Posted on 11/17/2005 8:24:26 PM PST by LdSentinal
HARTFORD, CT. Hartford Courant is eliminating about 25 positions through attrition, voluntary buyouts, layoffs and leaving open jobs unfilled, according to a memo distributed Thursday.
In an e-mail to Courant staff, publisher Jack Davis acknowledged that a similar step toward reducing expenses for 2006 had been taken in early October. Fourteen jobs were eliminated at that time.
"However, given ongoing competitive media pressure and disappointing financial results, we need to achieve additional expense reductions if we are to remain as strong as possible in 2006 and beyond," Davis said in the e-mail.
The Courant, with a daily circulation of about 190,000, is owned by Tribune Co. Davis noted in the e-mail that other Tribune newspapers are taking similar steps.
On Wednesday, five newspapers owned by Tribune Co., including the company's two flagship papers in Chicago and Los Angeles, said they will cut jobs amid declining circulation and revenue.
Last December, the Courant eliminated 10 newsroom positions in Washington and Hartford, citing a budget crunch. Those layoffs came on the heels of the newspaper's reduction of 19 newsroom positions through attrition since June 2003.
Tribune reported this week that its consolidated revenues for the period ending Oct. 23 were down 3.5 percent, from $455 million to $439 million.
In Connecticut, Tribune also owns The Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time, several weekly newspapers and a Fox television affiliate, WTIC-TV.
Shares of Tribune rose 5 cents to close at $32.49 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
While they're at it they could rename themselves the Daily Bias. Imagine the freshness in teh news business with honesty in labeling. The New York Daily Bias. the Chicago Daily Bias and so on.
Another Tribune rag.
so, all those reporters who send in their stories from their home laptops can continue their lifestyle, only without the paycheck.
And another Tribune yellow sheet.
Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.
Hartford Courant is eliminating about 25 positions through attrition, voluntary buyouts, layoffs and leaving open jobs unfilled, according to a memo distributed Thursday.
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Boo hoo.
Gotta love it ping! ;-D
Newspapers are a scandalous waste of trees.
Maybe they could encourage more people to own birds and raise puppies, it might make their product more marketable.
The competition newspaper is even worse (Urinal Inquirer). They print the New York Times cabal of Krugman, Dowd Herbert and Friedman.
I get all my news off the internet now. Thanks Free Republic!
Welcome to the world of the new media guys!
As a contract carrier (read: paperboy) for the Korant, I've seen a lot of major changes over the years.
When my oldest was born and the Mrs. started staying at home with the(now 3) kids and money being an issue, I started with the Korant as a bulk carrier. That is, I picked the papers up for +/- 15 paperkids at a local spot from a box truck along with about 10 other bulk carriers. From there, we would then drop off the bundles at the kids' houses for them to deliver.
Several years ago in a money saving move, the Korant switched to a "depot" system, where the carriers had to pick the papers up in < insert your inner-city distribution center here> thus eliminating the days of the paperboy/papergirl. Afterall, who wants to drive their kid to the inner-city at 3 AM to pick up their paper? We "bulk" haulers became paperboys/gals. As contractors we get no benefits, time off, insurance, etc.(Not complaining, just giving the facts). 7 days a week, 365 days a year, 3 AM unless you find a reliable substitute (who the hell wants to do that?) who won't get you fired and pay them.
They've now consolidated "depots". There are now several additional towns serviced from this one central location. They've also laid off numerous warehouse workers and thinned out the District Managers (manage the carriers in a particular area).
A big indicator of the health of the rag papers is the increased amount of advertisements we now deliver. When I started, besides the Sunday paper, there was one additional section on Thur. which had store inserts, now there additional inserts on Wed and Fri. and usually a single store flyer the rest of the week. Nobody actually reads the paper for new anymore, they just use it to find out what's on sale this week and get the coupons.
The Korant (and newspapers in general) really is in trouble right now. They are hemorrhaging readers and practically have to give it away to keep their subscrier numbers up for the advertizing money. They've paid my mortgage and bought a couple weeks worth of groceries every month for almost 10 years now. That said, I don't shed a tear. Especially since my run of putting up with all of their depot politics and bullsh!t will finally no longer a financial necessity. When it's finally over I can sit back and enjoy watching them crash and burn.
I used to work at a gas station and Sunday Courants were the worst. I forget how many papers we would go through but it was at least 3 stacks 4 feet high--this in a small town.
I'd get there at 4AM to open up, stuff papers for a while and do various other pre-opening duties, finally open the doors at 5 and stay till noon. There was always one frazzled woman who would come in like she just rolled out of bed at 11:45 looking for a Courant, and we'd be sold out. She'd get all huffy and I'd just tell her there were plenty when I opened at 5. She'd then grudgingly buy a New London Day or Norwich Bulletin. Usually with a check.
Regarding your sig, could you possibly start rooting for the return of the Hartford Whalers? :)
I feel bad for the people who lost their jobs through ignorance and editor bullying, but this is one of the best stories ever to surface in Connecticut politics.
Maybe they can film a documentary of the editors crying and put it on PBS, the last dangling thread of the shreds of old media. Of course, a Mr. Dodd should narrate.
*snicker
Never stopped, my FRiend. Never stopped!
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