Gannett, which is America’s largest newspaper chain, plans to hire two new reporters. One will focus exclusively on Taylor Swift; the other will focus exclusively on Beyonce.
This is the same corporation that bought and then decimated local newspapers in Macomb, Galesburg, Monmouth, and other markets in this region and across the country. The Boston Business Journalreported that Gannett eliminated 20% of its journalism jobs in 2022.
Gannett’s vice president for local news said the reporters are not being hired at the expense of other reporters.
Shop Talk is a weekly panel discussion about journalism issues. The program features Dr. Will Buss, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University; Dr. Pamela Peters, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University; and TSPR News Director Rich Egger.
