More bad news in the local newspaper biz: Layoffs are coming to the Gannett-owned Tucson Citizen.

Here’s a letter that came today from Robert Dickey, the president of Gannett’s U.S. Community Publishing arm.

To: USCP Publishers & General Managers

As all of you are painfully aware, the fiscal crisis is deepening and the economy is getting worse. Gannett’s revenues continue to be severely impacted by this downturn, and our local operations are suffering. While we are doing our best to reduce all non staff-related expenses, I am sorry to report that we must do another round of layoffs across our division.

To that end, we will institute an involuntary staff reduction of approximately 10% by the first week of December. The terms of the severance will be one week for each year of service with a cap of 26 weeks.

Each Publisher is responsible for developing their local plan to achieve the expected goal. Decisions will be made locally because each of our markets is unique, with differing market conditions and individual needs in light of our previous reductions.

I have asked that all plans be completed by November 14th at which time they will go through the standard review process.

I fully understand this announcement will cause you concern but I felt that once a decision was made it should be communicated as quickly as possible.

While this is more bad news, it is a sign of Gannett’s determination to remain healthy and viable as a company during these turbulent economic times. We continue to be a leader in our industry, not only because of our fiscal strength but also because we have a plan to aggressively grow the company when the economy returns.

To that end, I encourage you to contact me with your thoughts and ideas. We need to grow revenue as well as continue to find efficiencies. I would appreciate your help and ideas on both fronts.

My email address is rdickey@gannett.com. I promise you will be heard and receive a timely response.

I appreciate your understanding and commitment during these challenging times.

This article appears in Oct 23-29, 2008.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

8 replies on “More Bad News for Tucson Citizen”

  1. What does the downturn really mean to Gannett, a company notorious for insisting on a profit margin in the neighborhood of 30 percent? Are those greedheads laying people off simply because profits are down to 20 percent? (Note Dickey’s statement that “We need to grow revenue.”) Gannett feels that its primary responsibility is to its shareholders, not to its employees and the news-consuming public.

  2. Why is it that newspapers always lay off staff around christmas? What would they say if the mines or other employers did that?

  3. I don’t think that’s the case lately, Retrorv. Newspapers have been laying off people right and left on almost a daily basis for the last year or so.

  4. – Why is it that newspapers always lay off staff around christmas? What would they say if the mines or other employers did that?

    they do. they do. holiday’s are made for layoffs.
    see the little pigs only sat up and took notice of the big bad wolf when he was a huffin and puffin outside the door.
    up till then the layoff were just a story.
    need proof?
    what tucson-based employer is gonna drop the pink slip bomb on a whole lotta folks before the year is up?
    quick now.
    come on.
    ahhhh you don’t know do you?
    twas ever thus.

  5. Perhaps the suits at “the papers” are being considerate and pink-slipping before everyone maxes out the credit cards. Maybe?

  6. Thank you for this forum.
    I like that you are worried about jobs.
    Did you see this?

    From the Tucson Citizen:

    Mervyns spokesman Andrew Siegel said he did not know the exact number of employees working at Tucson’s three Mervyns store, but most stores have between 80 and 100 workers each.

    I know newspaper jobs matter the most because they are how people make money as journalists in Tucson and if the newspapers go away the journalists have to leave and some own homes and have kids and some just love it here but when when some look for jobs to buy food and gas they go to work at places like Mervyn’s but maybe not because many have college educations and they know how to write news so they go to companies and work at jobs that tell the remaining journalists that everything is okay and not to worry and that they do not plan to lay anyone off until they do and when they do they say it will be okay after that too and then well you see where this is all going.

  7. And I forgot to say those 100 jobs per store are not new hires.
    Those are the numbers of people who lost/are losing their jobs.
    Three hundred more people, many with a limited skill set looking for work in Tucson.
    And that is just the tip of the iceberg.
    Maybe we can all chip in an send them on a cruise.
    Then would it be news?
    Or just a snooze?
    Either way we all loose.
    (By the way, this poetry vibe is very catchy).

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