At the Houston Chronicle ....

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 7:39 am

A staff reduction in the five percent range, through layoffs and the elimination of open positions, is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday Oct. 29-30. If you have any questions regarding this program, I encourage you to contact our Human Resources Department. (Via Romenesko)

*** "Program." ***

Nessie3 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 7:58 am

Phillip Blanchard wrote:

A staff reduction in the five percent range, through layoffs and the elimination of open positions, is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday Oct. 29-30. If you have any questions regarding this program, I encourage you to contact our Human Resources Department. (Via Romenesko)

*** "Program." ***

But isn't the first step admitting you have a problem?

Redaktor · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:15 am

"Range."

tommangan · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:26 am

weren't they advertising for copy editors this year?

JayByrd · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:55 am

Phillip Blanchard wrote:

A staff reduction in the five percent range, through layoffs and the elimination of open positions, is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday Oct. 29-30. If you have any questions regarding this program, I encourage you to contact our Human Resources Department. (Via Romenesko)

*** "Program." ***

A good soon-to-be-laid-off copy editor would have corrected the misspelling: "pogrom."

copynomad · **Joined:** Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:07 am **Posts:** 623

tommangan wrote:

weren't they advertising for copy editors this year?

The Chronicle has advertised at least once this year for "senior copy editors." I also got a recruiting call from them a few months ago.

From what I've seen, it's not unusual for papers to have layoffs or buyouts and to hire about the same time. Presumably, they're hiring for a different set of skills or a cheaper set of skills.

paulwiggins · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:04 pm

Your general observayion seems correct. That's why such packages often have clause relatting to re-employment being prohibited within time frames.

Heartodixie · **Posted:** Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:17 am

copynomad wrote:

tommangan wrote:

weren't they advertising for copy editors this year?

From what I've seen, it's not unusual for papers to have layoffs or buyouts and to hire about the same time. Presumably, they're hiring for a different set of skills or a cheaper set of skills.

We just had a round of buyouts here and I asked the publisher and top editor directly whether that meant they were going to end up hiring less-experienced people later on. They both looked at me like I was nuts and with a straight face told me they hadn't heard that any such thing was possible.

And that was six months after our big papers sent out companywide e-mails soliciting applications for jobs vacated by bought-out folks.

So much for my faith that the bosses were more dumb than dishonest.

copynomad · **Joined:** Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:07 am **Posts:** 623

Giving them the benefit of the doubt: Let's say they were told they'd have to meet a certain profit margin, so they meet it by cutting people. Then let's say they get the OK later to hire, but only for a fraction of the pay of those who left, they'd still take it. I know I would as a manager -- better some cheap help than no help. ... I'm not saying that's what happened in your newsroom. But I'm willing to bet good money that's happened in other newsrooms. ... You see what happens when managers refuse, like with the LA Times guy. I'm not saying I'd go along with that scenario, either. But I see lots of higher-level managers who've got careers and families to protect, and I wonder how much choice they have. I put myself in their place and I think I'd be in another field by now.

Testy Copy Editors

At the Houston Chronicle ....

Who is online

What They're Saying

Useful Links