Friday, July 10, 2009

Gannett layoffs and other cuts rocket past 1,300; As mass layoffs finish Day 2, 26 sites uncounted; Virtually no severance pay | Employees stunned

[Gannett's portfolio: 102 U.S. and U.K. dailies, 23 TV stations]

Updated at 8:12 p.m. today. For the latest numbers, please see the layoff tracker, top of page. This is the fifth and last in Gannett Blog's Roll Call series, where employees tally layoffs and other unannounced payroll cuts by the nation's No. 1 newspaper publisher: Gannett Co.

Our story so far: More than 300 jobs in May and April. At least 2,200 in December. Approximately 100 directors in September. And the first big one: 1,000, last August. Overall, Gannett employs 41,500 worldwide. (Employment by division.)

Now, from Alexandria, La., to Zanesville, Ohio, we say goodbye to more co-workers. Including 85 U.S. dailies, 17 dailies in the U.K., and 23 TV stations, GCI subsidiaries have now said they plan to eliminate the following jobs in this round.

Using the following format, please post your worksite's figures in the comments section, below. ??? indicates missing or incomplete information. Cities are newspaper sites. Note: The figures below are based on publisher's memos, Gannett Blog reader posts, published stories (please provide links) and other sources.To e-mail confidentially, write gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green rail, upper right.

85 comments:

  1. Phoenix, we heard 100 to 120 downtown noncontract people. Union people unknown but have cut shifts in both mailroom and pressroom.

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  2. 337 for just 4 cities so far? Seems like the final number would have to end up being more than 1,400. I guess we'll see.

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  3. I would be interested in hearing if other Cincinnati Enquirer employees following this blog have a sense of what departments will be impacted by the estimated 100 cuts.

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  4. The rumor in Reno is that the April Layoffs were larger than they needed to be, in order to avoid layoffs later in the year.

    Let's keep an eye On Reno.
    On one hand I hope the rumor is true.

    On the other hand, if there are layoffs, that means that many of the April people were let-go prematurely, and could have enjoyed a few more months of employment. I use the term "enjoyed" loosely.

    I still haven't found a new job.

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  5. Re: Reno. Situation may have changed. But I was told in early June that cuts were planned.

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  6. Reno -- I'm paraphrasing from memory, but I recall the publisher saying the cuts in April were his decision, that other papers were going to have to do the same thing soon and he was acting now (April) rather than later (July).
    While I don't recall any specific promises that there wouldn't be more layoffs as the year went on, he gave the impression that they weren't likely.
    Good thing I didn't believe him.

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  7. We haven't been told anything yet in Cincy. Imagine today will be the start.

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  8. No the rumor in Reno is this round should be much smaller because of the layoffs in April.

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  9. No word yet from Wilmington, DE We should start hearing by Wednesday....

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  10. Retail ad director at Courier-Post in Cherry HIll NJ is out and gone as of today. No others announced as of yet

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  11. From the publisher: "significantly less than 17" in Pensacola

    Pensacola: >17

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  12. Round one hit Wisconsin Wednesday with round 2 coming Thursday.

    Fond du Lac lost its publisher and executive editor.

    The Sheboygan publisher was then made publisher/executive editor of Fond du Lac and Sheboygan's executive editor is now the publisher/executive editor of Sheboygan.

    And people wonder why top managers were clueless when this broke?

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  13. My site, in the early hours prior to the start of the workday said zero will be cut today.....nice welcome e-mail first thing the morning.......... woooo hooooo

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  14. Keep in mind that Pensacola laid off more than 80 in the press room when they mothballed the press a couple months ago. And they still had to lay off 4 more to meet costs. Makes you wonder how ugly it would have gotten this round if the press were still running.

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  15. 2 from Wilmington. Sure to be more today.

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  16. Layoffs underway at Courierpost Cherry Hill, NJ. So far:

    2 retail sales reps
    1 inside sales rep
    1 Special sections coordinator
    1 Marketing person
    1 Classified Ad manager
    1 Classified Ad manager's
    ? Classified ad takers
    (Classified ad board being eliminated effective 8/6 and moved to Asbury Park Press)

    Process still underway but word is that an IT guy, art dept person and some editorial people are gone.

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  17. Des Moines Register is up to at least 10-12 so far...more to come because there are departments that haven't been touched yet! Morale couldn't be lower today :(

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  18. Jim, our publisher at Cherry Hill says our number is 30.

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  19. Our number in Sioux Falls is 25. That includes eliminating a few open positions.

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  20. Shreveport, 9 Total

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  21. burlington, vt: 10 total known so far, 3 in newsroom

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  22. Montgomery is 12 total.

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  23. Salisbury reports 30.

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  24. Lafayette, LA now up to 9 total.

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  25. http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090709/BUSINESS/90709031

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  26. I also heard 100+ in downtown Phoenix from the Az Republic got the axe. And some of the folks at Channel 12 (NBC in Phx) took a 6% pay cut.

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  27. hi i am from the asbury park press i was just layed off last night this TMS thing or whatever is not severance at all and it only last for a month. I will miss my coworkers they where good to me and some werent but besides the point i wanted to say goodluck to everyone effected by this layoff and thank you Jim Hopkins for running gannett blog your services are well appreciated take care.

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  28. Greenville at 14.

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  29. Poughkeepsie: 16

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  30. Louisville 7 in the pressroom- 6 pressmen, 1 manager

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  31. The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, 3 Positions

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  32. Westchester 6 or 7 in Production

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  33. APP has this blurb posted on web - no breakdown for individual papers, but here are NJ totals:

    Gannett Co. Inc. has eliminated 106 full-time and 19 part-time positions at its six newspapers in New Jersey due to the continued impact of the recession.

    The company began notifying the affected employees late Wednesday night and the notifications continued throughout Thursday at the Asbury Park Press, the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, the Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, the Courier News in Somerville, the Daily Record in Parsippany and the Daily Journal in Vineland.

    "We had hoped to avoid additional reductions in our workforce,'' said Thomas M. Donovan, president and publisher of the Press and vice president of Gannett's East Newspaper Group. "But, unfortunately, this recession is deep and severe. Advertising revenues have not rebounded and, as we looked at economic forecasts for the second half of 2009, we had to make further reductions.''

    That's it - pretty informative for our readers, right?

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  34. I think the number at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle is about 23-25. We heard 12 in IT, marketing, etc yesterday and 11 from editorial today.

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  35. Wilmington, DE: 30

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  36. Green Bay had 19, not 3.

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  37. Vineland -- 9

    5 in newsroom:
    Dave O'Sullivan, sports designer
    Jaimie Marine, ass't metro editor
    Doug Fuhrman, newsroom librarian
    Giuseppe Ungaro, Atlantic County Weeklies sports editor
    Mark Chapman, news editor (that's me)

    Don't know who the other 4 are; my apologies. And my condolences.

    Jim: Great work. Thanks for the forum. Jim-baiters: What a bunch of gutless losers.

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  38. Muncie is missing, I know I read earlier that 8 were gone.

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  39. FYI, Jim, on Appleton:

    That 3 figure only includes the newsroom.

    Sorry I can't fill you in on the rest of the building, but I do know that's an incomplete number. Thanks!

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  40. Just wanted to say a hearty good luck to all my APP ADS friends who got the word and took a hit from our "Team" leaders today. Someone please check on Donna cause now she has no staff to do the work and I think she might just collapse on that dirty carpet in Neptune. The APP is gonna kill that poor woman!...To those who are unemployed today as me, I always had fun and great respect for all of you and really enjoyed working with you. I will miss you all. I haven't been at the app as long as some of you. I didn't take the job as my first job or intend it to be my last. But did enjoy the work and the people. I feel sorry for those who are left especially the sales in TR I worked with who not only have to sell but make their ads too. Talk about getting the shaft. Good luck trying to make your budget now! Anyway, have a hearty Capt. Morgan tonight and get your resume in order tommorrow. And by the way to all the "Team" leaders, your job has got to really suck about now!!

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  41. Springfield, Mo. is 15. 5 in the newsroom, 3 of those are unfilled positions.

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  42. APP #s are closer to 25

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  43. Lafayette, Indiana had six (6)positions eliminated:

    --Home Delivery Manager
    --Single Copy Manager
    --District Manager
    --Classified Employment Specialist
    --Two (2)Press Operators

    All good people!

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  44. Reno had 15 total. Ones I know:
    two in circulation, 1 in ads, 1 from press room, newsroom librarian, assistant Opinion editor and an editor in Custom Publishing. Don't know who the other 8 are.

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  45. The Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal publisher stated a total of 15 jobs -- and livelihoods -- were cut today across most departments, despite the April "hedge." In aggregate, this amounts to more than a 30% drop in jobs and staffing, measured from the first layoffs in August 2008 after the 2007 buy-outs.

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  46. Pensacola? I saw a post of 4 with one active position in the newsroom.....could you give her initials? Also-could you initial the others and their Depts?
    Thanks.

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  47. The Lafayette, La. total is wrong. Actually either 9 or 10. More than 6, for sure.

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  48. Hi Jim, Manitowoc is misspelled in the running tally.

    And Oshkosh, Wis., lost five full time and one part time position today.

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  49. Looks like it's at least 37 at the Indy Star, though it could be more.

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  50. WXIA-TV in Atlanta.

    Week-end morning shows cut back by 1 hour. 1 producer laid off.

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  51. Wausau had at least 13, Wisconsin Rapids lost at least 2.

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  52. Jim, you have 7 for Asbury Park, but that's not correct. I have at least 19 based on names posted from ADS and from those I know from the newsroom who got the ax. And while I don't know the AD folks, the newsroom people who got it were all good, hard-working people who didn't deserve to be treated this way.

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  53. 7:14 is that you Tommy Cheese?if it is this is your fellow N. Monmouth cty co-worker. sorry about your loss of employment

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  54. Publisher told us there were 19 cuts in Palm Springs.

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  55. All,

    This has been a difficult week for all of us at The Des Moines Register.

    As you know last week Gannett announced layoffs due to the continuing economic downturn. Locally, a total of 36 Des Moines Register employees and six employees at our Central Iowa and Marengo weekly operations are impacted. Departments affected include advertising, production, circulation, marketing, information technology, finance and the news staff.

    I understand the financial and emotional impact of this action and I know that all of our thoughts are with these employees and their families.

    I know I can count on you to continue to support each other. Please see your department manager if you have specific questions or concerns. Again, I invite anyone who wishes to talk with me directly to contact me at any time.

    I remain optimistic. This economy will turn and we’ll be ready to move with it when it does.

    With appreciation, LH

    Laura L. Hollingsworth
    President and Publisher
    The Des Moines Register
    West Group President
    Gannett U.S. Community Publishing

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  56. The total from the publisher in Lansing is 26 laid off and 2 positions with hours reduced.

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  57. Any more on Wisconsin Group? Cannot believe Avi Stern got axed in Fondy. He had a knack for inspiring reporters of all ages.

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  58. Salem, Oregon

    2 ad reps
    1 driver
    3 editors

    So far....
    But wait.........No managers!!
    Hmmm...

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  59. 8 gone in Hattiesburg. Page design moves to Jackson on Aug. 10.

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  60. I was let go from Reno in April. I was quite devistated at the time... couldn't understand the reasoning behind the decisions. However, after hearing about the pathetic severence packages loyal employees are receiving now, I'm thanking my lucky stars that I was let go in April. :)

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  61. Why isn't Wilmington on this list?? We really took a beating. Or at least worst than we were originally told. The number is at 30.

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  62. hey 4 more confirmed from binghamton yesterday + prob more not too sure think people in CIRCULATION got cut and thats not in the tally i have etc

    oh maybe we will see some decency from our publisher today and actually receive a letter about this

    i noticed other papers actual received letters of totals and some reassurance...NOT HERE...

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  63. elmira ny had 2 cut confirmed yesterday

    but its rumored its not over for them
    more to come today
    --not sure how accurate rumor is--

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  64. Mark in Vineland, sorry, from a former NJ Group counterpart who knows you. You are more proof these fools are cutting the most profession, most productive and most hard-working people because, apparently, jobs/salaries look cuttable on paper. Gannett is suicidal.

    News reporters had better really be careful not to let themselves get overworked, because they have too few editors, most of whom are underexperienced, to save their asses. And as much as some may think they are perfect ...

    Blunders now live in infamy on the Internet and in Nexis. Your name also is under the suckier and suckier headlines on your stories.

    You're no longer tomorrow's bird cage liner. One unguarded moment could not only ruin your doomed career, but make you a laughingstock for eternity.

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  65. Oops, that should be "most professionAL." Where are my editors?

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  66. Appleton WI also lost 4 in adv and 2 in circ. And if we are counting executives in this number, 1 group online director that was located in Appleton.

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  67. fond du lac wisconsin lost 8 staff members. long time employees

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  68. So they layoff 49 good people in Roch, and don't fill 15 open positions. And you inflate the layoff total to 64 so can hope to go over the 1400 corporate was talking about. So you are manipulating data just to make YOUR number. Am I wrong, or isn't this the type of thing you have supposedly been critical of?

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  69. 6 jobs cut in Lafayette, Ind. Journal and Courier.

    http://www.jconline.com/article/20090710/BUSINESS/907100322/1059

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  70. 7:30, they were probably laid off. My sadness goes out to you all. I know how it feels, myself being cut in 2008.

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  71. any names or positions of the elmira victims? I'm a former Star-Gazette staffer who anguishes at what's become of Gannett's first newspaper.

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  72. With so little staff, look for more glaring errors such as a woman having to be "extradited" from her wrecked car, not extricated. Also seen recently in CN: Chruch and clelbrate.

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  73. Elmira, front office receptionist- and Sherly in Marketing, she worked between Elmira and Bing.

    Supposedly more coming today.

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  74. gannettblog2.blogspot.com

    Anyone interested if I start it up?

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  75. 8:00
    that's FTE in Rocheste. That would be jobs for people to you and me.

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  76. gannettblog2?

    I like "SonofGannettBlog" much better

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  77. Salem Oregon. Statesman Journal

    CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL US WHY IT TAKES 8 MANAGERS TO MANAGE A SALES STAFF OF 25-30? No cuts in any managment level at all. Amazing

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  78. 8:00, Not filling an open position is a cut in staff, hence it should be included in the overall number.


    Of course the corporate spin continues. Gannett papers are always after other businesses in the towns they hold to give them all the details when they close, but we don't get one line about how their layoffs affect their respective papers.

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  79. What eight positions were eliminated in Hattiesburg?

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  80. Courier Post lost 6 production people. They're down to bare bones. If they get busy again it's going to be a nightmare. Looking at who got to stay - looks like seniority won out.

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  81. Gannett Blog 2: The Deuce is now live.

    http://www.gannettblog2.blogspot.com

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  82. Little or no severance pay? Exactly because there is none, according to Aaron Barrett. There is transition pay which is substantial.

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  83. Northeasterner7/10/2009 9:14 PM

    May God bless all the laid-off workers. May God bless their families and health. May God bless the past laid off. May God bless the current workers at Gannett. May God lift us all out of this recession and individual depressions. May God keep us all safe. May God let us keep working and growing and investigating, because the Truth -- about government, life, crime, health, business -- is needed now more than ever, in the USA and throughout the world.

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  84. Anonymous @9:45am has at least one of the Lafayette (Ind.) positions wrong. There were six laid off... but one of them was the News Editor. So one of these wasn't cut:

    --Home Delivery Manager
    --Single Copy Manager
    --District Manager
    --Classified Employment Specialist
    --Two (2)Press Operators

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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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