The Chain Gang: One Newspaper versus the Gannett Empire

by Richard McCord

 
"They're closing in on me, Dick, and I'm afraid they're going to get me," said Frank Wood, publisher of the Green Bay News-Chronicle, in a phone call to his friend and colleague, Richard McCord. Drained of cash and spirit, Wood could not hold out much longer against a devouring giant, the Gannett Company. As editor and publisher of the nationally distinguished weekly Santa Fe Reporter, McCord had successfully fended off Gannett's "Operation Demolition" when it moved into town. Now Wood was seeking the help of a survivor. Startling case histories of the dubious tactics practiced by Gannett, unsparing insights into the newspaper industry, and harsh conclusions all come together in the dramatic story of these two men's efforts to save the small Green Bay daily from being obliterated at the hands of the nation's largest newspaper chain. Their success is a metaphor for one of the oldest triumphs of the that of David over Goliath. "McCord has done something marvelous with this. He's taken a deeply disturbing nationwide trend and put it on a small midwestern stage with real characters. The Chain Gang 's message needs to be heard by as many Americans as read newspapers. Already Gannett's monopoly tactics have impoverished communities across the country. McCord is one man fighting back, coolly, rationally, creatively, and stubbornly. Let's join him."—Michael Shnayerson, Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair "More graphically than almost any other available record of the era, the Gannett piracy is what has happened to this country, tolled where the price is truly paid, in the lives of communities and people."—Roger Morris, winner of the Investigative Reporters and Editors' National Award for Distinguished Investigative Journalism "Richard McCord's The Chain Gang takes the losing battle for the soul of American newspapers from the euphoric accounts on financial pages to show what corporate news chains can mean in human terms to the people and the vitality of the victimized cities and towns. His is a unique account of the power and depredations of the Gannett Chain under its glib empire builder, Allen Neuharth. It goes behind the facade of slick public relations and financial killings for investors to show what happens when a ruthless and ambitious wheeler-dealer gets control of our news."—Ben H. Bagdikian, media critic and Pulitzer Prize winner

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Erik Surewaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOTE: the discription of Goodreads on the top of this page is incorrect. This book is NOT about the fishes of New Zealand...

Just to be clear... This book is also not a story on prison chain gangs. Although I am currently also reading prison stories, this book is something completely different: the story concerns the anti-competitive behavior of the newspaper/media chain called Gannett. Gannett owns and buys a lot of local or regional newspapers. It also owns several tv and radio stations.

My compliments to Mr McCord, the writer / author of this book! His writingstyle makes this business book comparable to a good novel. One can really read that the author has an extensive experience in writing. This in his former function as reporter and publisher of his own weekly newspaper.

The story is one with a lot of interesting competitive actions. It actually covers the fights of three locally owned newspapers that are confronted with competing activities from Gannett, with the sole goal of driving the weaker locally owned newspaper in bankruptcy. It shows how far Gannett is willing to go with spreading lies, fraud, predatory pricing, hiring away personell, etc.

I don’t often give a five-star rating, but in my opinion this book deserves it. The writing style and interesting topic makes this a good read:)

[Leonard Modzelesky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about the shady side of the newspaper business.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book struck a personal note for me because I once wrote for the Green Bay News-Chronicle (as mentioned in this book) which put up a strong fight, but swallowed up by Gannett in 2005 - nine years after this book was written. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Ba...) I worked with extraordinarily talented people there and feel sad when I think of the death of the small newspapers.

Insiders view of the underdogs versus the major media conglomerate.