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Freedom Communications

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Journalist - Journalist Freedom Communications Employee Review

3.0
18 Oct 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

From 1980-2002, a fast moving, competitive organization owned by the Hoiles family. Decent pay, good benefits, outstanding esprit de corps among staff. Really smart, fun colleagues. Lots of innovation.

Cons

The management was always very bureaucratic, but beginning in 2003, with the entry of private equity "partners", top executives became fixated on bottom line and pushed out editors and reporters who didn't fit their bland mold. With first bankruptcy in 2009, the company was completely under control of private equity, who started selling off assets, and paid themselves huge management fees. Any gross profits went to a small number of investors at the top. Management turnover left the company to be run by people whose only prior business experience was in greeting cards or casinos. Company went bankrupt again in 2016 and the carcass sold to notoriously tight-fisted Digital First Media, who continued with cutbacks.

Explore other reviews about Freedom Communications

5.0
14 Jun 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people and environment to work for

Cons

Management has changed since I left, so not sure how good it is now

2.0
24 Oct 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The majority of the people in the newsroom are good friends who hang out together a lot outside of work. If you want to gain or improve your computer/job skills, there is always someone willing to teach you.

Cons

The company cut salaries by 5% to dig themselves out of bankruptcy but did not discontinue management bonuses. Now (in 2011), 2% has been reinstated. But, the rest is considered a raise that must be approved by management. They currently are not giving raises. The assignment editor is a nag who makes the newsroom a stressful place to be. The staff once met after work to discuss ways to get back to enjoying the work environment. it boiled down to ways to handle and work around her.

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