60% Layoff of Birmingham News Staff?

[AUChizad]

This is getting a lot of pub in New Orleans about the Picayune. I guess Alabama has more pressing news going on.

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/176888/employee-meetings-scheduled-today-at-advance-papers-in-new-orleans-alabama-times-picayune-birmingham-news-mobile-press-register-huntsville-times/

Layoffs underway at Times-Picayune, Advance’s Alabama papers

Steve Myers by Steve Myers Published June 12, 2012 8:22 am Updated June 12, 2012 12:38 pm

Employees at The Times-Picayune in New Orleans and Advance Publications’ papers in Birmingham, Mobile and Huntsville, Ala., have started to learn if they’ll have jobs when the papers stop printing every day and shift their focus to their websites.

Employees are being told Tuesday in short individual meetings whether the company wants to keep them, and if so, what their jobs would be, how much those jobs would pay and how long they have to think about it. Those without job offers may have the chance to apply for other positions or they could be offered a severance package.

Sixty percent of the editorial staff at The Birmingham News are being laid off, according to a source there who has seen a list of the targeted positions and the ages of the people who hold them. That’s a higher share than other departments, according to the source.

Throughout Alabama, about 400 Advance employees will lose their jobs, according to a post on al.com:

    As part of forming the new companies, functions such as copy editing and design, advertising production and the companies’ call center will be centralized in Birmingham. Additionally, printing and packaging of The [Huntsville] Times will be performed in Birmingham beginning this summer.

A few Times-Picayune journalists said on Facebook on Tuesday morning that they had lost their jobs. Gambit is confirming and tweeeting some of the departures, which include Brett Anderson, who has won a James Beard Award for his restaurant writing.

In a video posted to NOLA.com, Times-Picayune Editor Jim Amoss describes the changes to the paper. “Many readers can’t imagine a morning without our newspaper in their hands. I understand that; I’m a print guy. I grew up in this business, but I’m also a news guy.”

[Saniflush]

So selling their souls to SPUAT didn't save them?

[AUChizad]

Hate to see anyone lose their jobs, but if 60% are, one of them had better be Woodbery.

Scarbinsky better still be there. And dipshits like Scalisci had better be gone.

[Shug Dye]

Hate to see anyone lose their jobs, but if 60% are, one of them had better be Woodbery.

Scarbinsky better still be there. And dipshits like Scalisci had better be gone.

 

you think they are going to give us what we want? Woodberry will probably be promoted.

[Tiger Wench]

Could not have happened to a nicer bunch of assholes...

[noxin]

Once again, the Birmingham News comes up 40% short

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Once again, the Birmingham News comes up 40% short

ZIIINNNGGG!!!

[Kaos]

Unconfirmed:

Scarbinsky stays

Segrest gone
Wayne Hester gone

[wesfau2]

Segrest gone

Damn.  First Paula, then Simon...now Ryan??

I'm done with Idol.

[GH2001]

Damn.  First Paula, then Simon...now Ryan??

I'm done with Idol.

The ratings will go down 40% first episode.

[JR4AU]

The ratings will go down 40% first episode.

40% or 1/3.

[Buzz Killington]

Damn.  First Paula, then Simon...now Ryan??

I'm done with Idol.

It's okay, he's still got the swap meet.

[AUChizad]

Unconfirmed:

Scarbinsky stays

Segrest gone
Wayne Hester gone

Don't recognize Hester. Can't say I'll miss Segrest. Glad Scarbo's sticking around.

[Ranger12]

It was big news here also with all the cuts at the Huntsville Times. Many people are mad that the print edition is going to a three day delivery during the week. I hate for anybody lose their job, but I have not had our daily fish wrap, The Decatur Daily, delivered in years. I prefer to subscribe to the online edition. However, I do miss reading the Sunday comics in the "office".