We welcome you to JobBank USA and hope your job hunting experience
is a pleasant one. We hope you find our resources useful.
October 21, 2006
The Mercury News announced Friday that it will lay off 8.5 percent of its work force — 101 employees — by Dec. 19 as a long-running slide in revenues across the newspaper industry continues.
It is the second time in less than a year that the San Jose newspaper, acquired by MediaNews last August along with the Contra Costa Times, has cut its staffing levels. The Mercury News employs roughly 1,160 people. In November 2005, the newspaper reduced staff through 53 voluntary buyouts.
MediaNews is parent company of ANG Newspapers, which publishes this newspaper and several others in the Bay Area. Also on Friday, the Contra Costa Times announced that Editor Chris Lopez was leaving and would be replaced by Times Executive Editor Kevin Keane, who also is vice president/news of California Newspaper Partners-North. Of the Mercury News layoffs announced Friday, about 40 jobs will come out of the newsroom, a 14 percent cut.
"I'm sorry to have to stand before you today, again, with some bad news," executive editor Susan Goldberg said at an afternoon meeting of newsroom employees. "The economics of our industry continue to slide downward."
Publisher George Riggs, who is also president of the California Newspapers Partnership, which controls the Mercury News, said in a letter to employees that any increase in revenue could reduce the need for layoffs. There are three union contracts under negotiation and, depending on the outcome, Riggs said, they could
lead to "further expense reductions."
Pete Wevurski, ANG Newspapers editor, said employees at ANG's papers are not affected by the Friday developments.
Email This Page!