|
How you We, leaders and residents of Silicon Valley and Santa Clara County, are concerned about the future of the San Jose Mercury News, a highly valued institution here for 155 years. Our readers |
|
Black Monday July . 2, 2007Today, the San Jose Mercury News loses the talents of more than 40 journalists in a combination of layoffs and resignations demanded by the California Newspaper Partnership, a consortium owned by MediaNews, Gannett and Stephens Media. These 40 journalists represent hundreds of years of service to the Mercury News and to hundreds of thousands of readers. They are reporters, editors, photographers, copy editors, designers, graphic artists, support staff and librarians. They take with them their knowledge of what makes San Jose and Silicon Valley a special place. This would be a blow at any time but it comes on the heels of nearly two years of deecost-cutting. Since 2000, the newsroom at the Mercury News has been cut in half from about 400 journalists to 200 full-time positions. This bloodletting has to stop. San Jose deserves a great newspaper. Silicon Valley deserves a great newspaper. There are hundreds of stories to be told about changing communities, cutting edge technologies, pop culture and high art, school boards and government. Who will tell these stories? The newspaper industry is in turmoil across the country as information moves to the Internet. The answer to this threat from our parent company is to cut staff and damage the newspaper – both in print and online. We, the members of the San Jose Newspaper Guild know that the success of this transition depends on investment in technology and investment in journalists. We want to be partners in the growth of the Mercury News and mercurynews.com. We don’t want to be a part in the dismantling of a newspaper that has served Northern California for more than 150 years. So we urge our supporters to make mercurynews.com their home page. We ask you to sign up for our email newsletters with news that interests you, click here, we ask that you tell us where our coverage lacks and what interests you. Most of all, we ask that you demand a great newspaper. You deserve it. Email: letters@mercurynews.com |
Readers: What would you miss?
The effect of budget cuts and layoffs will almost certainly be to drive away more of the talented writers, editors, photographers, designers and artists who bring you the Bay Area’s Best.
Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.
Think about it:
WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST?
– Who told you this morning why that bleeping road work on Interstate 680 was taking twice as long as Caltrans said? (Hint: The Mercury News’ Gary Richards, aka Mr. Roadshow.)
– Who told you What the Boss Makes and filled you in on the fortunes of Silicon Valley’s top companies in the SV 150? (Hint: The Mercury News’ award-winning Business team.)
– Who laid out for you just how smelly San Jose’s crooked garbage deal with Norcal Waste Systems really was? (Hint: The Mercury News’ John Woolfolk, Barry Witt, Deborah Lohse, Rod Foo and a team of city government reporters.)
– Who left you laughing this week with that wicked one liner about the suddenly successful San Jose State Spartans? (Hint: The Mercury News’ Bud Geracie in Wake of the Week.)
– Who made you want to open your window and scream: "I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore" with his stories of political scheming in San Jose? (Hint: The Mercury News’ Scott Herhold.)
-- Who saved you 10 bucks by telling you that, that latest Hollywood block buster is really a stinker? (Hint: The Mercury News’ Bruce Newman.)
– Who found justice for those who would have found none without his tenacious reporting? (Hint: The Mercury News’ Rick Tulsky, who led the reporting and writing of "Tainted Trials, Stolen Justice.")
– Who finally explained to you what in the world was going on, on that freaky "Lost" show? (Hint: The Mercury News’ TV critic Charlie McCollumn.)
– Where did the teens in your life turn to tackle their real-life problems.
(Hint: The Mercury News’ Read This section, produced by editor Natalie Martinez and a team of area high school students.)
Save the Merc * If you are having trouble signing our support list, click here Support@SaveTheMerc.com . Thanks |