June 18, 2009

A workday in the life of a backpack journalist

Maria Papadopoulos is a reporter for The Enterprise of Brockton, Mass., and she defines backpack journalist. Papadopoulos also was named Journalist of the Year by the New England Press Association at its annual convention in February. The photo above shows her on a typical workday. She's videotaping a family -- a scene being photographed by a colleague of hers --as part of a multimedia report about pedestrian safety in the wake of a fatal crash in Brockton in which a 3-year-old boy was killed while crossing the street with his family. Click on MORE to see a photo essay about her workday. MORE>

Union to vote July 20
Boston Globe, Guild
reach agreement on concessions

The Boston Globe and its largest union have reached agreement on a retooled version of a $10-million package of concessions sought by the company that lessens pay cuts in favor of diminished fringe benefits from an original agreement rejected by the union.

The almost 700 members of the Boston Newspaper Guild are scheduled to vote July 20 on the revised agreement. It contains a 5.9 percent pay cut. Guild members rejected by a 277-265 vote June 8 an agreement that would have cut pay by 8.4 percent.

Guild leaders declined to make a recommendation on that agreement, but have recommended that members approve the revised agreement.MORE>

Report: Times Co. might sell
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Newspaper industry analysts think that the daily Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, Mass., is up for sale by its parent company, The New York Times Co., the Telegram & Gazette reported June 21.

The Times Co. purchased the Telegram & Gazette in 2000, reportedly for nearly $300 million, and made the paper part of its New England Media Group. The group includes The Boston Globe, Boston.com and Globe Direct, a direct mail business that operates from the Telegram & Gazette’s Millbury, Mass., printing plant. The Times Co. paid $1.1 billion for the Globe in 1993, the highest price ever for a newspaper, and the Globe is also reportedly for sale.

Industry analysts have valued the Telegram & Gazette at $10 million to $50 million, with the most common estimates coming in at $20 million to $25 million, the Telegram & Gazette reported. MORE>

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E-mail can be e-fficient but not always e-ffective
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The obvious deserves restating
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Ad-libs
A choice way to more ad sales
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Technology
Applying Handbrake to video file conversions
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