Edmonton columnist Terry Jones' position eliminated by Post Media

Eight years ago, I took a buyout and retired (I was 62, thought I might work until 65, but it wasn't to be). There were a couple dozen layoffs at that time. The first thing they said was, "We're not doing cakes for everybody."

 

We had a ME who always said we could ask tough questions and his door was open, he'd support us yada, yada. One reporter who was close to retirement asked why we should be happy and supported when everyone around us is being let go. The ME said flatly, well if you don't like it you don't have to work here. LOL, what support!

 

"Don't let them eat cake!"

 

When I heard a coworker was departing, first question was always "congrats or condolences?"

I have a vivid memory of being called into a staff meeting when the top editor who had been at the paper suddenly "retired." He was an odd guy to work with and fought like hell to protect the paper from big changes the chain wanted (notably some staff he really liked, often with what I'll call boutique skills). We were facing a reorg and he tried and end-around to retain the people he wanted in maybe not the most logical ways. Thus he was tossed after a long and mostly decorated career.

I felt weird about him leaving, but he set himself up for things and was simply not of the era he needed to be.

 

Our McClatchy layoffs last year were all by phone -- not much choice, given that everyone was working remotely and that many papers had sold their buildings. I don't know Terry Jones from a hole in the wall, but I suspect his appearances in whatever office they have were few and far between anyway.

Eight months, one day until retirement.