Layoffs have been confirmed. All over the Web

[Mt.T]

Apparently corporate must of leaked this:

eport: Gannett to lay off more than 1,000 workers

17 minutes ago

MCLEAN, Va. (AP) — Gannett Co. is preparing to lay off more than 1,000 employees as the largest newspaper publisher's work force continues to shrink along with its advertising sales.

Between 1,000 and 2,000 people will lose their jobs in Gannett's latest round of cutbacks, according to a story published Tuesday on The Wall Street Journal's Web site. The Journal quoted an unnamed person familiar with the McLean, Va.-based company's thinking.

The layoffs aren't a major surprise because Gannett's main source of revenue — advertising — has been rapidly drying up. Ad sales at Gannett's newspapers plunged 34 percent during the first three months of this year and analysts doubt the company fared much better during latest quarter that just ended.

Gannett didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The company currently employs about 41,500 people after jettisoning about 10 percent of its work force last year.

The upcoming purge isn't expected to hit Gannett's largest newspaper, USA Today, the Journal said. Gannett owns more than 80 other daily newspapers.

More details are expected to be released within the next few days, according to a story on The New York Times' Web site that quoted unnamed Gannett executives.
Gannett is scheduled to release its second-quarter results July 15.

Most other major newspaper publishers also are reeling from a devastating one-two punch — the longest U.S. recession since World War II coupled with intensifying Internet competition for readers and advertising. To cope, the troubled publishers have trimmed their payrolls, lowered wages and, in the most extreme cases, filed for bankruptcy protection.

Gannett tried to save jobs by forcing most of its U.S. employees to take at least two weeks of unpaid leave during the first half of this year. In other austerity measures, Gannett closed the print edition of The Tucson Citizen in Arizona and curtailed home delivery of the daily Detroit Free Press to just three days a week.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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The Associated Press

[parfour]

If Gannett says it's laying off 1,000 and the rumor mill says 4,500, then the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I'd guess 2,000 or so. I have no confirmed information just 25 years as a former Gannett exec to back this up. I also doubt that they'll allow any fancy accounting footwork. They're going to want actual bodies whose salaries will fall to the bottom line. Hold onto your seats; if you stay in the newspaper business you are in for a bumpy ride.

[desertadwoman]

How sad that employees are learning about the layoffs from outside sources. Gannett usually notifies employees and shareholders of impending news prior to public release. Quite disappointing!

[anonymous35]

This letter was emailed to all employees by my publisher today.

To: U.S. Community Publishing Employees
From: Bob Dickey

I want to talk with you about our restructuring efforts, as we continue to battle these difficult economic conditions and the impact on our advertisers. With your help, our various cost savings initiatives are making a difference.

Nevertheless, we will need to implement job reductions to align our resources with the revenue realities we face. Currently each location is finalizing its plan, taking into consideration the local economy, results so far this year and the prospects going forward.

Each plan is different and designed to address the ongoing local needs. All of them, however, involved extremely difficult decisions. Approximately 1400 employees will be impacted by the job reductions across the division. Your publisher or general manager will communicate the local plans, and we expect the vast majority of the reductions will take place by July 9. In a select few cases, the implementation may take longer. There will not be any furloughs for the rest of the year.

I want to stress that the job reductions are not a reflection on these employees or their work. We truly value their many contributions and thank them for their efforts over the years.

Unfortunately, we must take these steps because the advertising environment remains challenged. There have been some promising signs of a recovery, but the reality is the improvements are not broad-based and the economy continues to be fragile.

Even so, we know the economy will improve. To be ready, we need to continue our transformation and maintain a strong financial position. We must publish our newspapers, produce our Web sites and pay down our debt. By taking all these steps today, we will be stronger tomorrow.

Measured against our peers in the media industry, we are healthy and capable of moving forward. We are in this position because we have proactively responded to the financial conditions with actions such as these.

We continue to see good ideas coming from all of you, and we are becoming more innovative everyday. This combination of forward thinking and good fiscal management will, I believe, ultimately result in a return to success for our company.

So, please keep those thoughts and ideas coming. As always, you can email me or call with your comments.

[Guest]

Dear fellow News-Press employees:

Attached is a letter from our US Community Publishing Division President, Bob Dickey. It addresses the fact that there will be some additional layoffs necessary at most of our newspapers. The News-Press will be impacted, but the details are not yet final. I would estimate that as many as 45 employees will be affected.

This is difficult on all of us, but necessary to keep our cost structure in line with current economic realities as we begin to build our business back. Again, there are many details that still need to be addressed before there are any answers to questions you probably have. I will be around if you'd like to share thoughts on structures or just want to talk.

Thank you for your patience and dedication.

Carol Hudler, President & Publisher, The News-Press
President, South Group, Gannett US Community Publishing

[Used to love it]

You think? I used to love working for Gannett about 10 years ago. I loved the people, the place and the environment. I'd put in tons of extra hours because I enjoyed it, plus the OT. Now we have lost every thread of what this company once was. We have endured pension freezes, no raises, furloughs, three layoffs and another looming, plus no respect or moral boosts for the last two years. I for one, am tired of hearing it's the economy, damn it. This can only go so far. It does not excuse the treatment of employees and the total disregard for communication and lies. I for one am sick of the BS and the total lack of regard for loyal hard working employees. I have numerous resumes circulating plus have been training for a new career since January. I pray and hope with some effort, I can rid myself of this toxic, sick envrionment, they call Gannett.

Oh, and so happy Craig is doing better. They really makes a big difference in my life.

How sad that employees are learning about the layoffs from outside sources. Gannett usually notifies employees and shareholders of impending news prior to public release. Quite disappointing!

[Guest]

Gannett has identified women and baby-boomers as their target audience. I predict the majority of lay-offs will affect those employees who do not fall into one of those audience targets.

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