Posted on 09/24/2008 12:19:18 PM PDT by abb
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette plans to buy out workers or lay them off in a broad cost-cutting move, barely two years after its Ohio parent threatened to sell the struggling newspaper if it didn't get concessions.
Management needs to "cut staff throughout the company," Executive Editor David Shribman said in a memo to employees. It blamed the newspaper's "revenue situation."
Shribman declined to comment. He referred questions to marketing director Tracey DeAngelo, who did not return phone calls.
Between 10 and 20 Teamsters will lose their jobs in circulation, transportation and the stock room by year's end, said Joseph Molinero, president of Local 211, which represents 295 workers at the paper. He suspected steeper layoffs would occur elsewhere.
The full depth and scope of potential staff cuts were not immediately known.
Post-Gazette management plans to brief leadership of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh on details of the buyout Monday, said one union official, who declined further comment. The guild is the only union of P-G workers whose contract requires a buyout offer before layoffs can occur.
"I don't like it, but I'm a realist," said Molinero. "I've been to 11 different cities this year, and all 11 newspapers there were citing financial problems."
Newspapers generally have seen accelerated decreases in revenue in the past two years as advertising moves to the Internet.
The industry's year-over-year ad revenue declined 1.5 percent in second-quarter 2006; 8.6 percent a year later; and 15.1 percent last spring, according to the Newspaper Association of America.
For example, the McClatchy Co., which owns more than 30 newspapers, has reduced its work force by 30 percent and cut its shareholder dividend in half. Early this year, its chairman said staffing would again be cut to 10,000 from 14,000 at newspapers such as the Miami Herald.
snip
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
ping
http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Media_economy_57/Media_folks_see_little_benefit_in_bailout.asp
Media folks see
little benefit in bailout
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=91315
‘Collateral Damage:’ Ad Spending Falls At Steepest Rate Since 2001
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aEqa6Esfe7aQ
U.S. Ad Spending Falls 3.7%, Biggest Drop Since 2001
http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/697286.html
Other media also struggling for ad dollars
With the exception of syndicated TV shows like ‘Oprah’ and ‘Dr. Phil,’ experts say all of the mass media are suffering financially this year.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aICHGmjQaMIs
Cable Sees `Favorable’ Ad Climate, FX President Says
http://www.foliomag.com/2008/time-publisher-wants-capture-readers-cradle-grave
Time Publisher Wants to Capture Readers from Cradle to the Grave
http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2008/09/23/physical-newspapers-aren%E2%80%99t-dying-off-%E2%80%93-they%E2%80%99re-evolving/
Physical newspapers aren’t dying off – they’re evolving
Column: I may not subscribe for home delivery, but I read the news more than ever.
You are stupid, wrong, of low class and coarse. Buy three copies of this newspaper daily, instead of none. What the hell is the matter with you?
Editor
As a former resident of the area, I can only say I am happy this abusive liberal media giant is going away; no tears will be shed here; conservatives have been beat over the head with by this scum for too long.
Good riddance!
The air in Pittsburgh will be better when this paper is no longer printed. It is a foul smelling rag!
http://www.observer.com/2008/media/will-sun-close-no-comment-says-lipsky
Will the Sun Close? ‘No Comment,’ Says Lipsky
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snicker, snicker...
I hope they get rid of the street hawkers. Their swag doesn’t sell well on eBay.
The media is like a sick person who is dying a slow lingering death, but doesn’t go to a doctor because he thinks it will get better if he leaves it alone, and he really doesn’t want to know what is wrong because the possibilities are too frightening. Like a smoker with emphysema and lung cancer dragging around an oxygen bottle smoking generic cigarettes at the rate of 2 packs a day. Or like a drinker with cirrhosis and hepatitis and no liver function, who drinks while lieing on his death bed. Or a morbidly obese person eating a big mac and fries and a extra large chocolate milkshake right after quadruple bypass surgery.
Positively Darwinian!
ping
http://localtechwire.com/business/local_tech_wire/news/story/3603345/
N&O layoffs, buyouts cut another 53 people
Do you suppose it could be because they don't consistently insult their readers?
There are two newspapers in Pittsburgh? I’m surprised since it’s a declining Rust Belt city.
Pittsburgh is actually a fairly nice town in many respects. If it had decent government (they haven't elected a Republican major since back in the 1930's), it would be a great town. Ever been here?
But I've noticed that the demographics of Pittsburgh metro area have been declining for decades.
Wow-anti-snoker, anti-drinker, and anti-fat people all in the same post, and you’re supposed to be AGAINST the media while you just parroted every bit of brainwashing they’ve used over the last 20 years? How ironic. Bet you’re all for socialized medicine too.
Pittsburgh's population is actually growing younger lately, slowly but surely. Not just because it is a college town, but because a lot of the graduates are actually finding work here now.
If you haven't been here in a few years, you might be pleasantly surprised-- although the idiots who tear up the streets and cause massive traffic problems at inopportune times are still very much a part of the city.
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