Lauderdale Lou Staying Put At Sentinel

By Bob Norman Mon., Jul. 14 2008 at 8:16 AM

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The Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post have told us of their carnage; this week, it's the Sun-Sentinel's turn.

Several sources have told me that 50 will be laid off in the newsroom, with at least 20 (some say 30) already pretty much done through the voluntary buyout plan.

Trying to round up who will be leaving. I know the venerable Linda Kleindienst is one. Early word was that veteran photographer Lou Toman was going to take the buyout after his 52 years at the newspaper too. But Toman sent word to the Pulp that he's sticking around.

It's a curious decision -- and Toman apparently doesn't want to explain it. Two ways to look at it:

The positive: The newspaper keeps "Lauderdale Lou" -- a fixture in the city (and at the Floridian diner on Las Olas, where's he's known to chat with well-connected friends like Mike Satz) with enough institutional knowledge and high-level sources to make him valuable to the newspaper for years to come.

The negative: A younger newsroomer or two who actually need the job, will have to hit the unemployment line because a dinosaur photog who has seen his best days and probably should retire is selfishly holding onto his job.

Both are true, so it really depends on how you see it. While you ponder this conundrum, check out Lou's blog, Lauderdale Lou. The man has been around (love that LBJ shot). Includes this shot of the young and old Lou:

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I gotta hop on here (if for no other reason that it's the rare occasion when deGroot and I *agree* about something. It's enough to send me back to the poker table). Gimme a half-dozen Lous. Gimme two dozen reporters who care about finding out stuff and telling people, and who won't whine rhapsodic about ink on paper. Gimme that, and you'll have a news organization that kicks everyone's ass.
Lou Toman is a damn good photog, a damn good person and he jumps into new technology like a kid eager to learn -- more so than anybody else in any newsroom. He does the work of four people and works longer hours than anybody I know. Lou has an extraordinary work ethic, never whines and is a model for the newsroom. This vitriolic bullshit I'm reading here sickens me. If anyone deserves to be the last one out the door, it's Lou Toman, my hero and friend.
Lou was one of the few photographers that actually went out of his way to welcome me at the Sun-Sentinel three years ago. He is a great guy and a great photographer. I hope that I have the love of photography that he has when I am his age. It's about genuine talent and old school work ethic, and new photographers and writers should take a page out of his book!!! So, go get 'em Lou! The next round of Sunkist and crackers is on me.
Ya'all don't know Lou or his value to the paper to make comments like this ... Lou has been covering the Sun-Sentinel's ass for 50 + years and every director of photography, me included, was lucky to have him. On top of his news skills is the fact, that through his extra effort, his photography improved in the past 5 years. So assuming that you know that other shooters will be laid off, which would suck, but you don't know that, as well you don't know if that person is more deserving than Lou. This is not about age or years on the street, this is about passion and desire, and in that case Lou is at the top of the list at any newspaper. He loves what he does, so much so, that he can't quit doing it. So quit your whining about Lou and try to remember why you once loved this business and do it until your 73 years old, then complain about Lou. And also have the balls to put your name on your posts. RAS
Lou Toman is a total class act. Period. I've known the man for four decades and am total agreement with Angela, Tootie and Donna. More to the point, if Lou wants to hang around long enough to go down with the sinking Sun-Sentinel, he's earned the right a hell of lot more than the likes of Maucker, Ward, Banker and all the other buy-out-proof management types. Le Guard muert...Mais ne se rnd pais!
Here's a better version of the facts. There is not a buyout list and a layoff list. Staffers can offer/ask to be on the "separation" list. (What a lame euphemism.) The severance is the same 2 week's pay and benefits for every year of service, with a cap of a year. The only true, voluntary "buyouts" were last summer when something like 15-20 people took buyouts. The bosses say about 20-25 have offered to be on the list so far. But basically, any of us could get laid off to reach the target of 50-55 fewer people and a specific budget target. All this is just to pay the bankers for Zell's folly. And then it could happen again in 2009 if the housing, auto and finance industries don't recover quickly. Theoretically, the Cubs could be in the playoffs and bankruptcy court at the same time. I hope the Tribune corporate jet goes down in the lake. If I get sent packing, I'm moving back to the Midwest and growing corn for inflated prices. I have no farming experience, but that didn't stop Zell.
I have no opinion on Lou's work, but the ``logic,'' if that's what you call it, that he should leave doesn't add up. Let's say someone has a wealthy family and stands to gain a decent inheritance in the future. Should that person take a buyout so that another person can keep his or her job? How about this: The best people should take buyouts because they presumably are the best-equipped to get new jobs. That's at least as logical as the argument that Lou should leave. Any ethicist worth his weight would tell you that an individual in a position like Lou's is not ethically obligated to accept an offer he doesn't want because of the theoretical notion that such action could possibly help someone else. Fact is, you don't know that Lou's taking the buyout would save a job. Management could decide to accept or seek another buyout. It's also impossible to know who would potentially benefit if Lou were to leave. Perhaps it would be someone totally undeserving. There are too many unknowns on the other end of the equation to justify, from an ethics standpoint, the view that Lou should leave.
I am actually relieved to see Lou stay on at the Sentinel. As someone who covered cops for a bunch of years there, no one was better than Lou at running around on breaking news. He tirelessly covered dozens of breaking news assignments with me and he was always great to work with. No attitude, no crabbing or wanting to leave because it was lunchtime. Lou is the consummate professional. God love him for choosing to stay.
It's so pathetic that is has come to this: journalists snapping at each other about who should get thrown out of the lifeboat. Lou Toman has every right to work as long as he wants, period. He may not be the best lensman in the place but his work has been solid through the years. And when his peers were moaning about filing a still earlier than the end of the day, Lou was shooting video and shagging after breaking news ahead of anybody. His body of work counts for a lot more than the anonymous sniping from louts who are not fit to carry his tripod.
I'm not suprised one bit.
If one of the other shooters loses their job, I won't be able to look at him if I see him on the street. He's had his time. Who cares if he was one of the first ones to use web..that doesn't mean he gets to suck another year or two, cuz believe me, that's all it would be, out of them at the cost of someone elses future! He needs to do the right thing, bow out gracefully now. I don't know how he'd be able to sleep at night knowing he could have saved someones job and just didn't why? Because he'd be bored?? That's pathetic! He can freelance, he can teach. He can play golf! He's got tons of money, everyone knows it. He can collect ss. He can collect his pension. He'd be ruining someones life. Selfish isn't a big enough word..
I have to second what Angela said ... Lou was the first photographer and practically the first newsroom staffer to embrace the Web and start producing usable and timely content for the Web site. I've always pointed to him as an example of how journalists need to be learning and changing to adapt to the new reality of this business. And, as someone who was a pretty young staffer when I knew him, I remember Lou as being helpful and friendly. I know you S-S folks are scared for your jobs but dumping on Lou is low and uncalled for.
WHO GIVES A CRAP ABOUT ANOTHER ZELL DAY AT THE SENTINEL???!!! THE GODDAM BELGIANS JUST BOUGHT BUDWEISER, FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!! NOW THAT'S BY GOD SOMETHING TO RANT ABOUT!!! NEXT THING YOU KNOW THE ARABS WILL BUY THE NEW YORK YANKEES.
Lou needs to move on. He will get a year of severance, plus he can collec t Social Security, Medicare, a pension and access to retirement money. If he stays, someone else likely will be told to leave. That person won't have anywhere near the resources. Plus, likely unlike Lou, that younger person has several mouths to feed and a mortgage. And I would think some sort of deal can be struck for him to freelance. I wouldn't be able to show my face in the newsroom knowing the above facts. The right thing is if Lou doesn't leave voluntarily, he is told to leave.
Anyone know if one of the reasons Lou will stay is that his position would not be filled if he left? I wouldn't be surprised to hear this, as when I was there this was a common practice. Seems to me no matter your opinion of him, having a staff photographer (old, young or in between) is better than having one less staff photographer.
Typical racist actions from down in hollywood. Vote for the best candidate who held the 3rd highest post a the FBI, Wiley Thompson. Remember Wiley was fired by Ken Jenne that must tell you something.
Me, good? How did that rumor get started? Don't tell me you were reading those DFB bloggers again !
The fact that the Sentinel are willing to keep a guy who was a damn good candidate for retirement 10 or 20 years ago is exactly why the Sentinel is domed. Fresh ideas with a fresh eye is exactly what they need. Write Lou a check, give him a gift certificate to the Floridian and send him on his way. The guy's a capable photographer, but his shelf life expired long ago. New eager meat with innovative ideas to replace the dinosaurs at the Sentinel can only help to slow the creeping demise that we're all getting to watch happen.
good doctor, i'm only reporting the sentiment. i personally believe Lou Toman has damn well earned his spot and if he wants to keep it, he should keep it and fight for it. that's america right there. also, there's talk that the layoffs/buyouts could be put off until next week. more sweet agony.
I have to agree with One Who Cares. For the males of our species, identity is so tied into the "what" of how they live, that the the "who" beomes indistinguishable. For women, we get wrapped around our relationships, and how they define us; i.e. I am the wife of H, the sister of J, the lover of Z. Which is why many men sucumb soon aftr their retirement; they have lost their purpose. However, it permeates all career fiels and economic spheres, not just your revered journalistic world. And, I have to say that I was initially uncomfortable by the not so subtle ageism expressed in the article. Disposable after 65? Not what I expected from the compassionate Norman.
I'll tell you this...when it comes to learning new skills and jumping into new territory, Lou Toman is and has always been "the man." He always worked with S-S news partners, jumped in head first with getting video for the web, and the list goes on. While many younger folks balk or show aversion to change, I never saw that in Lou!
Can't options A and B both be accomplished if Lou simply remained on the Sentinel staff as a freelancer? Lou is pretty much the reason why the buyout has a limit on years served. How much will his severance package be otherwise? 2 weeks of pay for every year served, in this case, 50+ years? Ouch. $$$$$$.
The thing is, in the day-to-day, Lou doesn't do standout work, and he's hard to approach with questions. He is often rude to editors who seek clarification or more info. Is this what experience gets you? I'll take the greener photog over Lou's vast "institutional knowledge" any day!
I disagree with the options Pulp offers when it comes to understanding why Lou Toman is staying on the job after 52 years with the Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel. Based on Pulp's options, Lou as (a) a selfish bastard who won't take a buy out which will enable a younger staffer to keep his/her job or (b) Lou is a valuable resource blessed with a wealth of local institutional knowledge and contacts who deserves to keep his job. My diagnosis of the Toman syndrome is that working for the local newspaper is all he knows and is --- and without his job, Lou has no reason to be, or live. Sad thing is, a lot of journalists (and others) suffer from basing their entire indentity and/or sense of selve on what they "do" as opposed to who they "are." For example, several years back I worked with an well-known local editor whose identity was so tied up with his job as a journalist that he'd become impotent and unable to get or sustain an erection after losing his job. The good news, however, is that -- after months of therapy, plus a daily doseage of 20 mm of Paxil -- the editor was able to regain his manhood. I hope this clarifies how and why leaving their job (and identity) is so painful and traumatic for so many journalists.
TRUE! He loves to talk about em....
"High level sources?" That's amazing considering he's never shared them with his colleagues.
RETIRE AND GIVE A YOUNGER MORE TALENTED PHOTOG THE START HE/SHE NEEDS. YOU'VE HAD YOUR DAY!