Not quite layoffs, but close, it has come to our attention that the News-Press is forcing employees to take a week off of work – unpaid – in order to post pone additional layoffs. Thanks to LeeCountry 24/7 for this one:
The move is intended to avoid further layoffs. The News-Press let go between 50 to 60 employees last month.
“Undoubtedly, people are upset,” said David Plazas, Community Conversation Editor at The News-Press. The furloughs will effect everyone from the top down, so even Publisher Carol Hudler will have to eat an unpaid week of downtime. “Everybody needs to feel the pain,” said Plazas. “We’re looking ahead to try to make sure we don’t have to make other cuts. My hope, my optimism is we won’t have to go any further.”
News-Press workers have to take the week off before March 29.
I have friends who were affected by the News Press’ slew of cuts last month. Although I’d like to say “I hope things get better soon,” there seems to be no end in site for the economy as a whole and print publications in specific. The world (readers and advertisers) has been transferring to digital mediums for some time and this, is unacceptable to larger, slower news and print organizations who have been used to doing business a certain way. Is there hope? Definitely! I know of at least one publication that is doing phenomenally, thanks in part to it’s heavy use of technology to increase efficiency and productivity, as well as increase advertisers’ spend (through the use of online advertising through their website).
