[Updated at 11:21 a.m. ET with latest jobs data.]
Amid reports of more layoffs and other job reductions across the U.S. newspaper division, The Cincinnati Enquirer is about to cut loose some of its employees, according to a former business reporter there.
James Pilcher, who left the Enquirer two weeks ago, told his 1,644 Twitter followers yesterday: "Just found out my former employer is going to be laying people off -- less than 2 weeks after I left. Interesting timing . . . "
Pilcher's note comes as Gannett Blog readers report as many as 117 jobs have been eliminated in recent weeks at 16 worksites, many through layoffs. About half those jobs were at four N.J. newspapers. To date, Corporate has not commented publicly on whether any layoffs are underway.
The recent layoffs are taking place as upwards of 20,000 newspaper workers are taking mandatory one-week, unpaid furloughs.
In a Jan. 4 FAQ about the furloughs, U.S. newspaper division President Bob Dickey said: "We want to avoid future layoffs and hope that we can do so by taking steps now to control expenses and focus on top line growth."
The current round of layoffs follows one in November that claimed an estimated 255 jobs at 63 worksites. Those included sevenfive in Cincinnati.
I'm tracking these fresh job eliminations on this spreadsheet. Please see whether your site is listed correctly, and then provide new figures in the comments section, below.
Earlier: dozens of reader comments and layoff reports
Amid reports of more layoffs and other job reductions across the U.S. newspaper division, The Cincinnati Enquirer is about to cut loose some of its employees, according to a former business reporter there.
James Pilcher, who left the Enquirer two weeks ago, told his 1,644 Twitter followers yesterday: "Just found out my former employer is going to be laying people off -- less than 2 weeks after I left. Interesting timing . . . "
Pilcher's note comes as Gannett Blog readers report as many as 117 jobs have been eliminated in recent weeks at 16 worksites, many through layoffs. About half those jobs were at four N.J. newspapers. To date, Corporate has not commented publicly on whether any layoffs are underway.
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| Dickey |
In a Jan. 4 FAQ about the furloughs, U.S. newspaper division President Bob Dickey said: "We want to avoid future layoffs and hope that we can do so by taking steps now to control expenses and focus on top line growth."
The current round of layoffs follows one in November that claimed an estimated 255 jobs at 63 worksites. Those included seven
I'm tracking these fresh job eliminations on this spreadsheet. Please see whether your site is listed correctly, and then provide new figures in the comments section, below.
Earlier: dozens of reader comments and layoff reports
Yeah, and at the same time Pilcher was tweeting about the layoffs, HR posted his job as an opening!
ReplyDeleteHuge layoff are coming to Cincinnati. Why do you think they brought in Washburn? Previous EE exited to avoid the blood bath.
ReplyDeleteIf Myboss is right, the tidal wave has just begun. Brace yourself everyone, especially big-salary types in evaporating markets.
ReplyDeleteI know. I thought the announcement about layoffs in Cin and the subsequent posting of a new job opening was in very poor taste.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if there will be even more layoffs in Cin later as Myboss said the big wave is AFTER furloughs are complete.
BTW thanks Jim, I was able to expect this due to your blog and start making alternate plans.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAdios Greg Watson.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletePlease quit the name-calling; it's bad enough to lose your job under these circumstances.
ReplyDeleteSo in essence Dickey is saying, "We want to avoid future layoffs by doing layoffs now." How deceitful can you get.
ReplyDeleteJim, keep up the good work. I left Gannett voluntarily two years ago (the C-J in Louisville) to enter law school, and whenever things get really tough I take a look at your blog and remember how bad things used to be before I resigned. I loved being a journalist, but I'm so glad I jumped ship.
ReplyDelete- Alex
http://uofllawschool.blogspot.com/
11:13: Your post on Greg Watson...please detail further. Are you referring to East Marketing Exec? What up?
ReplyDeleteGreg Watson Area Manager Cincinnati Enquirer.
ReplyDeleteI got hit in the second to last round and heard this was in the works two months ago. From what I heard, it's going to be between 50 and 75 people, mostly from graphics, beat reporters, sales support and digital.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteSZ in ohio,The new EDITOR in ohio has it out for you. Every since they eliminated the VICE PRESIDENT OF CIRCULATION job you thought you were of the the big suits as they say from the palace in Mclean Va. I know you are not walking around like you are the QUEEN BEE NO MORE. ENQUIRER is run by women who do not like your style.JUST LEAVE. NO more covering up for your son who they got rid of.If you could have avoided that you would have buts thanks after my hard work of over 20 years and your sons probaly 5 years of service of doing nothing and making much more than me .I hope they let you go.You have no shame in your game.
ReplyDeleteTypical feedback from the Enquirer. People who know about the layoffs are too scared to share the information or are too clueless about this blog. People who don't know about the layoffs are in denial, are hunkering down in their cubicles or are unmotivated to dig for the information. What a sad bunch. Washburn isn't there to sing the praises of a journalistically accomplished newspaper; she's there to do something about the fact that it's not.
ReplyDeleteWashburn came in to smile in your face and back stab while everybody greeted the new kid on the block. Only a couple weeks she has did her job getting rid of useless people. GO GIRL MARAGETS HATCHET LADY.
ReplyDeleteTypical feedback, sad bunch 8:57? You jest.
ReplyDeleteAre cuts coming? Um-hmm.
As high as rumored elsewhere? No.
Does leaking details help those impacted? No.
Are employees clueless about this blog? No.
Are people digging for info? Always have.
In denial? People easily fired here for years.
Scared? Culture expects change/cuts.
Who’s to blame for quality? Try three floors up.
I remember the weeks leading up to the last big let-go. The uncertainty and the fear were overwhelming. Every one-on-one meeting with the top bosses was scrutinized. Every glance thought to have hidden meaning.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is top management's resistance to trust the ones doing the work. Not Margaret, per say, but the managers directly below her who are too afraid to speak their mind or to take a risk so they settle for mediocrity.
That's a top-down issue and until it's resolved, more and more hard-working people will end up losing their jobs.
I know some of you are doing triple the work you once did. And while the size of the paper is shrinking beyond recognition, the work you're doing is appreciated and making a difference in the lives in people every day.
They can't take that away from you.
So gather your clips and your contacts and start looking for a job now. Don't wait until you're in that room and being handed that official see-ya folder to wonder what you'll be able to get out of the building.
What's that old saying, 11:12 p.m., something about a fish rotting from the head down?
ReplyDeleteIf "Wipe 'em Out" Washburn is on a quest for the source of Cincy's journalistic decline, she has to look no further than the publisher's office.
This is a small company, and we all know people in other sections, like HR and finance and folks on 20. Let's band together to root out the layoff plan and get it on this blog. I don't know of anyone over 40 who feels secure, myself included. I'd love to see some details leaked out ahead of execution day.
ReplyDeleteBuchanan hardly rewards risk taking or frank discussion from OC members on down 7:10. Anyone who’s watched her react to news she doesn’t want to learn -- particularly financial results, knows why. Corporate does too. Institutional memories of those acts and people punished by it run deep. It’s why more mistakes and rework results than not and why culturally so many play it safe. With her style and this economy its hard to blame those who do.
ReplyDeleteMargaret could certainly use a refresher visit to the workplace collegiality boot camp often required of managers. It's clear she's not familiar with -- or ignores -- the teachings of Peter Drucker and Tom Peters. Good managers shine in difficult times. Her my-way-or-the-highway style of leadership goes to show that she's simply a Gannett lackey and order taker who is in way over her head.
ReplyDeleteknowing how hard it is out there looking for another job at 40sumthin will be hard but not impossible and we just have to hope for the best nothing you can do about it you just got to keep moving forward
ReplyDeleteBuchanan is truly brilliant at laying off her most talented employees.
ReplyDeleteWho are the 5 laid off so far?
ReplyDeleteCmon people, how about somebody over at Elm letting us know what's going down. Who's being laid off? What departments?
ReplyDeleteMaybe they are waiting until they get home so they can post from home instead of work.
ReplyDeleteI hope we'll hear from someone.
Casualties so far today include an online person; a copy editor from editorial page; and a woman who was responsible for letters to the editor and other things on the editorial page. All had a fair amount of years in. Two circulation managers got whacked on Tuesday. Not sure of anyone else, but it is most if not all departments including advertising.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow is supposed to be the big day.
8:10 Are you talking about Cincy? If so, you've listed five positions -- three today, two on Tuesday. Are these in addition to the five that I've already included on my spreadsheet?
ReplyDeleteI would say the two from circulation were counted already along with three from advertising let go on Wednesday. There was an IT person today and the additional three from the news room. I think 8:10 is correct, the big day will be tomorrow when many upper management will be back from D.C.
ReplyDeleteThe entire night online production crew (3 people) have been layed off tonight in Cincinnati.
ReplyDeleteIt must be said that by laying off copy editor Bruce Holtgren, the new EIC let go perhaps the most journalistically conscientious person in the entire newsroom. Bruce wasn't on the overrated management track, but was someone who held the paper to the high ground and showed more leadership than the leaders themselves when it came to newsroomwide discussions of thorny issues big and small. The fact that the EIC laid you off demonstrates that she remains unaware of the many overpaid and underperforming seat warmers in her newsroom. By the time she gets there, Bruce will hopefully be on board with a more appreciative employer.
ReplyDeleteCincy lost some very dedicated people who were among those who maintained the small bits of institutional decency that still survived in the newsroom.
ReplyDeleteFully agree about the high ethics of Holtgren.
The paper lost a well-respected editor who was the glue behind several award-winning packages in recent years. One of the few good bosses left there.
Cuts like this cannot help a news organization get better. Which only illustrates how awful the whole thing has become.
Bruce Holtgren was among the CLASS of the Enquirer newsroom -- informed, talented, conscientious, and always self-effacing. A huge loss for a once-proud newspaper.
ReplyDelete