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Journal Star reduces work force by 16

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 - 05:48:56 pm CDT

The Journal Star reduced its work force Wednesday by 16 employees, publisher John Maher announced.

“A difficult economy, coupled with rapidly rising newsprint prices and challenges in key advertising categories, forced these painful decisions regarding our staffing levels, structure and product configuration,” Maher said.

The 16 employees — 13 full-time and three part-time — worked in the newsroom, advertising, online division and consumer products, which includes circulation.

Story Photo
(AP File)

The newsroom lost eight employees, advertising lost four, consumer products lost three and the online department lost one.

The employees who were laid off were notified Wednesday morning.

The employees will receive severance of one week’s pay for each year of service, plus a vacation grant they would have received Friday, Maher said. Any employee with 25 years or more service received a year of pay, he said.

“They have been our coworkers and friends and we wish them well,” Maher said. “I know what it’s like. We don’t take these decisions lightly.”

Maher said he lost his job in a reduction in force at the Kansas City Star in 2001.

Before the reductions announced Wednesday, the Journal Star employed 440 people, 273 full-time and 167 part-time.

Among the challenges facing the Journal Star, Maher said, is the cost of newsprint, the second-largest expense behind personnel. That cost will rise 30 percent from a year ago in the quarter beginning Oct. 1, he said.

“We have done a tremendous job of managing in a difficult environment,” Maher said in. “The strategies we’ve employed put us in a better position than our peers. I’m hopeful the decisions we’ve made will make further layoffs unnecessary. But in this economy, nothing is certain.”

Other newspapers around the nation have been cutting staff and other costs as they face changes in consumer habits, rising transportation and paper costs, the depressed housing industry and other changing economic forces in crucial advertising markets.

The Journal Star is owned by Lee Enterprises. Other Lee newspapers that have laid off employees recently include the St. Louis Post Dispatch, St. Louis Suburban Journals, the Bloomington, Ill, Pantagraph and the North County Times in suburban San Diego.

“This is an economy the likes of which hasn’t been seen before by our customers in the financial industry, automotive, airlines and others,” Maher said. “We’re grappling with the same difficult decisions others in this community are facing.

“While our financial situation is difficult, we have much to be proud of,” Maher said. “We’re committed to our efforts to deliver the news this community expects. We reach a larger audience than ever before: 86 percent of the people in our market use our product every month.

“We continue to press forward and accelerate development of initiatives that span our print, distribution and digital products,” Maher said.


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MattS wrote on July 30, 2008 12:12 pm:
" Make people pay for an online subscription. That will make you money and stop people from posting ridiculous things on here because their name will be registered.....sounds like a good idea to me... "

 wrote on July 30, 2008 12:37 pm:
" Layoffs suck. I hope the best for those people and their families right now.

I wish I could say this was going to turn around soon but I have a feeling it's probably going to get much worse before it gets better. Too many industries are hurting right now. "

 Teach wrote on July 30, 2008 12:48 pm:
" My heart goes out to all the newsroom staff. Having worked with some of you on some stories - you've always done a professional job.

I am so sorry about this turn of events. "

 Mike wrote on July 30, 2008 1:49 pm:
" Sad for those whom lost their jobs today.

a share - asset allocation key to retirement, putting all eggs in one stock is a sure loser no matter the company. Even Warren B. owns many different companies that comprise Berkshire, diversify, diversify, diversify and you take most of the risk out of the market in the long term. "

 Stacy wrote on July 30, 2008 2:11 pm:
" My thoughts and prayers go out to the employees that have lost their jobs. I lost my job before due to the position/department being eliminated. I walked in like any other day, Within the half-hour I was told I didn't have a job anymore. I was walked out the door. My thoughts and prayers are with you. "

 CONNIE wrote on July 30, 2008 2:18 pm:
" Isn't it sad. When times get tuff, people are the first to go! Why can't a plan be worked out with the employee's to keep their jobs but take a small cut in pay, or how about offering them a 4 day work week.
Just some options. I hate to see people lose jobs because I had to do this when the business I worked for closed. "

 former employee wrote on July 30, 2008 2:34 pm:
" I am sorry for all those that lost their jobs. I am a former employee of the LJS and what a shock it must have been to walk in this morning only to find out you've lost your job and your life has been turned upside down. And clearly, when the article states those with 25 years of service will receive a year's pay . . . that means some long time employees were let go who been dedicated to the LJS for years. My heart goes out to you all. "

 Galen wrote on July 30, 2008 3:06 pm:
" I hope the people affected find employment soon. Layoffs are hard.
I dunno about the - "make people pay for online subscriptions" - though. I cannot see paying the coverprice for the paper, they won't deliver to my house Live in a rural area), and mail is also too expensive. If they start charging for it online, I will drop it altogether. I suspect others will do the same. "

 Shinbone wrote on July 30, 2008 3:32 pm:
" I feel so bad for the entire Journal Star staff right now. My newsroom has been laying off people a few at a time for the past year or so, and it's absolutely crushed morale. The journalism industry as a whole needs to figure out a new, more profitable business model. Otherwise, this is going to keep happening for a while. Anyway, I wish the people who lost their jobs all the best. I'll be thinking of you. "

 Brian wrote on July 30, 2008 5:03 pm:
" As a former resident of Lincoln and a reporter for a paper in another state, it's sad how this industry is changing. We've got to find a solution. "

 Dave wrote on July 30, 2008 5:29 pm:
" Rest assured that those people in Lincoln, Nebraska-- politicians, corporations, scam-artists, etc.,-- who need to be held accountable by a healthy and vibrant press are having no layoffs this week. What a sad state of affairs our news industry is in... "

 W wrote on July 30, 2008 8:18 pm:
" My heart does go out to the LJS employees who lost their jobs. I was one of the PHN's who lost her job when the State closed down Nebraska Health Connection. I was absolutely devastated & terrified about how I would pay my bills. Our department too lost a 21+ yr employee. The whole thing sucked, but there definitely was a silver lining, as I found a job a few weeks after hearing I was being laid off. This job is a million times better-it pays a ton more & I'm actually appreciated by the new company. After seeing that there is more out there than my government/union jobs, I realized how much I absolutely detested my old job & how I'm in such a better position now with great management-something I definitely didn't have at my old job! Good luck LJS employees! "

 whatever wrote on July 30, 2008 8:21 pm:
" It just isn't print journalism that's getting smacked by the economy. Radio and TV too. I talked to a radio salesperson a few months ago and business isn't good. Again people this economy is much worse than you believe. It's a house of cards waiting to fall. The Housing Bill was an absolute last ditch attempt to forstall a complete collapse of the banking system. If we can reign in government spending, stabilize fuel prices and ween ourselves off of foreign energy and stop the the policy the Clinton's and the Bush's have advocated in encouraging business to move out of the United States, well we might avert disaster if everyone just "believes". "

 Current employee wrote on July 30, 2008 9:27 pm:
" As a still employed employee of the LJS I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers for the friends and co-workers we lost today. Moral was low today but it's up to the rest of us to keep plugging away to get a quality paper out everyday. Again, thank you for thinking of our co-workers, I really appreciate it as I'm sure they do also. "

 John S wrote on July 31, 2008 10:35 am:
" Best wishes to those that were let go. I know first hand that working at the newspaper is like being in a family and whenm something like this happens, it strikes a blow to all. Not because you are worried that you may be next but because people you care about are being impacted. Each and every one of these people are partly responsible for the product we read everyday and they will be missed.

Good luck to all of them and hopfully they will all find new positions quickly. They are all bright, intelligent people who would be an asset for any business. "

 Wenalway wrote on July 31, 2008 4:37 pm:
" " As a former resident of Lincoln and a reporter for a paper in another state, it's sad how this industry is changing. We've got to find a solution. "

The solution needed to come years ago. Newsrooms needed to scrap bad approaches and to hire better people. They refused to do either of these, and now they're suffering. "

 Friend wrote on July 31, 2008 6:10 pm:
" Best of luck to all of those who lost their jobs. I have always had great respect for the LJS reporters. This is no doubt a very difficult situation for all involved. "

 NE native wrote on July 31, 2008 7:28 pm:
" As a reporter, LJS has fine news reporters who have gained my respect.

For those of you who received the misfortune of losing your jobs, best wishes to you all and you're in my thoughts.

It's a woeful reflection on the current economy that the industry has been left with no other option to cut costs. I wonder if alternatives had been explored. "

 Thanks wrote on August 2, 2008 11:16 am:
" Thanks to those employees who have made the Journal Star so great. Realizing this decision was not taken lightly my thoughts go out to those employees who lost there jobs and also to Mr. Haher who had the unevieable task of making the final decision. Realizing that their are family, friends, connections etc. involved I know this was not an easy decision for the LJS. My best to each of you and thanks... "

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