Third Round Of La Socialista Layoffs Claims Warthen
Newspaper VP and Editorial Page Editor Brad Warthen was among the latest casualties as a third round of job cuts swept through the newsroom of La Socialista (a.k.a. The State newspaper) this afternoon.
Thirty-eight people lost their jobs at the paper – 11% of its total work force – while remaining employees were told their salaries would be reduced by anywhere from 2.5 to 10%.
From, of all places, La Socialista:
The actions are part of companywide layoffs and cost-cutting measures announced Monday by The State’s parent company, The McClatchy Co.
The Sacramento, Calif.-based company said it would eliminate 15 percent of its work force — about 1,600 jobs — to offset advertising revenues that have plunged during the recession and pay down debt from its 2006 acquisition of Knight Ridder.
“The newspaper is profitable,” (its president Henry) Haitz said of The State. “But, as you know, we are part of The McClatchy Co. and are working toward the goals of the overall company.”
In South Carolina, McClatchy owns The State, The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, The Herald in Rock Hill, the Beaufort Gazette, and the Island Packet in Hilton Head.
– Rock Hill eliminated six positions, cut wages 2.5-10 percent and transferred its printing operations to Charlotte.
– Myrtle Beach laid off 20 employees and reduced wages 9.1 percent, effective May 4. An additional 58 positions were eliminated with the transfer of its printing operations to Charleston.
– The Hilton Head and Beaufort papers eliminated 17 positions, including eight open posts. The papers reduced pay for all employees.
Based on what we’re hearing, it’s not about to get any easier for McClatchy or La Socialista moving forward.
Two big debt calls are reportedly imminent, and even after 1,600 additional layoffs nationally, the company doesn’t have the jack to make them.
Like we said, La Socialista will be lucky to see the end of the year under its current ownership …
Comments
By Bob Beardon on March 10th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
I am so glad B. Warthen is gone. He was biased and incompetent (there is a difference).
By Natasha on March 10th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Maybe you can hire him to write for your blog Willie!!!
By Reader on March 10th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Gotta hand it to you, Sic Willie —
I respect newsers and citizens like yourself, who stand for what they believe in. Even when it isn’t fashionable.
Be sincere, or be nothing at all.
Natasha, Mande is doing quite fine for herself as Willie’s liberal writer!
By Mincing Words on March 10th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
It will not be today that I celebrate the firing (and concurrent loss of income) of a South Carolinian precipitated by a collapsing economy. Had Warthen been fired for his incompetence and/or bias, such a jubilee may be appropriate. Willie, your apparent glee over this event is unattractive at best, and childish at worst.
By $ on March 10th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Warthen is not as innocent as people may be led to believe. I don’t like to see people suffer — but when they are going through what they stood by and watched as entertainment when it was happening to you…that makes it a different matter altogether.
By Gerry on March 10th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Warren Bolton stays on? What the heck is all that about.
Maybe he works for free…
By $D’Brickashaw on March 10th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Mincing Words – “apparent glee”? All Will did was (a) relay the fact that Warthen lost his job and (b) comment on McClatchy’s financial position. What “glee” could you possibly point to in this post?
By Todd on March 10th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
The Gonzalez’s brothers’ ghosts are all happy tonight. Maybe McClatchy will hire somebody that is not such a suck up to the established good ole boys. Brad, we told you this would happen. Maybe that “bitch” up there in Anderson will hire you. What happened to Cindi?
By Reader on March 10th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I reckon Cindi is doing the…
“Stay at your desk, answer your phone;
The job you save may be your own.”
…thing.
By James the Foot Soldier on March 10th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Cindi gets promoted and Bolton takes her title…and they wonder why it’s going under!
Mincing Words: Your reading comprehension is minced. No where in the post was there a hint of glee…just who, what, when, where, and why. Had said paper stuck to that tired old formula it may not be in such a fix.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on March 10th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Not to worry. Brad has an open invitation to join the BIN News Editorial Staff any time. All he has to do is name his price. He’s worth it.
Actually, members of our BIN News Recruiting Staff have been trying to hire him for months. But his standards are too high.
He knows that as a member of the BIN Staff he would have to address sic(k) willie’s cr@p. And he has already lowered his standards once by allowing willie to publish his side of his slimy “..criminal domestic violence story.”
Will, don’t too inflate and burst and @nal blood vessel. The influence of blogs on mainstream media is zilch. You blog is less that zilch.
You know that. Just like you know vouchers are dead in SC.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By fitsnews on March 10th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Uhh … we hate to burst anybody’s bubble but we’re gleeful …
-FITS
By Mincing Words on March 10th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Brickashaw,
It was mostly the picture announcing the story that lead to my divination of Willie’s glee, added to Willie’s well-known dislike of/disdain for Warthen. But you are correct, the post itself was not riddled with quite as much glee as when first I read it. My apologies to you and Willie.
By MAB on March 10th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
BIN — you are wishy-washier than Sic accuses Gov. Romney of being.
You recently said Brad and Sic Willie deserve each other. Make up YOUR mind.
By craig on March 10th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
The Capital Elite’s biggest defender finally loses his soapbox!!!! Maybe if McClatchy would hire somebody who,looked out for the best interest of the state and not the best interest of the elites, they would make more money and folks would trust their product.
By Phillip Branton on March 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Hopefully they come to their senses and promote JOHN MONK to Editor …!!
At least he has some clue of what to report on ………!!!
Most of what we get can be found in more concise format in the SKIRT Magazine…!!
Our state newspapers need to get a CLUE…!!!!
We need Sherlock HOLMES and MATLOCK…and MAGNUM…and Dirty Harry on the ink TRAIL…!!!!
By Cooter Brown on March 11th, 2009 at 6:32 am
I sho’ am gonna miss that Mista Warthen… NOT! Maybee he cain gets him a job up in yankeedom wear he belongs– damn carpetbagger!
By liz on March 11th, 2009 at 8:10 am
If they actually printed the news, they’d still be in business. That my friends is THE problem……
By Toyota Kawaski on March 11th, 2009 at 8:29 am
when will Ron Moooron get the ax that egg suckn bastard?
By Palmetto_Native on March 11th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Are they unionized?
By Reader on March 11th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
A commenter ‘over there’ is encouraging Brad to now,
“…put your brain to work in public office…”
What is the estimated roll out date on that secession of yours, Sic One?
By BIN KNews Editorial Stiff on March 11th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Wow, sic(k) willie. You bring out more wackos than a nude tag team wrestling match between Bill O’Really and Rush Limberger. Even RJ is reading you.
By Marshall Lawson on March 14th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Globalist, Brad Warthen, had no sympathy for the thousands of textile workers and other South Carolinians employed in manufacturing who saw their jobs terminated over the past three decades by so called free trade. These dumb Southerners were simply the necessary victims of a new world order where nationhood and citizenship took a backseat to the internationalist rhetoric of the journalistic elites. Nor did Mr. Warthen and the other open borders hacks at The State lift an eyebrow when thousands of other South Carolinians were fired and replaced by illegal aliens. And when any job came open in Columbia, from the President of U.S.C. to the head of the art museum, Warthen was the first to demand the job be filled with a transplant or even better someone residing in another state or country.
I don’t like to see anyone fired from their job but we all reap what we sew in this world and it appears that Karma finally caught up with Brad Warthen and company.
By Marshall Lawson on March 14th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Globalist, Brad Warthen, had no sympathy for the thousands of textile workers and other South Carolinians employed in manufacturing who saw their jobs terminated over the past three decades by so called free trade. These dumb Southerners were simply the necessary victims of a new world order where nationhood and citizenship took a backseat to the internationalist rhetoric of the journalistic elites. Nor did Mr. Warthen and the other open borders hacks at The State lift an eyebrow when thousands of other South Carolinians were fired and replaced by illegal aliens. And when any job came open in Columbia, from the President of U.S.C. to the head of the art museum, Warthen was the first to demand the job be filled with a transplant or even better someone residing in another state or country.
I don’t like to see anyone fired from their job but we all reap what we sow in this world and it appears that Karma finally caught up with Brad Warthen and company.
By MitchbSC on March 14th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Warthen and The State lied about Sen. Knotts in the last primary. This from another listserv posted here at the suggestion of the author.
I am happy to see Brad Warthen get the ax.
Why would I have such a cold hearted position?
During the Republican primary season last year, The State newspaper
endorsed Sen. Jake Knotts and constantly attacked challenger Katrina
Shealy. The State newspaper based virtually all of their opposition
on the “fact” that Shealy would support school vouchers – and even
worse, tax credits – if elected. The State claimed Knotts was the
candidate for strong public schools.
I called The State newspaper and talked with Brad Warthen. I asked
Warthen if he was aware of S. 457 – a bill to allow tax credits for
sending children to private schools or home schools. Warthen said he
was unaware of H. 457 even though it was currently up for
consideration in the Senate. The bill can be read at:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess117_2007-2008/bills/457.htm
I told Warthen The State was either incompetent or dishonest because
Knotts was one of the PRIMARY SPONSORS of S. 457, which included
school tax credits for sending children to private schools or even
home schooling.
I told Warthen it was wrong for The State to continue to declare
Knotts was the better candidate because of his support for public
education while opposing Shealy for what they feared she would support
- school tax credits – even though she had not declared her support
for school tax credits. I asked Warthen how The State could honestly
oppose Shealy over fears she might do exactly what Knotts was ALREADY
doing.
Warthen told me the fact Knotts already supported school tax credits
was not the issue because Knotts did not really support school tax
credits. So, even though Knotts was a primary sponsor of a school tax
credit bill, Warthen said Knotts did not support school tax credits -
and that is why The State would continue to endorse Knotts.
I told Warthen the people deserved better from a so-called newspaper.
I asked Warthen to drop The State’s endorsement of Knotts and to
endorse Shealy. Warthen refused. I asked Warthen to drop The State’s
endorsement of Knotts and to stay neutral. Warthen refused.
Well, I dropped my subscription to The State. This was a big deal for
me since I had been a subscriber since I moved to the Columbia area in
1985. But, I could no longer stomach giving these liars and
hypocrites another penny of my money.
So, good riddance Brad Warthen. You and your kind deserve to rot in
hell. While the 1st Amendment may give you the legal right to publish
lies, that still does not make it morally right.
Rob B.
PS – If anyone would like to cross post this to the original link,
feel free to do so.