By: E&P Staff Reporters at the Detroit Free Press are live blogging the press conference relating the big changes. Here is what they have so far, with the latest first. It's all at: http://www.freep.com/article/20081216/BUSINESS06/81216035
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11:30 a.m.
Jonathan Wolman, editor and publisher of the Detroit News, said he believes the plan will break the cycle of buyouts and downsizing. Wolman appeared in front of the media with Anger and Hunke.
?This is a time of undeniable economic stress in our community,? he said. ?Our staff is hard at work on the transformation that we will launch next year."
The first question from the media centered on the number of layoffs and when they take effect.
Hunke said those details are still being bargained with unions.
He said the workforce will be reduced by about 9 %, which amounts to about 200 workers. Hunke also stressed that the layoffs do not affect the newsrooms.
Asked when the changes will begin, Hunke said most likely by the end of March.
Another reporter asked about why the two newspapers did not merge into one.
"There is incredible loyalty to these brand names," Hunke siad. "The fact is, folks in Detroit, folks in Michigan, love the fact that they have two newspapers. We think we've got a business model that lets that prosper."
11:20 a.m.:
Free Press Vice President and Editor Paul Anger pointed out that the Web site, www.freep.com, won three national Emmy awards in 2007 and 2008 after buying its first video camera only three years ago.
?We?re still going to be on guard,? he said. ?Our watchdog reporting on the text message scandal speaks for itself.?
11:15 a.m.: 'We have to move to the future'
Hunke acknowledged that the company is asking a lot from readers.
?We are a news business, the emphasis is on news,? he said.
Paul Anger, vice president and editor of the Detroit Free Press, said the plan, while necessary, will anger many.
?It?s going to hit some of our customers in their hearts and we know that,? he said, adding. ?We?ve got to embrace reality and we?ve got to embrace innovation. We cannot repeat what we?ve done for decades now ? We have to move to the future.?
11:10 a.m.:
At a news conference today at the Detroit Athletic Club, officials from the partnership laid out the plan.
?We?re here because we?re fighting for our survival,? said David Hunke, CEO of the Detroit Media Partnership and publisher of the Free Press. ??We?re also here because we have an absolute resolve to not only save but rethink and rebuild two of the greatest newspapers in the country.?
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