Birmingham, Mobile and Huntsville to publish three days a week

I'm not up to date on who has what title. Is Bill Bryant among those cut? Is Mark McCarter the lone columnist left?

 

I'm surprised something really bad hasn't happened in a newsroom in the last five years of doing this.

I agree. In most cities the restaurant critics are way, way, way too positive... No credibility...

I'm still sorry the guy lost his job.

 

Definitely this. And I'm surprised they didn't have security on hand before it all started. That's incredibly shortsighted, given how many peoples' lives and careers they are tossing aside like a used pica pole.

 

I'm sick to my stomach. This is brutal to me. I can't even begin to comprehend this at all.

 

There was a guy who was let go a few years back and kept telling friends that he was dreaming of shooting up the newsroom. He ended up killing himself instead.

 

Another 67 positions? Who will fill these? Entry-level folks?

 

It appears some more changes in Alabama: "As part of forming the new companies, functions such as copy editing and design, advertising production and the companies' call center will be centralized in Birmingham. Additionally, printing and packaging of The Times will be performed in Birmingham beginning this summer."

http://blog.al.com/al/2012/06/alabama_newspapers_alcom_notif.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

 

Without question. My heart goes out to every professional affected -- many of whom I know well.

rb

 

A fucking James Beard Award critic gets sent packing, but hey I'm sure Mike from Westwego will do just as well. To put it in terms YF will understand, who needs Peter Lugar's when there's a Golden Corral just down the street?

Have any of you ever read this guy's work? He isn't just pounding out 500 words on the shrimp being overcooked and calling it a day. In New Orleans, eating out is the show and the heart of life. It would be like the LA Times gutting the movie beat and turning it over to Rotten Tomatoes. Or the New York Times punting on theatre coverage.

Why don't we just say that there isn't a market for what we do and kill all the papers at once? It would be more dignified than the ham-handed grease fire already in progress.

 

Damn. Not even the janitor is safe in this round of cutbacks.

 

In regards to those who will remain employed, has anyone heard if their salaries have been drastically cut? That seems to be the other piece to the business plan. Keep some, and keep 'em cheap.