At 12 a.m. today, the Arizona Daily Star finally confirmed that the newspaper cut 52 people in all departments — posting a story on its website in its business section. Ironically, the Star’s story regarding their own layoffs is on the same digital page as a Howard Fischer story on Arizona’s jobless rate increasing .2 percent to 9.3 percent.
From the Star:
The Arizona Daily Star reduced its workforce by 52 people Thursday. The cuts came from throughout the operation and were not limited to the newsroom.
The paper also eliminated some open positions and realigned functions in all departments.
“These actions, precipitated by the ongoing weakness in the economy and adjustments to our business model, made for a tough day,” said John M. Humenik, president and publisher of the Star.
The decision about how to respond to the challenges was his, Humenik said.
The Star continues to grow its audience through print and digital combined, he said.
Despite the cutbacks, he said, “Our leadership team is confident that these steps will enable us to focus our efforts and position us for a bright future.”
Yesterday, The Range confirmed the first round of layoffs included Shelley Shelton, Sarah Trotto, Fred Araiza, Angela Pittenger, Dave Skog, Dan Sorenson, Scot Skinner, Jeff Jackson and John Ames.
A report in the Tucson Sentinel included these additional staffers: Dave Eubank, Dylan Boswell, Val Vinyard, Greg Bryan, Jill Torrance, Sarah Trotto, Polly Higgins, Jeff Jackson, Natalia Lopera, Alex Dalenberg, Carl Hinton, Andrzej Proczka, Angie Bush, Karen Keller, Peggy Adams, Judy Gudeman, Maris Finley, Diana Fennie, Jim Sabados, Joan Walsh, Lucy Carathers, John McNamara, Rance Naffziger, Joan Stulz, Clyde Richardson, Mike Carpio and John Nicholson.
The Tucson Weekly extends its condolences to everyone caught in this latest round of a Star and newspaper “realignment,” and suggests these fine newspaper folks take the ex-Citizen staffers up on their invitation that they join them today for their weekly happy hour tradition at the Shanty. What a good way to end the week — with a group of incredible people who went through their own version of on-again off-again newspaper layoff hell. The Shanty is located at 401 East 9th Street.
This article appears in Jul 21-27, 2011.
Please note, our report includes a list of Star staffers who we’ve been told have been laid off. It’s not a final list, nor is it be any means totally confirmed. We made a mistake or two yesterday, and the list may well still have errors.
If you’re a current or former Star staffer, please help us update it at http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report…
For those of you who felt the hammer drop, please do join us at the Shanty. We’d be honored to raise a toast to your fine work. Mary Junck dartboard optional.
Noted. Thanks, Dylan.
A bright future Humenik??? Quarterly excerpt statement below:
On a combined basis, print and digital classified revenue decreased 7.5%. Print classified advertising revenue decreased $3,629,000, or 9.6%, in the 2011 Quarter. Digital classified advertising decreased 2.8%. Print employment advertising (including advertising in publications other than our daily newspapers) increased 2.7% and digital employment advertising increased 6.6%. As a result, this category increased 4.1% overall. Print automotive advertising increased 0.7% and digital automotive advertising decreased 33.2%. As a result, this category decreased 3.4% overall. Print real estate advertising decreased 19.4%. Digital real estate advertising decreased 19.9%. Other print classified advertising decreased 10.9%.
Advertising lineage, as reported for our daily newspapers only, consists of the following:
13 Weeks Ended
June 26 June 27 Percent
(Thousands of Inches) 2011 2010 Change
Retail 2,601 2,587 0.6
Classified 2,787 2,917 (4.5)
National 98 109 (10.5)
5,486 5,613 (2.3)