Posted on 07/18/2008 5:49:29 AM PDT by abb
Call it the Midsummer Massacre. The last two months have seen a bloodbath at some of America's largest newspaper publishers, with substantial job cuts hitting a number of papers, including a high proportion of newsroom positions. The scythe has visited McClatchy, Media General, the Tribune Co., the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post, among others.
Media General got the scythe swinging in late May with its announcement that it would cut 810 positions across its properties in the southeast, with the vast majority falling on its publishing business; just 65 of the positions were in broadcasting or corporate. As part of the reductions, the Tampa Tribune (along with its sister broadcast station WFLA-Channel 8) is losing about 110 positions, or about 8% of the total 1,326, including at least 50 in the newsroom.
Media General's total revenues fell 10% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2007, to $204.8 million.
In May, the Washington Post cut 100 newsroom positions--or about 12% of the total 800--through a combination of voluntary buyouts and attrition, meaning no layoffs were required. An unspecified number of employees in other divisions also accepted the buyout offer. This followed two earlier rounds of buyouts in 2003 and 2006.
While a total number is unavailable, Gannett has also cut hundreds of positions since May, including 50 at USA Today, 55 layoffs at four newspapers in New Jersey, 150 buyouts at the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News (about 7.5% of the total 2,000) and an unspecified number of graphic design positions company-wide.
More recently, on Wednesday of this week the Honolulu Advertiser said it would lay off 54 employees or 8% of its workforce, and an unconfirmed rumor circulated on Thursday that 50 or more positions would be cut at the Arizona Republic. Gannett Broadcasting is also cutting an unspecified number of positions.
This week Gannett announced that total revenues tumbled 9.9% in the second quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, to $1.72 billion, with President and CEO Craig Dubow admitting that "the weakening economy had a dramatic impact on our results."
In mid-June McClatchy announced that it was cutting 1,400 jobs, or about 10% of its work force--the single biggest cut in the mid-summer purge (so far). McClatchy's restructuring plan follows an earlier reduction of 13%--or around 2,000 employees--from 2006-2008, achieved largely through voluntary buyouts and attrition. The company will have shed over 20% of its workforce in three years, when the second round of cuts is complete.
The Tribune Co. is running a close third in total number of positions eliminated, with an aggressive round of cuts ordered by Sam Zell's new management team hitting all its big properties. The Chicago Tribune is cutting 80 newsroom positions, or about 14% of the total 578, and an unspecified number of jobs in other divisions like ad sales and production. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times is cutting 250, including 150 positions in the newsroom, or about 17% of the total. The Baltimore Sun is cutting 100 positions across its various divisions. Several of Tribune's smaller papers were hit especially hard: the Hartford Courant is losing 57 and the Orlando Sentinel 50 from its newsroom, with an unspecified number elsewhere--large numbers, given the papers' relatively small size.
As the cuts at the Orlando Sentinel and Tampa Tribune indicate, Florida newspapers are faring worse than counterparts outside the Sun Belt--in large part because of the steep downturn in the Florida real estate market, which has gutted classified ad revenues. Amid a legal dispute with minority owner Cox Enterprises, the Daytona Beach News-Journal eliminated 99 positions. And in June, the Palm Beach Post, owned by Cox Newspapers, said it is cutting 300 positions, or about 22% of the total 1,350, including 130 from its newsroom.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, also owned by Cox Newspapers, said this week it would cut 189 jobs--or roughly 8% of the total workforce--through voluntary buyouts, attrition, and layoffs. The cuts, to be completed by October, come as the paper eliminates its "geographically targeted news sections" devoted to various parts of the Atlanta metro area. Executives also cited a 35% increase in the cost of newsprint over the last year.
The Wall Street Journal, recently acquired by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., announced this week that it would cut 50 jobs as part of a consolidation of certain functions. In effect, this means the elimination of its global news, global copy, global pagination, Monitor, and the stand-alone WSJ.com editing desks.
The Boston Herald is cutting 130-160 employees, focusing on the production staff, according to Herald President and Publisher Patrick J. Purcell, who announced the decision in a meeting with union leaders in late June. Purcell said printing will be outsourced to presses in nearby Chicopee and Norwood, Mass.; the Chicopee facility is owned by Dow Jones, the Norwood facility by Boston Offset.
The scythe is also swinging at The New York Times, which said back in February that it would cut 100 newsroom positions by the end of the year, preferably through buyouts and attrition--but also with layoffs, if necessary. Overall, the NYTCO has seen its workforce shrink by about 3.8% since last year, according to executives. In the second quarter, the NYTCO's total revenues slid 3.7% to about $789 million.
ping
http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/2008/07/why-publicize-newspaper-job-cuts.html
Why publicize newspaper job cuts?
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
Really, it's like watching a slow motion car crash. There's only one outcome, the complete cessation of print news (there's still a market for analysis), yet publishers still go through the motions of periodic cutbacks instead of just shutting down operations.
As with any business in denial, it's always the creditors who have to deliver the bad news (pun intended) that it's all over via involuntary BK.
Over two years ago when we started systematically chronicling this phenomenon, posters often suggested it wasn't progressing fast enough. I answered that my preference was that it be drawn out.
I wanted the suffering to be painful, arduous and lasting. I wanted them to pay for what they had done to our society over the years they held sway over the political debate.
I must confess to enjoying this show immensely. But then I'm kind of an Old Testament type. I like to think there are consequences for things.
There could not be a more deserving group of loser that this could be happening too at this moment in history.
Don't forget the Dem party is attached at the hip with these scurrilous prix!
We still subscribe to our local paper because my husband likes to hold it in his hand and see what’s going on around here. Plus, they print all sides on the editorial page. I personally would just read it online...
We will not subscribe to a different local paper, even though they practically try to give it away. They refused to print one of my letters to the editor...
Management is doing part of their job. Now the second part is demand their employees (that are left) put out a better product. One that someone is willing to pay for.
Well said.
newspapers are always so
happy
when there’s an
economic downturn!
http://www.mddailyrecord.com/article.cfm?id=6002&type=UTTM
Sun employees: Cuts will hurt paper and public
Journalists call for Tribune to sell to local ownership
LIZ FARMER
Daily Record Business Writer
July 17, 2008 6:52 PM
As passing drivers honked their horns in support and news media gathered on the sidewalk Thursday afternoon outside the Baltimore Sun building, about 150 employees attempted to raise the public’s awareness about how impending buyouts and layoffs would affect the newspaper.
But whether they were successful remains in doubt.
And even though the employees — most of them from the newsroom — finished the rally by chanting “sell Zell” — a reference to Sam Zell, who bought the Sun’s parent, Tribune Co., in December — no one said they thought new ownership would guarantee their job security or the future of the paper.
snip
I believe the local newspapers will still carry on as they provide news that is of immediate interest. I will support my local paper for the reasons you mention but will get other news from the Internet.
The only national TV news I see is when I happen go to the bank and they have CNN on - which only reinforces the wisdom of my getting news elsewhere.
The only problem is that the occasional glacial pace of newspaper destruction has the ivory tower types thinking it will cease or even reverse itself.
Wow, the Boston Herald will no longer be doing their own printing. They’ll be using the Wall St. Journal’s presses in Chicopee. The printer’s union must be very unhappy.
Somewhat off topic but related, I heard this morning that the price of the Wall St. Journal was going up again. To $2.00.
Don’t know if it’s true.
It’s always good to see trouble in our enemy’s tent :-).
Love the Newsosaur site....this from Tuesday:
In a historic rout, newspaper shares have lost nearly $4 BILLION in value in the first 10 trading days of July, an amount greater than the combined market capitalization of all but the three largest publicly held publishing companies. The $3.9 billion plunge in the value of newspaper stocks since the first of this month – a period marked by successive new lows in the prices of several issues...
Who wants to read news that is a day old?
In the beginning, news was included to entice people to read the advertising. Most people don’t understand that the primary purpose of newspapers is to sell advertising.
http://poynter.org/forum/view_post.asp?id=13487
Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 7/18/2008 12:25:08 PM
Title: Orlando Sentinel editors address newsroom cuts
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
Orlando Sentinel’s top editors address newsroom cuts
From: Hall, Charlotte H
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 12:17 PM
To: OSC DL Editorial
Subject: Update
To All:
This has been a tough week for all of us. We have lost valued colleagues and talented journalists. We want to update you on the terminations.
As we told you two weeks ago, about 20 percent of positions in the newsroom would be eliminated. Seven of those positions are currently vacant. The open positions and people who asked for the severance package will make up about 70 percent of the job eliminations. Sixteen staff members were terminated this week, with 10 of them seeking the package.
As you know, we have another round of cuts coming at the end of the month, and numbers can change up to the last minute. At that time, we will do a news story when the process is complete.
We do not release the names of those leaving the Sentinel. That has been our longstanding company policy and is grounded in respect for the privacy of those terminated employees.
Unfortunately, Lisa Jacobsen’s comments to E&P were taken out of context and, therefore, did not reflect the situation accurately.
Thanks for your commitment to producing compelling journalism. If you have any questions, please ask one of us.
Charlotte and Russ
Friday, July 18, 2008
ESOP: Egomaniac Screws Over Partners*
I’m trying to get my arms around the Employee Stock Ownership Plan thing. We’re all members of the ESOP, which in turn owns the Tribune. That’s why Sam Zell can technically call us ‘partners’ and ‘owners,’ even though we are neither under any practical definition of those terms. Last I checked, partners didn’t fire each other. And usually, they liked each other. At least some of the time.
snip
http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/dont_bean_count_me.php
Don’t Bean Count Me
We’re mad as hell. Why do we continue to take it?
By Kathleen Nye Flynn Thu 17 Jul 2008 03:42 PM
I’m sick of hearing about the bottom line. About cost benefit analysis, bean counting, profit margins, and soft markets. I’m sick of newsroom cuts, of reporters sent home, of newspaper teams—families, really—broken and torn. I’m sick of buyouts, of slashes, of cutting the fat.
Why do journalists put up with this? I’d love for every single reporter, from the tiny three-reporter office in a small town in Ohio to the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, to lay down their pens and notebooks, turn off their computers and recorders, and strike. Stand up, walk out, and show that we are a force. And we’re pissed.
snip
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/07/more_times_departures.php
More Times departures
Kevin Roderick • Bio • Email
Layoffs and voluntary departures continue at the Los Angeles Times, which has yet to reach the magic 150 figure for the newsrooms (250 paperwide.) Also, it seems that many staffers firmly believe that Sam Zell and Chicago have already set in motion another, deeper round of staff cuts for later in the year.
snip
http://treehouse-media.net/blog/?p=8
July 17, 2008
Is there life after the newsroom? The Philadelphia Inquirer Reunion
http://www.cjr.org/the_audit/dividends.php
Cut the Dividends!
Newspaper companies fork over hundreds of millions a year—and for what?
By Ryan Chittum Fri 18 Jul 2008 02:15 PM
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003829468
‘Palm Beach Post’ Buyout Program Over-Subscribed, But Layoffs Still Coming
Ok now do the real cutting!
Kathleen Nye Flynn Thu 17 Jul 2008 03:42 PM
I’m sick of hearing about the bottom line. About cost benefit analysis, bean counting, profit margins, and soft markets. I’m sick of newsroom cuts, of reporters sent home, of newspaper teams—families, really—broken and torn. I’m sick of buyouts, of slashes, of cutting the fat.
Why do journalists put up with this? I’d love for every single reporter, from the tiny three-reporter office in a small town in Ohio to the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, to lay down their pens and notebooks, turn off their computers and recorders, and strike. Stand up, walk out, and show that we are a force. And we’re pissed.
Hey Kat, hopefully you and the other mediots will hurry up and leave the job. No one will miss you.
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