reporter

driver (independent contractor)

editor

delivery driver

account executive

The Seattle Times

So I initially started working here because my mother who works for the company needed a substitute newspaper carrier to do half of her route on Sundays (because that's when the most amount of customers get the newspaper, and there are four parts of the paper to assemble, meaning they're huge), Thanksgiving (again papers are HUGE), and for whenever she was going away for vacation. Now I DO NOT recommend getting this as a full-time job, nor getting a route of your own. Because there are really no benefits at all except for gas cards. You need to have the right car to do this job, otherwise you'll be wasting a lot of gas and money. You do not get a day off, you cannot call in sick, unless you have a substitute to cover for you, you have to come into work. So if you do get this job, be a substitute. You work between the hours of 1-6 am roughly (it depends how big the newspaper route is, and how many people get a paper that day) the fastest time I ever got done delivering newspapers in a day was 2 hours, thats including picking up the newspapers AND delivering them. Though I only had to deliver 150 or so papers. But best part you don't have to talk with customers face to face, and you get to drive on the wrong side of the road. But do be careful because there are some people who think you're stealing people's mail, they're creepy people walking around in the middle of the night, etc. but very rarely.

HavIng a positive atmosphere and a  company that makes every effort to make it enjoyable with FUN  activities and  tools such as classes  and meetings to keep us informed and updated  to enhance our jobs so we can be productive and become  skilled workers and for some - leaders!
I have learned that to be a good employee means being  devoted and loyal and always trying  and from there - results from ones effort will bring goodness. 
Having a good support system among the co-workers & management  with good communication makes  for a better work place and thus being more creative, results oriented  and resolving issues making contented and happier employees.  
The hardest part of the job I'd say would be meeting the monthly goals but it was  fun when we had contests in reaching and achieving them.
The most enjoyable part of working for this newspaper company  in advertising was on a daily basis  knowing each day we walked  in  the doors of the company  we were working for a  great company that provided a service that blesses the community by  their excellence in   journalism and advertising and thus having people being more informed,  a vital link to our lives given to us!

This place is kind of a joke. Management is only in it for themselves and unless you're bringing big money on for them they really don't care about you. The pay is really low for what it should and they are so behind on the times when it comes to technology, they're pretty much backdated 10 years when compared to other newspapers.  Management will fire you the day before your last working day after giving your two weeks notice just to prove a point to HR and to make themselves look good. They're barely profitable as a paper, they've cut their employee size down by about 65% just so they can stay afloat and sold some of their property just so they can stay around and to claim to be the last family owned paper in the country. Coworkers can be real malicious too and just spread slander about you to make themselves look better than they actually are. Just stay away from this company, they probably aren't going to be around much longer anyway.

I began working for the Seattle Times as a Branch Helper, delivering newspapers, from the back of a blue company van. After working nine years, without advancement, I applied for and got a job in their Photo Engraving Dept. I operated obsolete machinery, producing printing plates for production. When the plant in Northcreek Bothell opened, I was transfered to their Plate Making Dept with the understanding I would never be a Journeyman. There I was trained to run and maintenance; then state of the art; machinery. The hardest part of working there was no advancement, and increasing responsability. My co-workers were friendly, and I still see them occasionally. The best thing about the job were my co-workers.

Work at ST is hard to describe. There's always this overlying sense that budget dollars are not to be spent frivolously and that there's a way of doing things that's worked well enough. But, there's an acceptance and willingness to change where needed and a strong sense of support from most departments. Leaders feel approachable and trustworthy. Salaries are okay: not the the best but I would rather make a little less and enjoy everyone I work with... which is the case here. Overall, hardest part is that so many employees are stretched too thin. But the best part? People are so passionate about the work and each other. Hope to be here for many years, provided the pay and benefits make sense. 

What I did for the Seattle Times is no longer available. 
They sold the contracts, of the independent carriers, to privately held businesses.
I was only employed for a few months, before it changed hands.
>A typical day at work- I would receive assignments from the Assistant district associate to check on carrier performance in the field. This entailed confirming the delivery / location of the newspaper. And occasionally delivering part of, or all of, a route if there was no available carrier.
>I learned to read, and correct, route lists.
>The hardest part of the job was being up in the middle of the night and sometimes being in areas that were not very safe.
>The most enjoyable part was meeting a variety of interesting and quality people.

This position has been the most demanding I have ever had.  It is not just sales, but making sure your clients orders make it in on time for deadline and you are really giving all your hard work to a team of support and pray they get it right and your clients like them.  If they mess up and your clients cancel, they have no accountability, it falls all on the sales person. You quota grows on the sales you make and if someone else messes up and you lose your contract, goals are not readjusted, so you have to make that up and keep growing.

Before coming to the Seattle Times, I've had my share of bad companies to work with and for, and I can confidently say that my time with the Seattle Times has been nothing but pleasant. Everyone is friendly and no one is opposed to conversing. The management puts a lot of care and consideration towards the employees which, unfortunately, might not be that obvious. There's something to be said that there are many, many long term employees here.

Hours are flexible for many positions, but compensation is way below market. Management is only concerned with bottom line and doesn't care that employees feel neglected and overlooked. Lots of interoffice politics can make it hard to know what is a priority. Many employees have been with the company for 30+ years, and have seen benefits and employee appreciation dwindle away.

Very collaborative environment, where individuals are the expert in their niche and recognized for a job well done.  In house training programs offered to hone your skills. Management is supportive and well versed in all direct report duties, but never micro manages.  You will work hard and be held to a high standard of excellence.  Hardest part was leaving.  Most enjoyable part was having the freedom and support to do the right thing always!

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Reporter 5 salaries reported	$83,563 per year
Driver (independent contractor) 1 salary reported	$2,000 per month
Editor 2 salaries reported	$117,025 per year
Delivery driver 2 salaries reported	$20.76 per hour
Account executive 4 salaries reported	$60,800 per year

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