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Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 11/16/2005 12:25:33 PM
Title: Orlando Sentinel to cut "limited number" of jobs
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 9:36 AM
To: OSC DL All Employees
Subject: An important message from [Orlando Sentinel publisher] Kathy Waltz

You’ve read in our own paper and in recent messages from Tribune senior management that the media industry as a whole is in the midst of a dramatic, transformational change. People now have more choices than ever on how they receive and access information. Audience fragmentation has prompted successful companies, such as ours, to reinvent themselves. New technologies, an explosion of choices for news consumers and advertisers, and changing lifestyles have fundamentally altered how newspapers, television and radio do business. Throw in the fact that costs, particularly newsprint, energy and employee benefits, are continuing to escalate, and it becomes clear that this is a complex and challenging time for us all.

The good news is that the Orlando Sentinel serves a growing market and our readership is now at an all-time high and continuing to build. We are a successful company, and we want to be successful in the future.

To do this, we must continue to be more efficient and focus on our customers’ needs. We come at this from a position of strength. We have an exceptional newspaper, robust online initiatives and a diverse portfolio of products -- such as our niche publications, El Sentinel and the new Forums -- all of which are strategically important to us. But, to remain competitive given today’s business realities, we must continually re-evaluate our business model and plans. Our company’s goals remain the same – to serve our readers, advertisers and communities, expand our audience and grow revenues. To accomplish this, we are adjusting our resources – time, people and money – toward our future. After much thought and deliberation, it became clear that it will be necessary to eliminate a limited number of positions, some of which are open positions. As we finalize plans, decisions will be communicated first to affected employees, then companywide in the next few weeks.

We have looked outside-in to determine how we can position our products to remain relevant and stay focused on accelerating growth. This means taking a fresh look at everything we do, and making hard decisions on what is core to our mission. These actions will position the Sentinel for future growth. Other Tribune newspapers are taking similar actions.

We are moving forward on some product changes designed to improve the appearance, functionality and efficiency of the Orlando Sentinel. Many of these changes were already identified in the 2006 Strategic and Operating Plans. These changes will ensure we continue to produce an excellent newspaper and ancillary products.
· Redesign the A-section based on readers’ feedback
· Re-think our news features strategy
· Refine our business sections to include more local news

These are challenging times for the media industry, but I’m confident that the Sentinel will rise to the challenge. Like anything worth doing, it won’t be easy. But it is essential that we adapt to new market realities.

I understand the impact this will have on many of us, but in the long run it will help us become a stronger, more focused company poised to meet the ongoing transformation that lies ahead. The directors and I felt it was important to provide candid information to you as soon as possible. If you have questions or would like to discuss this, please talk to your manager and director.

I thank you for the contributions you make each day and encourage you to stay focused on the important roles you play in helping us accomplish our vision of being an indispensable part of people’s lives. We’ve succeeded and prospered through many changes over our 129-year history, and I know that working together as a team will allow us to grow stronger and be more successful.

Kathy Waltz

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