by cjGuest » Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:07 pm
From: Garson, Arnold
Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 4:50 PM
Subject: Going foward
As you all know by now, all Gannett newspapers are in the process of reducing staff this week as a result of the continuing difficult revenue environment. When we entered the furlough program early in 2009, I had hoped that this step might buy us enough time for the economy to begin healing, and that another round of job eliminations wouldn't be necessary. We have, in fact, seen signs of economic improvement, but not enough to justify maintaining our current expense base going forward. We are, thus, at the unfortunate place where job eliminations have become necessary.
The Courier-Journal is eliminating 44 positions, 7 percent of its workforce, through layoff. Every department is affected, and restructuring will occur in a number of areas as we consolidate our reduced workforce for maximum efficiency and productivity.
All employees being layed off will receive transtion pay for a period of time based on years of service. All those affected by the layoffs now have been notified.
This action is painful for all of us. Many of the affected employees have played a significant role in shaping the institution that The Courier-Journal has become in its community. Unfortunately, they simply happened to be in jobs that could be consolidated as we looked for ways to manage through this difficult and ongoing recession. My messge to them is, "Thank you for all you have done. Your work here has mattered."
I want to emphasize that our continuing employee base of about 575 will remain the largest media workforce of any kind in the state. Our values, tradition and commitment as a public trust are unchanged. You will see it in our news content and in our sales results every day. The Courier-Journal still offers the most efficient way for advertisers in the Louisville market to reach a mass of consumers with a mass of information at a given point in time. And there is no media organization in the Louisville market that comes close to matching the breadth and depth of The Courier-Journal's journalistic prowess.
Thank you for your support and understanding during these difficult times.
Arnold Garson
President and Publisher
The Courier-Journal / courier-journal.com
From: Garson, Arnold
Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 4:50 PM
Subject: Going foward
As you all know by now, all Gannett newspapers are in the process of reducing staff this week as a result of the continuing difficult revenue environment. When we entered the furlough program early in 2009, I had hoped that this step might buy us enough time for the economy to begin healing, and that another round of job eliminations wouldn't be necessary. We have, in fact, seen signs of economic improvement, but not enough to justify maintaining our current expense base going forward. We are, thus, at the unfortunate place where job eliminations have become necessary.
The Courier-Journal is eliminating 44 positions, 7 percent of its workforce, through layoff. Every department is affected, and restructuring will occur in a number of areas as we consolidate our reduced workforce for maximum efficiency and productivity.
All employees being layed off will receive transtion pay for a period of time based on years of service. All those affected by the layoffs now have been notified.
This action is painful for all of us. Many of the affected employees have played a significant role in shaping the institution that The Courier-Journal has become in its community. Unfortunately, they simply happened to be in jobs that could be consolidated as we looked for ways to manage through this difficult and ongoing recession. My messge to them is, "Thank you for all you have done. Your work here has mattered."
I want to emphasize that our continuing employee base of about 575 will remain the largest media workforce of any kind in the state. Our values, tradition and commitment as a public trust are unchanged. You will see it in our news content and in our sales results every day. The Courier-Journal still offers the most efficient way for advertisers in the Louisville market to reach a mass of consumers with a mass of information at a given point in time. And there is no media organization in the Louisville market that comes close to matching the breadth and depth of The Courier-Journal's journalistic prowess.
Thank you for your support and understanding during these difficult times.
Arnold Garson
President and Publisher
The Courier-Journal / courier-journal.com