17 Apr 08 ‘Toronto Star’ lays off entire Web staff

Hat tip: Danny Sanchez

In a huge purge Torstar Corp., owners of Canada’s largest-circulation newspaper, the Toronto Star, is laying off 160 people, including the entire 10-person Web team. This comes as a shock during a time where one would think the Web team might be the safest place to be (at least I’m hoping so, *gulp*).

Most of the job cuts, taken through severance packages, were already expected, but laying off the 10-person Internet staff came as a surprise, said Maureen Dawson, an official with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.

“Their message to the world is that they’re all dedicated to the Internet, but then they lay off the whole department,” she told The Canadian Press.

“The Star has said they would tell us in the coming weeks where the (Internet) work would go. We have an idea where one or two of the positions would go - but not all of it.”

“I don’t think it’s clear where it’s going for them either.”

I’m not sure if Torstar Corp. knows it or not, but Google hasn’t created a Web product just yet that eliminates the need for a Web staff. They might want to keep around a person or two. You know, someone that at least knows HTML or something. More:

But some industry critics suggested that the newspaper would try to shuffle out its older workers, and hire younger and cheaper workers, rather than train all of the veteran staff on new technology like online video.

“We see this trend of seeking to get the older employees out and bringing in new employees,” said Lise Lareau, the national president of the Canadian Media Guild, which does not represent the Star.

“Training becomes an issue. There’s ways of addressing this other than by (voluntarily laying off) the older staff and bringing in newer staff.”

Wait a minute, so there’s openings in Toronto. Robin, to the Canadian consulate, passport at the ready!

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Tags: journalism, layoffs, news business

09 Apr 08 50 greatest comedy sketches of all time

One of the few movie critics whose opinion I trust, Nich Schager, points us to IFC’s collection of the ‘50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time.’ Below is number eighteen:

This isn’t particularly journalism related, but I point this out for two reasons.

One, it’s damn hilarious and worth some time and a walk down memory lane. The collection includes genius bits spanning over 50 years of sketch comedy with gems like Monty Python’s ‘Spanish Inquisition’ to SNL’s 1978 ‘Olympia Restaurant’ sketch which had John Belushi spouting, “Cheezborger! Cheezborger!”

The second reason I point this out is that it is a fine example of a sort of Journalism 2.0. Granted, it’s movie news but it is still a relevant point. Not only can you read the snippets about each clip, written by various critics and movie buffs culled from all points of the cinematic spectrum, but you can watch each and every clip thanks to the advent of YouTube and embedded movie players. This adds such a rich layer to what IFC, and in the future other journalists, will be able to do with the advances in Web techology.

The article may have worked in print, but the way they presented here just makes sense. Think about all of the times you’ve read these types of ‘50 greatest of all time…’ articles but couldn’t for the life you remember what clip, movie or song the article was talking about.

Yeah, those times are over. Stuff like this is just the tip of the iceberg, to use the cliché. Web 2.0 rules!

Oh and of course #1, with a bullet, is Monty Python’s ‘Dead Parrot. ‘ If you’ve never seen it, here it is for you. Swallow any food you are chewing, don’t drink anything and watch.

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Tags: journalism, movies, videos