Newspaper Blues: Layoffs, Closings Nationwide

January 9, 2009

The Buffalo News is offering buyouts to 30% of its staff. Some 300 employees are eligible for the buyout package. The western New York State paper is part of Berkshire Hathaway. Across the country, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer was rumored to be for sale, according to an unnamed source quoted by KING-TV in Seattle. It said the Hearst Corp. planned to put the P-I up for sale--and close it if it didn't get any buyers in 30 days. Newspaper executives said they had no knowledge of an impending sale. In the Midwest, the Sun-Times Media Group Inc. plans to fold 12 of its suburban papers, while the Chicago Sun-Times may lay off as many as 15 unionized workers in its suburban newsrooms. Finally, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is laying off 39 employees--14 in the newsroom, and the rest from operations, advertising and finance.

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3 comments about "Newspaper Blues: Layoffs, Closings Nationwide".

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Joe Jacobs, January 12, 2009 at 10:27 a.m.
Quite often anymore I wonder what the future of newspapers will hold. It seems like the corporate entities are hurting the worst - having to generate larger profits to satisfy the stockholders is a lot tougher nowadays. But even the well-run corporate papers are struggling mightily against the tide.
As these formerly great newspapers shut down, I wonder what will become of the real function of the Free PRESS in providing the citizens with what they need to know about such things as their government? Does anyone really think we'll see that news on the net... or will it be more of the made up drivel you find there in large quantities?
It seems to me that the subscribers won't know what they have now and what that's actually worth to them until it's gone. By then, it may be too late to bring the Free PRESS back in its former configuration.
When it comes to newspapers today, there are far more questions than there are answers.
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Jay Fredrickson from Fredrickson Services Inc., January 12, 2009 at 2:30 p.m.

One thing is certain, McClatchy stock may be worthless, according to Morningstar. Gary Pruitt, CEO of McClatchy, should be fired today. He's witnessed the value of his company's stock go DOWN BY 95% in the last 2 years, and he's got no clue as to how to turn it around.

Kathy Schwartz from sanofi, January 12, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.

Joe -- you hit the nail on the head. If we don't figure out how to make money to support our newsrooms then society as a whole is in trouble. Who will tell you that your local council woman stole funds? Who will lay out where your tax increase is going?

I don't think it much matters on what or how the news is delivered just so long as it is reported and delivered by objective news organizations like those that exist today in our newsrooms.