WVTM Reporter Scott Mauldin was one of those dropped in the latest wave of cutbacks at the NBC affiliate in Birmingham, but he's not just sitting back waiting for a job offer. He's formed an online media gathering spot called Vulcan Media Team to give his fellow unemployed media types a way to attract freelance jobs. Wonder if I can be listed as a freelance "asker of annoying questions"? (-:
There is a growing pool of unemployed radio, TV, print, and PR workers as the recessions cuts deeply into corporate profits. Scott, by the way, was an occasional and always welcomed guest on "For The Record".
People always are, have been and will always continue to be any company's most valuable asset - not resources, asset!
ReplyDeleteWhen any company - for whatever reason - decides that those assets are no longer valuable, or that something is more valuable than human beings, their lives and their capacity for creativity and problem solving, they are on their way down, and out.
In essence, it is a misplacement of priorities. When the quest for profit (making a quick buck) exceeds the value that people can give to a company, and the value which they are to a company, that quest is most frequently called "avarice," the most heinous type of unbridled greed. Some describe it as "the love of money," of which the Scriptures indicate is the root of all evil.
You see, people will do ANYTHING to get more of the thing (or person) they love. And if a person (or people) love money (an inanimate object which cannot reciprocate), they will do anything (including hurt people) to get more of that thing which they love.
Conversely, if a person loves another, they hold them in high esteem and respect them, thus, they will not purposely do anything to harm them, because they know their love and respect will be reciprocated.
No matter how grand, glorious or superlative any business plan may be, the employees (people) will make or break a company. Knowing that truth, it is any firm's best and highest interest to treat ALL their employees with respect.
Part of business operations includes consideration of employee contributions. If, on the whole, employees are beneficially contributing, then they should be kept and rewarded for outstanding performance.
As part of any business venture, people will make or break it. And in the balance column, the cost of replacing people (not just the dollar value, as in compensation) is greater often, than even the product, good or service which is delivered by the company.
That in this present era, our nation is suffering from the avarice of so many firms, is testament to those truths.
Those companies whose executive management have high regard for their employees, in conjunction with a superior business plan, and high quality product or service will survive. And it doesn't just mean having plenty of cash on hand (reserves), although requisite sound management recognizes the need for sufficient cash reserves.
Analogously, it's much like some of the old-timers whom lived through the Great Depression. For many of them, they were never without several hundred dollars in their wallets at any given time. That was their psychological "insurance" against times without the ability to purchase.
American enterprise should take a lesson from some of them.
Hi Tim! All my thanks for the kind words and for helping spread the word about Vulcan Media Team.
ReplyDeleteWith such wonderful talent sadly searching for work, we have an impressive (and quickly growing) list of participants in this effort to re-brand freelance media work and earn....anythng!
Our big challenge is landing clients for starters. Within a week, we've managed to book several video events for some out-of-work news photographers. We have two pending PR-type possibilites. But we need help spreading the word.
One key goal is to win some political ad biz with 2010 warming up. Any tips?
Tim, thanks again for helping get the word out about Vulcan Media Team...and thanks to all who have been letting folks know about my efforts.
Moving forward,
Scott Mauldin