Pat Harty laid off

[83Hawk]

Too bad for Pat...hate to see anyone lose their job.

Fortunately I am eligible to retire from my job, so a layoff (not likely) is nothing to worry about. Would still have to work if I retired now, but I would have no problem working at Hy-Vee until I hit 62.

 

[HawkinGoferLand]

I didn't read him very much the last couple years, but I found him to have changed, and was very complimentary of the Hawkeyes.

I agree that he seemed to change the last couple years and I found myself reading him regularly whereas there was a time back then that I avoided his stuff

 

[tm3308]

Newspapers are in free fall and honestly Gannett, with its unrealistic obsession with 22-24 percent ROI, is a big part of the problem. Virtually every paper it has touched in the last 25 years has turned to crap. And then they wonder why people don't read their newspapers and, worse, why advertisers don't spend money with them.

Myself a victim of the industry, I feel bad for Pat. I hope he lands on his feet.

This is bad news for HawkeyeNation in a couple ways:

- His departure marks one less reporter devoted to largely or exclusively covering the Hawkeyes. Gannett will not fully replace that commitment to covering Iowa sports.

- Most stories linked here and on other message boards are written by newspaper reporters and edited by professional editors. How many of Pat's stories have been shared and commented on here? Quite a few, I'd bet. Those are now gone.

Sad day for Pat. Sad day for Hawkeye sports.

This is probably at least 60% of the problem (can't ignore the impact that the Internet has had on newspapers, though). With the Register and Press-Citizen both being Gannett papers, they started scaling back a year or two ago (hence why we've been seeing stories written by Rick Brown running in the P-C, etc.). They stopped sending both papers to Iowa sporting events, and both papers have recently lost photographers (last I knew, the P-C laid of one of the two guys they had, and hadn't hired a new one; the Register just cut three photogs after having the entire department reapply for their jobs).

As a photographer, I would rather try to catch on at a paper like the Gazette, which isn't owned by Gannett. The job security is significantly better, and so is the product.

 

[skinnykilmer17]

I would encourage anyone close to Iowa City to pay a visit to the IMU this Sunday at noon to hear Elizabeth Warren speak. Try and ignore the campaign rally if necessary.

Especially you boobs who consistently vote against your self-interests regarding economic issues. *Hint - If you are the guy who thinks people are coming to take your guns away. Or who think Obama is responsible for Ebola. Then this just might be you.

 

[Knight78]

they are no more loyal to employees than employees loyal to a corporation. goes both ways. and forget about a 'lifetime contract'. ain't happening. time to dust off that resume if you go to work and fear getting fired on a daily basis. doesn't sound like a place i'd want to be.

Yeah, it's just that simple.

Actually, it is that simple... if you have marketable skills and have taken advantage of all that your workplace offers in ways of enhancing your marketable skills.

 

[knighthawk13]

401k is just another good example of how big companies exploit employees. Colluding with political elements and special interests in the government to destroy defined benefit pension plans . To the only end that company executives can ultimately earn a larger piece of the economic pie at the expense of the working class. But because everybody does it so some people rationalize it as being an acceptable. Especially lawyers.

Let me guess: you sell annuities.

 

[trj]

he had to know this was coming......it stings, it probably bruises the ego for a minute. you have a backup plan, you buy a bar in missouri, watch your wife go bat**** crazy, disappear and try to set you up for murder.

 

[Knight78]

I would encourage anyone close to Iowa City to pay a visit to the IMU this Sunday at noon to hear Elizabeth Warren speak. Try and ignore the campaign rally if necessary.

I'd sooner listen to Brent Musburger scratch his fingernails across a chalk board and inject his opinions into yet another of his poorly done college football broadcasts.

 

[528646]

he had to know this was coming......it stings, it probably bruises the ego for a minute. you have a backup plan, you buy a bar in missouri, watch your wife go bat**** crazy, disappear and try to set you up for murder.

^ lmao!

 

[QuadCityHawkeye]

Newspaper and radio are two career paths that are tough these days.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

you control your own destiny. yes you do. i pulled the plug on a 'job' at one point in my life - to do something 'solo'. i understand what you are saying, but if you are seriously in constant fear of getting the can, time to reevaluate.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[BryceC]

401k is just another good example of how big companies exploit employees. Colluding with political elements and special interests in the government to destroy defined benefit pension plans . To the only end that company executives can ultimately earn a larger piece of the economic pie at the expense of the working class. But because everybody does it so some people rationalize it as being an acceptable. Especially lawyers.

I'dmuch rather have a 401k. If I leave a company the pension stays but the 401k comes with me. That being said I work for s company that still has a pension as well as an excellent 401k match and I am extremely thankful for it.

 

[DesMoinesHawki]

I feel for Pat. I was "downsized" (great word, huh) five years ago. It's a horrible situation... Especially if you are established at your job. The older you get the harder it is to find a similar situation. It also can knock your confidence down. I feel for him. If you have been ever lost your job then you know what I mean.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

I feel for Pat. I was "downsized" (great word, huh) five years ago. It's a horrible situation... Especially if you are established at your job. The older you get the harder it is to find a similar situation. It also can knock your confidence down. I feel for him. If you have been ever lost your job then you know what I mean.

I hope you are or have landed on your feet. But according to OK4P and Imported Ankle, you are always in control.

Anyway, I do hope you've landed on your feet.

 

[DesMoinesHawki]

I hope you are or have landed on your feet. But according to OK4P and Imported Ankle, you are always in control.

Anyway, I do hope you've landed on your feet.

Thanks! Yes I did land on my feet. Appreciate the inquiry.

As for others saying you are in control ... That is b.s. I wasn't in control when I came to work one day and our entire division was told we would be closing. I work for a very big company so fortunately many landed on their feet. But no, we aren't always in control.

 

[OkstHawk]

they are no more loyal to employees than employees loyal to a corporation. goes both ways. and forget about a 'lifetime contract'. ain't happening. time to dust off that resume if you go to work and fear getting fired on a daily basis. doesn't sound like a place i'd want to be.

Oh I beg to differ sir. I am hoping to land one of those KF deals where you can perform like crap, get paid a ton of money for doing it, and never have to fear of getting fired. Oh...and a place where I can then pass down jobs to my kids so that they too won't ever have to worry about working at a job where they have to take some responsibility either.

 

[528646]

Newspaper and radio are two career paths that are tough these days.

I dunno, radio doesn't sound all that difficult to me on the basis of how many sports radio people I hear that are complete dipwads.

Jon/Deace do a nice job with their podcast, there are a couple local (Denver) guys who are entertaining (though have Bronco tunnel vision - i.e. won't talk anything but Broncos), Murph & Andy were entertaining, I always got a good kick out of Jim Rome (no X & O insights, but big on entertainment value)...other than that, I'm not sure I can list any hosts I would listen to for more than 15 seconds.

 

[QuadCityHawkeye]

I dunno, radio doesn't sound all that difficult to me on the basis of how many sports radio people I hear that are complete dipwads.

Jon/Deace do a nice job with their podcast, there are a couple local (Denver) guys who are entertaining (though have Bronco tunnel vision - i.e. won't talk anything but Broncos), Murph & Andy were entertaining, I always got a good kick out of Jim Rome (no X & O insights, but big on entertainment value)...other than that, I'm not sure I can list any hosts I would listen to for more than 15 seconds.

People get let go all the time in radio in general. ClearChannel had made some massive cuts over the last few years and a lot of on air personalities have been let go. FoxSports Radio did a massive lineup shakeup a few years back and popular hosts were let go.

It's just a really competitive field where you can be there one day and gone the next very easily.

 

[HawgEyeState]

That sux for him. What a terrible thing to happen. I've never experienced it myself, but friends and family who have all seem much happier once they pick up a new job.

Things will work out. Rough road getting there, but he'll get there.

Getting laid off from the WORST paper in America, is probably a
blessing in disguise. Good luck to Pat Harty. He will land on his feet.

Really have no where to go but Up, when you leave that paper and company

 

[Playmaker]

Never like to see anyone lose their job, but there are young butt kissers all over Iowa standing in line to throw marsh mellows and blow kisses toward the U of I....namely, Ferentz.