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THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
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"If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground."
— Lewis Grizzard, Columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Book title when Grizzard returned to Atlanta from Chicago
• Amdahl, Suns, Macs • COBOL, CICS •
• Newspaper publisher • Medium-sized shop •
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is among the 20 largest metropolitan newspapers in the United States, home to such columnists as the late, beloved Lewis Grizzard. Originally two separate newspapers, The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution were both founded in the 1880s. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is owned by Cox Enterprises, a privately-held corporation headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has 7,000 employees.
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Technology
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an Amdahl MVS/ESA, running CICS and COBOL applications. Its 200-node client-server network of Apple Macintoshes and Sun workstations runs under Novell's Netware.
The company's 90 computer professionals work in the business systems group or the publishing group. Job titles include Programmer Trainee, Programmer, Programmer Analyst, Senior Programmer Analyst, Lead Programmer Analyst, Systems Analyst, Senior Systems Analyst, Lead Systems Analyst, and Manager. Additional job titles include Systems Programmer, DBA, and Hardware Technician. Recent projects have included the installation of a new circulation system in COBOL on the Amdahl using the DISCUS (Neasi-Weber) application package and the installation of a new editorial/pagination system on the Mac/Sun network.
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Culture
Computer professionals work in cubicles in a nonsmoking environment. Standard office hours are from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, but are flexible between 7 AM and 6 PM. A 40-hour workweek is typical. There is no need for travel. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers its computer professionals a fast-paced environment with opportunities to work closely with users and gain further understanding of the publishing business, where creativity and initiative are rewarded.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution observes nine holidays, which include each employee's birthday and anniversary date of employment. Employees earn one week of vacation after six months, two weeks after one year, and three weeks after fifteen years. The company pays most of the costs of medical, disability, dental, and life insurance. Tuition reimbursement of 50 percent is available, as well as an employee assistance program. Employees may pick up a free newspaper every day, or receive a 50-percent discount for home delivery and a 50-percent discount for classified ads. The company matches 50 percent of employee contributions to a 401(k) plan up to 6 percent of an employee's salary after one year. The company provides a flexible spending account for health care and dependent care expenses. Employees may buy U.S. Savings Bonds through payroll deductions. The company provides a number of recreational activities for employees including softball games, tennis and golf tournaments. The company has had a few, minimal layoffs. Most affected positions were handled through attrition, the rest through a generous severance package.
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Candidates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution looks for team players with good communication skills and technical skills matching the company's environment. Degrees are preferred. Newspaper industry experience is helpful for those hired into the publishing group, which specializes in client-server applications. Current staff members have experience ranging from 3 years to 25 years. The company does hire entry-level computer professionals occasionally, looking for candidates with some technical training. A Bachelor's degree is preferred.
The 4 to 12 computer professionals hired a year are typically found through advertisements (60 percent), employee referrals (20 percent), job fairs (10 percent), and employment agencies (10 percent).
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Contact
Letters only. No phone calls, please.
Mr. Edward F. Baer
Director of Computer Services
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
P.O. Box 4689
72 Marietta Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
www.ajc.com
Copyright 1998. Carol L. Covin. Covin’s Southeast Computer Job Guide
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