Thursday, May 21, 2009

Detroit | News Editor Wolman confirms job cuts

Confirming recent speculation of more payroll trims, The Detroit News and the Gannett-owned Detroit Free Press "are looking at some budget reductions as a consequence of the [industry-wide] ad shortfall," top News Editor Jon Wolman tells Editor & Publisher. "Both papers are talking reductions."

Wolman cited a recent article in Crain's Detroit Business that put potential job cuts at 100 to 150, but said he did not know yet if they would reach those levels, E&P says. "I think it will be next week before we know the real details," he told the trade publication. "We are looking at the range of things we can do. Inevitably, there will be some hit to the payroll."

Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green rail, upper right.

8 comments:

  1. This was sent today to Detroit Free Press from editor Paul Anger:
    ---------
    Folks,
    Because of the continued, severe economic decline, we are taking several steps to reduce newsroom expenses, including more significant cuts in non-payroll expenses.
    As part of the process, we are also forced to reduce staff in many newsroom job classifications.
    Reductions will involve about 10% of both bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit staff. Here are bargaining unit job classifications that will have reductions, and the number of positions we plan to reduce in each:

    Editorial Writers - 1

    Part-time Reporters - 4

    Artists - 2

    Picture Editors - 1

    Librarian - 1

    News Archivist - 1

    Designers - 1

    Sports Agate Editors - 2

    Editorial Research Assistants - 1

    Part-time Editorial Research Assistant - 1

    Copy Editors - 1

    Part-Time Copy Editors - 2

    Part-Time Web Editors - 2

    Bargaining unit members in the affected classifications above will have 30 days to volunteer for severance, effective today. That period ends with the close of business on Friday, June 19. We expect to notify all staff members who are affected by the reductions by Monday, June 22, with departures effective Tuesday, June 23. We reserve the right to decline offers if we receive too many volunteers in a particular classification.
    Because severance terms for bargaining unit positions vary based on each employee's start date, please refer to the contract, Article XIV, for specifics. Severance will be paid as a salary continuation.
    We will be respectful of the staff members who will be departing and of the process over the next 30 days. This is a difficult time, and we all recognize that.
    Staff meetings for all Free Pressers will be held in the Academy at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. today to answer any questions you have.
    -- Paul

    ReplyDelete
  2. And so it begins....

    We know Hawaii was rumored as well, so, now it begs the question as to how much payroll reduction are the Towers Powers going to demand the rest of the community papers cut? Some of those sites are already skeleton crews with workers pulling double or tripple duty.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How horrible to receive an e-mail like this. Do they have to wait and wonder which of the writers, artists or reporters will be eliminated?

    What a terrible way to approach this situation. Dear God, have some compassion for god's sake.

    Talk about post tramatic stress disorder!

    ReplyDelete
  4. More like PRE traumatic stress.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It began long ago, remember there were mass layoffs at other properties -- including Reno -- not long ago.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Regarding the memo: Can anyone in a unionized newsroom speak to whether the bargaining unit layoffs are required by contract to be specified this way?

    ReplyDelete
  7. 9:24 & 10:02 - the union dictates how these things go down.

    ReplyDelete
  8. http://joelontheroad.com/?p=2403empsstin

    ReplyDelete

Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.