Bloodbath at The Palm Beach Post! 20+ Workers Laid Off (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Gossip Extra ^ | October 14, 2011 | Jose Lambiet

[abb]

The Palm Beach Post, privately held by an Atlanta family with three members on the Forbes 400 richest Americans, is laying off “more than 20″ employees today, according to a memo exclusively obtained by Gossip Extra.

The Palm Beach Post

In an email sent an hour ago to the entire company in West Palm Beach, Publisher Tim Burke made it clear more layoffs could come soon as the newspaper’s umbrella company, Cox Newspapers, continues to contract during the economic downturn.

Today’s unexpected cuts from a staff that’s already stretched thin include four newsroom workers, including two who work mainly for the newspaper’s website, pbpost.com.

And among those pushed out the door is Edgar Thompson, who covered pro golf. Traditionally, the paper considered golf a key beat to attract advertising in the PGA Tour‘s home state and an area that legends of the game like Tiger Woods and Greg Norman call home.

The paper’s website has yet to announce the layoffs. In 2008, the Post laid off 300 employees from a staff of 1,300.

And according to Forbes, the three Cox owners on the magazine’s 400 list weigh a combined $24 billion! One, 91-year-old Anne Cox Chambers is a part time Palm Beach resident.

Cards on the table: I left the Post in April after seven fun years.

Click on (more) to see Burke’s email:

“From: Burke, Tim (CMG-WestPalm) Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 11:52 AM To: All PBNI Employees Subject: Important Company Announcement from Tim

To all employees:

There is never a good time or the right words to let you know we have informed more than 20 of our employees that their jobs are being eliminated.

Unfortunately, the latest economic downturn forced us to adjust our recently completed 2012 budget projections and say goodbye to our colleagues and friends. Though we are beginning to rebound from some tough summer months, we are still projecting year-over-year declines in revenues next year that necessitate this difficult decision.

Many of those affected will be leaving today, while several other employees will be staying between now and the end of the year to ensure a smooth hand-off of responsibilities. You will hear from your direct supervisor how these departures affect you or your department.

I realize this news is unsettling, especially in light of the NOM project involving the consolidation of various functions at our newspapers. These changes we are making in the short term are due to our own location needs and are not tied directly to NOM. Though there has been a slight delay in finalizing recommendations, I still expect to be able to give you a full update on the consolidation project by month’s end.

Every employee who is leaving us as a result of today’s announcement is being provided with financial assistance and transition resources through Human Resources, including the opportunity to apply for positions at other Cox properties. Our newspapers and Cox Media Group will continue to treat our employees with dignity and sensitivity. I also know and expect that all of you will show your colleagues the utmost respect, and wish them the best.

I will continue to communicate with you promptly. Please don’t hesitate to speak with me, your manager or any member of the senior team if you have questions or need more information.

Tim

Timothy D. Burke

Publisher and Executive Editor The Palm Beach Post

voice: 561.820.4120 | toll-free: 800.432.7595 ext. 3728 tburke@pbpost.com | www.palmbeachpost.com

Cox Conserves. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Contents of this e-mail may be confidential and proprietary. Use discretion when forwarding.”

[abb]

Sunday morning good news!

[abb]

ping

[abb]

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/149542/new-york-times-buyouts-contract-negotiations-show-shift-to-web/
New York Times’ buyouts, contract negotiations show newsroom shift to Web

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Newspaper-announces-reductions-in-staffing_10-14-11.html
Newspaper announces reductions in staffing
The layoffs will affect 38 employees of The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram.

http://www.kjonline.com/news/Newspaper-announces-layoffs.html
MaineToday Media laying off 38 newspaper employees

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2011/10/lauderhill_mayor_kaplan_to_sun.html
Lauderhill Mayor Kaplan to Sun Sentinel: Reporters are lobbyists

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/oct/13/arab-and-middle-east-protests-press-freedom
‘Arab spring’ revolutions fail to provide greater press freedom

[South40]

It couldn’t happen to a more deserving liberal rag.

[org.whodat]

Years ago when I lived outside of Atlanta, that dingbat cox woman thought she owned Atlanta and everyone in it. When she and ted join hands the world will smell better.

[abb]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Cox_Chambers

[corkoman]

I cancelled the PB Post about 4 years ago and hadnt read one until last friday - I couldn't believe it - they managed to shift further to the left!

How can someone manage a business where you alienate half your possible customer base?

At this rate it will be gone in 2 years.

[abb]

One of their subsidiaries. They’re used car salesmen!

http://www.manheim.com/

[Rocky]

Every employee who is leaving us as a result of today’s announcement is being provided with financial assistance and transition resources through Human Resources, including the opportunity to apply for positions at other Cox properties.

Uh, yeah, that's what I'd do. After being laid off from a dying industry, I'd try to get a job at another newspaper so that I could repeat the experience.

[org.whodat]

I know, they owned the old auto auction house on steward ave, they have changed the streets name, ms cox did not like it. It is where the street walkers hung out. That is walker as in hoe.

[cripplecreek]

In Michigan we have Michigan Capitol Confidential cherry picking some of the best Michigan newspaper reporters and taking them online.

[Joe Boucher]

I read the Palm Beach Post for several years then felt compelled to cancel it when they felt a need to crap on G.W. Bush in every edition.

Hey South40,
The loose cannon looks like a sure death trap.
Fun as hell, but still a death trap.

[Ax]

I subscribe to the Palm Beach Putz. I used to get the Sun-Sentinel,but dropped them over some billing issues. The wife likes the Putz; I tolerate it, because about 10% of the letters to the editor agree with me. Their op-ed people are all Obama rumpswabs. Thank God for FR.

[SkyPilot]

And among those pushed out the door is Edgar Thompson, who covered pro golf.

I think I can get through life not knowing the intricacies of how you hit a ball with a metal club; combined with the narcissistic personality/sexual disorders that surround Tiger Woods et all.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

How can someone manage a business where you alienate half your possible customer base?

Exactly right...We didn't subscribe to our local paper...even before they endorsed obama. In my local paper, the only way you get info from a conservative perspective is to read the letters to the editor.

[SkyPilot]

How can someone manage a business where you alienate half your possible customer base?

I know....I have asked myself the same thing. However, I have figured it out.

1. Leftism is a "religion" to Liberals.

2. Newspapers are their Scripture.

They cannot refute their Liberalism, because that would mean they would have to refute their secular "theology" - and that would mean they would have to contemplate God.

This is to be avoided at all costs.

Even their jobs, newspapers, business, and lives.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

The catch here is, that each consolidation of separate jobs will be counted as jobs created...using the Bowbama administration mentality! They'll just consider it as no jobs lost....

[Popman]

The Palm Beach Post, privately held by an Atlanta family with three members on the Forbes 400 richest Americans

Filthy greedy 1 % screwing the poor working man ...

REVOLT...REVOLUTION

Don't take a bath...live off of daddy trust fund...wear clown clothes...defecate in the street...live off your brother the other working man...make stupid misspelled signs...do lots of mind altering drugs

LOL

[ken5050]

The PBP has about the same # of employees as the NT Times?

[scooby321]

The own Cox Cable, Manheim Auto Auctions too. A gift from Daddy.