Anonymous@11:35 a.m. has posted the following memo, from Cincinnati Enquirer Publisher Margaret Buchanan. I've now confirmed via her office that this is real.
Dear fellow Enquirer Media Employees:
Yesterday, I forwarded to you a memo from Bob Dickey, US Community Publishing Division President. Bob’s memo addressed the fact that there will be additional layoffs necessary at most of our newspapers. Enquirer Media will be impacted, but the details are not yet finalized. I understand this is a very difficult time for everyone as each of you waits to see whether your job is included in the layoffs. I am hoping that we will be able to inform employees, who will be laid off, by the end of next week or the following week at the latest. I would estimate that as many as 100 employees will be affected.
This is a very difficult time for everyone, but necessary to keep our cost structure in line with current economic realities as we begin to build our business back. Again, there are many details that still need to be addressed before there are any answers to questions you probably have. I will be around if you would like to share any thoughts or just want to talk.
We have a lot to be very proud of as the number one local media company in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Unfortunately, these are extraordinary economic times we are experiencing, which give us no choice but to adjust our expenses in line with our revenue so we can continue to be a financially viable business.
Thank you for your patience and dedication.
Margaret
Notes: I believe the Enquirer employs about 800, so this would be more than 12% -- about one of every eight jobs. Also: Buchanan was named publisher of the year last month. She also got the newspaper division's "Signet Award, given to 10-time President’s Ring winners,'' Gannett said.
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Thursday, July 02, 2009
8 comments:
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."
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Wow, that's quite a chunk of wood from the withering Elm tree.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Jim? You don't suck. I have a straight man crush on you for your work, plus you're just kind of a handsome guy. Way to end it: in a blaze a glory.
How many employees are left at 312 Elm?
ReplyDeleteI left The Enquirer last June before all the layoffs, but my understanding they were at about 900 employees then. Figure 100 left in December and another 100. Hard to imagine there's anyone left to cut?
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a really disproportionate amount for the Enquirer to take on out of the nation-wide cuts. Who, besides USAT, was exempt from these cuts to prompt such a huge hit on Cincy?
ReplyDeleteThis must be a script, as it seems every publisher is saying the same economic garbage. I think it's more a case of Gannett continuing to suck the life out of its properties to prop up its own sinking ship. My publisher said our unit is still making a profit, yet we still have to cut.
ReplyDeleteBuchanan's done one hell of a job since her arrival...100's of jobs and millions in revenues and profits lost.
ReplyDeleteAnd, she's the best in Gannett. No wonder the stock is in the tank.
How do they expect to run a respectible newspaper with so few employees. Is it Gannett's plan to slowely bleed the Enquirer to death?
ReplyDeleteWho said they're running a respectable newspaper?
ReplyDelete