OC Register getting hit by Freedom's axe

Looks like 30 newsroom employees are losing their jobs....

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/breaking-news/register-to-lay-off-30-newsroo/

 

"The paper is hoping to avoid direct layoffs by getting volunteers."

Charming. Will those 'volunteers' be selflessly giving up their unemployment benefits as well?

 

The OC plans to offer volunteers a severance package based on how many years they put in.

Woopie!

 

It will be interesting to see if any sports people take a bullet. The sports editor, who was laid off in the last round a few months ago, said he had nothing more to give up. So if they wanted to lay off someone in the department they would have to start not covering things. That's exactly what they did, stopped covering the dodgers, kings and clippers. The copy desk is bare bones, the writing staff is wafer thin and they have no sports editor. It saddens me since I used to work there and a lot of my friends and former co workers are being shown the door.

 

I can't see them cutting many -- if any -- from sports.

 

Hear that the Register is using whatever terminology it takes to make sure that employees who leave via buyouts/take severance/whatever are eligible for unemployment. Also, it's common in unemployment regulations that, if a company sheds jobs -- not just people in them, but the jobs themselves -- that those folks are in fact eliglble for unemployment, regardless of the terminology.

One hell of a marketing tool, if this business ever builds itself back in any small way: Come work for us -- when we lay you off or buy you out, we'll make sure you get unemployment benefits!

That's about the best newspapers have to offer current and future journalists. That, and ulcers. And a long-term prescription of anti-depressants.

 

Work 10 years, get five months free!* ...

*Only with buyout

 

Any truth to the rumor that Freedom wants to sell the OC Register to the Tribune Co?

 

Note that little tidbit about the Daily News, too.

Journalists: Beware of Southern California. Apparently, and unfortunately, it is not the place to be right now.

 

I don't think either can afford to buy anything more than a couple of cold cuts right now. Given that Landmark couldn't sell LCNI and that they couldn't find a buyer for the Daytona Beach paper, the rest of the industry is probably in the same leaky boat.

 

I know that one of my good friends at the OCR is safe and I hope it stays that way.