By: E&P Staff It was only seven cuts, not much in today?s newspaper world. On the other hand, they are the first cuts in recent history at the Ventura County (Ca.) Star.
The Star announced today it was slicing seven jobs today, ?marking the first time the company has laid off employees as it struggles with a difficult economy and shrinking ad revenue,? accordign to an article for the paper. The company cut two positions in operations and production, four in circulation and one clerical position in accounting.
Publisher George H. Cogswell III said the paper's senior management spent five months looking at any opportunities to reduce costs without taking away from newsroom and advertising staffs. The company budgeted 2008 for the equivalent of about 350 positions.
"This is a painstakingly detailed, heartstring-pulling process. We do not take it lightly," Cogswell said in the article. "It is a course of action we would never hope to go down. Laying folks off ... is a very difficult business decision."
The paper notes: "E.W. Scripps Co., parent company of The Star, is in the process of splitting its operations into two companies ? one that handles newspapers and broadcast television stations, and one that handles the company's online ventures and cable television franchises such as HGTV and Food Network.?
Cogswell said advertising at The Star was down about 15 percent from 2006 to 2007.
"I don't think we've seen the bottom yet," Cogswell said in the story. "We need to prepare ourselves. Things could get worse before they get better."
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