Rumors are starting to bubble up regarding the list of people who agreed to take the Arizona Daily Star‘s buyout offer—and the biggest name on that list so far is Opinion page editor Ann Brown.
Those taking the buyout will celebrate their last day of employment at the Star tomorrow, Nov. 6
John Schuster and I are trying to confirm this rumor—and that’s all it is at this point—as well as confirm other names.
Got any info? Let us know?
UPDATE (9:30 p.m. 11/5): Thanks for the comments and tips, everyone.
UPDATE (11 a.m. 11/6): We’ve fixed the last name of Rutha.
Names we’ve heard from sources and the rumor mill (please let us know if anyone sees any errors):
Mary Cooney
Margo Hernandez
Nick Pintozzi
Mark Stewart
Enric Volante
Bill Betterton
Ann Brown
Jim Davis
Rutha Grigsby (corrected last name)
Also, we’ve heard from several sources that folks at the Star are concerned about the possibility of layoffs—something which publisher John Humenik said would happen if not enough employees took the buyout. Those layoffs could come as soon as tomorrow, if they are to happen.
What’s behind these cuts? Well, one need only to look at the Star to know ad counts remain down. Also, some Southern Arizona newspapers as of late (including some of the Weekly‘s sister papers in Wick Communications) have taken a financial hit after losing some grocery-store inserts to a direct-mail outfit. That could be a culprit in all of this.
This article appears in Nov 5-11, 2009.
Longtime photojournalist Jim Davis has taken the deal. Jim’s a great guy who has been with the Star for around 35 years.
Bill Betterton, Ann Brown, Rutha Brundidge, Mary Cooney, Jim Davis, Margo Hernandez, Nick Pintozzi & Mark Stewart.
Wow, the Star sure has gone along way toward oblivion in the five years since Lee bought Pulitizer. Lee simply has a bad business plan, they think they are in the advertising business instead of the information business, and so when advertising withers so does Lee, even thou the information and the desire for it continues. As the Star furnishes less and less information the death spiral will continue. Public Radio and Television which isn’t based on the advertising model will be at least one of the survivors. As a guest here, I won’t comment on the TW model. Something of a digression. Sorry.
Well, if it’s true about Ann Brown then ADS is left with Maria Parham to assign to Buckmaster’s Friday Round Table.
Best wishes to my friend Jim Davis. A class act, and a great photographer. His photos that don’t appear in print from sporting events are great. Now he can concentrate on fishing. Rutha was one of the sweetest people in the newsroom. A great person.
@ Jimmy: The list that Bobo posted is correct. Ann Brown is leaving.
At least we’ve got the intrepid Rob O’Dell!
Jim Davis should have won a Pulitzer Prize for his Miracle Valley photos. It needed to be said.
Sib: I agree with you, 100%
Jim, you better tell that story. Some of us want to hear about it.
Good riddance Ann Brown
You know, Lee now wants to sell the TV listing Sunday insert. Hell, the thing is wrong every week (cable TV movie times are constantly incorrect) and they think we’ll spend money on it?
Rutha was someone I did not know on a very personal level. However, I will remember her because she always had a big smile and a pleasant greeting for anyone she ran across, including myself many times. Didn’t matter whether she knew them or not. She is a bright spot who is going to be missed around the building.