Richmond, you're up.

[Moderator1]

My morning/week/month just got ruined.
Just got word that three of my former colleagues in the newsroom at the Times-Dispatch will be laid off today.
No idea who yet. Not even sure they know. Also don't know about other departments. I know some others took a hit in the spring.
They're about 40 below "capacity" of 178 in the newsroom. Not sure I understand this but I think I'm going to go throw up now.

This is one of the major reasons I left. I didn't want to get laid off. I also didn't want to be part of the process. It is easy for me to say this now but I mean it and those who know me will vouch for it: I would have eliminated myself first.

 

[Moderator1]

18 total, I'm now told. Not sure where the others are coming from, or if it is just the newspaper or the corporate office, too.

Stock price is at 1.57

 

[pseudo]

Damn. Thoughts are with you and your old crew, Moddy.

 

[Moderator1]

Thanks, though way more for them than for me.
I'm hearing now none in sports, though that doesn't make me feel much better.

 

[Dickens Cider]

I wonder if Trosky was a part of the process or if they followed the recent lead set by other companies and did what they wanted independent of his knowledge and opinion. ****ing corporate sycophants; way to let greedy hedge fund managers on your board.

Best wishes to all those affected.

 

[Cosmo]

Sports was way down personnel-wise to begin with, but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't get hit.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

I wonder if Trosky was a part of the process or if they followed the recent lead set by other companies and did what they wanted independent of his knowledge and opinion. ****ing corporate sycophants; way to let greedy hedge fund managers on your board.

Best wishes to all those affected.

First off, I'm echoing DC. Regardless of how much sports if affected, news like this always stinks.

Secondly, to Marshall Morton's credit, he actually spoke out against the sort of financial suits that seem a little too eager to destroy the profession. Sitting on the board seemed almost a form of revenge for Morton's remarks - which, while honest didn't shine a wonderful light on the hedge fund sorts.

Here's to hoping MG keeps RTD's damage to a bare minimum.

 

[Dickens Cider]

I made my post without having seen Moddy's latest comment, which is weird considering it was 45 minutes before mine. Stupid faulty eyesight.

I stand by the second part, though.

 

[Drip]

It was bound to happen in Richmond sooner or later.

 

[jgmacg]

#7.

 

[imjustagirl]

Moddy, not to step on toes, but I'm hearing three writers and two managers from the newsroom.

 

[Moderator1]

How is that stepping on toes?

 

[expendable]

Sad. One of these days someone is going to realize that you can't make long-term money by giving the consumer less. I pray for those who have been let go, and for those still there that have to pick up the slack.

 

[Moderator1]

I'm starting to hear some names but have nothing confirmed. Apparently, the staff is in a meeting as I type this. I'm sure that is a cheery session.

 

[imjustagirl]

I know there's a staff meeting at 3. Not sure what the 2 p.m. meeting was.

 

[Moderator1]

First meeting was with one of the affected departments, it turns out. Whole staff coming in 15 minutes. IJAG is right. Three reporters/designers and two managers of some sort in the newsroom, still hearing different totals building wide.
Ugh.

 

[Drip]

I'm starting to hear some names but have nothing confirmed. Apparently, the staff is in a meeting as I type this. I'm sure that is a cheery session.

Moddy, if I am correct, this has never happened to the T-D.

 

[Moderator1]

You are not correct.

 

[zagoshe]

The 2 p.m. meeting was for those who got it with some vaseline
The 3 p.m. meeting was for those who got it bare and raw......
The 4 p.m. meeting was for those who didn't get it but will get it soon....

Not trying to be gross or raw but this is getting ridiculous.

If a place is understaffed at 178 -- and now is going to at least 160 according to the moderator -- at what point do you decide to fold up shop?

I mean, how many people can you reasonably expect to run a paper of that size with before it becomes an AP clipping service with a few local ads?

 

[Drip]

You are not correct.

When did something like this last occur at the T-D?