• by Ray Schultz , November 2, 2022

Several Gannett journalists are leaving their posts, apparently accepting buyouts that were proffered as part of the company’s expense reduction program announced in August, according to scattered reports.  

For example, six veteran staffers at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel are leaving the publication, according to Urban Milwaukee. 

They are Joe Taschler, Bruce Vielmetti, Guy Bolton, David Haynes, Mike Johnson and Dan Kwas. Haynes was the Ideas Lab Editor, formerly editorial page editor.   

“Whether these layoffs came as a result of the August announcement or the latest voluntary severance offer is unclear,” Urban Milwaukee writes.  

Elsewhere, Jewell Walston, executive editor of the Citizen Times (Ashville, North Carolina) and reporter John Boyle are leaving the Gannett daily. Boyle is joining the nonprofit news startup AVL Watchdog. 

“I have never flip-flopped so much on a decision like this in the past two or three weeks or so, and at times I got on my own nerves with the wavering,” said Walston, according to Citizen Times. “I feel it is time to move to the next challenge, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.”

In October, Gannett announced several cost-cutting moves in a staff email. They included a voluntary severance offer (VSA) and an unpaid mandatory leave for five days. Those who accepted the VSA had to leave by Nov. 4.