'Portland Tribune' M.E. Resigns After Layoffs Claim two Staffers

Posted Wednesday, July 22, 2009 12:00 am

By: E&P Staff The weekly Portland (Ore.) Tribune has laid off two reporters and switched a third from sports to news coverage -- a move that prompted the resignation of Managing Editor Todd Murphy.

Features reporters Randall Barton and Anne Marie DiStefano were laid off Tuesday, while sports reporter Jason Vondersmith was reassigned to news. Current Executive Editor Mark Garber will be the temporary head of editorial operations.

The Tribune launched in 2001 as a twice-weekly, home-delivered paper. By 2006, it had abandoned home delivery and was distributed via the Web and newsstands for free. The paper cut back production to once a week in 2008.

The newsroom now has 14 editorial employees, compared to 27 in late 2006. Steve Clarke, president of Community Newspapers and publisher of the Tribune, told Portland Business Journal that the advertising, circulation and administration of the paper were not affected, nor were any other Community publications victimized by cuts.

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'Portland Tribune' M.E. Resigns After Layoffs Claim two Staffers

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