Louisiana (Gannett) papers consolidating printing (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Gannettoid.com ^ | September 17, 2009 | Staff

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Gannett's The Town Talk in Alexandria, La., will lay off about 40 employees when it shifts its printing next month to Lafayette, La., according to a Wednesday memo.

Leslie Hurst, Gannett's vice president of the South group and publisher of The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette announced the move in a memo obtained by Gannettoid.com. In the memo, Hurst said, "this decision was not made lightly, but is the result of a great deal of thought and research to ensure that we are making the best decision for both operations."

According to a story published Wednesday on The Town Talk's Web site, most of the 40 positions to be cut are part-time.

According to the memo, the move begins with the Oct. 27 edition.

Here's the memo:

All,

We’ve just announced in Alexandria and Lafayette that printing of The Town Talk and its related products will be moved to Lafayette starting with its Tuesday, Oct. 27, edition.

Moving Alexandria’s printing operations to Lafayette allows us to make the best use of our existing resources and technology. I’m confident that we will continue to provide the level of quality that Alexandria’s customers have come to expect, while continuing to provide quality products to our Lafayette and Opelousas customers.

This change will mean a reduction in force, and I know that it affects people’s lives. Please be assured that this decision was not made lightly, but is the result of a great deal of thought and research to ensure that we are making the best decision for both operations. Alexandria’s production staff members will be eligible to fill any vacancies that may arise in Lafayette, and those who do not will receive a transitional-pay package. I deeply appreciate the work of our colleagues who will be leaving us, and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

The move will require a change in press start times for the three newspapers that will be printed in Lafayette: the Daily World, The Town Talk and The Daily Advertiser. Lafayette Production Director Ross Doland is leading the project and will be working to ensure we make our press times as well as get newspapers to their respective markets and customers in a timely manner.

- Leslie Hurst

Vice President

Gannett’s South Group

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Thursday morning good news.

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Ping and absolutely shameless Blog Pimp of my take on the story.

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http://lincolnparishnewsonline.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/louisiana-gannett-continues-to-melt/

[This_far]

This change will mean a reduction in force, and I know that it affects people’s lives. Please be assured that this decision was not made lightly, but is the result of a great deal of thought and research...

word

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[Clay Moore]

“in Orwellian style, is trying to make Rather a non-person and erase him from the corporate memory.”

Why would they do that? Rather is the face of cBS. A lying, weaseling, biased, libtard.

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[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

When I hear “New York Times”-fair or unfair-what I hear is “New York Times Whore House”...

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[Chode]