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Topic: Layoffs... how's it out there?
| Author | Message |
| Chamsah | Posted – 1/3/2007 8:51:26 PM | show profile | email poster I just got laid off... (yep, happy new year!) and I am trying to gauge the state of affairs in the magazine world as I search for a new job. I've heard all about the magazines that have recently folded (my condolences) but how many other pubs have been closing out positions and showing staffers the door? The rumors about Time Inc. cutting from editorial, starting this month, are frightening. No need to name pubs or out anyone -- that's certainly not my intention. I just want to find a job, and be realistic about what's going to be out there for me in the coming months. Also, this board can get kind of harsh. Feel free to be honest but also please be kind. I'm fresh out of work after a very long stint and fairly concerned. |
| kalin | Posted – 1/3/2007 8:57:01 PM | show profile From Feb through March many companies go into hiring mode. It also starts up again in Austust. Sorry to hear about you loosing your job. |
| kalin | Posted – 1/3/2007 8:57:51 PM | show profile I meant May through Ausgust. :p |
| mailbag | Posted – 1/3/2007 9:20:19 PM | show profile | email poster Good luck to you. Nothing hurts more than being told (via media mouths) of how wonderful our economy is when one faces job loss. My advice (took 10 months after corp layoff to find a new job) is to prepare for the long haul. Penny pinch. Ask everyone/anyone about contacts. If you can find a non-media professional job grab that rope and pull yourself out. :-) |
| wordup | Posted – 1/4/2007 1:54:08 AM | show profile It isn't as bad as you might think, but I feel for you. Shit, that sucks. What type of media are you involved in? I've been through this a number of times so I'd love to help if I can. |
| fake.it.til.you.make.it | Posted – 1/4/2007 2:54:23 AM | show profile | email poster I recently quit my job at a small niche magazine publisher for various reasons. Among them include the fact that the place suffered from some serious low morale and high turnover. To top off being seriously understaffed, we were told they were going to make some huge, huge budget cuts very soon (so huge that it had to involve some layoffs in the editorial department and/or dropping some titles). I wasn't going to stick around to see how much worse things got. |
| Chamsah | Posted – 1/4/2007 11:04:32 AM | show profile thanks Word up, I was at a large circ consumer magazine. Every department was hit, mine for the second year in a row. From what I understand, other major companies like Time Inc are poised to downsize editorial, starting at the beginning of the year. I don't want to be an alarmist, so I am hoping they're just rumors. No one wants to be laid off under those circumstances. But the people left behind are also in a lot of trouble, often picking up twice and three times the work of their departed colleagues. Even though they still have jobs, I feel for them too. As a result, I am starting to see ads for jobs that require the work of two people for not a whole lot of money. Perhaps indicative of the times? Anyone want to comment on that as well? I think my email is available via this site, so I'd like to hear from you if you have any advice. Either way, thanks for writing in. |
| ConfidentDesigner | Posted – 1/4/2007 12:05:14 PM | show profile I got laid off in '01 right before 9/11 and it tokk 18 months to find a new gig and I had to move to a dreadful part of the country for the job. Luckily, I had a good contact from a frelelance project I did while laid off and got hired on in my home state again. It'll all work out...just takes time. At least the economy is better now (or so they say). |
| mailbag | Posted – 1/4/2007 12:32:40 PM | show profile | email poster "Chamsah ... As a result, I am starting to see ads for jobs that require the work of two people for not a whole lot of money. Perhaps indicative of the times?" Without a doubt. My layoff was from IBM - they decided our dpt work could be created in India cheaper. Meanwhile the EU counterparts/teams were actually more productive than US teams as a whole (probably because we did two jobs here as you say) and yet EU gets the 6wks vacation package and restricted hourly work weeks. Go figure. |
| observer | Posted – 1/4/2007 12:39:34 PM | show profile sorry about your situation. i lost my job right before 9/11; it took quite a bit of time before i got settled again. as you know, it does work out. the only advice i can give you is to expand your search. i had also worked a magazine for many years and ended up landing a job with a medical research association. it's definitely not sexy but it's a true publishing house and a wonderful place to work. best of luck to you |
| observer | Posted – 1/4/2007 12:41:20 PM | show profile sorry about your situation. i lost my job right before 9/11; it took quite a bit of time before i got settled again. as you know, it does work out. the only advice i can give you is to expand your search. i had also worked a magazine for many years and ended up landing a job with a medical research association. it's definitely not sexy but it's a true publishing house and a wonderful place to work. best of luck to you |
| Chamsah | Posted – 1/4/2007 1:42:27 PM | show profile thanks again I appreciate the support. I am trying to network with as many people as possible. I am not sure why the link to my email address is only available on my first posting... maybe it will show up here once I hit reply. Or not. But I am willing to mentor (i've got 15 years in the biz) and help others in return for some help as well. Anyone in NYC in mag/online editorial who'd like to be part of some good karma, please stay in touch with me, either on the boards or via my email. (Again, the link to reach me is at the top on my first message.) I'd also like to somehow keep this thread going as we see some changes in staff as the new year unfolds. New budgets, new projects, new launches, etc mean a lot of changes both good and bad. I can't force my post to stay at the top but if it starts to drift away, as many posts do, I will try to bring it up again. Thanks to everyone. |
| ConfidentDesigner | Posted – 1/4/2007 3:18:01 PM | show profile Chamsah-what area of the country are you in? |
| Chamsah | Posted – 1/4/2007 7:56:52 PM | show profile | email poster Confident Designer I am in New York City but am willing to relocate on the east coast. You'd mentioned moving to your home state. Mind if I ask where you are? |
| ConfidentDesigner | Posted – 1/5/2007 9:26:49 AM | show profile CO...God's country:) |
| newyorker | Posted – 1/5/2007 9:46:48 AM | show profile Seems like getting a job at Time Inc. is out of the question: http://www.nypost.com/seven/01052007/business/time_planning_to_ax_moore_people_business_keith_j__kelly.htm |
| mailbag | Posted – 1/5/2007 11:19:34 AM | show profile | email poster McKutting & Co. NYorker, here is the problem: McKinsey & Co. Would love to see their report... but I bet not once do they advise "improve content" "hire better writers" etc. The rule is cut staff and share content or freelance content to reduce expenses which inturn please shareholders. That isn't how to run a business, but yet it is how businesses are run in our new economy. Good for freelancers? Maybe, but it depends. Not everyone has what it takes to be a successful labor contractor so once the job is gone it never comes back. But hey -- read they need dog walkers in New Hampshire -- poor shop owner can't find anyone to walk the dogs. She even offers benefits and a 401k for the $8 per hour job. |
| Chamsah | Posted – 1/5/2007 1:48:41 PM | show profile The real problem is in advertisizing.... I am going to talk in broad generalities here, partly because I have to, but let's out the real problem here. No one is selling ads. No ads, no revenue. Subs and newsstand don't' bring in enough. No money pouring in and heads start to roll. In ad sales? No. In the EDITORIAL department. Someone want to explain that one to me? When ad sales are down, the finger pointing starts. But as a creative who can be objective about my former magazine's content (as well as other magazines that are thin and strugtgling) I don't buy "poor content" as an excuse. If you can't land an large, long-term account like Kraft or Proctor & Gamble or Ford for a million plus circ magazine, you should NOT be able to keep your job. Period. And I should NOT have to lose mine. Unfortunately the number crunchers tend to stick together... (biz execs and ad sales are too closely linked, in my opinion). Then they go after the creative types for their salaries to make up for some of the losses and we don't stand a chance. So here's a funny question: How can I write my piece better so that we can get a Tide ad in our magazine? Should that be on my mind as I am offering ideas for heds and deks to my editor? I mean, really. |
| mailbag | Posted – 1/5/2007 3:08:25 PM | show profile | email poster I think I hear what you are saying Chamsah, which isn't what I was referencing. Good points though. "No one is selling ads. No ads, no revenue. Subs and newsstand don't' bring in enough. No money pouring in and heads start to roll. In ad sales? No. In the EDITORIAL department. Someone want to explain that one to me?" Let me approach this with the premise that 'given' editorial team is an A+ operation. See, in my view the ad dept needs house cleaning not editorial. Also, the top needs to be accountable for why the biz isn't inventing itself enough to win market share. That CEO who makes $1.8 mil a year needs to be out there rubbing elbows, which isn't what an objective journalism department needs to do unless you work for Gawker. (Building contacts is not the same.) "When ad sales are down, the finger pointing starts...." Yes, and/or you fork out five journalists' salaries to pay for McKutting & Co. to tell you to lay journalists off. "Unfortunately the number crunchers tend to stick together..." True. HR, accounting, consulting -- can reach under the CEO's table and grab his balls to give a nice massage... but jouranlists are busy working to meet deadlines. :-( "So here's a funny question: How can I write my piece better so that we can get a Tide ad in our magazine? Should that be on my mind as I am offering ideas for heds and deks to my editor? I mean, really." It is a sad question and one the accountants probably wonder about over beers after work. Maybe journalists should just start writing wonderful stories about those who advertise? Maybe that is what the NYT decided long ago about IBM, (which is one of their biggest advertisers through Og&Mather.) |
| mkelly | Posted – 1/5/2007 3:12:24 PM | show profile Let me sound a few sour notes of realism... The rule is cut staff and share content or freelance content to reduce expenses which inturn please shareholders. That isn't how to run a business, but yet it is how businesses are run in our new economy. Actually, yes it is how to run a business. Cutting staff and outsourcing functions is fantastic for profits, and by doing so Corporate America is making oodles of profits these days. That is what corporations do. It also lets many new, small companies that would not otherwise exist be able to function, because the barriers to get yourself started are so low. I'm not saying it's some Shangri-La for workers out there, or that it is a good thing. But to complain about companies maximizing profits is like complaining about babies pooping and stinking up the room. It is what they do. No money pouring in and heads start to roll. In ad sales? No. In the EDITORIAL department. Someone want to explain that one to me? Easy-- you the editorial employee are a constant expense; the advertising people at least theoretically bring in some tangible revenue. Keeping them at least gives the company some chance of earning revenue; keeping you does not. It's also my observation that advertising departments have a higher rate of turnover generally, in good times or bad; if you don't make your sales quota, you're going to hit the door in short order. (Imagine telling a reporter, 'If your stories don't average 3,000 readers a week, you're fired.') Not everyone has what it takes to be a successful labor contractor If that's the case, then I would seriously advise you to reconsider a career in media, because moving seamlessly from full-time to freelance to full-time again is the new law of the land. I'm not saying that's ideal, either, but it is the way the world is. Adapt. |
| mailbag | Posted – 1/5/2007 3:24:57 PM | show profile | email poster "mkelly -- Actually, yes it is how to run a business. Cutting staff and outsourcing functions is fantastic for profits, and by doing so Corporate America is making oodles of profits these days." We disagree mkelly on what makes a good business. I'm old, I won't live much longer so in my view business is about people. If your comany makes $1 mil in sales, and you target a profit of 12%, which is quite good actually, at $1.2 mil you roll along - keep jobs in the USA and help employees build their lives, homes, families, etc. When some Yale MBAs decide your profits need to be +20%, and you can make even more by going public -- the dollar signs pop like babies in a maternity ward. This is the problem and suddenly your business model is there to please the IPO. Screw the employees and their families whatever. To me - this is shameful and irresponsible as a part of the human race. And yet - this is heroic in this land I hate to call my home. "mkelly - If that's the case, then I would seriously advise you to reconsider a career in media..." Mkelly, I don't know how old are, but I think it is fair to say I've been in it a bit longer than many on this board- started in 1978. I'm no freelancer, nor do I care to be. I have respect for those who can pull it off, but that is not me. In my old fashioned view I work for a company that in turn pays for my 100% attention. It works in Europe, it used to work here, so for now all I need to do is hold out a few more years until the retirement funds kick in.. Everyone else can go fight it out like rabid dogs. |
| Chamsah | Posted – 1/5/2007 3:26:15 PM | show profile mkelly You've mixed up some of my comments and mailbag's, but that's okay. I am going to disagree with you on the firing part. Sure, there was revenue being brought in by ad sales, since the magazine did have SOME advertisizing this year but not nearly enough. This is a comission job, so they SHOULD be held accountable. You don't meet your quota, you don't get to keep your job. Simple as that. My job is not commission-based, but you bet if I didn't meet my deadlines and turn in those 3,000 word stories (i wish those were my assignments!) on time you BET I'd get shown the door. And fast. Why? Cause there are tons of people out there banging down the door to get in. Now I am one of them. So why isn't accountability the same for ad sales? I really don't get your point. |
| newyorker | Posted – 1/5/2007 5:17:25 PM | show profile Isn't part of the problem that the market is too saturated with hundreds of publications and advertisers have to become picky about where they place their money?? |
| Chamsah | Posted – 1/5/2007 6:13:20 PM | show profile New Yorker Hmm. I am not so sure. Yes, go to a great newsstand and the amount of publications on the shelves is astounding. But that's long been the case. That's just part of the sales challenge, and true for any ltype of sales, be it magazine ads or widgets. Plus, I was referring to a million plus circ mag. That's pretty sweet placement for advertisers. That HAS to come into play when advertisers decide where they will place. Of course there are other factors but a saturated magazine market? I don't think that holds back solid companies like Ford, Kraft, P&G, etc from reaching millions of readers. |
| kalin | Posted – 1/5/2007 8:42:03 PM | show profile I find some of your views odd. Add that goes for both sides of the debate. Without a great magazine, sales people have nothing to sell. Without ads there is no magazine to produce. This goes for all the departments. I think the best advice that was posted, Chamash, is to look at other avenues. While the job market may not be so good in some areas, it may be better in others. |
