JRC announces layoffs; release the hounds!

[wickedwritah]

No wonder why people are fleeing the sinking ship known as the USS Oakland Press.

From the wire:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Citing the effects of a sluggish local economy, newspaper publisher Journal Register Co. said Wednesday it is cutting 82 jobs in Michigan.
The jobs cuts represent 6.5 percent of the work force in the company's Michigan cluster and will be mainly in production, distribution and administration. The Yardley, Pa.-based company said the move would save more than $3.2 million a year.

 

[Bob_Jelloneck]

All is well.

We're exploring new outlets to cluster our synergy.

We're go at throttle-up.

Our dedicated leadership is gathering to plan our next move:

 

[lono]

forkabuncha JRC.

 

[wickedwritah]

Am I the only one slightly disturbed by seeing a picture of the Challenger blow-up? Not trying to be sanctimonious, but it's parallel to putting a 9/11 WTC photo up there (on a smaller level, of course).

 

[Football_Bat]

The Challenger pic was OTT, but I love B_J's shtick.

I'd think being laid off rom JRC would be akin to a mercy killing myself.

 

[slappy4428]

Keep in mind that it's not just the OP... no, no, no... they have a few other dailes and a ton of weekly and bi-weekly papers.
So everyone has a chance to get screwed

 

[terrier]

Eleven years ago, I was laid off by JRC...with predictable results for my paper. What disturbed me most was that there were three openings at New Haven (I was unmarried at the time and willing to move), but unlike most companies which try to accomodate laid-off workers if they're willing to move, I was SOL.
I was rehired 4 1/2 months later, when a spot opened after a newsroom shakeup (in which possibly the best ME I ever worked with was fired). For the return of a full-time job and health care, I gave up a great part-time (probable eventual to full-time) opportunity - a move dictated by personal finances, but a chance I regret not taking. It took me 9 more years to escape JRC's clutches.
If the JRC turk tells you to come to Jelenic's office (and bring your playbook), put as much distance between that paper and yourself as you possibly can, even at the cost of some short-term financial pain.

 

[wickedwritah]

So, how long before the company collapses at this point?

Revenue is drying up, stock price is sinking ...

 

[slappy4428]

This thread is 18 hours old and no BYH?
I'm depressed... (where are those 35 pills...)

 

[MGoBlue]

Check your sock drawer, Slappy. You know how those pills can slip through your fingers like potential touchdown passes.

 

[lapdog]

No wonder why people are fleeing the sinking ship known as the USS Oakland Press.

You mean like the SE and lead sports columnist abruptly quitting in the last 10 days?

The new JRC hatchet man they've moved into the EE's job there is cleaning the place out with a flamethrower.

Since the Lions beat writer was a right-hand buddy and personal hire of the SE, he'll likely be gone in short order, too. They've also had turnover on the Tigers and Red Wings beats within the last few months. If the bush-league harry-highschool coverage philosophy they've adopted continues to mushroom, they'll just quit covering anything above high school. They'll probably assign all their major beat writers to cover junior high girls jumping jacks competitions.

WOTS is the 82 job cuts announced in yesterday's PR release is but the tip of the iceberg - they'll probably dump 200 jobs cluster-wide within a year or so, mainly through predatory attrition (make things so intolerable for employees that they flee in terror).

 

[KJIM]

Wait. I knew about the SE leaving, but which columnist who escaped?