Gannett Company was founded in 1923 by Frank Gannett. Gannett later became known for purchasing small independent newspapers and developing them into a large chain.
By 1979 the chain had grown to 79 newspapers. This practice was credited with keeping the newspaper industry financially viable.
Today Gannett Company’s 82 newspapers include USA Today, Detroit Free Press, The Indianapolis Star, The News Journal, The Journal News, The Cincinnati Enquirer, and The Arizona Republic, among others.
The company also owns 43 television stations and 13 web sites such as CareerBuilder.com and ShopLocal.com.
Gannett Company trades publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GCI, is #481 in the Fortune 500, has 31,600 employees, and had $5.48 billion in revenue in 2013.
Gannett CompanyGannett Company was founded in 1923 by Frank Gannett. Gannett later became known for purchasing small independent newspapers and developing them into a large chain.
By 1979 the chain had grown to 79 newspapers. This practice was credited with keeping the newspaper industry financially viable.
Today Gannett Company’s 82 newspapers include USA Today, Detroit Free Press, The Indianapolis Star, The News Journal, The Journal News, The Cincinnati Enquirer, and The Arizona Republic, among others.
History
The company also owns 43 television stations and 13 web sites such as CareerBuilder.com and ShopLocal.com.
Gannett Company trades publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GCI, is #481 in the Fortune 500, has 31,600 employees, and had $5.48 billion in revenue in 2013.
Really disappointed in your ownership of the Evansville Courier and press. I used to love reading the paper and seems as if service and product has gone WAAAY down hill since you moved operations to I think Louisville. Used to subscribe and quit due to not getting the paper and a delivery person begging for tips al of the time. I now purchase to periodically and that is getting less frequent. i have tried several different vendors to buy it from and on friday unless you buy it in Warrick County there is no Warrick section. Sunday is a whole other issue! Sometimes I dot get the complete paper or there are no store ads in it. Either you are dropping the ball or the vendors that you deliver to aren’t putting it together with all of the sections and ads. But you have raised the prices! No wonder circulation is DOWN.
I recently had a negative experience with a distribution manager for one of your local newspapers. Her name is Mary Noonan, she is contracted to distribute for you under Brightwell Distribution and Kevin Blades, for the Livingston County Daily Press and Argus, New York Times, USA Today, Wallstreet Journal, Detroit Newspaper Partnership, and Lansing State Journal. She should have a drug test. She was visibly under the influence of some narcotic as well as smelling like alcohol while at work distributing your products to the carrier force in Livingston County, Michigan. You should be aware of the type of people Mr. Blades contracts, and also that this has been going on with his knowledge and participation for the past several years. I am sending this anonymously, as I have a friend who works there and can not afford to loose his lomg term position. He has been a contractor since prior to Brightwell Distribution taking over. I have heard stories of the parties at distribution for several years and didn’t believe it until I witnessed it myself this past weekend. As a corporation, this refelcts poorly on your reputation. As a media company, you definately know that this is not an acceptable scenario for your product to be distributed to the contractor force (inviting mistakes) or for this to be a refelction of your company to the public. Please look into this. Thank you.
Newspapers are, among other things, in the communications business. Someone needs to tell those answering the phone at corporate that is one of their functions. I have spent a great amount of time this morning attempting to get contact information, both for Gannett and The Arizona Republic. I wanted to send an email, but I could not find that information. I called corporate several times, finally got a person, asked a question, and was sent to a voice mail. The person on the voice mail spoke so fast, I couldn’t even get her name. I again tried corporate twice and finally gave up after no one answered for about 10 minutes. Not even a recording. The Republic was not open at the time so, I thought, surely corporate could help.
It is no wonder–but very sad–to experience such problems from a company in the business of communications. Since I was a daily newspaper editor, publisher and supervisor of numbers of newspaper for almost 50 years, I believe I have an understanding of why newspapers are having such difficulty today. And, newspapers are important to this country. This problem certainly doesn’t help you when those in the business should be concerned about maintaining relevance to your dwindling audience. Those in charge need to look back at history to see what made newspapers important and relevant.
I realize those responsible for making a profit and keeping the public informed don’t have some of the understanding and background of those no longer in the business, but there are lessons to be learned. I also realize the challenge to compete in today’s world where we have access to breaking news immediately. That makes it even more important to understand what makes newspapers important, and what makes them successful.
During my newspaper career, we always emphasized LOCAL news. I understand the challenge for metropolitan newspapers, but local news is still important if newspapers are to remain relevant. Subscribers still care about local names and local news. I still subscribe to The Arizona Republic, but I often wonder why since I have to get local news from Phoenix television stations. And, I get national and world news from television before the newspaper is ever distributed.
Make it easy for readers and subscribers to have contact. That contact may help in your mission. Yes, even for the CEOs and publishers. While they, along with their editors and reporters, may get a number of emails, acknowledgement of some type is important. Emails are an easy way to communicate in today’s world. My suggestion is not to get too wrapped up in your self importance. With reduced advertising, subscribers, and page count, my suggestion is to take a hard look at what news you provide. Remember, much of the “news” you provide has already been shared by television and other media. Look at what is relevant to your readers and maybe, just maybe, newspapers will continue to exist in the future.
It’s not news that newspapers face a great deal of competition in today’s world which makes it even more important to have a well-defined mission. It’s important those in charge understand their audience, and what they want from their newspaper. Subscribers drive advertising, and advertising drives profit so newspapers can remain in business in the future. Newspapers are important for our country.
As a subscriber to APP online and a lifelong resident of Jackson Township, I am asking you as the editor of the Asbury Park Press to please speak with your reporter Mike Davis who decided to to give an interview with another reporter from Matzov.com and the Jewish News Channel that was extremely anti-Jackson residents. I am extremely offended by the fact that your reporter basically called me, my friends, neighbors and family members bigots, racists and anti-semites, and currently am feeling that I am being persecuted by forces outside my own home town for an agenda of a greater entity – for money. It is my belief that this is a call to the 5 boroughs to come to Jackson township and further harass the residents, resident who are already fearful to say one word when they are approached at their homes to sell.
Currently, I have doXXXXented comments, mailers, advertisements and more from entities who are trying very hard to, in their words “take over the town” for an agenda that is not and has not been discussed as of yet, but there “is” an intent for the sleepy town of Jackson. While Mr. Davis probably does not live in Jackson, I question his true knowledge of what he is saying, but to me, as a historian and resident since 1964 what he is purveying is propaganda to incite both residents of Jackson and Lakewood. Mr. Davis can’t hold a candle to Shannon Mullen.
What is even more disturbing, is the fact that during this interview, the Matzov.com reporter, while calling residents bigots, doesn’t even identify the fact that his comments about “Blacks and Asians” are bigoted and racist comments, but Mr. Davis agrees with his commentary. This is not just egregious, but despicable to the great families that live in my town.
At this time, I will consider whether I will continue my subscriptions with your paper and the Sunday paper that I purchase at the convenience store. For at this time, I am asking for you to discuss with Mr. Davis what he just did and am asking for a public apology – in your paper, the publications in the 5 boroughs and Lakewood news sources, to the residents of Jackson Township. I would also hope that you will engaged in dialog to have that propaganda on youtube.com taken down. Please refer to the video I am speaking of:
youtube.com/watch?v=HXLZgOM3Cpc
Mike Davis is a journalist at the Asbury Park Press, covering Lakewood, Jackson Township, and other surrounding …
I would truly appreciate a response to this email.
Thank you for your time,
Elenor M Hannum
Jackson, NJ 08527
I recently signed up to receive the Detroit News through groupon 3 to 4 weeks ago to get the Thursday, Friday, and Sunday paper’s. For some reason I have to call twice a week as they don’t deliver to me that often. I have called customer service many times now and asked the area manager to call me, which has not happened. I finally spoke with a customer service manager to refund my money. I was told groupon does not refund. I said groupon has done nothing wrong and you should refund me. All she said was I can cancel the paper but you get no refund. Then I got wished a merry Christmas and Happy new year. No resolution to my problem.
My name is Balazs Schreil, M.A. – with political immunity – I am an investigative journalist and psychologist. I am completely world wide cleared s innocent, sane, not suicidal and am looking for work as a Web Designer/Reporter.
Dear AZ Republic,
I had been searching for a way to use my LivingSocial DealBucks, and there it was… a LivingSocial ad, for 26 weeks at 25 bucks. Bingo. A perfect gift for my wife.
So I bought the deal, and was taken to your website to setup delivery, etc. The LivingSocial deal was “marked as used by the merchant”, and I was to expect the paper in 10 days.
Well, guess what… The 10 days went by, and I went to collect my paper from the porch, but lo, alas there was no paper.
So I called you up and asked what was the deal-e-o, and after 20 (TWENTY) minutes of “let me check” and “let me put you on hold for a sec”, you told me that the paper would be delivered shortly.
Well, guess what… “Shortly” came and went, and no paper. I thought that it was just a faux paus, so I decided to let it ride until next week.
But, guess what… Thursday rolled around, and all of a sudden there’s a bill in my wife’s email. Not much of a bill, but a balance due, nonetheless. So I got a free moment on Saturday to call you up and get to the bottom of it. Now, after 40 (FORTY) minutes of “let me check”, and “let me put you on hold for a sec”, I was told that:
a) There was a credit applied rather than a paper delivered last week. Of course, I wasn’t made aware of that. And I sincerely hope that the $0.49 credit on my bill doesn’t represent that missed paper.
b) There was no record of my LivingSocial purchase, despite your researching the invoice number and purchase ID I gave you.
c) There would be a billing person call me back within 48 hours.
d) There would most-assuredly be a paper delivered tomorrow.
Well, guess what… There was no paper. I thought, ok, I’ll leave it be until the billing people call me.
Well, guess what… Nobody called me back by the following Thursday, which, by my math, was at-least 96 hours.
Finally I threw up my hands in surrender, and called LivingSocial to get a refund.
After 60 (SIXTY) minutes of “let me check”, and “let me put you on hold for a sec”, I was given a refund, and was told that you extended your apologies for my inconvenience.
All, good, case closed, right?
Well, guess what… I got a paper bill mailed to my house today. You now want $8.54 for some reason. I have no idea why, and I have absolutely NO INTENTION of spending another second on this issue after this email.
This is the most laughable, incompetent display of service I have seen in some time. It’s the kind of thing that, save for the amount, gets the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau and the Arizona Corporation Commission involved, not to mention Yelp, LivingSocial and 3-on-My-Side.
Please fix this, and reply to this email address when you’ve done so. Do not call or send paper.
Fervently,
Dan Hallman
To: Mr Garcia Matrore, CEO or
To whom, I hope, it may concern:
I would like to know how I can contact the publisher of the Springfield, MO News Leader. I called the paper in Springfield and was told they have an interim publisher and didn’t know his name. ???
We have had ongoing delivery issues for about a year with no resolution. No one we have spoken to and/or emailed seems to have the ability or desire to do anything other than tell us we are valued customers and the issue will be investigated/addressed. We were even told twice that if our paper doesn’t show up we could go on-line and read it. That’s a solution to poor service?
And it gets better. Today we were told by a Michelle Peck that she would send us a “tube”, free of charge, mind you, so the people who often don’t deliver the paper, and if they do, seldom bag and tie it regardless of the weather; these folks are gonna stop and stick the paper in a tube?
Frustrated and PO-ed,
Wayne and Julie Dietrich,
Hi,
I will try to be brief. I sent an e-mail to Alicia Rhinehart at The Oshkosh Northwestern. No response. I called and talked to Dan Immel who said he would call back. No call. I had stopped the paper in the middle of November. It did not stop. Then I was illegally charged on my credit card for six months of the paper. I sent a check to renew the paper. Gannett says they do not have it. My paper will stop. I was called by Gannett to find out what was going on. No answer. Mail box was full. Last choice led to dial tone. I cannot find an e-mail address or phone number of anyone with authority at Gannett. I called Karen Befus at the Northwestern. Left message. No call back. This has been going on for two months. I think your company needs help in the customer service area. Who can help? I was also told I would have to pay for putting a hold on the check. After two months of non-service, I have a very good guess as to where the check got lost.
Thank you,
Dennis
This is the most insane thing I have ever seen in corporate america.
1) Wanted to place a ad (My business) could be up to a full page at the Desert Sun in Palm Springs. Called twice left word then called in person again and dialing number got “Customer Service/should be Customer abuse we do not want any business- department by some smart XXs ” gal as I asked for a General Manager (bear in mind I wanted to SPEND MONEY ON ADVERTISING WITH THEM AND WOULD BE A “CUSTOMER” IF i elected to give them my business.
2) Received abuse for asking for someone in authority, cause it definitely not her, she maybe was the TSA at the office???
3) She would not answer the question or transfer me. So had to leave and of course wondered if they can continue to be in business with these attitudes.
4) Called the master number 703 854 6000 which rang and did not answer so assume that Gannett is just taking the existing revenue and burning the companies to the ground as long as they can exist and then upflowing the cash to enrich themselves.
Moral: When is that a newspaper gets out of the business of selling ads since the news now in the world of digital is hashed over reprintl Hey Gannett, it is time to do some rework of the company and some soul searching. It was only a possible 1/2 page or full page ad I was planning on running so will do direct mail. What a poor example of managing and serving the customer.