The Idaho Statesman announced today that it let 16 people go - and will give severance checks to another 24 after the first of the year. The 40 job cuts are about 12% of staff - more than the 10% cuts McClatchy announced company-wide.
I’ve said it before - the Statesman employs lots of dedicated folks - and it is always hard to see job cuts. The bottom line is that the paper is losing subscribers despite the Valley’s growth - and its online operation is flat from last year. As all of our related niches change - (radio, TV, Internet and print) - the one thing we can do is band together and help each other out. So if you known of any jobs the print folks might be interested - pass them along. And if you’re a former Statesman worker, drop me a line and I’ll pass along anything I get.
Also: Since I’m already off-topic, indulge me for another 30 seconds? I’ve been thinking a lot about Tim Russert. I don’t know how we’re going to pick the right person to run this country without his questions, counsel and amazing intelect. Mike Barnicle, a friend of Russert’s and an MSNBC commentator noted this line from Russert - and it’s resonated with me, so I thought I’d reprint it here: “The best heart exercise is to bend down and lift someone up.”
on Jun 17th, 2008 at 8:09 am
They said they are cutting mostly printing staff, because their printing will now be done by the Press-Tribune.
on Jun 18th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Holy Cow. They had a round of layoffs in the Carolyn Washburn era, too, that included a lot of reporters.
Re: Tim Russert: Meet the Press was distributed on radio, I believe, and it definitely started on radio before moving to TV, and the radio version almost cetainly aired somewhere in Idaho, so it’s not off-topic (wink).
on Jul 3rd, 2008 at 6:56 am
C Ya Deeds!