Clocking in at the Citizen-Times

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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A loyal reader tells me that hourly workers at the Asheville Citizen-Times are now required to clock in and clock out when they take breaks and such, much like assembly-line workers. It’s caused some grumbling around 14 O. Henry Ave., especially among newsroom folks, who see themselves less as blue collar copy monkeys and more like creative professionals. (At least that’s what you have to keep telling yourself.)

It’s obviously another move toward “efficiency” and a clear attempt to better control costs. As newspapers downsize, the mantra is “more with less.” But for managers, that translates into increased pressures to pay the fewer people on staff more in overtime to try and get the job done.

In my humble opinion, it’s another demoralizing step toward taking the fun out of journalism. I always thought people committed daily acts of journalism out of the passion for the work. If have to spend an extra couple of hours tracking down that key source, then so what? You’re on a hot story and you’re having fun. So much for that idea. Now C-Ters are punching a clock, just like the guys at the Blue Ridge Paper mill.

I also do think of journalism as an art from, not some production process. Adding a time card, to me, really diminishes the whole spirit of the endeavor.

I don’t know all the details, so if you know more about what’s going on, drop a comment here or feel free to e-mail me.