Newspaper Layoffs: Here We Go Again
The following email from Palm Beach Post Publisher Alex Taylor was posted by a kindly commenter below. Taylor sent it to the newsroom Tuesday afternoon, and in it he writes that this year is worse than the last and confirms there will be more layoffs. But he doesn't specify when they'll come or how many there will be (there's more suspense that way, you know). This follows news that another stressful reorganization is underway and last week's email in which Taylor urged employees to be positive with the public about how "exciting" a time it is to work at the Post, which has already been wracked by hundreds of layoffs.
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From: Taylor, Alex
Sent: Tue 7/14/2009 4:41 PM
To: All PBNI Employees
Subject: Changes
Folks,
I was meeting with the senior management group today and we were discussing how difficult many of the changes this summer have been. Departmental mergers, budget cuts, outsourcing, etc. The most difficult thing, however, is the topic of layoffs. We came into this year hoping to avoid them, but after 2 quarters of sobering reality that this year has been even worse than last year, we find ourselves going through some layoffs - with some more still ahead. This is a painful, difficult process no matter where you are, but after the extensive cut backs of last year, it's even more of an open wound here at Palm Beach Newspapers.
We've tried to be as candid as possible in communicating the details of the cuts we're making this year, but we're also trying to be cautious because we don't want to make it sound worse than it is, nor do we want to understate it. We agreed that despite our best efforts, people want more details and they want more candid information. So I've decided to host a meeting to specifically address the topic of layoffs and how those changes are going to affect our future. The meeting will be this Friday morning at 11 in the auditorium.
The goal is to provide more detail and context for all of you and I will answer ANY question you have. Just to give you a bit of a preview, I have heard rumors that 200 people are about to be laid off. I'm not sure where that came from, but it's totally false. What we're doing this year is cutting a little more from every department to make up for a soft revenue market. We're not trying to get wildly rich in the process, nor are we preparing to sell this business (another rumor). We're just trying to break even and create a business model that is stable, sustainable and can serve this community going forward. I am very confident that is going to happen.
We work hard to protect each and every job, and every cut is difficult for myself and those making these decisions. We want to live up to our stated value of treating our employees with respect and dignity. The best way I know to do that is to lay it all out for you and share the details of what each department is working on. The more we can communicate the better, and I think you'll be surprised to learn that it's not nearly as bad as everyone is assuming. This year has been sobering, but the changes we're making will be worth it and once we get through it, the financial future is finally beginning to look better.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Alex
49 comment(s) / Post a Comment
Taylor says, and I quote, "this year has been even worse than last year." Last year, approximately 600 employees (about half of the workforce) departed. So what does that mean for this year?
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 6:50AMIt's easy to read between the lines when he says that they're "not trying to get wildly rich" by laying people off. In other words, he's just trying to get a little rich by laying people off.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 7:34AMBob,
You should point out that the Post did OK in the recent Florida Society of Newspaper Editors awards competition, outpacing the "new and improved" Sun-Sentinel by a wide margin.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 8:40AMThat's because the new and improved Lee Abrams Gazette er, uh, I mean the Sun-Sentinel, sucks in comparison.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 9:26AMBy the end of 2008 the PBNI payroll was cut nearly in half.
Doug Franklin was brought in by Atlanta to do that so that Cox could begin to barely break even in West Palm Beach for 2009. That's what we were told when our buyout packages were offered to us. Cox wasn't trying to make money. The goal was only to reach an equalibrium.
If halfway into 2009 the PBNI co. operating at half of it's payroll size from 2008 still can't break even, then there's something else going on at PBNI and Cox. And no one is being candid about it.
Saying that ad revenue still isn't where it was expected to be isn't an honest answer. Anyone in a job that requires him or her to pay attention to the economics of the newspaper industry could tell last year that the overall picture wouldn't be much better this year and that income from advertising would either stagnate or continue to drop.
That's why the layoffs had to go as deep as they did in 2008, we were told.
How can a company operating at 50% of it's previous size still be dangerously in the red six months after downsizing so much? How could so many people in West Palm Beach and Atlanta not anticipate this?
It doesn't make sense.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 10:45AMUnfortunately, it does make sense. The previous cuts hurt the product and service. So, in addition to the losses brought on by the economy, there is the self-inflicted damage usually not calculated by management. They believe that cuts only impact the expense side, and their projections usually come up short on revenue because they don't factor in the loss of paying readers and advertisers who would have stayed in the game if they were getting the value they received before the cuts.
It would seem like to me the Post wouldn't be cutting 200 people as the publisher noted.
With the Sun Sentinel now printing the Post and about 100 newsroom people departing, the staffing numbers are logically much lower than last year.
Without much of a "production department," it would appear the newsroom could face massive cuts.
It's being said that not many people will need to be cut from the newsroom. But no one will say what that means as a real number.
The figures flying around are about 5 or 6 managers will get cut and then around 25-30 hourly staff.
But no one in charge will confirm anything.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 1:59PMWe in Indy-Cincy-Phoenix at Gannett papers feel your pain
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 2:39PM"Long gone" seriously, it's tough to believe you were in the business and wrote this:
"How can a company operating at 50% of it's previous size still be dangerously in the red six months after downsizing so much? How could so many people in West Palm Beach and Atlanta not anticipate this?"
Forget West Palm and Atlanta, NO ONE in the entire freaking industry anticipated this last year, friend. If they had, some of them might be making money. Might be, but probably not because unless you simply lay people off without any severance at all then you are still incurring huge expenses for some months down the road in one way or another.
Matador, a tiny, tiny bit of what you say may be true, but when you're losing millions of dollars EACH MONTH it isn't because people are upset about your cutting the product.
Does anybody here ever actually read the papers? Jeez.
So play this game with yourself if you have the intestinal fortitude: Let's say YOU own the newspaper you work for and it lost $2 million last month. Your goal is to just have it break even, nothing more. You roll the dice first and tell us all how you would do it within the next six months. We'll accept both revenue additions and expense cuts, but both have to be realistic. It's your turn. Tell us.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 3:14PMThe Captain of Copans Road:
Are you really pointing out the awards count at FSNE as proof of anything? Seriously?
I mean, are you a rookie reporter or are you completely clueless?
Oh and gotta love the Post's "award" for their booking blotter. Really innovative, guys.
Here's a tip, captain: newspapers (especially the Sun Sentinel) are not entering as many contests and entries as they have in the past. Why? It costs money. And I'm not sure if you have noticed, but we're in lean times here. Times in which hundreds to thousands of dollars in contest entry fees could be better spent on, say, public records, technology -- hell, even office supplies.
So if you do the math -- you remember math, don't you? -- you'll see that if you have fewer entries, you have fewer chances to win.
So you go ahead and shine those little trophies and plaques and keep thinking it means something significant. Your delusions of superiority will mean bupkiss when the reaper comes for your job.
Memo begins: "I was meeting with the senior management group today." 'nuf said.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 5:27PMBeing a business owner myself, if I were the owner and had a $2M loss last month, I would not only streamline the staff but I would also pull all resources into one location...less operating overhead. I would then either sell the owned commercial real estate or rent the space if selling the property in this economy would not break even with the debt. If selling the properties would bring a significant return, I would use this to pay off severance debt, etc. Most businesses that have either expanded too fast or just not turning a profit like they have in the past have to make HARD DECISIONS like closing locations and condensing product lines. It is heart breaking when the business you worked so hard for starts to fail.
I would also begin charging for online subscriptions at some point so that the editorial content was not being given away on the website. I would give a couple of teaser paragraphs and for the "whole story" the online reader would have to be a subscriber.
Just some thoughts...
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 15 2009 @ 6:04PMSo Fla. journalism is dead.
The Herald is a shell of itself.
The Post is still making an effort.
And the Sun-Sentinel? Well, it sucks the maggots off a dead corpse's anus.
To "Captain, Your Ship Is Sinking":
While you seem to be on the topic of Sun-Sentinel apologies, consider this: It couldn't compete journalistically with the Post when times were good, and it can't compete against a weakened opponent even now.
But keep on covering those Delray Beach City Council meetings.
Keep running Palm Beach Post stories all over your paper and Web site.
And, above all, you STAY CLASSY, sir or madam!
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 16 2009 @ 12:23AM"We work hard to protect each and every job, and every cut is difficult for myself and those making these decisions."
Yes, cutting Jbart's madeup job was clearly too difficult a decision to make. Ditto for the ceremonial managing editor. And the Miami-based reporters who were supposed to enhance the print edition. And their editor, who sits in her office way in the back writing lesson plans for her second job. In the meantime, how much do you want to bet that when the dust settles once again, and reporters who raced from the cop shop to the budget meeting have lost their jobs, some cuts will still be too "difficult." That's why a year later readership continues to drop.
It's unfortunate that the news print industry is going downhill. Not only here, but throughout the country. Chicago's and Philadelphia's newspapers are taking a big hit too, and it doesn't look like any of that will turn around anytime soon.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 16 2009 @ 4:41AMIt's tough to have sympathy for The Post when it produces a local section like today's. The lead story: "Water District Merges Divisions!" The honking Comcast ad was more interesting.
If Alex Taylor or Tim Burke really were in charge, they would fire the editor who assigned that story to set an example. Mediocrity is killing The Post. Do something about it.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 16 2009 @ 7:58AMWhat isn't relevant doesn't survive, no matter what business you're talking about. It's not the owners who are putting you out of business, it's your readers. Readers have better and more convenient ways to get news. Advertisers need eyeballs, and print can't produce them.
Readers use the internet and they watch TV. They listen to the radio in cars and they might, MAYBE, SOMETIMES, pick up a Sunday edition of The NY Times for a lazy weekend. Other than that, you're printing for an audience that is telling you in every way possible - your medium is dead. Not your message (the news), but your medium (the newspaper).
You can change the feed, lighten the buggy, enlarge the wheels - you will never be able to compete with the automobile. It would be like Gutenberg being outdone by a group of swift calligraphers. If you have a boss that's telling you different, you won't have a job for long.
Print is no longer relevant. Online is. I think it's astounding how slow the inside of the newspaper industry is to see the outside world it's covering.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 16 2009 @ 12:03PMJust heard from a reliable source in the advertising industry that the Post will soon cease its print edition and go online exclusively. That would certainly account for more layoffs. Apparently someone who's been looking to advertise has been told this. Shouldn't surprise anyone. As the above poster noted, what would you do if you were the Cox sisters and went from your best-ever to worst-ever bottom line in the span of two years? They're not in this business for charity, or to demonstrate journalistic excellence. They're in it because it (once upon a time) turned a profit. Econ 101 -- if something isn't profitable, you eliminate or retool it. That principle hasn't changed since the dawn of time and never will. Bob's advice is sage. I hope everyone takes it. As for me, I was one of the smart ones who took the lucrative buyout a year ago before they could lay me off with a pittance of severance. I don't blame Cox for it. It was a good (and profitable) ride while it lasted. In fact, I daresay I, along with 95 percent of my fellow employees, were overpaid. I never complained. I'm still not.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 16 2009 @ 12:16PMAlmost all of the ad revenue comes from the print edition. I don't see that going away for quite a while. The Seattle P-I recently went online only. That should last another few months.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 16 2009 @ 12:24PMI would doubt that the online only rumor is true.
As the previous post states, nearly all of the advertising income at PBNI is brought in through the print edition, such as it is.
I don't know how many people the website could payroll with it's online advertising income alone, but it wouldn't be anywhere close to the number of people who work on the site right now.
Not that Cox would be opposed to getting rid of half of it's online staff and managers, but I doubt that the income from a purely online paper would bring in enough money to even pay for the minimum staff needed to maintain the website.
On the other hand, nothing would surprise me these days. Sadly, this rumor is as viable as any other rumor we've heard in the last three months. Anything is possible given the financial problems in the industry and at the Post.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 16 2009 @ 1:04PMJob loss...Been there. Done that. Yep, still there. My heart goes out to those still getting 'pinked'.
For me, losing my job was one of those defining moments in life. I knew I had a
choice: I could choose to lose my way (my mind) or rise to the challenge and follow what my Spirit tells me to do, always remembering that I am more than a
statistic on the news.
I'll share with you what I was told the day I got "set free" (laid off) from my job: "This is a new chapter in your life. WRITE ONE HELL OF A CHAPTER!" And I did just that! Will you?
So if you just need a break from the doom and gloom, let me send you a FREE book
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Yes, times are tough, but it doesn't mean that we can't still 'give back' to one
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take care,
Louise Lewis, author
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www.noexpertsneeded.com
To Drunk in Hypoluxo:
"It couldn't compete journalistically with the Post when times were good, and it can't compete against a weakened opponent even now."
Wait, so you're saying that the non-hometown newspaper with a fraction of the staff (we have like eight reporters now, for Christ's sake) of the Palm Beach Post can't compete fully with it in the Post's backyard? NO FUCKING DUH.
Man, the Post must be hiring geniuses these days. Math, however, must not be their strong point.
Keep on stroking your e-peen, buddy. The fact that your self-esteem appears to center around how much you can insult the competition is a sad statement about your maturity, intelligence and journalistic integrity.
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 17 2009 @ 2:30AMThe future of "local" journalism -- the booking blotter (and other assorted crime tidbits), Jose Lambiet and the Swirl Girls.
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 17 2009 @ 7:09AMThere are only two full-page car ads in Friday's paper. The Post cannot sustain itself on Kia and Chrysler ads. The collapse of the auto industry was the final death knell for The Post.
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 17 2009 @ 8:45AMTo "Captain, your ship is sinking":
How's that Wellington expansion working out for you? Oh, right.
How many papers did you ever sell north of Delray Beach. Oh, right.
Cover Scripps much? Yep, a lot.
You guys had at least 15 people in Palm Beach County (mostly covering South County) while the Post's South County bureau wasn't nearly that big. And you still got creamed.
I'm not insulting anyone, just making a statement of FACT: They were no competition back then, so it comes as no surprise that they're not worthy competition now.
And my e-peen is bigger than your e-peen. :-)
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 17 2009 @ 9:49AM
Print revenue from advertising and circulation is more than 90% of the total revenue. Online is glamorous but unproductive.
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 17 2009 @ 10:45AMThe villains of this piece are not each other but the incompetents at the top who left the integrity-free editors under them save their golf buddies and other sycophants (Rose hired one of his favorite brownnosers a month after sending scores of veterans packing last year. Surprise!)while emptying newsrooms of dedicated workers. As a result, I've got news for you morons arguing over which miserable rag is less bad -- the newspapers have become worthless to the readers.
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 17 2009 @ 10:50AMTo Drunk in Hypoluxo:
It's sad that you don't see how silly, petty and immature you look on this message board. I suppose it's a good thing that you don't post your real identity. Your colleagues would likely be embarrassed by it.
It's sad that you get your jollies by pointing out your useless "facts" that are actually just sad opinions you JUST HAVE TO make public to make yourself feel better.
I could rebut every one of your posts point by point (and rather easily, since you have no clue about the inner workings, strategies and history of the Sun Sentinel), but your mental illness would prohibit you from seeing the logic behind my responses. I mean, you were trying to use an awards count as proof of quality, for God's sake. I repeat: it's sad.
It's OK. I'm sure that by telling yourself how awesome you are compared to everyone else, it will help when you're handed a box and told to clean out your desk.
Here, I'll help. I feel bad for you, I really do. So here's some useful information for your inevitable future:
http://www.floridajobs.org/Unemployment/
The Sun Sentinel has a long-term contract to print the Post. I wonder if the Post can get out if it if it decides not print a paper anymore?
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 17 2009 @ 4:21PMThe Post cease its print edition? No paper to straighten up at Starbucks? Oh, what shall we do, Mr. Publisher!
Posted On: Friday, Jul. 17 2009 @ 8:09PMWhat happened at today's 11 a.m. meeting with Alex Taylor at the Palm Beach Post?
To “captain your ship is sinking”:
Congratulations on the ad hominem attack. Really.
So how do you know that I don't work at the S-s? For instance, there's one reporter there who is -- or perhaps was -- often pointing out that the Post is a good newspaper.
So my point, my friend, is that you shouldn't just assume I'm a Postie.
And in fact, my friend, I know All about the workings of the s-s.
So... have a nice day.
To Drunk in Hypoluxo:
Ad hominem? Is it a personal attack when I'm using your own words against you?
No. An ad hominem would be an insult used to distract you from the argument. There's no need to do that, your own words illustrate your failure.
Again, that's that logic thing I said you wouldn't understand. Had you understood it, you would be arguing the facts instead of repeated red herrings.
Looks like I'm right again.
I've never argued that the Post isn't a good newspaper. It is a good paper going through some tough times.
That's the difference between us. I'm willing to cut a paper some slack going through some hard times. I'm willing to compliment the competition on their strengths without being petty and immature about every single one of their shortcomings.
And I'm unwilling to engage in schoolyard "my dad can beat your dad up" type arguments about which paper is better, especially when the measuring stick is so insanely stupid.
If you do work for the Sun Sentinel, God help you. It must be difficult living with such self-loathing, especially when you're slagging your colleagues behind the cowardly veil of anonymity.
An ad hominem argument, also known as argumentum ad hominem (Latin: "argument to the man", "argument against the man") consists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking or appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim.
And the poster wrote: It's sad that you don't see how silly, petty and immature you look on this message board. I suppose it's a good thing that you don't post your real identity. Your colleagues would likely be embarrassed by it.
It's sad that you get your jollies by pointing out your useless "facts" that are actually just sad opinions you JUST HAVE TO make public to make yourself feel better.
I could rebut every one of your posts point by point (and rather easily, since you have no clue about the inner workings, strategies and history of the Sun Sentinel), but your mental illness would prohibit you from seeing the logic behind my responses. I mean, you were trying to use an awards count as proof of quality, for God's sake. I repeat: it's sad.
So, to recap: "silly... petty ... immature... mentally ill."
This judge says: Ad hominem, indeed
Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 18 2009 @ 10:03AMI have stopped all my advertising efforts with The Palm Beach Post. I go through reps like i go thorugh underwear. And now another bunch of obnoxious reps who want to come in my business and rob me so I can place ads in some new special section that does not even make it in the paper. The newspaper needs some major pr damage control before I can consider them.
dont call me
Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 18 2009 @ 2:05PMAt the 11 AM meeting Alex debunked the web only rumors, even seemed to find it amusing that anyone would suggest it.
He said all the Post is trying to do is make $1 in profits this year, which is challenging with the way the economy has continued to free fall. But he pointed out the way Cox has contined to pay for retiree health benefits, the 401K, the pension, and even went back to people who already left the company to tell them they would get retirement benefits too. Said company is absolutely not trying to screw employees over.
Said Cox has enough other lines of revenue to avoid bankruptcy, unlike Tribune. Biggest challenge for Post is the absolute collapse of classified revenues. The paper has cut its physical size as much as it can without alienating all its readers.
Then came the numbers. Ad sales and the newsroom each must lose 20 to 30 people by September and this will be by involuntary layoffs not voluntary buyouts.
Unclear how the layoff decisions will be made. But appears that newsroom managers, who have not done performance reviews of employees for several years, will be doing quicky ratings now so the paper can keep its "best" people.
Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 18 2009 @ 6:18PMFrom: Moschella, Nick (CNI-Palm Beach)
Sent: Fri 7/17/2009 4:47 PM
Subject: REORG UPDATE . . .
As I mentioned during Alex's staff meeting this morning, we have devised a short-term employee rating system to help determine our final reorganization structure.
This is not a formal evaluation process. Unfortunately, we have been inconsistent through the years with administering performance evaluations, an oversight that absolutely will be corrected as we move forward.
For now, with the help of Human Resources and considering time constraints as we approach the reorg deadlines, we developed a rating/points system based on specific performance expectations for the following positions:
Reporters
Copy editors
Web producers
Photographers/videographers
Newsroom assistants
The rating process will be conducted by at least two-three immediate supervisors, independently of each other. Each supervisor will attach a point total to each requirement and add a short comment explaining the reason for the specific number. The final points total (max. 100) will be based on the average of the ratings by the supervisors.
Employees are welcome to review their overall rating and accompanying comments when the newsroom-wide process is completed. They can discuss the rating with their immediate supervisor and adjustments will be considered, if valid.
Listed below is each rating area, criteria and points. Ratings will be completed by July 31.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Nick
The number of people in the newsroom who are going to be laid-off in September:
- Does the 20-30 figure include the 5 or 6 managers that will be laid off? Or will the newsroom lose 20-30 hourly employees in addition to losing 5 or 6 management employees?
- Does anyone know if any of the currently unfilled, open positions in the newsroom are being included in the 20-30 number?
I've heard different takes from PB Post people about how the 20-30 number is being reached.
Posted On: Sunday, Jul. 19 2009 @ 3:01PMThis ex-Postie would like to know if Dan Shorter is still sucking on the Cox teet. Or did he bail/get booted in previous cutbacks.
Posted On: Sunday, Jul. 19 2009 @ 5:43PMDan Shorter:
Minneapolis/St. Paul - (January 28, 2008) - Dan E. Shorter has been named President of Digital Media of the Star Tribune Company, Publisher and Chairman Chris Harte announced today.
Shorter currently is the general manager of PalmBeachPost.com, the website of The Palm Beach Post in West Palm Beach, FL. His new assignment is effective Feb. 24, 2008.
Posted On: Sunday, Jul. 19 2009 @ 6:21PMI am sure recession is everywhere these days. Lay offs, salary cuts, etc. have been so common throughout boundaries. So the only solution to this as i think should be start something on your own.
There is this company called consultgenie which helps people like us who do not jobs in recent times because of recession. ConsultGenie is the leading online market space where businesses connect with independent professionals to get work done.
Check it out..
Posted On: Monday, Jul. 20 2009 @ 3:29AMDefinitely recession is charging everywhere. There are lay offs and salary cut offs everywhere. This issue has to be dealt with.
I am aware of this company called consult genie which provides services online. It is the leading online market space where businesses connect with independent professionals to get work done.
Now anyone over here wants to start something of your own then you know what to do.
Posted On: Monday, Jul. 20 2009 @ 3:34AMThe internet spam scum have found this blog.
I say we all go to Consult Genie's website and leave limitless links on their message boards to the most offensive type of internet porn available.
Posted On: Monday, Jul. 20 2009 @ 3:39AMSounds good. I can just copy some addresses to those sites from my favorites.
Posted On: Monday, Jul. 20 2009 @ 10:28AMAlex Taylor and Doug Franklin woould look great with a smoking hole in their forehead. May do it myself. It ain't that far to Atlanta where Doug is fucking up more lives. And hell..West Palm is right up the road.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 21 2009 @ 9:28AMCareful "still pissed." That pretty much qualifies as a terroristic threat. And the Internet isn't necessarily as anonymous as always promised when someone has subpoena power. I'm just sayin' .....
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 23 2009 @ 2:09AMMy comments may be a bit hasty and I have never owned a gun in my life but I sure hope they get theirs.They should watch their step to hell.Also.. going to jail for a threat may be better than what I am going through now. Atleast I know I would have a place to sleep and get food everyday...out here as a result of being thrown to the curb I ain't so sure.
Posted On: Sunday, Jul. 26 2009 @ 8:24PM
