News-Press Publisher Carol Hudler -- who's also chief of the South group of papers -- today announced how many jobs the struggling Florida paper must cut to meet Corporate's new budget-cutting goals, a reader tells me in an e-mail.But I'd first like confirmation from other readers before I post the specific figures given to me. Fort Myers staff: What do you hear?
If Hudler did announce a layoff target for Fort Myers, she did so much sooner than expected. Corporate has told publishers to submit proposals by this Friday on how they'll meet a planned 10% workforce reduction; most affected employees are to learn their fate the first week of December. As a group leader, however, Hudler is high enough up the food chain to have gotten her plan OK'd already. The question my reader asked: When will Hudler notify the individuals who are getting laid off?
How are you preparing for the 10% cut? Post replies in the comments section, below. E-mail gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.Earlier: Key dates in Gannett's planned layoff of up to 3,000 workers
[Image: today's News-Press, Newseum]
No concrete number was given. A curious, number of work hours formula was described that was equal to somewhere above 60 people, including open positions. She said that did not mean that number of people would be laid off. Also described other areas to be cut, transferred, melded, switched, folded, spindled and mutilated. Fine, like what can we do about it but sit back and let the coup de grace's come?
ReplyDeleteShe said 80 in the morning meeting. Word is though that she later said she might have exaggerated that number.
ReplyDeleteyou can bet they won't cut either of the MEs. What paper needs to MEs
ReplyDeleteI was one of the unfortunate ones to get the lay off news yesterday. Many others were told today and others will be told by tomorrow. Reporters took a big hit this time, as well as a few managers, 30+ press people, electronic specialists, advertising and production. Some were buyouts, but most of them were layoffs. Nice Christmas present Gannett. I look around and see people who should have been fired years ago, yet they are protected for one reason or nothing. I've seen many talented people get the bad news in the past several months. Where are they going to go? I've been doing the same graphic design/ad builder work for 30 years. There aren't a lot of those jobs around anymore. It seems that the printed word is going the way of the dinosaur. All newspapers will be internet based within 5 years. It's just too expensive to print any more. It's so sad. I truly believe that we are the last generation to be able to physically pick up a newspaper.
ReplyDeleteMy layoff is not a personal attack. I was part of a numbers game. I don't take it personally and I don't hate Gannett for doing it (although their timing really stinks). I wish the remaining few good luck. They will need it.