(newspaper) Sun-Times To Layoff 40

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Posted by wow on January 04, 2008 at 21:57:33:

More pink slips. These folks were lucky and made it through the holidays.

Bob Roberts Reporting

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Sun-Times plans 40 layoffs at month's end, including as many as 35 newsroom staffers.

The Sun-Times itself reported that as many as 27 Newspaper Guild-represented copy editors, designers and reporters will be laid off, although none of those targeted will be sportswriters covering major beats or the newspaper's photographers.

The Sun-Times currently has 188 Guild-represented positions. It also represents editorial assistants and other newsroom personnel.

Published reports indicate that an additional five management employees will be laid off.

Sun-Times officials contacted by WBBM refused to give specifics of the layoffs, saying it is a "personnel matter."

Chicago Newspaper Guild Executive Director Jerry Minkkenen told WBBM that meetings will begin Monday with Sun-Times Media Group negotiators in the wake of the announcement, made in a memo to staff.

Minkkenen said he is soliciting any and all ideas from the newspaper's staffers that could spare jobs.

Under its contract with the Sun-Times, Minkkenen said, the Guild has two weeks to respond with plans to reduce the number or avoid the layoffs, which could take place as soon as Feb. 1.

Minkkenen said he is willing to stay at the table with Sun-Times negotiators "for as long as it takes."

Crain's Chicago Business reported that the newspaper's efforts to increase revenues in the past year fell flat. Instead, Crain's reported, Security and Exchange Commission filings show that ad revenue fell 10 percent during the first nine months of 2007, to $214.9 million.

The newspaper industry as a whole has been suffering as readers defect to the Internet. In addition, the Sun-Times has had to foot sizable legal costs associated with the fraud convictions of former Hollinger International (now Sun-Times Media Group) CEO Conrad Black and former Sun-Times publisher David Radler.

The Sun-Times announced Thursday that its vice president of advertising, John Martin, was leaving after only nine months on the job. Two veteran Sun-Times employees will replace him.

The announcement is not unexpected, and Minkkenen said the numbers closely reflect what has been rumored for weeks. Sun-Times Media Group announced late last year that it would make $50 million in cuts, including $40 million from staff reductions, outsourcing and reformatting of products. It laid off 31 newsroom employees by combining the Daily Southtown and its Star Newspapers chain into one newspaper, the SouthtownStar, in November.

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: More pink slips. These folks were lucky and made it through the holidays. : Bob Roberts Reporting : : CHICAGO -- The Chicago Sun-Times plans 40 layoffs at month's end, including as many as 35 newsroom staffers. : : The Sun-Times itself reported that as many as 27 Newspaper Guild-represented copy editors, designers and reporters will be laid off, although none of those targeted will be sportswriters covering major beats or the newspaper's photographers. : : The Sun-Times currently has 188 Guild-represented positions. It also represents editorial assistants and other newsroom personnel. : : Published reports indicate that an additional five management employees will be laid off. : : Sun-Times officials contacted by WBBM refused to give specifics of the layoffs, saying it is a "personnel matter." : : Chicago Newspaper Guild Executive Director Jerry Minkkenen told WBBM that meetings will begin Monday with Sun-Times Media Group negotiators in the wake of the announcement, made in a memo to staff. : : Minkkenen said he is soliciting any and all ideas from the newspaper's staffers that could spare jobs. : : Under its contract with the Sun-Times, Minkkenen said, the Guild has two weeks to respond with plans to reduce the number or avoid the layoffs, which could take place as soon as Feb. 1. : : Minkkenen said he is willing to stay at the table with Sun-Times negotiators "for as long as it takes." : : Crain's Chicago Business reported that the newspaper's efforts to increase revenues in the past year fell flat. Instead, Crain's reported, Security and Exchange Commission filings show that ad revenue fell 10 percent during the first nine months of 2007, to $214.9 million. : : The newspaper industry as a whole has been suffering as readers defect to the Internet. In addition, the Sun-Times has had to foot sizable legal costs associated with the fraud convictions of former Hollinger International (now Sun-Times Media Group) CEO Conrad Black and former Sun-Times publisher David Radler. : : The Sun-Times announced Thursday that its vice president of advertising, John Martin, was leaving after only nine months on the job. Two veteran Sun-Times employees will replace him. : : The announcement is not unexpected, and Minkkenen said the numbers closely reflect what has been rumored for weeks. Sun-Times Media Group announced late last year that it would make $50 million in cuts, including $40 million from staff reductions, outsourcing and reformatting of products. It laid off 31 newsroom employees by combining the Daily Southtown and its Star Newspapers chain into one newspaper, the SouthtownStar, in November. :

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