Chicago Tribune reduces newsroom staff (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Chicago Tribune ^ | April 22, 2009 | Phil Rosenthal

[abb]

The Chicago Tribune today reduced its newsroom staff, a response to the economic downturn and changes in the media business model.

The exit of 53 editorial employees is part of a paper-wide cost-cutting effort. Tribune Editor Gerould Kern said in a letter to staff that cuts are part of a newsroom reorganization that “will focus us more clearly on our core mission” going forward with a newsgathering team of around 430.

“With today’s actions, we are making the leap to a newsroom structure that we believe is sustainable barring further significant declines in advertising revenue,” Kern wrote. “While some are leaving now, others will join the newsroom over time as we invest in new skills necessary to grow in the future.”

The Chicago Sun-Times and Crain’s Chicago Business last week reported that the Tribune cuts would be far more severe.

Kern, in his note, said the moves were guided by what he and other editors believe the business will sustain while also supporting the goal of digital growth as the Chicago market’s top news and information source.

“That means we must concentrate our resources and energies on covering the Chicago area better than anyone else" across all platforms, Kern wrote, adding that the Tribune is looking to expand its local news and digital operations, as well as establishing a watchdog unit to build on consumer and investigative coverage.

Staff reductions and other cost-cutting measures have become commonplace across the media business nationwide. E.W. Scripps Co. folded Denver's Rocky Mountain News and Hearst Corp. discontinued print publication of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, turning it into an online-only entity. The two major daily papers in Detroit have reduced the frequency of home delivery.

snip

[abb]

Wednesday afternoon good news.

[abb]

ping

[ConservativeMind]

53 fewer people to promote gay marriage.

-Sniff-

[bert]

......will focus us more clearly on our core mission.....

It is said that in the last days, perhaps even the last hours, Hitler in his bunker issued orders to division commanders that were lost or dead for weeks.

Thus it is the commander searches for a core mission that will come riding in with bugles blaring and save the day

[abb]

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20090422_Inquirer_publisher_calls_for_changes_in_law.html
Inquirer publisher calls for changes in law

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2009/04/tribune-co-asks-bankruptcy-court-to-allow-severance-bonus-payments.html
Tribune Co. asks bankruptcy court to allow severance, bonus payments

http://www.poynter.org/forum/view_post.asp?id=13911
Tribune asks court to approve bonuses, severance

http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2009/04/21/word-editor/
A word from the editor

http://www.observer.com/2009/media/get-me-rewrite-once-variety-ruled-holywood-press-twittering-stars-and-cutthroat-blogs-hav
Get Me Rewrite!

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/04/22/globe_management_rejects_union_offer_to_bargain_in_public/?page=full
Globe management rejects union offer to bargain in public

http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/04/21/my-testimony-to-sen-kerry/
My testimony to Sen. Kerry

[Signalman]

And next year, when they lay off another 50 employees, they will claim, again, that “380 employees will help us focus on our core mission”.

[Lancey Howard]

The exit of 53 editorial employees is...

...a terrific start.
I want everybody associated with the Democrat newsrooms to lose their jobs, their homes, and their families. For what they have done to America they deserve nothing less. (spit)

[PhilCollins]

I live near Chicago, and, last Oct., I heard that many subscribers cancelled their subscriptions because the Tribune endorsed Obama.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Die Tribune! you gave us 0bama. Take him back and go far away!

[giotto]

Newspapers are dropping like flies, and yet somehow it never occurs to them that all they have to do to turn things around is report the news—unbiased, uncensored, politically incorrect. Give the readers what they want and need—the truth.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

“That means we must concentrate our resources and energies on covering the Chicago area better than anyone else” across all platforms, Kern wrote,<<<

What were they doing before these layoffs?

[abb]

http://recoveringjournalist.typepad.com/recovering_journalist/
How NOT to Charge for Online Content

http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-newsers-michael-wolff-in-18-months-80-percent-of-newspapers-will-be-gon/
Newser’s Michael Wolff: In 18 Months, 80 Percent Of Newspapers Will Be Gone—Give Or Take….

http://www.niemanlab.org/
80 percent of newspapers gone in 18 months? Not likely.

[Freedom2specul8]

Thanks for the ping, I don’t feel sorry for the liberal editorial writers...any conservative ones get the boot too?

[Freedom2specul8]

Neutral reporting—a dinosaur age concept—never to be seen again...? Or was there ever neutral reporting?

[GeronL]

this were just the editorial staf. no telling how many werer cut in circulation, printing and other divisions

[GeronL]

this were just the editorial staf. no telling how many werer cut in circulation, printing and other divisions

[chicagolady]

53 LESS people to promote illegal immigration!

[abb]

http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/
Results Stoke Doomsday Fears

http://www.wordyard.com/
Mark Penn’s fuzzy pro-blogging stats

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=104660
U-verse TV Adds Subscribers, Challenges Cable Rivals

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/
Fmr. CNN Reporter on Susan Roesgen: “She Needs to Apologize”

[genghis]

...a terrific start.
I want everybody associated with the Democrat newsrooms to lose their jobs, their homes, and their families. For what they have done to America they deserve nothing less. (spit)

you are not alone, i feel exactly the same.
Plenty of good news- nyslimes is on life support, not enough homos to read latimes, sfchronicle is about done, same with seattle and atlanta.
Now if obama would kill some bad guys and leave my taxes alone and stop spending for a couple of days i will be in a good mood.

[abb]

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Newspapers_24/At_the_Strib_coping_in_these_dark_hours.asp
At the Strib, coping in these dark hours
Minneapolis daily struggles on, its ranks thinned

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/04/20/daily19.html
Seattle Times online traffic grows, PI.com’s questioned