By: Joe Strupp Publisher Reduces Expenses Other Ways
Here's something totally different -- a major newspaper chain
that refuses to lay off employees, even as the recession is
forcing papers across the country to give workers the boot.
Advance Publications, the Staten Island, N.Y.-based group that
includes Newhouse Newspapers, has a tradition of avoiding
layoffs. And publishers at the chain's 26 daily papers said the
practice continues, despite the industry's recent economic slide.
"The thought behind it is that if your employees know they have
job security, they focus on the job," said Stephen A. Rogers,
publisher of Syracuse (N.Y.) Newspapers, which includes The
Post-Standard and the Syracuse Herald-Journal. "It
pays back in much higher morale."
Executives at other Advance papers, from The Oregonian in
Portland to The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa., confirmed
the no-layoffs policy, although none would discuss specific
revenue data.
"Fortunately, because we are privately held, we are able to
reward the loyalty of employees," said Alex Machaskee, publisher
of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. He added that there had
been no layoffs during his 41 years at the paper.
Advance Publications President Donald E. Newhouse declined
comment, referring questions to each individual newspaper
publisher. "They're the ones that implement the policy," he told
E&P.
Publishers said the Advance policy is for nonunion employees. But
those who spoke with E&P had not laid off any workers in
recent years, whether in a bargaining unit or not.
"It is a struggle, but we continue to operate this way," said
Larry McDermott, publisher of the Union-News and Sunday
Republican in Springfield, Mass., where all 750 employees are
union members. "We look at other ways to reduce expenses."
McDermott recently cut costs through an early-retirement offer
that 15 employees accepted.
Other nonlayoff savings at sister papers have included delaying
office-equipment purchases in Syracuse and decreasing newsprint
use at the Staten Island Advance. "We watch our pennies in
every way we can," said Advance Publisher Richard Diamond.
But as the recessionary forces continue through the year and
newspapers find it harder to meet budgets, will this Advance
tradition end? "These are distressing times," McDermott admitted.
"But it's too early to even think about that."
Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is an associate editor for E&P.
Copyright 2001, Editor & Publisher.
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