Longmont, Colo.
Owner: Lehman Communications Corp.
Effective: Feb. 5, 2010

Nine employees, including four from the newsroom, were laid off in what editor and president Dean Lehman called a cost-cutting move. When asked if the cuts came as a surprise, Managing Editor John Vahlenkamp told the Longmont Ledger: “People, not only at newspapers but in the community as well, understand that times are tough.”
Source: Longmont Ledger via Paper Cuts tip

Lakeland, Fla.
Owner: New York Times Co.
Date: October 2010

The company’s customer service and advertising call center housed at The Ledger in Lakeland, Fla., has closed. Do you know more? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Source: The Ledger via Paper Cuts tip

York, S.C.
Owner: The McClatchy Co.
Effective: Oct. 13, 2010

The editor was laid off. A McClatchy general manager assumed the role.
Source: Paper Cuts tip

Lawrence, Kan.
Owner: The World Co.
Effective: Nov. 5, 2010

Most of the features department was laid off. Do you know more? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Source: Paper Cuts tip

The most remarkable thing about 2010 was the great decrease in the number of layoffs: There were more than 14,000 reported layoffs in 2008 and 2009, and not even 3,000 reported layoffs in 2010.

The 2010 total now stands at 2,828 layoffs. That total includes all newspaper jobs — not just reporters and editors. And it is far from complete: 50 posts are marked as “unknown” — layoffs have been reported, either publicly or via private tips. I will continue to try to update those posts (and add any other 2010, 2009 or 2008 layoffs I have missed) as information becomes available.

The 2010 map includes a “by the numbers” look at the year. (Complete 2009, 2008 and partial 2007 coverage also is available.)

As I said, there were about 11,000 fewer layoffs in 2010 compared to 2009. That’s great news for newspaper employees. But for me, Paper Cuts became less of an everyday task and more of a once-a-week (or two) hassle. I believe newspaper layoffs should be tracked — there are many layoffs reported on this blog and nowhere else. But I need a break; Paper Cuts is taking a hiatus. I do not plan to make this a permanent leave of absence, but I make no guarantee on when or if it will return. Thank you for all of the tips and help over the past three years.

I will continue to share newspaper layoff and industry information on Twitter (@newscuts) and Facebook. Send memos, links or personal accounts at newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com, or leave a comment here. If you are worried about retaliation from your employer, do not post a comment or send that e-mail from work. The source of all tips will remain anonymous for that reason.

Here’s to a great 2011.
Erica

Albany, N.Y.
Owner: Hearst Corp.
Effective: Dec. 30, 2010

Three advertising/marketing employees were laid off. A buyout offer had been extended to employees in that department, but no one accepted it.
Source: Albany Newspaper Guild via Paper Cuts tip

Galveston, Texas
Owner: Southern Newspapers Inc.
Effective: Dec. 28, 2010

An internal memo informed employees that “the cuts we have made involved about a dozen people.” Those layoffs include a sports editor, cutting the sports department to one employee, a city reporter and an advertising features writer. Two open advertising positions also were eliminated.
Source: Paper Cuts tip

Washington, D.C.
Owner: American Independent News Network
Effective: Dec. 1, 2010

The 3-year-old paper will close. “Our first year was marked by a kind of exceptionalism, the feeling that we were expanding as other newsrooms were contracting, that this new model of journalism would survive as our dead-tree colleagues struggled,” editor Aaron Wiener said in a post on the paper’s website. “But in the end, we fell prey to the recession just like everyone else.”

Do you know how many employees will be laid off? Leave a comment or e-mail me at newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com.
Source: The Washington Independent via Romenesko

Albuquerque, N.M.
Owner: American Independent News Network
Effective: Nov. 17, 2010

The 2.5-year-old paper has closed. The editor, the site’s other full-time employee and two part-time employees were laid off. “The New Mexico Independent as you know it is now closed,” editor Gwyneth Doland said on Twitter. “The site will remain live possibly with a half-time blogger. Deepest apologies.”
Sources: San Francisco Chronicle and Alibi

Lakeland, Fla.
Owner: New York Times Co.
Date: Nov. 18, 2010

At least eight employees were laid off: Two photographers, one graphic designer, one artist, three editors and an editorial writer. Do you know of more layoffs? Leave a comment or e-mail me at newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com.
Source: Paper Cuts tip

Update: Twenty-eight employees were laid off, including 10 from the newsroom. Do you know additional details? Leave a comment or e-mail me at newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. (11.18.10)
Source: Paper Cuts tip

Update: Twenty employees were laid off. An additional eight open positions were eliminated. Publisher Jerome Ferson blamed the weak economy: “We’re seeing a very uneven environment. Revenues for The Ledger continue to stabilize for the most part, however, costs are escalating and so we’re having to adjust. The basis for the reduction is just to size the company accordingly to the new economic realities.” Do you know more about the layoffs? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous. (07.16.11)
Source: The Ledger via Paper Cuts tip