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Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 6/6/2008 12:13:26 PM
Title: Memo to San Jose Mercury News staff
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
From: [Mercury News editor] Butler, Dave
Date: Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Subject: Budget update - 6-6-08

Folks:

I've had lots of people ask about our budget for the next fiscal year in light of the drastic cuts that Sam Zell is proposing for the Tribune Company newspapers, both in terms of people and newshole. Here's where we are:

1). We're still crunching numbers like crazy for the budget year that starts July 1. The tough component – and it's not mine to do – is to predict where advertising is going to be a year from now. Who knows? We should have this wrapped up in late June. Could it change later? Of course. But from what I've seen – and I've been in plenty of meetings – every effort is being made to produce an attainable budget while launching all sorts of efforts to find new business as Mac Tully has reported to you on other occasions.

2). We are doing all that we can to limit any newsroom staff reductions to attrition. So far, so good, though I can make no promises.

3). We will likely have some newshole cuts in light of a 15%-plus increase in the price of newsprint for the next year. One thing we're exploring – as are a number of other MNG newspapers – is to produce "Quick Read" Monday and Tuesday newspapers. As you all know, we've been moving down this path for some months and would likely continue to do so, particularly tightening up Monday.

4). We'll likely have some other nip-and-tuck newshole cuts. Kevin Wendt is reviewing some ideas to see if they are practical and the editors will be discussing them over the next few days.

5). It is CRITICAL that we all work together to reduce the length of stories so we can get in as much information as possible for our readers. It has never been more important than it is today for all reporters and editors to demonstrate their outstanding writing and reporting skills by cramming the same information – or what's essential for the story -- in less space. This is hard. It does not work on every story, but please, please, work harder at making stories – particularly the more "routine" ones -- shorter. We want to continue having in-depth work and we will – but we have to be much more disciplined in what merits 25 inches and what merits 5. (We also need to continue to refine our story planning. It is embarrassing to me – as I know it is to you – when we don't have a strong centerpiece "in the bag" for Page 1 and others clamoring to get on the front. We all need to contribute more in this area.) /CONTINUED

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