Layoffs at the Star-Telegram
Sad day in Fort Worth at the newspaper. Several newsroom folks, some of whom I know, are getting the pink-slip shiv. About 20 overall, I think eight or so in the newsroom. High-level folks, too. Memo after the jump:
Email to All Employees
April 17, 2008
Today, we are announcing the restructuring of management level positions in several areas of the newspaper. This is not an across-the-board layoff, but a restructuring that focuses primarily on consolidating work and streamlining various levels of management throughout the organization. As a result, 20 positions are impacted, although we are working with these individuals to identify other possible opportunities. This is approximately 1.5% of our employee population. The positions impacted are in the newsroom, marketing, operations, circulation and advertising.
We have met with each of the affected employees to discuss the changes being made. These employees have served us well and will be treated fairly. They will be eligible to apply for any other available positions for which they are qualified within the newspaper. If they do not apply for a comparable position, most affected employees will be leaving on April 25th and will be offered a transition plan that includes severance pay, extended medical coverage, and outplacement services.
This is not a review we have taken lightly. We know it’s a difficult message to hear and certainly creates anxiety. We will work with those affected to make this transition as smooth as possible. Please let your manager know if you have any questions.
Gary Wortel
President & Publisher
Star-Telegram
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Anybody compiling the names?
This is a tragic day…those folks need to know people are thinking of them and wishing them well.
Families suffer for the sake of stock prices.
some names here
Will some wealthy family step up and purchase this paper for the sake of the Fort Worth community? We need a stable paper whose leadership takes journalism seriously.
“… although we are working with these individuals to identify other possible opportunities…” Opportunities for the 20 who were let go, or opportunities for further “consolidating work and streamlining various levels of management”?
What’s funny is the Star-Telegram’s own story http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/588920.html says 15 people. So is it 15 or 20?
It was quite the birthday present indeed! I would have preferred a girl jumping out of my cake or maybe a bento box from Pirahna, but oh well…
I’m fortunate in a way because it’s just me and i will survive, but for those with families to support, all the best.
It was a good place to work and my friends there were fantastic.
Adios
D
These newspaper execs issue these statements that they hope take on an air of nobility — “We’re doing this to save the paper,” that sort of crap. But, in reality, this is not about journalism, it is about stock prices and creating a new generation of Trust Fund Mutants. These SOBs are selling out democracy in exchange for a bounce in the market. Someday Americans in a crisis of freedom will ask, “How come we weren’t told that?” and the answer will be, “We would have warned you but we thought we’d rather see the stock go up.”
Of course, at some places, it just goes down.
Maybe it’s a question of morality….If you have morals and ethics, maybe things work out better.
six weeks pay? Oh yes. That seems completely ‘fair.’
So does the offer of ‘outplacement services.’ What will that offer be? A free subscription to the S-T’s ‘classifieds’ section?
Some of the fat cats over there should be ashamed of themselves.
Many of these people were high performers who didn’t make an obscene salary. No one in management had a say in this … it came from the top.
They expect you to perform at a high level yet performing at a high level gets you nowhere except on the unemployment line.
That sound you hear is the sound of people jumping ship. And I’ll be one of them.
Hey, let’s not get our panties in a twist. We know the biz is going down the toilet. If you want to jump, then go. The rest of us will be better without you. At least they haven’t been as horrible as the DMN. I’m pretty thankful.
The mood in the newsroom Thursday could be described as funereal. Those layed off were told on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to report to HR at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Many worked the night shift and had to put out the paper knowing they would get the boot in the morning. As was mentioned earlier, many of these people were management in name only. They worked their rears off for modest salaries; I do not mention their names out of respect for their privacy. One was given the manager title in lieu of a raise last year. Another had a senior title but had been switched to a different department and his title never changed. Be thankful you have a job all you want — management on Thursday refused to say this would be the last the S-T hears of layoffs and buyouts.
I’m running around town reporting a story (far as you know), so I can’t really cover this, but the discrepancy between 15 and 20 I think is because some people chose early retirement, and thus were not technically laid off. Also, as Sad Journalist points out, they were managers but not big-money decision makers. Just high-level newsroom folks. I can also say that this sparked even more concern at the Morning News, where the newsroom is VERY worried that there could be more layoffs later this year, based solely on what is happening to the industry at large. (I have zero proof that this could happen, but many emails from folks there that say the fear is genuine.) Of course, you could say that about any newspaper right now.
Classy Diva: Are you an idiot?
Classy Diva: I’ll tell you a secret, since you still have your job. They’ll be coming for you next. Using the DMN as a gauge (The S-T higher-ups brought this on themselves), what they did this time was lop off the folks who were making decent salaries. They’re not worried: Other people will now be required to do those folks’ jobs, and their own, for the same money. Quite a racket, no?
Welcome to a kindler, gentler sweatshop. Enjoy yourself. And as Sad Journalist pointed out: If they offer you a title (even without the money), you take it and put it on your resume and start looking for a job harder than you ever have.
You are next, Classy.