T.U. cans web development team?

[RiversideLoki]

I'm hearing increasing rumbles from the internet today about some of the T.U. web development employees being let go. Bad news for the T.U.?

Can anyone confirm/deny?

[ChriswUfGator]

They seriously bungled the process of establishing the T-U's web presence, I would've canned them long ago. The site is bereft of local content, and they don't encourage anyone to actually discuss any issues because they let 20 idiotic nutcases derail every discussion about everything without properly moderating it. Jacksonville.com is seriously the example of what a news site should NOT be like.

[RiversideLoki]

I think that's more of a moderation problem than the dev's fault. But the simple fact is, those 20 blubbering vajayjays unfortunately present the image of Jacksonville as it stands today every time someone from out of the city visits our primary newspaper site.

I swear, if it were up to me, people would have to apply for a license to compute.

[RiversideLoki]

Sadly, I've talked to some of the devs before and you're quite correct. Their view of the situation is "Posting = page views/Controversy = page views."

It's sick, because anyone with a reasonable point of view who happens to try to join the discussion is shouted down as a socialist and/or terrorist loving homosexual. To the point that anyone who could add real merit to the discussion just stopped posting there.

Once again, we're lucky to have the group of people we do, from all walks of life and viewpoints. We're lucky to have the ability to have civil discussions. It's easy to take that (and all of the hard work the staff here at M.J. does) for granted.

[Ocklawaha]

Poor TU, Oh my God! The Sky is falling! It's a twister... it's a twister auntie Em! HELP!

OCKLAWAHA

[fieldafm]

http://jacksonville.com/business/2010-09-22/story/times-union-reduces-workforce-6-percent

The Times-Union today announced a 6 percent reduction in its workforce in response to continuing sluggish advertising revenue that is predicted to extend into 2011.

The reductions included 26 layoffs, although four of those are being reassigned to other positions in the company, said publisher Lucy Talley, who added the cutbacks were made in conjunction with budget planning for the coming year.

Eight of the layoffs were in the newsroom, and one of those affected is considering a reassignment. The other 18 positions were eliminated in other departments.

Ed Gamble, the newspaper’s award-winning cartoonist, who has been working part-time, was among those whose job was eliminated.

Those let go received a week’s pay for each year worked.

The Times-Union is owned by Augusta, Ga.-based Morris Publishing Group, which emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in March.

The parent company reported net income of $2.6 million in the second quarter, which was the first full quarter of operations since it restructured its debt as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.


Morris operates 13 daily newspapers, including the St. Augustine Record, as well as a number of non-daily newspapers, city magazines and free community publications.

[Ocklawaha]

Ed Gamble, the newspaper’s award-winning cartoonist, who has been working part-time, was among those whose job was eliminated.

Anyone who has followed Gamble's work over the years now KNOWS it's over for the Times-Union.

Ed, your one of the best of the best, sorry it came to this but at least you won't go down with this ship full of rats and lemmings. Best of luck in whatever you choose to do next.

OCKLAWAHA

[stjr]

I think the T-U is simply in the same boat as all newspapers today.  Can't make money in print or on the net.

The local and state angle is key.  The T-U has moved steadily in this direction but could probably do much more.  They need to be even more aggressive at covering many of the issues discussed on MJ such as: Visioning the future of the City, downtown, rezoning and land use, public transportation projects (Outer Beltway, Skyway, BRT, Streetcar, Buses, etc.), management of the public authorities, parks and recreation, education, etc.  Add a healthy overlay of political analysis, investigative reporting, historical retrospectives and stories on how other cities around the U.S. and the world are confronting issues we have here.  And, dig even deeper into the LOCAL scene - local businesses, local restaurants, local music, local museums, local stores, local people doing notable things in their fields, local sports, local colleges, etc.

All the crime, accidents, and "feel good" stories can stay, but must be contained, not allowed to dominate the paper.  The T-U is never going to fully outrun TV and the internet on these short lived items.

In the end, the T-U needs to stretch and challenge readers minds, understanding, perspectives, culture, and outlooks.

P.S. By the way, lately the T-U is allowing way to many Georgia stories to creep into the JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA site and paper.  Sometimes, there seems to be more on Georgia than Florida issues.

[uptowngirl]

I agree with stjr a change in that direction would make the on-line site and even the paper version much more interesting and readable. There is just too much on the site period. It is too busy, and takes forever to load and navigate. Usually I just give up and go to another site. The comments are not even worth viewing.

[RiversideLoki]

So I guess what I'm feeling is that there's a snowball's chance in hell of the website getting any better any time soon.