News-Press’ Don Katich Explains Lay-Offs

Was Agnes Huff n Puff not available to "answer" the questions in this interview?

Let's see... Don Katich is "director of news operations" and he doesn't know how many reporters the newspaper has?

And "people who just do copy"? What is this position?

Doesn't sound like he knows much about the newspaper business. No surprise, then, that he was hired by Wendy McCaw and Arthur Von Wiesenberger.

Don Katich is probably going to be the new public "face" for the paper. He's slick, goodlooking and far better on camera than Arthur von Wiesenberger. When the co-publisher was invited to appear on the Ernie Salomon show, Katich accompanied him. Poor Wiesenberger -- dufus that he is -- told a caller that if the community TV channel on which he was appearing wanted to be listed in the News-Press' television guide, then the channel should buy advertising. And co-publisher Wendy McCaw considers herself a philanthropist? Puleeeeeze!

Mr. TV/realtor...the perfect fit for someone to explain decisions made by wacky wenders and the von!

He knows not of newsrooms or journalism, but what else is new when you consider the owner and "decider" about all things journalistic and employees who do know.

Katich needs to keep in mind that he's dispensable, too. Give 'er a little time.

Hahahaha, Ashaw, thanks for the rapid-fire comments posted at 5 a.m. Clearly, arguing on the internet is serious business!

The News Press can do anything it wants to, in the commercial printing field, because it has a state of the art printing facility! It can buy up shopper papers, sell them, buy more, put copy on the Net and not print anything. If it takes fewer people to do that and the owner wants to control editorial direction, then they can do that , too! I guess we all have to get used to that in this era of greed!

Ashaw: elevating the conversation since July of '08:

'Hobbies: Girls, God and Guns - I "cling" to all three, I'm not concerned a bit about climate change ...

Although you are proud to claim "tolerance" as one of your virtues, you will find yourself very intolerant of me. I will dredge out your hypocrisy for all to see.'

Says what he does, does what he says.

Drberticus on AShaw:"Says what he does, does what he says."
Well, @ least we know he ain't a polytickcian :) henry

I hear Wendy has cut off Von Weezelbugger's allowance, he is now filling in as "paperboy."

Why doesn't the News-Press have a blog as The Independent does?

Bill, great question, but I think you know the amusing answer to that 1. Actually, I think the answers are many, but they're probably all amusing :) henry

"It's the economy stupid" reality check for all the cry babies out there.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/busine...

Funny thing- I've been seeing the Newspress advertising for reporters recently. I'd love a job in journalism, but even I'm not that desperate.

LV, that was funny! Reminds me of a company I once worked for in Carpinteria. The day I left to start my new gig I thought I died & went to Heaven! :) henry

lordlead has it right...and Von Weezelbugger's allowance is not all that wendy has cut off - symbolically speaking, that is.

So here's the deal:

This guy Don Katich is not telling the full truth. I know of people (yes more than one) that were directly involved with ONLY the News-Press product and they got canned as well. So this whole story about the people that got let go is to make the News-Press better is not fully true since vital people that made the News-press product good in some way are now gone as well. The News-Press is losing lots of money on classified advertising and they needed cuts because they simply did not have the funding to keep people that they currently had. Exactly how much they are losing yearly is not for me to say but is definitely in the 6 figures mark. That's a lot of salary that they needed to cut. I have to agree with some people that have left along with me though. It's been freeing to be out of the News-Press. They were always monitoring everything that anyone did or said. I remember someone I know getting in trouble because they had written their own opinion on the independent.com blog and that opinion was not the opinion of the owner. Haha... freedom in the News-Press was definitely not given. The freedom to think outside the box was, but only as long as it was still within the owner's box :)

I also look at the "big" Santa Barbara News-Press web site and how it compares to the independent.com web site. Man the independent makes the News-Press seem that the independent is the big dog in town. The News-Press should be the most technologically advanced media in town, but there's no technological progression there. Right now the News-Press is the only paper in the country.... wait wait... let that sink in for a sec.... in the country that has a paid program for their online news. Unbelievable.

I'm really not trying to hate on the News-Press. I'm not. I really do hope that they become the type of newspaper that this community can be proud of. But it needs 1 of two things: new ownership or for the current owner to get with the program and stop being so prideful. If there was an ounce of humility that came from Wendy, then I think that most of her problems would be resolved.

Just my opinion...

First, A. Shaw, you obviously love to stir up controversy, and I think Wendy would LOVE to have you on board....you're just the type!
This is not just any business, it is our community's voice. It is our newspaper. This is no Lompoc (no offense Lompoc, but internationally, you're not as "on the map" as SB). It's embarrassing that our paper is under siege by the most indignant "public" figure I think I've ever seen or heard of. There are laws and ethics that rule this industry, and this Bitc# has taken our community voice away from us. I subscribed to that paper for 25 years. I miss it (the way it used to be) very much. The credibility of this rag is a joke, no one takes their reporting seriously. People's lives and reputations have been seriously scarred by the vicious, unjust and biased articles the NP has put out. Articles attacking our own local citizens! Beware A. Shaw. You, too are at risk. I know several people who the NP has literally crucified on their pages, completely without factual, justifiable cause! Just because either Wendy or Armstrong have a personal "beef" with them, or else because they just decide to taint a story with lies and prematurely "convict" the innocent prior to being proven guilty - and often times, they're NOT, just to spice up a story (Zata, you are SO guilty of this)!!!! It is SUCH a shame and embarrassment, I just hope, wish and pray that Wendy sells and leaves us alone. In my 38 years here in this town, I don't think I've ever disliked someone in our community as much as her, and well, Armstrong who is just a poison spewing snake. Go away, we don't want you here!!!!!!!!!!!

The saddest part is, Wendy and Armstrong probably get excited when we talk about them this way. They seem to feed on the controversy. I just WISH someone in this town would take the paper over. Or better yet, that the Independent smothers the NP and becomes our community's main published news source. Keep up the good work Indy, you've got my support!
C7