Poynter Online
Go


Top Story

Public TV, Radio Stations to Increase Local Investigative Coverage
Most Recent Articles
1.Poynter's Times Publishing Co. sells Governing
5:15 PM Nov. 20, 2009
2.Recommendation for Fewer PAP Screens Sure to Set Off Controversy
10:32 AM Nov. 20, 2009
3.Gene Patterson to Jack Nelson: Save Us a Desk Up There in That Celestial Newsroom
7:03 AM Nov. 20, 2009
4.Public TV, Radio Stations to Increase Local Investigative Coverage
6:19 AM Nov. 20, 2009
5.Woods: Plagiarism Never Justified
3:47 PM Nov. 19, 2009
Most E-mailed
Recent Comments
Recent Tags
Community Activity

Poynter Training
Poynter Seminars
Small, in-person training experiences.
1.
A New Curriculum for a New Journalism - Jan. 6-8, 2010
Apply by November 23
2.
Multimedia Journalism for College Educators - February 1-5, 2010
Apply by December 14
3.
NewsU: Write Your Heart Out: The Craft of the Personal Essay - January 25-February 19, 2010
Apply by January 4
News University
Today's most popular courses on NewsU, Poynter's e-learning site for journalists.
Webinars
Our online classroom is just a click away. Learn more.
All Webinars

Poynter Forums

View Forum Post

Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 8/14/2008 3:21:53 PM
Title: Gannett memo regarding job cuts
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
Gannett memo regarding job cuts

Position Reductions in U.S. Community Publishing

Due to the difficult business conditions, USCP Division management is reducing positions across all levels.

Process
• Division management gives each site a reduced payroll dollar amount they must meet based on:
Unit’s financial performance
Previous reductions
• Sites decide how to reach this payroll reduction:
By not filling vacancies.
Through normal resignations and retirements.
And in most cases by laying off some existing employees.
• Division management with corporate must approve the site-submitted reductions
Protecting our content creation and sales capacity.
Assuring the reductions are consistent with the company’s strategic direction.
• Sites communicate the approved reductions to their affected employees

Estimated number of USCP position losses
• The payroll reduction amount translates roughly into 1,000 fewer positions in USCP
• Probably requiring around 600 people to be laid off
• Approximately 3% of USCP current positions

Timing
• By August 15th publishers send a letter to all their employees:
Explaining, in their own words, the points made in this communication.
Telling their employees the number of layoffs at their particular site.
Giving a date, or range of dates, when their employees will leave the company.

Severance Benefits
• One week of pay for each year of service (52 week maximum)
• Minimum two-week severance benefit
• Medical benefits will continue for the length of the severance period
• Employees laid off may begin receiving their pension plan and 401(k) benefits
(depending on applicable laws)
• Government unemployment benefits may also begin after severance benefits end,
depending on state law

More job reductions to come?
• We would prefer no more reductions, but…
We must keep expenses in line with revenue.
If advertising and circulation revenues continue to decline, further payroll reductions may be necessary.
• This communication is about a particular USCP payroll reduction effort
Job reductions resulting from other changes throughout Gannett are not
included in this communication (such as the current project in accounting and finance to centralize some activities in two national shared services centers).

Acknowledgement
• These people leaving Gannett contributed to its growth and success
• We will thank them for their years of service and treat them in a way that acknowledges their valuable contributions

View Complete Forum Topic

Username
Password
New User? Signup Now
Poynter Careers
See All Jobs
Add Your Resume
Post Your Job
Become a Member
More media jobs