Posted on 05/06/2008 5:08:01 PM PDT by abb
The Lexington Herald-Leader is looking to trim its staff of 385 full-time employees by 4 percent through a voluntary buyout program.
A statement released by the Herald-Leader said there is no set number of employees it hopes will take the buyout, nor has the paper released information publicly or to its staff as to what the eligibility requirements are.
"…our business models are changing," a statement emailed by Herald-Leader Publisher Tim Kelly said. "We plan to continue our focus on both our print newspaper as well as Kentucky.com. At the same time, we plan to pay attention to our current and future niche products.
"In order to support this effort, we must look for ways to operate more efficiently. This leads to a realignment of resources and changes in many of our business practices," the statement read.
The paper is the local franchisee of Charleston South Carolina's Skirt! Magazine, a monthly publication aimed at women that is scheduled to debut in the market this summer and currently has a preview issue in boxes around town. The Herald Leader also recently launched LexGo.com, a site aimed at local arts and entertainment.
The Herald-Leader's latest action follows similar cuts by many other dailies trimming staff by offering buyouts or layoffs while refocusing efforts on the Web and narrowly aimed publications.
The paper is leaving the door open for layoffs if fewer than 4 percent take the voluntary buyout. "…this does not preclude the possibility of the Herald-Leader identifying future efficiencies or other business model changes that could impact staffing," the statement read.
"We're disappointed," said Brandon Ortiz president of the Communication Workers of America local 33229, which covers newsroom staff. "We're happy that they are not laying anyone off and hope this prevents future layoffs."
A meeting with staff was called for 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon but staffers were not told of the meeting's purpose. The staff, however Ortiz said, "kind of knew what was going to happen."
Those taking the buyout are eligible to for a transition package that includes transition pay and an extension of their company-subsidized medical insurance, according to the statement, though no specifics were given. The buyout is companywide and does not target specific numbers in any one department including the newsroom, according to an e-mail from Kelly.
In March the Herald-Leader announced it was shutting down its internal ad design and outsourcing the jobs to an Illinois company with design centers in India and the Philippines.
ping
http://www.poynter.org/forum/view_post.asp?id=13311
Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 5/6/2008 7:08:36 PM
Title: Lexington Herald-Leader offers buyouts
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
From: Kelly, Tim - Lexington
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:51 PM
To: LEX - All Users
Subject: Voluntary Transition Program
Everyone:
The newspaper industry and its traditional business models are going through dramatic change. We must look for ways to operate more efficiently. This will lead to a realignment of resources and changes in many of our business practices.
To help achieve this realignment, we have decided to offer a one-time Voluntary Transition Program for work areas, positions or work groups where we may have an opportunity to streamline, transfer or consolidate job functions.
This program is limited in scope. We anticipate that in the range of four percent (4%) of our active full-time employee population will be approved to participate and there will be department limits so that no one area is unfairly impacted by reductions.
While there are limits on the number of employees who may be offered this package, there is not a minimum “target.” This program does not preclude the possibility of the Herald-Leader identifying future efficiencies or other business model changes that could impact staffing.
Employees chosen for this program will work through June 6, 2008 unless otherwise notified and changed because of business needs.
Eligible employees will receive individual information packets. Also, questions about the program will be discussed in several employee meetings.
If you have questions, please call or set up a time to talk to Jim Green, Cindy Frazer, Katherine Dailey or Michael Wells in the Human Resources division. Also, you can talk to your division director or vice president about details of this program.
T.M.K.
The smart ones will take the buy out and cash out their 401Ks invested in company stock. At some point, that portion will become worthless.
Ping
Sorry Mr. Union official. The metro dailies are going to have to go online. That's where your new members are going to come from.
Ouchy!!!!!
Thanks for the ping.
“The smart ones will take the buy out and cash out their 401Ks invested in company stock. At some point, that portion will become worthless.”
The elite left wing owners/controllers of the dinosaur fishwraps are using the Enron Business Model, and those who don’t listen to your sage advice will be in big trouble.
BOL!
That is a used envelope box. Not even a Kinko’s box.
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