Layoffs at the (New York) Daily News (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Capital New York ^ | November 4, 2011 | Joe Pompeo

[abb]

Layoffs have come to the Daily News.

Since this morning, staffers to be laid off have been getting called into a conference room to meet with senior vice president of human-resources Jeff Zomper. They're being told the layoffs are part of a "downsizing" operation at the paper. The layoffs aren't yet complete, (The New York Observer and the New York Post are putting the total number at 10); we've confirmed the names of a few of those who've been laid off so far.

Bob Kappstatter, a 43-year veteran of the paper who just turned 68, was one of them.

"It's been a great ride, I've loved this paper; it's been the best job in the world," Kappstatter, whose most recent title was Deputy Police Bureau Chief, told Capital. "I've seen and done things I never would have done anywhere else. I look forward to staying in the business. I'm available!"

Other victims of the downsizing are long-time political reporter Frank Lombardi; federal courts reporter Scott Shifrel; City Hall reporter Kate Lucadamo; and long-time staff photographer John Roca.

Asked about the layoffs, spokesperson Jennifer Mauer would only say, "we don't comment on personnel matters."

The News is in the throes of some internal tumult. Managing editor and tabloid veteran Stuart Marques was reportedly pushed out Oct. 14, though not all reports seemed sure that he didn't quit.

The managing photo editor also resigned this week and will leave the paper at the end of the month, as Capital first reported last night.

Last week editor in chief Kevin Convey brought the managing editors into a meeting telling them he was restructuring the top of the masthead, according to the New York Post's Keith Kelly.

They would name three new managing editors: One editor from the digital side, one "senior editor of convergence," who is working on integrating the digital and print newsrooms, and a third who'd been Senior Executive Editor.

This replaced a structure in which seven managing editors, each with their own departments, reported to Convey.

Kelly also reported that the M.E.'s appealed to chief executive William Holliber about the changes.

Another change: Arthur Brown's jump from the editorial pages to the No. 2 position at the paper, under Convey.

Convey is rumored to be under the gun. But during an online chat with readers last week, he put a positive spin on all the change at the paper.

"We're in the midst of a reorganization right now to bring the print and web staffs together for the first time, make the company digital first, and make all of our content platform-agnostic," he said. "We're always looking for ways to get better."

The staff reductions come at the end of a week that started off on a high note for the News. Data released Tuesday by the Audit Bureau of Circulations showed that the paper had moved up the auditor's rankings to become the No. 4 top-selling daily in the U.S.

[abb]

Saturday morning good news.

[abb]

ping

[ronnie raygun]

If you don't have a job you have no money to by a newspaper especially a paper that sides with the ones who are killing jobs

[abb]

http://wweek.com/portland/blog-27818-print.html
The Oregonian Axes More Employees in Second Round of Layoffs This Year

http://www2.tbo.com/business/business/2011/nov/03/spbizo1-leadership-changes-announced-at-tribune-an-ar-300250/
Leadership changes announced at Tribune and WFLA-TV

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/new_company_mlive_media_group.html
New company, MLive Media Group, formed to carry Booth Newspapers and MLive.com into next era of news media

http://www.newsandtech.com/dateline/article_2d54d6e6-03f8-11e1-86b0-001cc4c03286.html
Cox putting editing in Ohio, Fla.

http://apple.copydesk.org/2011/11/04/confirmed-landmark-papers-including-the-virginian-pilot-will-likely-be-split-up-and-sold/
Confirmed: Landmark papers — including the Virginian-Pilot — will likely be split up and sold

[abb]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Washington-Post-reports-3Q-apf-2410468690.html?x=0&.v=2
Washington Post reports 3Q loss, lower revenue

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577017733545518436.html?ru=yahoo&mod=yahoo_hs
Washington Post Swings to Loss

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-04/washington-post-has-third-quarter-loss-on-education-newspaper-declines.html?cmpid=yhoo
Washington Post Has Third-Quarter Loss on Education, Newspaper Declines

http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2011/11/04/washington-post-the-latest-example-of-print-ad-plunge/?rpc=43
Washington Post: the latest example of print ad plunge

[iowamark]

Say, Mort Zuckerman, how is that imaginary speech-writing for Obama going?

[abb]

[jocon307]

“I look forward to staying in the business. I’m available!”

Good attitude.

Good luck to this man, at 68 I hope he CAN afford to stop working, but if he wants to keep on, more power to him.

[onyx]

[onyx]

^5

[DeaconRed]

BOO F-ING HOOO

[abb]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/washington-post-co-posts-62m-loss-in-third-quarter/2011/11/04/gIQA7S7glM_story.html
Washington Post Co. posts $6.2 million loss in third quarter

http://blogs.wpri.com/2011/11/03/full-projo-paywall-set-for-2012-as-advertising-sales-slump-11/
Full Projo paywall set for 2012 as advertising sales slump 11%

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/161834/wapo-revenues-dip-again.html
WaPo Revenues Dip Again

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/11/03/cainaquiddick_where_source_based_journalism_goes_to_die.html
Cainaquiddick: Where Source-Based Journalism Goes to Die

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/476223-Kerry_to_Colleagues_Don_t_Nullify_Net_Neutrality.php
Kerry to Colleagues: Don’t Nullify Net Neutrality
Says nullifying rule would discourage investment, put at risk heath, safety rules

[Darkwolf377]

I see Occupy Wall Street’s ranks will be growing by ten today.

[abb]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/washington-post-co-posts-62m-loss-in-third-quarter/2011/11/04/gIQA7S7glM_story.html
Washington Post Co. posts $6.2 million loss in third quarter

[sirchtruth]

The same thing is happening to the newspaper industry as the candle making industry. Electricity and Light bulb came along and ZAP! The printed newspaper will not totally vanish, but when you can look at every single newspaper in the world on your I Tablet, whats the point?

For the newspapers who are still stubbornly persisting to hang on to print and not gradually move their advertisers to online, they will painfully die an agonizing death in the near future.

The good thing about being a reporter who gets let go is these people can always write their garbage on blogs and then let's see how far they get with their tripe! ;-)

[wintertime]

Since this morning, staffers to be laid off have been getting called into a conference room
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

So?....When is the New York Times finally going to die?

[MrEdd]

Each employee was given a cardboard sign, a box of markers, a cheap sleeping bag, and a tent emblazoned with “Occupy Wallstreet” as a severance package...

[angcat]

GOOD! I hate the vile liberal rag.

[Mr. K]

I wonder if they ever thought abou telling the truth?

Maybe people would want to buy that instead of smelly excrement

[sirchtruth]

"We're in the midst of a reorganization right now to bring the print and web staffs together for the first time, make the company digital first, and make all of our content platform-agnostic," he said. "We're always looking for ways to get better."

I didn't see this at first glance, but they are recognizing what's going on and starting to make the change.

"Platform-agnostic", that's a strange way to put it?