Gannett Blog reports that another big lay-off could be in the works for Gannett Co., the largest owner of newspapers in the U.S., and the owner of the Asheville Citizen-Times:
I’m now hearing rumblings about another one inthe newspaper division as soon as early February, and on par with last month’s huge reduction.
This tip is now starting to gel. Here’s where we are at 11:46 a.m. ET. A source who’s been spot-in in the past told me today in an e-mail: “I know firsthand that the cuts are coming and are in the 10% to 12% range. I’ve heard secondhand from a controller at a site in the _____ Group that he/she is redoing the 2009 budget with additional cuts of 12%.”
It’s not clear whether all newspapers would be subject to this round, however. A top editor at one of Gannett’s bigger papers told me today they had heard nothing about more cuts.
Yet, I understand some publishers are now assembling lists of employees targeted for layoff; such lists would go to regional group presidents for initial approval as soon as this Friday. Any layoffs could begin the first week of February, in time for savings that would be booked starting in Gannett’s “Period 2” accounting cycle.
9 Comments
Just Wonderin:
What do you think this is? This is as local as it can get.
This is where I come for my local news everyday that is straight up and leaves out the crime that know body likes to hear about.
Dear Ash:
I have always wondered if something was amiss with the books at the AC-T. The incredible defensiveness of the controller and her unwillingness to share basic info always made me and others who "worked" with her suspicious.
Her abrasive attitude has been tolerated too long (of course, that does seem like the "Gannett culture," unfortunately). The fact, too, that she has been able to keep her job while other controllers throughout Gannett are being axed is interesting.
Wish I had some solid leads for you. But I still would encourage you to keep your ears and eyes out for anything fishy going on with the company’s numbers. Can’t help but wonder if the AC-T is actually in much worse shape than is even being said/acted upon. I also wonder if anyone has approached Gannett about buying the paper for dirt cheap.
p.s.: We desperately need a daily news source in this town (WLOS doesn’t count and isn’t enough).
I wish Mountain X would consider going "daily" at least on the Web…
Maybe they will replace Hammer with a GM as they are doing in some of the consolidated sites. Just pray – PRAY – that they don’t give the last remaining OC member the GM job. You think things are bad now, imagine if Jacquie were in charge. Yikes!!
Maybe one of the departed OC members will come back to fill that role. Anyone? Please?
Tami – We used to work togther at the C-T way back when. I am glad to hear that you are okay. I’ve thought about you a lot.
I mourn with all of you the decline of our daily paper (and all newspapers). I used to love being one of the first to get the paper, literally hot off the press, and know I had a part in putting it together.
But this much is true: There is life outside the C-T!
Hearing this is so sad. I read on the Gannett Blog yesterday the publisher has allegedly flanked himself with the marketing twins. That is not a good sign.
So if the publishers always stays in his office and never comes out. Just what is he doing. Has anyone asked or just opened the door on him?
just forget about having newspapers at all. it’s too bad. there are SO MANY talented, smart and experienced journalists at the C-T. not to mention, amazing human beings. being out, i can only hope for the best for my friends and former colleagues at the paper.
JK it is inhumane. When Asheville Citizen-Times received the announcement of a 10% cut at the end of October, we had almost six weeks to stew and stress over it. Everyone lived in fear and just knew their number was up for various reasons. When I was called to HR on Dec. 2nd and told my position was cut, there was actually a sense of relief…mostly that I didn’t have to keep that dark cloud over my head anymore. Before I left, a friend at the Greenville paper told me that Craig Dubow had visited them and told them that cuts would continue thru 2010. This really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. They are going to profit NO MATTER WHAT. God Bless those left behind.
"the endless round of cuts and threats is inhumane."
yes, i agree. the indignities the employees suffer is inhumane. drastic changes to schedules and duties with an implementation date that changes at a managers whim. one day on, the next day off, and never any concrete evidence the changes will improve workflow.
the one thing that is evident is that those who remain can not afford to lose the job they have in a market that is slim to none. they suffer indignities that i believe would previously been non existent. when there were policies in place to protect the employee, when there was respect for talent, loyalty, and seniority.
i am sad to see our town lose so much. there is beauty in the expression of print that can not be found in the flash of the web. there is worth in the conviction of putting words to the printed page. my grandfather and his siblings were writers and publishers of a magazine in Asheville back in the day, back in the 20’s. to see our hometown voice be lost would be a sin.
They should just slash to the bone and get it over with. This endless round of cuts and threats is kind of inhumane.