By Phil Riske | Managing Editor/Rose Law Group Reporter
Few workers over the past generation have worked only at one place. A local journalist was an exception to the rule until earlier this month when she was laid off at The Arizona Republic as media giant Gannett continues to reduce employee costs at the cost of journalists.
Lori Baker, 55, worked at The Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette. She freelanced for the paper starting at age 14 and spent the past 35 years on staff as an editor and reporter.
Baker agreed to an e-mail interview, which appears below.
(Edited for length only)
It must be a shock not having a job after all these years. Are you angry?
I am shocked and upset because I’ve always had excellent reviews. I have a reputation of being a very organized, hard worker who is able to juggle many responsibilities and get the job done right. I also have expertise and contacts in many areas and coworkers often came to me for help. I realize that whoever made the decision didn’t base it on my performance.
Although I have worked for the same paper for years, I have worked in different offices including downtown Phoenix, Glendale, Deer Valley and Scottsdale. I have had many different positions over the years including publishing editor, night editor, education editor, environment editor and a reporter who covered several school districts, cities, business and aging issues.
I’m hopeful about finding a job that will allow me to continue to use my talents and give back to the community.
We’ll get back to the layoffs. Your career spanned the time from when reporters knocked out copy on a clumsy manual typewriter to today, when you can send a story around the world instantly on the Internet. What are some of your most memorable events and stories during the decades of landmark developments in journalism?
I remember in July 1978 when an editor shouted in the newsroom the news about the birth of Louise Brown, the first baby who was born from in-vitro fertilization. It had just come across the AP wire machine. There was no Internet then. Newspapers, radio and TV were how people got their news. When the 9/11 tragedy occurred in 2001, stories, photos and videos were posted online and had a worldwide audience. When the 19 firefighters died in the Yarnell fire this year, reporters used iPhones, online video and Twitter to tell the stories on azcentral.com as they unfolded. Readers were able to comment online about what was happening. The Republic had special coverage inside the A section for several days. Journalism is much more instant and interactive today.
People who’ve been around here for a long time can remember when The Republic conducted a lot of investigative journalism. That hasn’t been the case over the past decade. Why?
There has always been investigative journalists working on in-depth projects at the paper and there are still today. It is the hallmark of the paper to do watchdog reporting. But as newspapers compete with readers’ time, market studies showed that they want news about where they live and work. They can get national and international news from many sources. The Republic has journalists covering the news in cities and schools throughout the Valley. They deliver the news in multiple platforms including the front page, Valley and State section, Community sections and azcentral.com. They are able to post news that happens in readers’ back yards within minutes.
What changes has Gannett brought to the paper?
Gannett brought a corporate feel to the paper. When the paper was owned by Eugene and Nina Pulliam, the newsroom had a family atmosphere. Newspaper editors came to my wedding, and I got engraved cups when each of my daughters was born. There were regular employee events at the R & G Ranch. For years, I received a personal letter from the publisher on the anniversary of my hire date. I also got gift cards for milestone anniversaries at the paper such as my 20th and 25th. When I celebrated my 35th anniversary on Jan. 28, 2013, I didn’t get any acknowledgement for my long years of service.
After Gannett bought the paper in 2000, the company recognized the value of the neighborhood news sections that were launched under the Pulliam family. More sections were added and the frequency of publication was increased. Because the news media industry was quickly changing because of the Internet, Gannett did market studies regularly to determine what readers wanted most. News coverage was adjusted to reflect those priorities.
Newsrooms are shrinking across the country as newspapers are acquired by large corporations or individuals with no prior media experience. That being the trend, is the public getting the reporting it should?
My experience has only been with The Phoenix Gazette and The Arizona Republic. With smaller staffs, the public is not getting the same kind of reporting as it has in the past. However, reporting is more instantaneous now and that is what readers crave. We live in a world of instant information. Reporting is evolving as better technology becomes available.
Surveys continue to show the public places little value on journalists compared with other professions. What’s your response to that?
It makes me sad. Journalists are dedicated to uncovering the truth and providing accurate, fair and informative stories. The Internet has a lot of information available but people don’t know what is true.
You have said you’re too young to retire. What type of job would you like to have?
I am the sole breadwinner in a family of three and I’m many years away from getting Social Security. I am open to any employment opportunity. During my career, I have covered a wide range of topics as an editor and reporter. They include schools, government, business, nonprofits and health.
Anything you’d like to add?
There are hundreds of talented journalists still working at The Arizona Republic and they need our support. They are working hard to provide timely news that benefits the public.
Related: Arizona Republic Kills Its Community Opinion Pages in Aftermath of Layoffs
