Comments on: How Many Bodies Exactly Is CBS Interactive Trying To Hide? Try “275-ish.”

By: Tech Roundup: Google and the Death of Print | lalawag

Tech Roundup: Google and the Death of Print | lalawag — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:48:49 +0000

[...] of CBS’s digital dreams up north in San Francisco and tech publisher CNET — had to fire a lot of people. How many? No one knows, so we’re just guessing 20% of their 275 [...]

By: xenu

xenu — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:32:21 +0000

why layoff 600 employees only to turn around and start hiring?

By: Gail

Gail — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:09:09 +0000

By the way it triggered the WARN act so the severance was at least two months. I’m not sure about the smaller layoffs the entire year though, This sucks for them.

By: Gail

Gail — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:07:30 +0000

CBS Interactive has been doing small layoffs all year (every few months). This one just got noticed because it was slightly larger. I bet the actual number is quite higher if you look the entire year.

By: Gail

Gail — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:05:33 +0000

Actually CBS Interactive has been doing layoffs every few months the entire year. The one in December is just a larger one that triggered the WARN act in almost every city they are located. They’ve secretly been hiding the bodies all year.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:40:28 +0000

I was one of the victims. worked there for 6 months fresh out of college with an econ degree. they hired me to work in cnet.com, ie news, reviews, download, shopper, etc. I really don’t understand why’d they would train me and then fired me.

By: WebbAlert - December 15, 2008 | TechTV Update

WebbAlert - December 15, 2008 | TechTV Update — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:06:04 +0000

[...] Tracker has now passed the 100,000 mark. Last week’s biggest cuts came from Sony, Yahoo and CBS. I guess the silver lining is that soon there won’t be anymore jobs to cut. [...]

By: Tech-PR

Tech-PR — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:37:49 +0000

I agree with Mani wholly. I am interested only to know what arrangement they make for victims in the firing list and whether they show their commitment in earning their livelihood.

By: Layoffs at CBS Interactive; Are Asia sites affected? | the(new)mediaslut

Layoffs at CBS Interactive; Are Asia sites affected? | the(new)mediaslut — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:36:02 +0000

[...] Erick Schonfeld at Techcrunch, The pink slips were passed out on Thursday throughout the various business duchies that make up [...]

By: And The Lay-Offs Continue «

And The Lay-Offs Continue « — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:11:04 +0000

[...] BNET, GameSpot, TV.com, last.fm, and CHOW. Though CBS would not report the actual number, TechCrunch puts it at about [...]

By: glamour-geek

glamour-geek — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:13:05 +0000

Curious Cat: CNET Business is what they call BNET, so it is in the memo (says one of those laid off from a different unit in March and hired by another company in August.)

I know someone who was cut in this round as well. It’s never easy to be laid off, regardless of the circumstances, so whatever you think of the reporting, be kind to anyone from any company who is going through that emotional and financial turmoil. There will be more cuts at many companies and all of us will fear the worst. If you’re not worried, you’re not paying attention. Be generous and gentle with each other.

By: Tech Layoffs Surge Past 100,000 | Fidicaro.net

Tech Layoffs Surge Past 100,000 | Fidicaro.net — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:46:16 +0000

[...] announced layoffs of 1,500 employees took effect this week, and Cnet saw the brunt of the estimated 275 layoffs across CBS interactive (although other units, such as Last.fm, were not [...]

By: daisy

daisy — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:03:04 +0000

I think it’s insensitive that someone said less than 1% of CBS was affected. Perhaps you are not in that 1%, but for those of us that are it hurts.

By: Tech Layoffs Surge Past 100,000

Tech Layoffs Surge Past 100,000 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:46:46 +0000

[...] announced layoffs of 1,500 employees took effect this week, and Cnet saw the brunt of the estimated 275 layoffs across CBS interactive (although other units, such as Last.fm, were not [...]

By: links for 2008-12-12 | hxf148

links for 2008-12-12 | hxf148 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:03:47 +0000

[...] How Many Bodies Exactly Is CBS Interactive Trying To Hide? Try “275-ish.” [...]

By: coldbrew

coldbrew — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:28:54 +0000

That happens to be a crappy copy of TC’s layoff tracker that Needleman put together for CNET; it is not a “reporting” of the event in question, however. Not only that, but the list has CBS Interactive’s layoffs as “undisclosed”. Enough BS you guys, this article is right on.

By: CBS cagey about how many layoffs in interactive unit; bonus memo | Idiot Inc.

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:11:30 +0000

[...] company isn’t saying how many. Rumors are circulating that the cuts might be as high as 20%. TechCrunch is estimating that 275 people, or 12% were given the [...]

By: carnivore

carnivore — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:44:29 +0000

CNET did report about the cost reductions at the place where it reports such things:
http://news.cne...om/tech-layoffs

By: Michael Levinson

Michael Levinson — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:08:53 +0000

Erick, in all honesty you guys have had it out for CNET for YEARS! Anything that can be said, written or discussed to make them look bad you take advantage of.

Like you said this is barely 1% of the CBS team, so nominal in fact that they dont need to even report it in fillings. next time you make a $1.8 billion dollar acquisition, let me know and we will discuss how you going about creating efficiencies in your business.

By: abbey normal

abbey normal — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:20:32 +0000

http://www.cbsn...ource_pink.html

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:17:03 +0000

This article is germane and fair, I think, but there’s seems to be a perception at CNet that there’s some amount of gloating from the TC writers. I don’t know them personally but, while I don’t have any type of figures, I’m sure TC revenues are being affected similarly to the CNet revenues; both appeal to a similar demographic. I’ll admit that I don’t find the CNet/News.com reporting fair a lot of time — ever since the “Al Gore invented the Internet” lie they threw out (or their call this week to hire more H1B’s) — but also don’t think the layoffs are entirely the result of editorial.

By: CuriousCat

CuriousCat — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:36:33 +0000

Erick – don’t get so defensive. I appreciate the story.

Questions: What about their CNET Business unit? No mention of it in the memo. how generous was the severance? And their more obscure-but-revenue-generating units like whichever one houses MySimon?

Observations: There is still lots of fat that could be trimmed, I’m sure.

By: Layoffs By Any other Name Are Still … » Adotas

Layoffs By Any other Name Are Still … » Adotas — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:55:32 +0000

[...] it would cut about 2 percent of its 2,100 employees based in the U.S, while CBs, according to Tech Crunch, has laid off about 275 employees. Lycos Europe annouced it was liquidating its assets, and [...]

By: Erick Schonfeld

Erick Schonfeld — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:26:47 +0000

I’ll take the hit. I have no problem with my editorial morals.

By: Erick Schonfeld

Erick Schonfeld — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:25:01 +0000

So when 275 people lose their jobs I should just not report it? That’s a lot of people. You are right, though, it is surprising that they didn’t do it sooner. But I can’t write about it until they actually do it.

The real issue here is CBS’s obfuscation. Its employees deserve better, its shareholders deserve better, and so does the general public.