1. Subscribe Now
  2. Follow Us
  3. Follow us on Facebook Follow us at Twitter Subscribe to our global feed
  4. |
  5. Advertise

Your guide to the region's top events, mixed with some commentary about life, media, gossip and politics in Washington, DC.

Desk Envy in New Washington Post Newsroom

By Harry Jaffe

For months the Washington Post’s iconic fifth floor newsroom has been under renovation. Contractors cleared out the warren of desks filmed portrayed in All The President’s Men to make way for the merged print and digital newsroom.

Reporters have been working from home, from other floors, from closets. They are returning this week to their new newsroom—and they are not pleased.

“It’s a shrine to editors,” one writer told The Washingtonian.

The circular universal desk is spacious and surfaced with polished wood. Reporters estimate that two thirds of the floor is devoted to editors; they get the rest.

Reporters checking out their new home report that desks barely hold a notebook, phone, and a few files; cubicles are jammed together; they have no file cabinets or storage.

Then there are big flat screens hanging from the ceiling. Editors get a clear view of TV news, reporters see the dark gray rear panels.

“Seating the reporters appears to have been an afterthought,” another reporter says.

Scribes are sounding off to editors. One top editor, who every day has to worry about falling circulation and declining ad revenues, says dealing with all the desk envy is “agony.”   

Subscribe to Washingtonian
Follow Washingtonian on Twitter
 

More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Party Photos 


Category Tags: Post Watch, Reads


Comments


buy best <a href=http://transfer-dvd-to-iphone.weebly.com/>transfer dvd to iphone</a> to get new coupon <a href=http://transfer-dvd-to-iphone.weebly.com/>transfer dvd to iphone</a> online

Posted by: Emorsshanda, Feb 03, 2012 01:10:39 AM

must check <a href=http://hotbodycontact.com/socialnetwork/blog_entry.php?user=conmusesg&blogentry_id=243>chanelbagforsale.net-0121</a> online <a href=http://cdac.overcognition.com/?q=node/94463>chanelbagforsale.net-0121</a> to your friends

Posted by: Tabpaink, Jan 21, 2012 04:56:07 AM

must look at this <a href=http://dvd-audio-ripper.weebly.com/>dvd audio ripper</a> , for special offer <a href=http://dvd-audio-ripper.weebly.com/>dvd audio ripper</a> at my estore

Posted by: Quilldomenic, Jan 20, 2012 08:21:30 AM

to buy <a href=http://www.wncgreenbuilding.com/forums/member/166450/>aabags.com</a> online <a href=http://www.gearlive.com/forums/member/259873/>aabags.com</a> at my estore

Posted by: MYMNsuzy, Jan 19, 2012 01:30:37 AM

I am sure you will love to your friends <a href=http://miestatus.com/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/607787>best-knockoff-designerbags.com</a> , for special offer

Posted by: liresheri, Jan 17, 2012 04:09:26 AM

http://www.australiaghdsalecheap.com.au GHD Australia
http://www.australiaghdsalecheap.com.au GHD Straightener
http://www.australiaghdsalecheap.com.au GHD Hair Straightener
http://www.australiaghdsalecheap.com.au GHD
http://www.australiaghdsalecheap.com.au Cheap GHD
http://www.australiaghdsalecheap.com.au Cheap GHD Straightener

Posted by: cheaphair, Jan 10, 2012 10:34:31 PM

Hi, I really appreciate your blog. Great!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.lamercanti.com/categoria/modern-desk-192/

Posted by: Modern Desk, Nov 19, 2011 12:06:21 AM


Hi, I really appreciate your blog. Great!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Modern Desk, Nov 19, 2011 12:04:10 AM

Hi, I agree with you. Really this blog is very informative.

Posted by: 办公家具 , Sep 21, 2011 06:14:46 AM

Hi, I agree with you. Really this blog is very informative.

Posted by: 办公家具 , Sep 21, 2011 06:13:25 AM

Hi, simply great post.

http://www.lamercanti.com/cn

Posted by: 办公家具 , Sep 21, 2011 05:46:28 AM

Nice Post,Thanks for sharing looking forward for more stuff.....

Posted by: bürotische, Sep 06, 2011 05:08:17 AM

Nice Post,Thanks for sharing looking forward for more stuff.....

Posted by: bürotische, Sep 06, 2011 05:06:29 AM

Nice Post,Thanks for sharing looking forward for more stuff.....

Posted by: bürotische, Sep 06, 2011 05:06:02 AM

Hi, simply great post.

<a href="http://www.lamercanti.com/categoria/modern-desk-192/">Modern Desk</a>

Posted by: Modern Desk, Aug 30, 2011 09:57:11 PM

Hi, this blog is really instructive. I would like to know more about this.


<a href="http://www.lamercanti.com/tag/contemporary-office-desk/">Contemporary Desk</a>

Posted by: classic office furniture, Aug 25, 2011 03:03:31 AM

ghd
ghd hair
ghd australia
ghd hair straightener
ghd hair australia
cheap ghd straightener
sale ghd
ghd radiance
ghd rare straightener
ghd pretty ping
http://www.ghdaustralianonline.net

Posted by: ghd hair straightener, Aug 12, 2011 03:11:32 AM

Hi, I agree with you. Really this blog is very informative.
<a href="http://www.lamercanti.com/categoria/design-desk-130/">Design Desk</a>

Posted by: Contemporary Desk, Aug 04, 2011 04:37:08 AM

Hi, I agree with you. Really this blog is very informative.
<a href="http://www.lamercanti.com/categoria/design-desk-130/">Design Desk</a>

Posted by: Contemporary Desk, Aug 04, 2011 04:36:14 AM

Most of sexuality with caution and now I understand that your hair safe while straightening the hair so that it can not generate the ghd can damage the hair. GHD heats up your locks and direct construction of individual wool, if a refresher with the other pseudo loops. You also want a great offer and finally less expensive editions, what you learn advanced while in the store. You will receive a special product of GHD Hair Australia , it is true that you are buying research. They also your coat for the crowd to unite as a body with specific powers GHD Hair Straightener . In today’s market is one of the most popular brands in the GHD Hair stylists are among the most famous hairdressers in the world is used. Celebrities are also a big fan of rectifiers GHD Straightener .

http://www.ghdsaleaustraliancheap.com

Posted by: GHD Hair Straightener Australia, Jul 23, 2011 05:20:42 AM

I don’t know. I love Coach Outlet Online Store, I was in Chelsea the happiest man since the arrival of a person who should have never Prada Shoes. I was thinking I would have Coach Outlet be there all my life and a few months later, I buy Coach Purses. So you never know. In Inter I found an incredible family. Players; amazing. President; amazing. Then after two years I felt, even with two more years Coach Purses Outlet, I felt it was over. I need something new for me. So you never know. But when I sign a Coach Factory Outlet, I sign with the intention to respect the contract and be happy for that Prada Sneakers. So if everything goes in the right direction, yes I will stay Coach Outlet Store.

Posted by: Coach Outlet, May 26, 2011 05:19:54 AM

If your site was really very good offers to people <a href="http://www.MuhabbetguLu.Net" title="Muhabbet" target=_blank>Muhabbet</a> Thanks good luck

Posted by: Muhabbet, Jan 10, 2010 04:41:25 PM

Nice post, thanks for sharing this wonderful and useful information with us.

<a href="http://www.greenteapurelyfitness.com/">Green Tea Diet</a>

Posted by: Green Tea, Dec 30, 2009 10:51:23 PM

Nice post, thanks for sharing this wonderful and useful information

with us.

<a href="http://www.greenteapurelyfitness.com/">Green Tea Diet</a>

Posted by: Green Tea, Dec 29, 2009 07:46:39 PM

I file exclusively from my laptop, I’m always in the field, unless, like some have said, you need a quiet place to make calls.

The gripes about lack of space are BS. If you’re still dealing with tons of paper files, get with the times...for every sheet of paper I have, I’ve got 1,000 PDFs.

Posted by: Laptop is all I need, Dec 16, 2009 08:20:04 AM

There are bigger, more important things to worry about at TWP than space allocation - declining readership and advertising, fist fights, a lack a leadership, poor morale throughout - the list goes on. The once iconic paper is but a mere representation of itself and that’s too bad.

Posted by: Bigger problems, Dec 16, 2009 05:56:30 AM

I think the comment about reporters not needing filing space because they’re supposed to be in the field is revealing in its sheer ignorance. It’s the kind of thing wannabee-editors who never paid their proper dues are fond of saying. Most reporting is done over the phone and the difference between a commodity journalist and a value-added journalist is the depth and accessibility of their story files. Anyone who has ever been a decent reporter knows this. I pray for scribes who labor under the direction of supervisors that have been elevated based solely on their engaging newsroom banter and unblemished reputations. Good journalism involves risk. Unblemished reputations are like dent-free racecars and clean football jerseys at the end of the day in that they really denote a lack of effort, rather than an abundance of talent.
The garbage that’s gutted the industry is based on the wholesale elevation of malleable (aka desperate) journalists of modest talent who are willing to bend any rule to advance. They’re a lot easier to manage when you’re a bean counter looking to boost short-term profits at the expense of the news brand’s longterm viability.

Posted by: Victor1212, Dec 15, 2009 05:06:29 PM

haha! yeh, get the f outa the newsroom! I loves me some real reporting!

Posted by: smidely, Dec 15, 2009 01:29:57 PM

Outside Looking In: I don’t know where you’re looking in from, but there really hasn’t been an entirely new layer of editing. In fact, eliminating layers of editing has been the bosses’ goal. The "Universal Desk" is simply a new name for what has existed for years: assignment editors, copy editors, layout editors, dot-com "producers" (maybe not here as long as the others, but still...); the only real difference is that "assignment editors" were split into 2 groups ("content" and "topic"--and even most of them don’t know how their job is any different now than then). There are plenty of other names people in the newsroom are giving to that center area where the dot-com producers sit, but it’s not the "Universal Desk," which spreads far beyond that.

Posted by: A Desker, Dec 15, 2009 10:11:30 AM

it’s lovely to think that an editor who copes with dropping circulation and ad revenues must also deal with the ’agony’ over the desk situation. may every editor there cope with the same ’agony’ as the reporters learn just how highly management thinks of them...not!

Posted by: roxcy, Dec 15, 2009 07:41:24 AM

I have to concur with those who say the reporters should quit whining and hit the bricks in search of stories. Got a laptop? A wireless card? Well, why would you want to hang around a newsroom, anyway? They aren’t the raucous places of old -- if, indeed, they ever were as riotous as legend alleges.
If you want to hang around and be in the line of fire of your editors, fine. If you want to whine and whinge about the injustice having a tiny desk, fine. Just don’t do it on payday, OK?

Posted by: -30-, Dec 15, 2009 06:26:05 AM

As a veteran hard news reporter, I know that reporters need more room than a TV tray table. Having to store your files, etc., here and there just adds to reporting time, thereby reducing the amount of content produced. And relying on laptops is folly. With a typewriter at least you could tell when the ribbon was running out. A laptop gives you no warning when it crashes.

The domos in the newsroom ought to be ashamed. Where was the publisher when all this was planned?

Posted by: John Painter Jr., Dec 15, 2009 06:06:09 AM

What would the whiners rather have? A big desk or a paycheck? Reporters should be out in the field anyway, not sitting around the office sipping lattes and kibbitzing. Use your cellphone and laptop at Starbucks; it’s much more pleasant. And your boss is nowhere in sight.

Posted by: Puhleez, Dec 15, 2009 05:52:46 AM

"Reporters should be out reporting anyway. File from your laptop."

A tremendous amount of reporting is done by telephone. Covering the complexities of the health care debate or the troop surge in Afghanistan means talking to a lot of people, many of whom will say something like "I don’t know the details myself, but here’s the number of a guy who was at that meeting with ..." They can’t make those calls from a cellphone at a Starbucks. And reporters need to keep notes, files and reference materials at their desks. They need a secure workspace. Add to that the fact that many reporters would like to work from home but their bosses insist on counting warm bodies in the office and the reporters have good reason to be steamed. The funny thing is that editors don’t need anything but a computer screen. They edit stories electronically and ask questions by email. They don’t even need pencils. They probably need the least space of anyone in a newsroom. But a big desk is like a big something else ...








Posted by: Non-editor, Dec 14, 2009 11:29:37 PM

It’s not just reporters that are feeling squished. Anyone who is not part of the universal desk (and not part of the north wall brass) got the shaft.

I agree that it seems arrangements for those not part of the universal desk were an afterthought. I guess it doesn’t matter who creates the content.

The flat screens look cool, but it seems strange to angle them in such a way that only a small portion of the newsroom can view them.

Perhaps the 19" tubes are better-suited for journalism, anyway.

Posted by: Space-Crunched Editor, Dec 14, 2009 09:06:35 PM

When your idea of "streamlining" is to add an entirely new layer of editing (the Universal Desk), it’s not exactly a surprise to then find out that editors are considered a more important part of the process than reporters.

Posted by: Outside Looking In, Dec 14, 2009 03:38:29 PM

Appeal of journalism as a profession diminishes with every tidbit of new news. I guess a desk with enough room to fit a potted plant and a laptop is too much to ask for. Sigh, but like someone said above at least they are employed.

Posted by: Absolutely Hilarious, Dec 14, 2009 03:12:18 PM

When the Post newsroom was moved from the L Street NW building to the adjacent new building on 15th Street, there were a lot of complaints from the editorial staff about the "insurance office" look of the place. When Carl Bernstein plopped his bicycle wheel next to his desk, that helped to bring a bit of "The Front Page" grunginess to the room. The steadily growing piles of newspapers and other paper on desks -- this was the pre-Internet era -- did even more. Ben Bradlee would periodically sweep that detritus -- archives? -- off desks. But it was a losing battle. Probably the only one he lost.

Posted by: Tom Grubisich, Dec 14, 2009 03:03:12 PM

Reporters should be out reporting anyway. File from your lap top. That’s what they do at Politico.

Posted by: Stop complaining, Dec 14, 2009 02:50:04 PM

"All The President’s Men" wasn’t filmed in the Post newsroom, contrary to your characterization of it; it was filmed on a set in Hollywood that was a close duplicate of the Post newsroom as it looked at that time (mid-’70s). But the most recent iteration of the newsroom--prior to this rearrangement of the deck chairs--wasn’t the same as the one in ATPM anyway. The entire newsroom was gutted and redone in the early ’90s. The "iconic" Post newsroom of the movie hasn’t existed since then.

Posted by: Former Postie, Dec 14, 2009 01:35:49 PM

They still have jobs.

Posted by: Big Bad Dave, Dec 14, 2009 01:12:30 PM

Post a comment

Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question. Because of the prevalence of spam, we ask that you fill out the code in the image below to help us eliminate spam comments. By posting here, you affirm that you are 13 years of age or older. Washingtonian.com reserves the right to remove or edit content once posted.

Click to download our new iPhone mobile app

 

  1. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (60 Entries)
  2. Academia (2 Entries)
  3. Blogger Beat (94 Entries)
  4. Dating Diaries (50 Entries)
  5. DNC Convention (8 Entries)
  1. More
  1. February 2012 (23 Entries)
  2. January 2012 (65 Entries)
  3. December 2011 (41 Entries)
  4. November 2011 (42 Entries)
  5. October 2011 (24 Entries)
  1. More
Find A ...
Find A Restaurant







  1. Only show Delivery
    Only show Kid Friendly
    Only show Late Night
    Only show Party Space
    Only show Weekend Brunch
Find Events




Find A Happy Hour





  1. search_finda.gif
Find A Spa




  1. search_finda.gif
Find a Home





  1. search_finda.gif
  2. Powered by  
Find A Hotel


  1.   


  2. Reviewed by Washingtonian
  3. Kid Friendly     Valet Parking
    Handicap Accessible    

  4. Childcare
    WiFi
    Pet Friendly
    Bar/Lounge/Dining
    Airport Shuttle
    Salon/Spa
    Swimming Pool
    Fitness Room
    On-site Drycleaning
    Meeting Rooms
    Golf
    Tennis Courts
    Game Room
  5. search_finda.gif
Newsletter Signup
  1. Washingtonian Deals
  2. Bridal Party
  3. Dining Out
  4. Kliman Online
  5. Shop Around
  6. Where & When
  7. Photo Opps
  8. Learn more sign_up.gif
 

What to Do This Weekend: February 9 to 12

Woo at the Zoo, the opening of “Genesis Robot” at Synetic Theater, and the Washington DC International Wine & Food Festival. more

Music Picks: Jack’s Mannequin, All Things Gold, Steve Aoki

Our recommendations for the best in live music over the next seven days. more

Follow Us Follow us on Facebook Follow us at Twitter Subscribe to our global feed
Get the Magazine Washington Lives By

It's your source for dining, nightlife, news, health, shopping and more in Washington.

Subscribe to Washingtonian

Washingtonian Magazine provides the best insights on:

Subscribe today for only $29.95 for 12 issues.