Day 68 What Will Become of Media Companies?

I love Magazines. Ever since I was a kid, borrowed/found magazines transported me all over the planet, they allowed me to surf, sail, ski, and dream of the cars I hoped to buy someday. In a funny twist of fate, I ended up working in media, building magazine publishing systems. The culture of the old news rooms is difficult to describe to anyone who wasn’t part of it. But there were lots of smart people, late nights, smoking and lots alcohol. I’ll leave it at that. It was truly the only environment where I could have worked.

As a result of COVID-19 millions of people are out of work. I touched on the closing of retail stores and malls yesterday. Today, I received an email notifying me that my issue of Popular Science will not be printed and will only be available in digital format.

From Amazon

Media companies have been struggling to stay afloat over the last decade, but COVID-19 might signal the end for many news organizations. It is estimated that 36,000 news/media workers have had laid off, furloughed or had their pay cut as a result of the pandemic. With advertising disappearing and live events cancelled, media companies have lost significant portions of their revenue streams.

Our New Normal may not include printed magazines. And that would be sad. Not sure if all of Hearst’s subscribers received notices like this for each of their respective publications.

Side note – I’m not anti-digital, just nostalgic – Jeff Bezos gave me a Kindle at the product launch (W Hotel, NYC), I knew this day was coming. It actually took longer and a pandemic to get to this point.

Day 67 The Changing Face of America

Whether you choose to wear a mask or not, our country will look significantly different than it did three months ago.

In 2019, over 9,000 retail stores closed, which was an increase from 2018. Estimates for 2020, Pre-Pandemic, retailers are were expected to close 3,300 stores. But post-pandemic, the number of closures could be as high 12,000.

At the start of 2020, several retailers had already committed to closing retail locations. In January, Pier 1 planned to close 450 stores. GameStop had closed 333 stores. Papyrus, the paper goods store, planned to close 254 stores starting in January in the U.S. and Canada. Other big name retailers, Macy’s, Modells, Forever21, Sears, Bath & Body works, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Kmart, Nordstrom, Hallmark, and the list goes on.

So, what will become of shopping malls with all of these stores closing? As more and more stores close, consumers have less of a reason to visit empty caves of closed stores. The Gap suspended rent payments to all of its 2,000-plus locations, is being sued for breech of contract, by mall owner Vestar. Lawyers seem like they will be the big winners during this moment of crisis.

In February, Simon, the largest mall operator, bought Forever21. I wonder how that investment is looking in May? I’m not sure that Mega Malls can rebound given the expected number of store closures and the vast amounts of delinquent rent.

Day 66 Doodle of the Day

I needed this Doodle today! It hit the spot. Sometimes you need to unplug and let your mind take you to a time and place when were in your best moment.

Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, also called Bruddah Iz or IZ, was a Native Hawaiian singer-lyricist, musician, who is celebrating his 61st birthday today. His iconic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow“, takes all of us to a special place.

Nearing 5 Million Infected Worldwide

Day 65 Back to Work…Back to School

As the planet nears 5 Million infected people worldwide, the U.S. passed 1.5 Million Corona Virus infections and is inch closer to 100K deaths. The decision to loosen stay at home orders is being driven by economic desperation and political partisanship. Memorial Day is now the official “reopening” date.

So, what will a “reopened” world look like? Any large employer will now need executives with medical or special training to help put active controls in place for daily operations. You can’t simply guess and space desks out 6 feet apart. You need to implement active tracing for all of your employees, on campus and off. Companies will need to figure out how to provide PPE, active disinfection of common areas (elevators & restrooms).

Schools, are a workplace for teachers, and presents a more complex situation. It might not be ideal for Teachers, who are older and at higher risk, to interact with younger students. Contact tracing at academic institutions will be a responsibility that schools will not be able to handle. Just consider the size of the NYC public school system. Will teachers and students be tested daily for covid-19? If a rapid test works and identifies a positive case, how will the person/student be quarantined? We have a few months to plan for a return to school, but Companies need to figure out plans over the next few days. Many will be hiring a Chief Medical Officer, which will remove talented medical professionals into the private sector.

Over 1.5 Million Infected in the U.S.

Day 64 The New Normal?

Life has changed forever and the “new” normal will resemble establishing a colony on Mars! Things that were part of our day-to-day lives will no longer exist, like businesses, transactions, and human contact.

Things that will NOT be part of the “New” normal.
• Physical Contact – No more handshake when you meet someone, no more kisses on the cheek, no more bro-hugs. Not sure how athletes will celebrate if sports ever comes back
• Children’s activity Centers – Ball pits, foam pits, shared toys, McDonald’s playgrounds
• Cash – not sure anyone actual wants to exchange physical currency – you need to go “Cashless”. Not sure anyone anticipated that being a toll collector would be a dangerous job.
• Rental Cars – Not sure I’ll be traveling anywhere soon
• Buffets – Sorry Vegas, but the buffet might meet its end
• Movie Theaters – Drive-ins are popping up. I have a 65 inch TV with surround sound
• Conferences/Coachella – Not sure when we will see thousands of people gathered together for a three day retreat
• Study Abroad Programs – It will take a few years for U.S. parents to send their kids overseas to study
• Private Schools – It’s no secret that foreign students are the most desirable, their parents pay tuition in full, will there be restrictions on foreign students?

Day 63 Another Sunny Day

When the sun comes out, so do the calls for cities and their beaches to open. Memorial Day is quickly approach and people have grown tired of being stuck at home. But is there a risk in reducing stay at home orders?

Gov Phil Murphy, is leading the way in the Northeast, parks and golf courses have reopened with guidelines, nonessential retail businesses can offer curbside service starting Monday morning, beaches can be open this summer, and charted fishing and boat rentals resumed this morning.

Gov. Cuomo is right when he says the New Yorkers will flock to the Jersey Shore if NY beaches remain closed. So, Gov.’s hands are being forced in a high stakes game of Russian Roulette.

I hope that things go well and that people respect all of guidelines for social distancing. If we see an increase in the infection rate, we can only blame ourselves for not listening to Dr. Fauci and the other medical experts.

Day 62 Lawn Time

It was time to cut the lawn. The grass was at least knee high at this point. So it was time to dust off the mower and trimmer. While cutting the front lawn I found dog poop on the lawn, and I don’t have a dog. It seems that during a Pandemic, you don’t need to clean up after your dog. Come on people!!!

Day 60

I spent the better part of yesterday on the phone with family and friends. As a result, I didn’t post Day 60. I guess one positive from this Pandemic is that I have been contacting family and friends more frequently. During this moment of isolation, those connections even via mobile are valuable.

Day 59 The Roads Are Safer!

With States attempting to justify why its safe resume business, the question remains, is it safe! Dr. Fauci is still cautioning our country about the danger that still exists as death rates and infection decline.

With millions of people staying at home, New York City reported 58 straight days with no pedestrians being struck or killed in the city, which they haven’t seen since they began tracking pedestrian fatalities in 1983. Hey, I’m looking for the silver lining in this.

The U.S. edges closer to 1.5 Million Infections