Comments on: New trend: Phasing out graphics departments?

By: Jim McBee

Jim McBee — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:33:35 +0000

You know, another “trend” I’ve spotted — or at least wondered about — has been this business of canning designers right after a redesign.

It’d be interesting to see some pie charts of the makeup of newspapers before and after rounds of layoffs to see the real patterns, if any. Should be no lack of graphics folks with time on their hands :-|

By: Len De Groot

Len De Groot — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:33:29 +0000

Sorry I’m late to this posting, but I was off getting married this weekend.

For what it’s worth, not everything is doom and gloom. We have diversified the Sun-Sentinel graphics department â€” adding TV news and promotions graphics and three more artists to the mix.

Now print, web and TV have one place to get graphics and it is easier to produce for all platforms.

I’m the first to admit this experiment may not work. We’re walking a fine line and it could backfire. But with any luck, those of us who survive this “kill the art department” nonsense will emerge with new skills and be better equipped to capitalize on the opportunities of a resurgent economy.

We are also facing layoffs and would be surprised to make it through unscathed. But I am fortunate that upper management (Tim Frank and Earl Mauker) see Javier’s point â€” that the graphics department is positioned to help lead the way now AND the next time the technological ground shifts.

I don’t want to sound like a Pollyanna, especially since several people I really care for have been laid off. I just want to keep a spark of hope alive.

By: Dennis Bolt

Dennis Bolt — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 04:49:03 +0000

The last two papers (Medianews 40k and NYT 90k circs) I have been at have fazed out the graphics staffs. From about 8 people in 2002ish to zero now. I left of my own accord and they never replaced me as graphics editor. But I would not have been surprised to have been layed off or had my all my staff layed off. So I guess at least the timing was my own.

But these days, 10 years in one field is a long time. Time to move on. I am glad that I did not have 30 years into it, and no other options.

By: Bob Voros

Bob Voros — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:47:59 +0000

This does not bode well…

By: Vasin Douglas

Vasin Douglas — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:55:12 +0000

Steve
You are totally correct, and sum up my thoughts perfectly

By: Stephen Cvengros

Stephen Cvengros — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:37:32 +0000

What the? Newspapers really do not get it. The populus is becoming more visually inclined not less. Heck, I’m not sure a couple generations from now will even need to read.

Regarding the question will the jobs be there? Information delivery is about “embracing change.” (Oral history… handwritten letters, books… printed pages… telegraph… radio… TV… internet. All moving away from written words as core delivery.) The jobs will be there in a different form. Infographics journalists are far more prepared to work on the web than a staff reporter or slot editor.

By: Alberto C

Alberto C — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:57:32 +0000

Javier, I had exactly the same conversation las night with my now ex-coworker and friend Robert Dibrell. The term we used was crap-storm instead of nuclear winter but the concept is the same.
I absolutely agree with your reasoning but the problem is how long until the dust settles. Time is a huge factor when you have people that depends on your paycheck you don’t have the luxury to wait for the next thing or freely jump around to the next thing.
Ryan, you are in the right spot. Could you elaborate on how did you get in the web development world?

By: Michael Dabrowa

Michael Dabrowa — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:33:45 +0000

Ryan, that’s good advice. There is a vast unexplored world out there, esp. on the web for graphics folks like us. Well said!

By: miranda

miranda — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:59:57 +0000

Hey Chuck, actually I am heading back to graphics. So we will be a two-person team but I will be going back to doing both print graphics and online work.

Javier - I couldn’t agree with you more… unfortunately that is exactly why I keep getting moved all over the place.

Ryan - you have articulated my exact campaign for the past two years. We need more visual people to assert themselves into the we news presentation. It is both cowboy country and growth industry so I can see why people might be hesitant. But we need it! Desperately.

By: Rob Beer

Rob Beer — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 07:40:21 +0000

Boy, I feel for anyone affected by all this. Even working under the cloud of “will my/our jobs be here tomorrow” isn’t comforting either.