Posted on 12/01/2009 12:54:37 PM PST by abb
USA Today editor John Hillkirk, who took over the job in April, informed staff today that there will be 26 jobs cut at the newspaper.
Hillkirk, in an memo obtained by POLITICO, wrote that those laid off will “be notified today or as soon as possible.” In a second memo, staffers were informed that there will be a merger between USA Today's news operation and USA WEEKEND.
The moves come on the same day that parent-company Gannett announced the institution of furloughs for 2010, just as they did this year.
In addition to layoffs, Hillkirk explained in the memo how USA Today would deal with a “challenging time for our industry.”
Over the next several weeks, we'll be examining changes in our structure and workflow that will help us to push the news to multiple platforms in the most efficient, non-bureaucratic way possible. Finding ways to maximize our resources, while eliminating duplication and less valuable or unnecessary work, will be the goal.
In addition, we will be working with a team from USA WEEKEND to integrate the two operations. As Marcia describes in her email, there will be a number of people moving into the LIFE section shortly. We look forward to working with WEEKEND in a collaborative fashion to publish a high-quality magazine using our combined resources.
USA Today, like other news organizations, is facing a tough economic situation.
Right now, the New York Times is in the midst of a buyout program, with layoffs coming if 100 staffers don’t sign up. The Washington Post recently cut positions as part of its web-print merger, and the Associated Press laid off staff throughout the country last month.
Murdock is taking Neuharth to school every day, showing Neuharth how the news business is, and should be done......fair and balanced, Al.....those important journalistic and ethical qualities that, in all your years of scamming your readership, you never quite grasped.
In other words, they'll eliminate reporters all together and just go straight to press with DNC faxes.
Renting out the spare bedrooms to help make ends meet...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/01/BUMF1AT812.DTL&type=tech
Tech ‘incubators’ moving to Chronicle building
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