Writing Shotgun

P-T REPORTING STAFF GETTING DECIMATED-ER BY MORE LAYOFFS TODAY

Dave WielengaThu. January 08
 

The decimated newsroom at the Press-Telegram will likely get even decimated-er today, when three more people are due to be laid off.

MediaNews Corp., the Denver-based corporation that owns the Long Beach daily and several other newspapers throughout California, severely leveraged itself to forge this chain of First Amendment businesses—and the profession of journalism and the thousands of citizens are now paying the price. Huge payments on those loans are due this year, which likely would have prompted cutbacks in any case, but the downward spiral of the economy is now exacerbating the situation.

Here is the text of the memo sent to staffers by Vicki DiPaolo, who leads the Communications Workers of America Local 9400, which represents the newsgathering employees at the P-T.

Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 6:35 PM
Subject: Notification of layoffs

I’m sorry to report that we received correspondence from the company today, notifying us that there will be additional layoffs tomorrow, Thursday January 8, in the editorial departments at both the Daily News and the Press Telegram. At the Daily News a total of seven positions will be cut, five from the bargaining unit and two managers. At the Press Telegram three positions will be eliminated, all from the bargaining unit.

The decision is reportedly in response to declining revenues.

The Guild has requested a meeting with the company to discuss the impact and effects of these layoffs, and for information regarding their decision, and how the remaining staff will handle the workload. Although the layoffs appear to meet the company’s contractual obligations, we will determine if any violations have occurred, and if so we will file a grievance immediately.

To assure that no contractual violations have occurred, I ask those of you who receive notice to please contact me via email or my cell…

In unity,

Vicki

Vicki Di Paolo
CWA Local 9400

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  • Kris Hanson
    I've been a staff writer at the PT for nearly 10 years, and frankly, the latest round of cuts come as little surprise. Editorial staff has been slashed more than 80 percent during my tenure, and that was AFTER MediaNews thoroughly gutted the operation following the Knight Ridder sale in '97(perhaps you recall that bloodbath Dave?). As a Guild rep, it saddens me to see yet more of my colleagues discarded into the wastebin (or toilet) masquerading as the U.S. economy in this Year of our Lord 2009. As a career journalist, I ponder the grim choices facing the growing legion of unemployed writers and photographers, many of whom will likely be forced to decide between soul-stealing corporate PR gigs, infrequent and low-paying freelance assignments or starvation (for the true artistes among us). And as a resident, I mourn the loss of another community watchdog. Tough times indeed.
  • wrongbeachjohn
    Kris I am sorry I stopped subscribing to the tele-rag for the sole reason of the effect on fine reporters like you. I am sick of what that maggot has done to our fine newspaper.

    If hennessey writes another silly scrotum-polishing story that's published this week I think I'll have a heart attack!
  • Andy
    My L.A. Times is now thin enough to slip under my front door. I still believe that there is a business model that will support and reward good, local journalism (jobs) while providing a source for online/offline ad revenue.

    Of course, giant debt payments make that harder to bring to fruition. Seems like an opportunity for starting from scratch with some folks who know the news biz. I wonder how much for the Press-Telegram name once they finally go under.
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