'Tulsa World' Cuts Newsroom Staff

By: E&P Staff The Tulsa (Okla.) World has terminated 28 employees, citing deteriorating economic conditions. The losses included 26 newsroom staffers and two in other departments.

"The unprecedented economic catastrophe has been swift, and it has directly affected the bottom line of most American businesses and our newspaper,? Publisher Robert E. Lorton III told his paper. ?The terminations though painful will ultimately strengthen our company as a whole.

"We have through attrition and some restructuring reduced our personnel and other operational expenses throughout World Publishing Company, while expanding our local news coverage and our online presence tremendously," Lorton added. "Unfortunately, in recent months we have seen the local advertising market weakened as Tulsa businesses struggle with greatly reduced sales. Most advertisers' budgets are based on a percentage of sales, so when our partners are hurting, we feel their pain in a very real way. The media business is not immune from economic realities, as evidenced by recent layoffs at other state newspapers and our local television and radio stations.?

The publisher stressed, ?Just because this is the prudent business decision, it is not any less difficult. These co-workers have been part of our team and we will miss their contributions. Nothing is more painful than saying goodbye to our friends and colleagues. It's a story that has been played out across the city and country as businesses are faced with the unpleasant responsibility of adjusting their payrolls in this harsh economic downturn.?

The news staff was informed of the layoffs -- which are effective immediately -- on Tuesday. Details of severance pay and benefits were not disclosed.