Schadefreude, comrades. Schadenfreude.
Posted on 11/16/2005 12:55:58 PM PST by LdSentinal
NEW YORK Orlando Sentinel Publisher Kathy Waltz told staffers in a memo today that the paper would likely cut "a limited number of positions," but did not state how many jobs would be eliminated or from which departments they would come.
"As we finalize plans, decisions will be communicated first to affected employees, then companywide in the next few weeks," she said in the memo, which was first posted on the Poynter.org Romenesko Web site. "Our company's goals remain the same -- to serve our readers, advertisers and communities, expand our audience and grow revenues. To accomplish this, we are adjusting our resources -- time, people and money -- toward our future."
The memo follows the release of last week's FAS-FAX results, which showed that the Sentinel's weekday circulation had dropped 11% from the prior reporting period, although some of that can be attributed to a voluntary reduction in "other paid" circulation. A number of major dailies have resorted to buyouts or layoff in recent months as the industry struggles with circulation declines and rising newsprint prices.
In the Sentinel's case, Waltz note that paper plans to take an "outside-in" approach to restructuring operations, design, and reporting efforts. "This means taking a fresh look at everything we do, and making hard decisions on what is core to our mission," the memo added. "These actions will position the Sentinel for future growth. Other Tribune newspapers are taking similar actions."
Among those other Tribune papers is The Sun of Baltimore, which announced its own buyout plan several days ago that seeks to eliminate 75 jobs.
"I understand the impact this will have on many of us, but in the long run it will help us become a stronger, more focused company poised to meet the ongoing transformation that lies ahead," the memo said. "The directors and I felt it was important to provide candid information to you as soon as possible."
The text of the entire memo follows:
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 9:36 AM To: OSC DL All Employees Subject: An important message from [Orlando Sentinel publisher] Kathy Waltz
You've read in our own paper and in recent messages from Tribune senior management that the media industry as a whole is in the midst of a dramatic, transformational change. People now have more choices than ever on how they receive and access information. Audience fragmentation has prompted successful companies, such as ours, to reinvent themselves. New technologies, an explosion of choices for news consumers and advertisers, and changing lifestyles have fundamentally altered how newspapers, television and radio do business. Throw in the fact that costs, particularly newsprint, energy and employee benefits, are continuing to escalate, and it becomes clear that this is a complex and challenging time for us all.
The good news is that the Orlando Sentinel serves a growing market and our readership is now at an all-time high and continuing to build. We are a successful company, and we want to be successful in the future.
To do this, we must continue to be more efficient and focus on our customers' needs. We come at this from a position of strength. We have an exceptional newspaper, robust online initiatives and a diverse portfolio of products -- such as our niche publications, El Sentinel and the new Forums -- all of which are strategically important to us. But, to remain competitive given today's business realities, we must continually re-evaluate our business model and plans. Our company's goals remain the same - to serve our readers, advertisers and communities, expand our audience and grow revenues. To accomplish this, we are adjusting our resources - time, people and money - toward our future. After much thought and deliberation, it became clear that it will be necessary to eliminate a limited number of positions, some of which are open positions. As we finalize plans, decisions will be communicated first to affected employees, then companywide in the next few weeks.
We have looked outside-in to determine how we can position our products to remain relevant and stay focused on accelerating growth. This means taking a fresh look at everything we do, and making hard decisions on what is core to our mission. These actions will position the Sentinel for future growth. Other Tribune newspapers are taking similar actions.
We are moving forward on some product changes designed to improve the appearance, functionality and efficiency of the Orlando Sentinel. Many of these changes were already identified in the 2006 Strategic and Operating Plans. These changes will ensure we continue to produce an excellent newspaper and ancillary products.
· Redesign the A-section based on readers' feedback · Re-think our news features strategy · Refine our business sections to include more local news
These are challenging times for the media industry, but I'm confident that the Sentinel will rise to the challenge. Like anything worth doing, it won't be easy. But it is essential that we adapt to new market realities.
I understand the impact this will have on many of us, but in the long run it will help us become a stronger, more focused company poised to meet the ongoing transformation that lies ahead. The directors and I felt it was important to provide candid information to you as soon as possible. If you have questions or would like to discuss this, please talk to your manager and director.
I thank you for the contributions you make each day and encourage you to stay focused on the important roles you play in helping us accomplish our vision of being an indispensable part of people's lives. We've succeeded and prospered through many changes over our 129-year history, and I know that working together as a team will allow us to grow stronger and be more successful.
Kathy Waltz
Politically, what's the Orlando Sentinel like?
Moderately left?
Pretty far left?
Extremely far left?
Off the charts far left?
Just owned by the NY Times.
"a limited number of positions"
Well, at least it's not an unlimited number.
moderately left.
No. The Chicago Tribune, I think.
I wonder why she announced this in NY.
I live a few hours south of Orlando and have to therefore drive through the cow town when going north. I have upon occasion purchased and read this rag.
Doesn't matter that it is a left leaning rag, what is gauling is that it is a lousy paper. Not worth its very over priced cost.
Off the charts left. Also very poorly written and edited - a very amateurish rag. It cannot die soon enough.
Every time a liberal newspaper dies, a forest gets to live....
I've lived in the Orlando area for years- I've rarely seen a worse example of a small city newspaper- regardless of it's editorial policy (which, naturally, slants moderately LEFT). They also run a lousy "all-news" local TV station.
Somewhere between moderately and pretty far left. One would hope they could escape this by going to the Sports Page, but Bianchi is a tool of the liberals. About the only saving grace is to read Kathleen Parker on Sundays and Wednesdays.
This is actually worse than it appears for the Orlando Sentinel. The Orlando area is one of the fastest growing in the country. You would think that the paper would be growing not shrinking. Imagine how bad it would be if the population was unchanged?
It doesn't look like the circulation is actually shrinking. It looks more like they are going from inflated numbers used to rip off advertisers to more realistic numbers. "...although some of that can be attributed to a voluntary reduction in "other paid" circulation. "
Every time a liberal newspaper dies, a forest gets to live....
Schadefreude, comrades. Schadenfreude.
The lefty papers should just raise prices again. They tell us raising taxes is always the answer. Seems the economics should be quite close.
I don't believe that's the reason why. Even if they had inflated the numbers it's the revenue drop that's hurting (or fewer sales). However,this could be a "preemptive" layoff since the future revenues will fall since the advertisers will now pay less for their ads.
The Orlando Slantinel is very left but very clever... An Ex-VP once told me he thought that the paper was conservative.
The Name Is Walsh.
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