Category Archives: Unions

Why Caesar quit

Posted on August 30, 2008 by admin

Joelontheroad will be back with more ’68 Chicago convention reflections next week. [donation] By Joel Thurtell Why would Number Two on the Detroit Free Press factotum pole Caesar Andrews take a buyout? I mean, the guy’s nearly on top of … Continue reading →

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Detroit dailies: 116 take buyouts

Posted on July 23, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell [donation] I didn’t need an updated personnel directory to find the 17 Freepsters leaving the paper in the latest round of cost-cutting buyouts. They’re all old time Detroit Free Press people. Easy to find them on my … Continue reading →

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Free Press censors

Posted on July 13, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell [donation] The big question in this whole Detroit Kwamegate scandal — the best entertainment we’ve had in decades — is this: How did Detroit Free Press sleuths Jim Schaefer and Mike Elrick get their hands on the … Continue reading →

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Detroit newspapers: Layoffs possible

Posted on July 10, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell [donation] Operative word: “Layoffs.” Detroit Media Partnership has offered its latest buyout to members of eight unions representing workers at the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News, according to a letter to employees from Kristi Bowden, vice … Continue reading →

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Sugar-coating the buyout

Posted on July 7, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell It’s hard for newspapers to cover their own industry. It’s even harder for them to report news about their own newspaper. Maybe that’s an excuse the Detroit Free Press could trundle out for running today’s (July 7, … Continue reading →

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Right after all

Posted on July 6, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell   News in late June that the Detroit Free Press will print its last editions of the Community Free Press on Aug. 1 stunned the reporters, editors, photographers and myriad freelancers who’ve diligently worked to make those … Continue reading →

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Fantasy JOA for Detroit?

Posted on July 2, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell In January, joelontheroad.com broke news about the start of a possible Joint Operating Agreement between my blog and the Detroit News and Free Press.     I didn’t get much response.   In fact, the only response … Continue reading →

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Hypocrisy: First Amendment and the “free” press

Posted on June 11, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell The Detroit Free Press seemed both angry and mystified in its June 8, 2008 story about a Detroit judge who barred the public and media from a hearing about evidence in Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s text message … Continue reading →

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Private red squads illegal, too

Posted on June 6, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Who ever heard of newspapers running red squads? Sound crazy? Well, in their effort to impose behavioral conformity on newsroom workers through loosely-thought-out rules known as “ethical guidelines,” news managers have actually been doing the same kind … Continue reading →

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Political gifts okay at Detroit Free Press, says arbitrator

Posted on May 30, 2008 by admin

An arbitrator has ruled there was nothing wrong with my $500 donation to Michigan Democrats in 2004. Last year, Free Press managers told me they might fire me if I continued to give money to political parties. The Newspaper Guild … Continue reading →

Posted in Arbitration, Joel's J School, Unions | 1 Comment