By: Jennifer Saba Newsday is still cleaning house in its circulation department, with Publisher Tim Knight firing seven more employees, according to a story in Newsday.
Knight acknowledged in a letter to Newsday staffers that the axe was swung in order to ?ensure the integrity of our circulation practices,? the story said. No names were disclosed.
So far, 14 people have been fired from the department.
In other news, the Long Island, N.Y., paper reported earlier today that another manager was implicated in taking kickbacks from a subcontractor. Jayne Boden, who, according to Newsday, held top financial positions at two Newsday affiliates, claimed that she received a $30,000 ?bonus check? from Queens Staffing sanctioned by Louis Sito.
Yesterday, Sito (and Boden?s boss) was cited for allegedly demanding and accepting $1 million in kick backs over a 10-year period from Queens Staffing. A federal investigation is looking into the charges.
Sito allegedly told Boden this was her bonus check -- at a time when Newsday had implemented bonuses freezes -- and that it was coming from a staffing agency so as not to make other managers ?jealous,? the story said.
An even more explosive allegation was revealed when the story reported that Boden?s attorney said that Sito did not only sanction her check but so did Newsday Publisher Ray Jansen.
Jansen told Newsday: ?Maybe that?s her misimpression but, you know, that?s ridiculous. That?s just totally crazy.?
Robert Brennan, the former vice president of circulation at Newsday, also said he received a $30,000 payment.
Federal investigators have not charged Sito, Boden, Brennan, and James Cisek, owner of the former Queens Staffing.
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