Posted on 12/12/2006 8:37:12 PM PST by LdSentinal
Newsday journalists have sent a letter to parent Tribune Co., calling for an end to staff reductions and for more resources devoted to covering news on Long Island and abroad.
The letter, signed by 112 employees of the 411 who work in the editorial department, criticized Tribune for cutting the newsroom staff by about one third since buying Newsday in 2000. It also said the ability to provide readers with a comprehensive news report and investigative stories had been undermined by cuts in the workforce and newsprint.
“Tribune has damaged Newsday as an instrument of public information and accountability and, for that matter, as a business,” said the letter, which was mailed Monday to Tribune chief executive Dennis FitzSimons. “The company has forced us to replace much of our unique journalism with wire stories that can be found on the Internet.”
Newsday publisher Timothy P. Knight replied that all employees are committed to serving Long Islanders “in the best way possible.” He also said, “Our journalists are doing great work every day. The issues and business realities facing Newsday and all newspapers are complex.”
Newsday editor John Mancini added, “This staff is dedicated and passionate, and what should not get lost in this discussion is the fact that folks here are doing great work every day.”
Tribune, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment.
The letter comes as Tribune is considering bids to sell itself or some of its properties, which include the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Cubs. Like other publishers, the company is confronting declines in advertising and circulation revenue because of the Internet. Newsday reduced its editorial staff through buyouts in 2004 and 2005 but has not done so this year.
(Excerpt) Read more at cantonrep.com ...
Seems like they are causing the problem. People do not want to read stories for truth.
where's the "dinosaur media alert"?
Well it seems to me like they had better start blaming the 'reporter' for the stories they are putting together....mostly lies about the Bush Administration....people only will take so much of Bush's fault and then they stop reading, buying or listening....
If they can't find a news worthy story, they make it up, doesn't matter if there is any truth to the stories and the editors knowing this, don't care either, they okey it and print it....
I hope to see all the newspapers go out of business...and then the stupid news programs on cable can go the same way....
About the only place your going to get the truth nowdays is the Internet like Free Republic or Rush Limbaugh....
It's Drudge's fault.
Lies coming back and biting them in the ash. Nice :-)!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.