Memo from Raleigh News and Observer’s publisher
From: [Publisher Orage Quarles III]
Date: January 11, 2010 2:01:21 PM EST
To: N&O Employees
Subject: Announcement
We continue to operate in a time of great challenge at The News & Observer, at The McClatchy Company and within the newspaper industry. While we have already implemented a number of cost-control and reorganization measures, revenues continue to show losses, and we must reduce our expenses until we are again showing growth.
Today, The News & Observer is announcing it will reduce 21 positions. These reductions affect a number of areas of our operation. Some positions will be eliminated through layoffs, and some departments will have opportunities for employees in certain work groups of two or more to accept a voluntary severance package. If enough employees do not take the voluntary option, work groups will be reduced according to length of employment.
The employees who are affected are being told today and given information about a transition package. We appreciate all that these coworkers and friends have done for The N&O, and we will make their transition as smooth as possible.
I know that these announcements are distracting and disruptive, and I apologize for that. We can only ask, with utmost respect and gratitude for all that you do, that everyone stays focused and continues to work hard to help our company continue to make its way through these difficult times.
Please contact human resources if you have questions about the severance program. Thank you.
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