UPDATED: Gannett Cuts Reach Over 1,770

By: Greg Mitchell Earlier today we started drawing on the Gannett Blog (not connected to the company) run by Jim Hopkins that has become a sounding board/bulletin board this since Tuesday as the expected, massive company staff cuts have slowly rolled out. That story has gotten so long we are starting an evening/night version here.

Hopkins' latest early Thursday summary reads: "Gannett's downsizing has now claimed 1,770 newspaper jobs, according to a new Gannett Blog reader tally that also brings this heartbreaker: The Salinas Californian eliminated a whopping 31% of its 130 jobs -- the biggest percentage loss in this round yet. ... We've now accounted for 57 of the 85 community dailies, plus USA Today."

Earlier he wrote: "Layoffs and other reductions in the company's nationwide downsizing have now surged to over 1,400, according to Gannett Blog reader accounts, and just-released figures at newspapers including Nashville (92 of 1,000); Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (59 of 250), and Greenville, S.C. (36 of 500).

"Earlier today, two of the biggest worksites revealed their plans. The Des Moines Register is eliminating 74 of 801 jobs. And The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., said it's cutting 69 of its approximately 1,100 positions. We've only accounted for 37 of the 85 community dailies, plus USA Today."

See our other story on this site and go to the Gannett blog at:

http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/

Here are excerpts from the latest postings from staffers, and former staffers, around the USA. We will update with much more, adding at the top the more recent.

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I was laid off this morning. I was as mentally prepared as I thought I could be -- what with having the least seniority in my department -- but nothing can prepare you for the anguish of losing your job. The moment the EE calls you into his office, everything seems surreal. It feels like I dreamed the whole thing. It's just hard to believe that everything I've worked for and believed in can vanish, just like that.

To Gannett's credit, I have been treated as fairly as can be expected. I've nothing to complain about. I could tell my EE was severely uncomfortable during the process. Really, the whole thing lasted less than five minutes. I was given my papers, thanked for my service, and I left.
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According to local reports, in addition to 16 jobs, Asheville is closing a satellite operation.
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We all knew it was coming but certainly didn't even begin to comprehend the emotional impact of what it really was gonna look like after the decimation. And we can all trust it isn't over yet! Over half the desks were empty this morning and have been for several years and I certainly am not "proud" of it - 10 yrs ago folks shared work spaces and today the desks are used for storage!
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For those who need this blog as a place to mourn and let off some steam, peace be with you. But for the sake of those of us still employed, please don't take the contents herein as anything more than that. And please think about the way your comments here reflect on your dedicated colleagues whether they're still in or on the way out.
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If Gannett tried communicating better with employees they wouldn't flock to this site for information.
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I know you worked in the Newspaper aspect of Gannett, but don't leave out the TV people. They have been taking a huge beating as well. Most of the profits that were posted by TV stations, went to help the Newspaper industry. We in the Gannett side of TV are bigger than most of the newspapers, but have already had 15% of our workforce cut. Just keep that in mind, please.
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Ellen McKinney: .

tomorrow will be my last day at the indianapolis star. i started there the week before bobby kennedy was killed (just to give some historic perspective).

"high tech" was switching from coffee mugs of wallpaper paste to rubber cement to paste "takes" of stories together for editing with soft-leaded pencils. then they were run up to the composing room by copy boys and set in hot metal on linotypes.

many times, i was the only woman in the city room after 7:30 p.m. i worked nights for about 12 years with guys who took their time accepting a "girl" in their midst. but once they decided i knew my stuff, and wouldn't cry or be grossed out, i was ok with them....

i consider myself lucky -- i was at a point in my life where i could volunteer to leave rather than wait to be pushed out. i probably won't have to get another job if i live modestly (no holiday cruise for me); instead, i can reinvent myself as a better companion to my grandchild and perhaps eventually an esl tutor at her school.

so after 40 years, six months and four days at the star, i'm saying good luck to my departing colleagues and those who still have jobs, and -30- to my journalism career.
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Its 15:17 Hawaiian Standard Time and the bloodbath at the Honolulu Advertiser is on.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081203/BREAKING01/81203052

"The Honolulu Advertiser today announced a third round of staff reductions, with 41 employees accepting voluntary buyouts and another 10 being laid off. The reductions were company-wide and the result of 'continued deterioration in local, national and world economic conditions,' said Advertiser Publisher Lee Webber."
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Found it interesting that the Arizona Republic in Phoenix actually brought the state unemployment folks in to provide assistance to the people that lost their jobs. That clearly took advance preparation and indicates a fair number of folks had to know the size of the layoffs and perhaps who was leaving ahead of time.
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Here is your update from Ohio. There were between 45 and 50 jobs eliminated today at the smaller Ohio newspapers. For the record, many of these smaller papers have larger margins than many of the larger papers in the company.
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As someone left standing in Poughkeepsie after today's layoff free-fall, a sad observation:

I witnessed an estimated 85 years worth of journalism experience walk by my desk as they went to formally accept the buyouts they had volunteered for.

And that was only three people.
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Hoist a glass and drink a toast to Jim Castor, long-time assistant sports editor in Rochester . . . a damn fine journalist out of the old school . . . a great organizational and logistics guy . . . a man of reason and good news judgment . . . and a friend and mentor to a good many of us who cut out teeth in Rochester. Good luck, JRC.
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Did I miss any announced corporate cuts?
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For a start, I, for one, am going to serve as the designated driver for any of the drinkers among my dearly departed colleagues who want to get thoroughly wasted.
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The Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin lost probably the best photographer it's had since I've been reading it. Raise a Guinness in honor of Chuck Haupt!
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We lost 5 in Port Huron

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A memo from Reno:

To: The Staff
From: Ted Power

We?ve just posted at rgj.com that by the end of the month we will have 61 fewer employees, will cease publishing the Douglas Times and the Fallon Star Press and will close Eastern Sierra Publishing. Thank you for the patience and support you have shown each other and your supervisors during the past weeks. Mostly, thank you for the dedication you have shown our readers and advertisers during a trying time.
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The online editor in Lansing is gone too and a copy editor from the news desk. Also among those cut in Lansing: Mike Hughes, who is the most senior reporter in the newsroom and covers Hollywood for GNS.
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Re Production: At The Asbury Park Press it appears that 10 people were let go. This is Ad Design day side and night side Freehold and Toms River. Most if not all over 40!

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There were a few posts yesterday that indicated people were better off getting canned even if they were unprepared. I was unprepared. But today, I drove my kid to school and said hello to his teacher, I took a walk after that and listened to some good music. I came home, of course, I read this blog. I made some phone calls to friends I have virtually shut down during the day for the last 10 years. I met my mailman today. He has been delivering my mail for 6 years, he told me. I started a book and had time to program my telephone. And for the first time in a long time I enjoyed a sunset with my wife and kid.
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Detroit has about 1900 employees, when that one hits and the others are tallied you could definately see close to 3,000 total
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We heard the next round will be late January. It's not over baby. Become a "valuable" employee and you will not have anything to worry about.
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At The Des Moines Register: Reporter Juli Probasco-Sowers was fired yesterday. Juli had been at the paper forever and was a consummate pro. She will be missed.