By: Joe Strupp The East Valley Tribune in Mesa, Ariz., will cut back to four-day publication, reduce staff by 40%, and withdraw coverage from nearby Scottsdale and Tempe, the paper reported late Monday.
In a Web story, the paper stated: "Buffeted by an unprecedented downturn in the newspaper industry, Tribune Publisher Julie Moreno said the Tribune will move to four-day-a-week free distribution in the cities it will continue to serve ? Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek. The number of papers distributed in those cities will be increased as it is eliminated in Tempe and Scottsdale, she said."
It added that, "in line with the service cutback, the paper will cut 142 jobs ? about 40 percent of its overall staff."
Unspecified severance packages will be offered to employees whose jobs are eliminated, the paper reported, adding that Executive Editor Jim Ripley will be among those leaving, with plans to depart in January.
"Ripley said his decision was amicable and that he fully supports Moreno and the Tribune?s new direction," the paper reported.
The paper is owned by Freedom Communications, which also owns the Orange County Register and "has suffered a steep drop in revenue in the past year and has not been able to trim costs fast enough to offset that drop despite three rounds of layoffs."
The changes will occur on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. The remaining print editions are expected to run on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
"The new print edition will have two sections ? one for local news and a second for sports, entertainment and late-breaking news," the paper reported. "Both sections will be tabloid-sized, and the front page of the newspaper will look similar to its current layout. Zoned editions are planned for each of the four communities."
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