Pink Slips At The Greenville News
“Don’t Panic,” the paper’s headline says, but at least six reporters at The Greenville News were let go yesterday in a mixture of voluntary (and involuntary) retirements, sources tell FITS.
Which means that headline is kind of ironic …
Anyway, Gannett - the News‘ parent company and publisher of USA Today - is laying off an estimated 3,000 workers (or roughly 10% of its total workforce nationwide) as a weakening economy further depresses its advertising revenue.
From the AP:
Employees at some of the company’s 85 local and regional papers learned Monday and Tuesday what cuts will occur at their publications.
The latest reductions follow a 3 percent cut announced in August. Both cuts are separate from a 5 percent trim from USA Today’s newsroom announced Nov. 24.
Gannett’s position is obviously perilous, and mirrors the severe contraction being experienced by fellow media giant McClatchy, which owns La Socialista (a.k.a. The State newspaper).
Sadly, sources are telling us that among those no longer employed by the News is veteran political reporter and influential columnist Dan Hoover, which would be perfectly awful if it turns out to be true.
Hoover may not be the world’s most endearing personality, but he’s a helluva reporter and his weekend columns have helped shape political races and political debate in this state for years.
Like the retirement of legendary columnist Lee Bandy last year, we’d be looking at a tremendous journalistic void in this state if Hoover is indeed out of a job.
Anyway, check back for updates as we endeavor to get more info on the Greenville News cuts …
Comments
By Joshua on December 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Dan Hoover is by far the best political reporter in this state (with apologies to my friends in the industry). If this turns out to be true, count me among the deeply disappointed.
If they have cut Dan, no newspaper in this state deserves to survive the economic downturn. None of ‘em. Newsprint is about to add a smoldering new lump to the ashheap of history, and if they’re showing their best reporters the door, while keeping the left-wing agenda mongers on board, they richly deserve it. Bring on New Media.
By Rick on December 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
After the actions of the media in this last election cycle…let them eat cake. They failed to do their jobs. When the constitiution gave the exchange of ideas(freedom of speech) and the necessity for an unfettered press such prominence, the founders understood the need for such. Any other body and these failures would be howling for the perps to be dragged into court and prosecuted for failure to do their jobs. May they all get new jobs doing what they do best….nothing
By The Jockey on December 4th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Don’t Panic? Is this the Greenville News or the Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? Some of the folks at The News might need a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster this morning.