MASON CITY – The owner of the Globe Gazette – Lee Enterprises – bragged about using thinner paper to report the news and other tricks designed to stay in business under crushing debt of over $548 million.
In a statement released this month for its fourth quarter financials, Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mowbray described a number of gimmicks to help keep the newspapers owned by Lee Enterprises – including the Globe Gazette newspaper in Mason City – afloat. The report talks about workforce adjustments, decreases in employee compensation, reduction in staffing levels and full-time employees, lower basis weight newsprint, and more.
Mowbray said digital revenue is increasing, but “a soft print advertising environment contributed to overall revenue declines. Fourth quarter total revenue was down 6.8%, a performance very close to last quarter and better than the trend from earlier in the year. Total revenue was down 7.1% in fiscal year 2017.”
As of September 24, 2017, the principal amount of debt owed by Lee Enterprises was $548.4 million, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Ron Mayo, said. Lee claims to be working to reduce its debt, but perhaps at the steep cost of a rapidly-deteriorating product that fewer and fewer people are interested in.
Other ‘highlights’ of the financial report connected to the Globe Gazette via Lee Enterprises seem to be:
– Total digital revenue was up just 3.8% from last year.
– Total advertising and marketing services revenue decreased 10.2% in the quarter
– Subscription revenue increased 0.6% in the current year quarter due to price increases
– Cash costs, excluding workforce adjustments and other, decreased 8.8%. Compensation decreased 9.6%, primarily as a result of a reduction in staffing levels
– A decrease in the average number of full-time equivalent employees of 8.5%
– Newsprint and ink expense decreased 16.2%, due to lower volumes from unit declines and using lower basis weight newsprint
A former Globe Gazette employee said it’s incredible that the newspaper remains open for business.
slightly less money
but likely do a
better job.
“I stopped in the office recently, and it was dark, dreary, the lights flickered,” the former Globe worker said. “The blue wallpaper appeared faded and soiled; I spotted cobwebs. I think I saw a mouse scurry under one of the many vacant desks. The employees were less-than enthusiastic and didn’t care much about making a sale. In my opinion, the place is on its last legs. I agree with Mowbray; its only prayer to remain in business is to cut loose all the dead weight in the newsroom and replace them with interns and freelancers, immediately, who will likely do a better job anyway for slightly less money.”
Talk about thinner GG paper Marquardt? Why all the new, extra charges for reading your thin blog site? Thin must be in you hypocrite.
Lee enterprises should watch the movie Why Him
You guys think when the Globe closes up they will have one of those one hour liquidations sales? I love antique typewriters and 90’s style cubicles
I just spoke to a top shelf employee of the Globe Gazette who told me Marquardt quit from the Globe because the place is a hellhole.
…the Globe might try printing actual news of the area like they used to years ago! I am not really sure why they just don’t “fold” and move their advertising in with the Shopper! I personally like reading a “physical” paper, but with their going to the thinner paper, it is all I can do to keep it from “rolling up” every time I turn the page???
– Total advertising and marketing services revenue decreased 10.2% in the quarter/ this says it all. Nobody uses them anymore.
Advertising in the Globe Gazette is expensive compared to other options, notice there are only 3 to 4 ads in the Service Directory classifieds now, five years ago there were 20 to 30 ads, they raised the ad prices and advertisers did not renew they’re contracts.
It will be impossible to stay in business at the rate they are going. The collapse is imminent.
I see Mr. Blodgett is now turning his considerable spin skills to sugar coating the thugs he retains to attack people he doesn’t think belong here.
Well, well, well … very interesting, as Artie Johnson used to say on the Laugh-In show.
Never did I ever think I could read hit men described as “highly effective semi-professionals who consistently produce superb outcomes at affordable rates”, and as “results-oriented Facilitators.”
I am just at a loss for words.
@ nick-nack, I bet you do not know Todd do you. Well I do. You don’t have to like how he does but he does good for Mason city that is a big for sure.
You never ever put anything on here thats nice about Todd he is just one of the nicest guys around. We go way back, like 5th grade up to Roosevelt.
Some times, the cops they dont get to do what we want them to, about these D Boyz and the other scum bag’s needs to get out.
This is where Blodgett is worth his weight in 14 carrot Gold.
Be nice next time Niacc teachy teach.
Known him since the 5th grade also.
I consider him a good friend.
Am I the only sane individual reading this thread? A member of a prominent local family who has worked in the White House and for the FBI pays violent thugs to administer bone-crunching assaults against drug dealers. He makes them leave Mason city against their will. If they don’t go, his personal SWAT posse injures them seriously enough to require weeks of hospitalization before they can leave.
Then we have the parent of a MCPD officer that knows all about this shady, illegal practice, and she and others commends our spoiled, gun-crazed Republitard for taking the law into his own hands. Apparently, other cops also approve of this Nazi-like method of bouncing those they dislike right out of River City.
Stuff like this makes me glad I no longer live in Mason city.
Cyclist, this isn’t new, nor is it news. Toddy Boy’s forced removals have been going on for years. We first learned of it from an ex county official who is close friends with Blodgett. This man had no problem with it, and told us he valued TB’s efforts.
And you know what, the more I think about it, I agree. Criminals have too many rights and the wheels of justice can grind very slow. But in the hands of those who are unconcerned with the fine points of the law, and who retain people who are capable of inflicting horrific bodily pain, justice is rather swift.
Let it go, Cyclist. It’s no biggie. Be grateful someone is doing something.
When I seen what Darnell wrote down it makes me think, oh what a big mistake Lincoln did when he set the slaves free.
Anybody that’s this dumb needs to be working to earn there keep, not typing on a damn computer.
@ Monica: Mind your manners, please, and cease with your impudent snobbery. The North Iowans you denigrated as “Low Lifes” are, in reality, highly effective semi-professionals who onsistently produce superb outcomes at affordable rates. They’re results-oriented FACILITATORS – not Low Lifes.
Also, ‘Monica’ – The thug you described made himself a target for involuntary relocation by selling crystal meth, crack, and PCP. I can’t recall if he was from St. Louis, Chicago, or Detroit – but yes, he left Iowa and hasn’t come back. Mason City is way, WAY better off without this evil loser, who knows that returning will be very unhealthy.
Only you, Blodgett, would try to cast a positive spin on hit men you hire and sugar coat the violence they cause. You are lucky the crooked cops we have in Mason and our Republitard Sheriff look the other way whenever you sic your bad boys on people. Just like when you threatened that carnival employee with your loaded gun at Rookies in Clear Lake. You are the worst thug in this part of Iowa.
Don’t lie, Obama Fan. Two carnival workers tried to rob me, not one. And they DID rob me, and they later served time for it.
Since you’ve falsely accused me of being “the worst thug in this part of Iowa”, I deserve a chance to refute your claim. Let me know when and where we can meet up, some time after Feb. 15 – when I’ll next be back in Iowa.
You’ll readily see that the associates who accompany me to our ‘meeting’ are far, FAR “worse” thugs than I.
Guaranteed!
Deal?
Your always good with us Mr. B, our son’s a police officer here in Mason. Him and them he works with, they love what you do. If it would not of been for you why Mason would have even more of these bad ones. You do step up to the plate that is alot more then most even think to. Good on you that you give work to them that needs money. Your doing your home town some real good, thank you Todd.
May be you see it diffrent if it be your kin get’s it. My cuz he done get it powerful bad Blodgett sick’s he crackers on his ass. Him do need to chill, they was 3 womens in he house when it happen them honkeys they not care. After it go down they slice’s my boys tindens when they thru, he won’t never walk good now. Cops dont do nothing. You all is not right in the head I’m sayin if you be for this here shit. For real.
Darnell-You and your Cuz need to go back to Chitcago where they put up with that crap and understand your getto talk.
my carrier left me a Christmas card with her info on it, guess she wanted a Christmas present (tip) ill give her a “tip” put my paper on the stoop everyday instead of wherever and you might just get a present next year
Just cancelled my subscription today. Told the girl I was tired of chasing my paper all over my yard. She told me I had called in November so she would tell the route manager. I asked why nothing was done in November, and she said I only had complained once. I told her I had called more than once. I guess since I cancelled she thought I would be satisfied if she told the route manager now. Guess you need to call more often!
get the glob online for 9.00 a month and no more recycling.
I called the glob to renew and after arguing we came to a reasonable price, I told the girl that I would be up and pay. she said she would put the price on the computer. I went to the glob and handed the girl a check, she started typing and said this is for 6 months and I replied no its for a full year., she said couldn’t be right, I said look on the computer and she found my price. she got up and went into a office behind her and some lanky tall dude came out mad as hell. he asked who gave me that price and I said a girl I talked to on the phone. he replied Im going to find out who and there ass is in trouble. I thought what away to act in front of a customer, could see why they hid him in a office, anyway I got that price but he was mad as hell. now if I could get my carrier to put the paper on the porch instead of all over the place including the flower beds id be all set. always had it in the door and got a new carrier and its where ever now. called the glob and was told they are contract carriers and the glob cant tell them what to do., bunch of bullshite
My carrier is probably the best thing about the Globe. Paper is at my house by 5:00am. If I happen to be up before it arrives I hear a quiet “thump” and 95% of the time my paper is on the door’s threshold or within 1 step of the door.
I had a carrier who placed my paper in the mailbox. He quit. New carrier throws it wherever he wants. I complained. They gave me a special box. It has never been used. Every Sunday it is like a scavenger hunt trying to guess where it has been thrown. It’s been wet and torn. Doesn’t do any good to complain because you get a snotty response. I feel sorry for the elderly who have to go to the end of their driveways to get there paper. Hope they don’t slip and fall. I WILL BE CANCELING MY SUBSCRIPTION,
Put it on a roll
Wrap it up tight
Sell it in the paper aisle
Price it right
I’ll use it
To wipe my buns
And sop up
My chicken gravy runs
Skipper will be
Without a job
Replaced by a kid
Who is less a slob
300 North Wash
Will be for sale
Cause the losers at the Glob
Are doomed to fail
Thanks, ‘Gotcha’ – and also to you, ‘another Deplorable’! Looks like an anti-American Mason City lawyer just found out the hard way that actions have consequences…
Ohhhh, Toddy Boy, your so cray-cray. So, if somebody disagrees with you, there anti-American? Your a snotty Republitard, Blodgett.
Call me whatever you want, Hillary – but until you learn to spell, and write a grammatically proper sentence, I’ll call you stupid.
Could you please grow up and find a different derogatory comment besides repubitard? I and probably many others get what you are implying and the population of people you are trying to denegrate. I find it offensive.
Libtard and democrap aren’t derogatory? Those derogatory comments get posted regularly
Yes
Get back to your bong H-P ‘20!
Hey Hillary P, you can’t compete with someone who is straight edged!
@ Anonymous, I agree, Mr. Blodgett’s asinine columns were totally ridiculous. Toddy Boy’s world view is like something out of about 1920. But I admit, I would always read them, as did my law partners. We are Democrats who like to see what the Deplorables are thinking, and saying. In my opinion, the Globe was ill-advised to give the Blodgett column the old heave ho. I even made my view known to Dave (Mayberry), who absolutely cannot stand Toddy Boy or his right wing nutty stuff.
I know who you are, JD, and you just lost a client. We will find another lawyer now to probate my late Mother-in-law’s estate.
HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa … ROTF LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – Signed, Another Deplorable Blodgett fan
We know who you are too JD. You have done some work for us too. But, after your comment here you will never do another one.
I like physically reading the paper while in my hands, no “e-edition” for me even though I am forced to pay for it.
I do chuckle to myself when they combined last Saturday’s and Sunday’s paper in to one issue and bragged how it was a benefit to the subscribers. Just another day that I thought I would get a credit for a day they were to publish but didn’t, but because it was a “double issue” (maybe 1.5 issues at the most) all was fine in their eyes.
It still irks me about their $4.00 bonus issues that 3/4 of it goes into the recycling without me even looking at it.
Will do like I normally do. Let the subscription run out, make sure I call before the last day or it will continue for several weeks and you still owe even though the subscription is expired. Wait 2-3 months. Put up with their bi-weekly phone calls/mailings. Re-subscribe when the price gets reasonable again and argue why I am charged a “new subscriber” fee when I have been a customer for close to 20 years.
Had a chuckle one day when I was at my favorite morning coffee shop and I asked for a napkin and they tossed the G. G. on my table.
Single ply Angel Soft is too good hell i can’t even line my bird cage with what they got now
Does anyone STILL pay for a Globe Gazette and why? Are they preying on Seniors?
We use to read the Globe for the obituaries and Todd Blodgett’s column. But they kicked Blodgett out. Ok so the wife,she gets a call from some girl says will you re-new your Globe. This tell-a-market girl, well she says Mr Blodgett did not get kicked off the Globe.
Lie.
Ok so she does a re-new. On count of a lie. Well we can see who died right on here, we can on read them from the under takers on their web sight’s to, no need for the Globe.
Our neighbor’s they have took to calling it the glob, maybe thats just what is is.
‘Grover’: Neither Lee enterprises or the Globe-Gazette booted me – that was perpetrated by David Mayberry. Mayberry had only been at the G-G for about one full year when, earlier this year (2017), he abruptly jettisoned my column.
This petty, vindictive, pseudo-Editor also never even provided me with an explanation, and he has LIED to several friends of mine.
That said, ‘Grover’, I’m glad you liked what I wrote! Thanks for the kind words about my work, sir.
Happy 2018 to you and yours.
Best Regards, T B
He never said that they read your articles because they liked them.
More than likely they read them for the amusement and your hysterical spin on facts & truth.
Once again TB, you see what you want to see, but that is par for you.
Todd we greatly enjoyed your columns in the Globe, you always hit the nail on the head. What is that Mayberry man smoking? Can’t wait for your next column!
Thx, Candy – I appreciate your support. You’re a REAL American!
So Blodgett, what is your definition of a REAL American?
Perhaps somone that associated and had business dealings with neo-Nazi’s and racists?
Perhaps someone that was a paid snitch for the FBI?
Perhaps someone that was a drug addict?
@ anonymous it don’t bother me Blodgett use to do drugs made money off Nazi’s was a FBI snitch. People make mistske’s least he is honest on his past. But Toddy Boy, he sick’s his low life’s on them he don’t like. A guy lived right down our street, sold meth to get money for his kid’s. Well Blodgett tells him get out of Mason. He does not do like Todd told him to well in a couple days he gets jumped this was right in his own front yard. 5 or 6, they even drag him inside the house to do the worse parts of the beat down so nobody could see. He was in Mercy for like 2 weeks, ankle’s both broke a knee got twisted real bad. Broken arm, a bunch of teeth knocked out to, this was one bad stomp. MCPD did not do nothing neither and my ex, he calls them on it. Still nothing. Well he left out of here to back where he’s from but it was not legal. Thats why we will never go for how Todd Blodgett does.
That’s just great (not), Monica. Guess who’s paying that sick dude’s hospital bill? I’m sure he wasn’t marked “paid in full” when he left.
@ Anonymous: A “real American” is anyone who agrees with me!
Hey, Todd
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Thanks, Kraig! Nice to hear from you. Happy 2018 to you, as well!
Hey Todd, I enjoyed and read all of your columns. It was real nice to hear the truth for a change instead of the normal drivel on T.V. and in the GLOB. I miss seeing your columns and hope you will write more for N.I.T. My Dad would have loved it.
Thank you, ‘Anonymous’ – and a Happy New Year to you, and to Mr. Koller!!
I haven’t seen the new paper yet, but it sounds like it getting close to toilet paper. Welcome to the 21st century e-news, another one about to bite the dust.