Philadelphia
Owner: Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC
Announced: Sept. 21, 2011
The paper has offered buyouts to newsroom employees. A letter sent to guild members does not say how many buyout volunteers are sought, or if the paper will turn to layoffs. Do you know more? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Source: Media Jobs Daily
Dallas
Owner: A.H. Belo Corp.
Effective: Sept. 12, 2011
Two newsroom employees were laid off; they were off work when 38 others were laid off the previous week.Do you know more? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Sources: DMN Cuts
Torrance, Calif.
Owner: MediaNews Group
Effective: Sept. 16, 2011
The publisher was laid off. MediaNews’ Los Angeles News Group is consolidating publishers.
Source: The Papers Got Smaller
Los Angeles
Owner: Tribune Co.
Effective: Sept. 16, 2011
Seventeen newsroom employees, 14 circulation employees, nine advertising and two marketing employees, and one LAT Magazine employee were laid off leading up to the end of the paper’s third quarter. Pressroom and distribution employees also have been laid off. Do you know more? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Sources: Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20-Year Club
Portland, Maine
Owner: MaineToday Media Inc.
Announced: Sept. 14, 2011 Oct. 14, 2011
“About 40″ employees will be laid off. The Portland Newspaper Guild said that represents about 15 percent of the paper’s employees. Press Herald Editor and Publisher Richard Connor said the paper is “feeling the effect of the economy like everyone else.”
Source: Forbes
Update: Twenty-three full- and part-time employees accepted a buyout offer; another 38 full- and part-time employees will be laid off by the end of October. The majority of the layoffs and buyouts are from the newsroom. MaineToday CEO Richard L. Connor blamed the economy: “Our business is inextricably tied to the national economy so, like other companies, we’ve had to confront declining revenue with a downsizing of the workforce,” he said in a prepared statement. “Nevertheless, it is difficult to part with talented and loyal employees, some of whom have contributed many years of service to our company, and none of whom is responsible for the economic conditions in which we operate.” (10.14.11)
Source: Kennebec Journal
Las Vegas
Owner: The Greenspun Corp.
Effective: Sept. 15, 2011
Twelve employees were laid off — a move Greenspun Media president and CEO Brian Greenspun blamed on a joint operating agreement with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In a story on the Sun website, Greenspun said the company was “too exposed to the fortunes of the Review-Journal, a business we can’t control. That is a central reason for the events of today.” In August, the Review-Journal laid off 36 employees.
Source: Las Vegas Sun via Paper Cuts tips; Paper Cuts tips
Springfield, Ill.
Owner: GateHouse Media Inc.
Effective: Sept. 12, 2011
At least two employees were laid off: One web producer and a composing room employee. Two open positions were eliminated. Do you know more? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Sources: Paper Cuts tips
New Haven, Conn.
Owner: Journal Register Co.
Date: Aug. 22, 2011
The paper’s editor was laid off. New editor Matt DeRienzo now will oversee the Journal Register’s three Connecticut daily papers. When asked if there would be more newsroom layoffs, DeRienzo declined to comment.
Source: New Haven Independent
Salt Lake City, Utah
Owner: MediaNews Group
Effective: Sept. 12, 2011
Five newsroom employees were laid off. “The reality is, in business you have to make tough decisions to stay healthy and viable,” Editor Nancy Conway said in a story on the Tribune’s website. The paper now has 143 newsroom employees.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune via Paper Cuts tip
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Owner: Times Publishing Co.
Effective: Sept. 12, 2011
Salaries for full-time employees will be cut by 5 percent until January 2012. Those employees will get five additional paid days off during that time period. Officials said the plan will save about $1 million in payroll costs. Part of the company’s plan “will also likely include further job reductions, though officials could not say how many jobs would be cut or when.”
Source: St. Petersburg Times via Paper Cuts tip; Paper Cuts tips
Update: At least six, and likely more, newsroom employees were laid off on Oct. 10. “In announcing the recent pay-cut/extra days off program, (CEO) Paul Tash said some job eliminations could be expected; they have begun around the company,” editor Neil Brown wrote in a memo to employees. “In the newsroom, we will say goodbye to some dear co-workers and friends over the next couple weeks.” Brown did not say how many employees would be laid off. In a Tampa Tribune blog post, a laid off copy editor/page designer estimated 10 employees were laid off; Paper Cuts sources have so far confirmed six, but cautioned layoffs were expected to continue through the middle of the month. (10.14.11)
Sources: Tampa Tribune; Romenesko; Paper Cuts tip
Update: The Times cut 6 percent of its workforce over a six-week timespan. (11.03.11)
Source: St. Petersburg Times
Update: At least 14 newsroom employees were laid off. Do you know the final number? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous. (11.05.11)
Source: Paper Cuts tip
Update: The 5 percent pay cuts were extended through May 2012. “Despite the extension, we will still regard this measure as temporary. While it continues, you will keep getting an extra day off per month,” chairman Paul Tash said in a memo. “I thank you deeply for your patience, and I pledge that we will not draw upon it any longer than necessary. As staffers, the best thing we can do is take every possible dollar of revenue for the Tampa Bay Times. That is the route to success for the company, and for ourselves.” The St. Petersburg Times was renamed the Tampa Bay Times on Jan. 1, 2012. (02.16.13)
Source: Poynter
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