a sad day. A veteran of more than 25 years at the paper, he has held a number of positions over the years, including reporter, wire editor, city editor, life editor and writing coach. He is, by far, the best copy editor in the newsroom and he will be missed by writers and readers alike.

"Sadder still, management has decided he won't be replaced. His responsibilities have been shared among the remaining editors.

"Let's wish him good luck."

All the best, Rob.

8 comments:

  1. Heaven forbid someone be replaced... we wouldn't want to staff our papers properly, would we?

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  2. Excellent work! Why bother replacing a seasoned veteran with another hard working member of staff when you can pressure the remainder into doing all of the workload? It makes perfect sense!
    One less FTE is absolutely worth the drop in the newspaper's overall quality and the inevitable erosion of circulation numbers. It's not like the readers can tell the difference anyway... Who's with me? PKP? High fives all around?

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  3. Hmmm... "other journalistic endeavors," eh? There's been a lot of that going around lately. Anyone thinking what I'm thinking?

    "The Peterborough Voice" has a nice ring to it...

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  4. Sad that everyone has to work that much harder, but shed no tears for another print journalism dinosaur with outdated expertise and skills leaving the business.

    Feel for the younger journalists who are not getting a proper chance to show what they can do because they have to bust their hump propping up lazy baby boomers who never learned how to work!

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  5. What would that outdated expertise be, knowing how to write and spell? To use words like music? To have a sense of mental triage born of decades of having to sift truth from bullshit? To have contacts behind every story?
    I've said it before, we need young and veteran reporters in every newsroom to complement each other. But lazy? I'm a Boomer (I guess, the demographic definition keeps changing). And I've been working since I was nine when I delivered the Winnipeg Trib. Had my first byline in a daily at 17. Just finished 11 straight days covering the Toronto International Film Festival. And there are a lot of "lazy" journos out there like me.
    What have you done? Or what would you do if "the Man" wasn't keeping you down?
    JIm Slotek

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  6. @anonymous #4 - Dear troll, for that is what you are. You were hoping to provoke a response and you did from at least one person so far. So here's another response for you.
    I've been in the business for nearly 20 years and I can assure you that I am no '… print journalism dinosaur with outdated expertise and skills …'
    I've learned how to shoot video and work with programs like Final Cut Pro, and I know how to use Twitter and Facebook and various other social networking sites -some of the younger journalists you want me to feel sorry for can't say the same.
    I know some younger journalists - and some older ones as well so as not to discriminate here - that are lazy and are propped up by younger and older journalists. The younger journalists - though not all - don't know how to look into a story and gather any information at all other than using Google or Wiki. Which of course we know are the most reliable services in the world when it comes to info. Speaking of social networking, those same young journalists wouldn't know how to really social network in order to help them with stories.
    Real social networking involves meeting real people in real locations and having real conversations that lead to real relationships. Real relationships lead to real stories and real information. You'd know these things if you listened to an old dinosaur every now and then

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  7. @Anonymous #4 ... I understand why life is tough for you right now - it's difficult for a kid to get a job in this business right now.
    But you exhibit why so many only value the young for their costs (aka minimum wage).
    I don't disagree there are old floaters ... but there are also many young floaters.
    I am a 40+ guy who understands this business, is Internet savvy and willing to bust his butt to stay in this business.
    People like you make me weep for the future of this business, because you think being young makes you qualified ... and nothing else.

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  8. Hopefully working 11 straight days isn't seen as a badge of honour. Many weekly hacks only get days off whenever they can squeeze them in. We're tethered to our communities covering stuff dailies won't touch.

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