'Times' Has Cut Today: NY Paper to Slice 100 Newsroom Spots

By: Joe Strupp The New York Times announced Thursday that it would cut 100 newsroom jobs this year, according to a story on the paper's Web site, which cited a need to "bow to growing financial strain."

"The cuts will be achieved primarily through attrition and buyouts, but layoffs are a real possibility," the paper quoted Executive Editor Bill Keller as explaining. It also said the paper currently has 1,332 newsroom staffers, adding that is "the largest number in its history; no other American newspaper has more than about 900."

"There have been scattered buyouts and job eliminations in The Times? newsroom in recent years, but the overall number continued to rise, largely due to the growth of its Internet operations," the story added. "The New York Times Company has made significant cuts in the newsrooms of some of its other properties, including The Boston Globe, as well as in non-news operations. Company executives say the overall headcount is 3.8 percent lower than it was a year ago."

The announcement comes a day after Tribune Company announced plans to cut up to 500 jobs companywide, including as many as 100 at the Los Angeles Times.

The New York Observer, at www.observer, reports the following: "Keller said he didn't imagine any sections (like Travel or Escapes or City) getting eliminated, and that the newsroom cuts would therefore come on a person-by-person basis. According to our sources, Keller also left the open the possibility of saving some jobs. He said that 'The leadership of the newsroom will share in the sacrifice.'

"Richard Perez-Pena, the publishing reporter, asked what he meant. 'Apparently there is a pool of money made up of bonuses for the salaries for top editors that may be used to save top jobs,' said one person present. '[Keller] said he hadn't decided if they would use that.'

"Interestingly, at the meeting, Perez-Pena was the only person to ask a question about the cuts. '[Keller] asked for questions and no one lined up,' said a newsroom staffer. 'It was like a bunch of scared cats. It?s like no one wanted to confront what he said.' Instead, there were questions about why the fourth-floor was so cold and why stairwells in the building were still inaccessible."