In First-Ever Layoffs, Gannett's 'Journal News' in N.Y. Lops 19

By: Mark Fitzgerald & Joe Strupp White Plains, N.Y.-based The Journal News laid off 19 people Thursday in the first-ever involuntary departures for the 130,531-circulation Gannett Co. daily.

"It was not a decision easily made," John Tuller, the paper's director of public relations, said in a telephone interview. "There have been changes in the economy and the environment. And like any other business, it's affecting all of us."

Tuller could not give a breakdown of layoffs, which included the newsroom, production, and business departments.

A source who demanded anonymity said those laid off received severance packages of one week of salary and paid health benefits for every year of employment.

Tuller said the layoffs were the first for the newspaper, which serves two of the nation's most affluent areas, Westchester and Rockland counties. It has a total employment of 1,200, Tuller said.

The paper reported in the most recent Audit Bureau of Circulations FAS-FAX that its circulation declined 6.2% compared to the same six-month period in 2004. Several years ago, the paper consolidated from a multitude of mastheads to one paper.

The Journal News layoffs come at a time when widespread personnel cuts across Tribune Co. newspapers have focused attention on industry reductions by the big chains (full list here).

Gannett spokeswoman Tara Connell declined to comment on any buyout or layoff plans at other papers, but she noted that some "job shifting" is occurring at several properties.

"What is happening at some locations is staff is being laid off, but we are hiring in other areas, either in the same place or other locations," she told E&P. "To some degree it happens all the time. This year though, things are tougher. I would describe this more as shifting resources, from a variety of areas to revenue producing jobs."

Connell, who would not provide specifics of which newspapers might be cutting or which locations might see such shifts, said job gains are likely in sales and marketing slots.

"It is something we do all the time, but this year the spotlight is a little brighter on the whole process because of what is happening in the industry. In reality, it is just shifting."