More layoffs??? In Reidsville?

Ann Austin is in Reidsville today. She's with Human Resources and is usually the dark planet of death...the one to tell you you're fired (or laid off) - except in my case I got Steve Kaylor...who sounded quite scared and nervous. I hope this blog hasn't worried him too much. He wasn't too worried about having male reporters filming the breasts of local business women. THAT didn't upset him...nor does the idea of a lawsuit. So I can't imagine he'd worry because in HIS mind - sexual harassment and a hostile workplace is okay. If he thought otherwise he'd have done something about it and NOT lied to the woman who asked him point blank if he knew about the video!!

The Media General Publishing Muckety-mucks are in town today too...hmmm...sounds like more layoffs to me. They planned to lay-off 11% of the work force - mostly in publishing. Could be - as the rumor goes - that Reidsville and Eden folks will be moved to Danville or let go. They've already incorporated the three papers into one web-site - probably to guauge reader reaction - which hasn't been positive. Remember reader - "Convergence" is shorthand for "we're cutting the number of reporters, cutting the quality and the coverage and charging more for everything."

If Reidsville and Eden folks have to commute - no gas money for that...and they'll end up paying Virginia state income taxes as well as whatever they've got to pay in NC. That's gotta be fun. But they may actually get a good photographer in Robert. Of course they may all stay down there. Who knows...We didn't keep the other three who came up very long. They told me they felt unwelcome and that the copy desk was "hateful" and acted like Danville would have to pick up their slack when in fact - it was Danville's slack that needed picking up. Too much partying going on - not enough work. Those long dinner hours don't help I suppose....