SAD to see that Sarah Hartley has left the Manchester Evening News (MEN) and closed her Mancunian Way blog.
Sarah writes more about her experiences of spending the past few years heading up one of the region's leading news websites.
And I've no doubt that a rosy future lies ahead for Sarah 'the glue' Hartley, as I used to call her for bringing the different corners of the Manchester digital scene together.
What does worry me is that this is yet another retrenchment from MEN Media as they cut back regional offices, slash the number of journalists they employ and now whittle away the ties that have developed with a burgeoning digital industry sector.
The MEN seems determined to cut its journalism costs yet at the same time it is distancing itself from local communities, be they geographical or interest based, eventually though it will be swamped as these groups gather and power forward.
And if they have no community left to communicate with then they will die.
It seems that this is where the MEN is heading,a great shame but opportunities for other organisations with less overheads to step in
Posted by: Nigel Barlow | May 01, 2009 at 15:04
As you say Nigel, opportunity for others is there for those willing to grasp it.
Noticed Kate has similar thoughts:
http://manchizzle.blogspot.com/2009/05/more-cuts-at-manchester-evening-news.html
Posted by: Craig | May 01, 2009 at 17:33
I wonder if cut backs at the MEN will increase its dependency on freelance journalists like you Craig.
I have to confess to not knowing a lot about the journalism industry, but my experience of other industries is that when an organisation wants to cut costs it will often make somebody redundant on Friday and hire them as a freelancer on the Monday.
I have often considered the relationship between what an employee costs and the quality or work they deliver. I'm concerned that by cutting back on its good quality staff, like Sarah mentioned above, that the MEN has got itself out of one problem but now finds itself in a completely different one.
Posted by: Jamie Clouting | May 12, 2009 at 11:24
Hi Jamie, unfortunately I'm not seeing more opportunities for freelancers, if anything budgets are being cut.
And I think many people would agree with you about the declining quality of the MEN.
All the best, Craig
Posted by: Craig McGinty | May 15, 2009 at 15:20