Philadelphia Inquirer May Cut 150 Staffers
Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on November 8, 2006 at 1:10 PM
The Philadelphia Inquirer, the metropolis’ largest newspaper, may have to layoff up to 150 of its 425 staffers. Philadelphia Media Holdings’, the Inquirer’s new owner, CEO Brian Tierney wrote a memo a few weeks ago commenting on revenue losses of the paper, which were even greater than expected, especially in national advertising.
Jay Devine, spokesman for Philadelphia Media Holdings, dismissed the 150-person figure. The Newspaper Guild president (representing the Inquirer and Daily News), Henry Holcomb, said he believed it was only a worst-case scenario figure, « a scare tactic on the part of the management. »
Knight Ridder, the previous owner of Inquirer and Daily News, had already proceeded to staff cuts these past few years.
Across the other side of the US, Los Angeles Times Publisher Jeffrey Johnson and Editor Dean Baquet had made the news after publicly refusing to implement the cost-cuts ordered by their corporate boss, Tribune Co. In an unprecedented hierarchical feud, they refused to let go of their quality staff – who won 18 Pulitzer Prizes.
Tribune Co. CEO Scott Smith promptly fired publisher Johnson and proceeded through staff cuts. Smith originally retained Baquet, but the latter was just fired on Wednesday 7th November.
It seems that the gap between editorial staff seeking quality journalism and corporate heads seeking company productivity is widening.
Knight Ridder, the previous owner of Inquirer and Daily News, had already proceeded to staff cuts these past few years.
Across the other side of the US, Los Angeles Times Publisher Jeffrey Johnson and Editor Dean Baquet had made the news after publicly refusing to implement the cost-cuts ordered by their corporate boss, Tribune Co. In an unprecedented hierarchical feud, they refused to let go of their quality staff – who won 18 Pulitzer Prizes.
Tribune Co. CEO Scott Smith promptly fired publisher Johnson and proceeded through staff cuts. Smith originally retained Baquet, but the latter was just fired on Wednesday 7th November.
It seems that the gap between editorial staff seeking quality journalism and corporate heads seeking company productivity is widening.
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