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The New York Daily News, a well-known tabloid in the big city and known for its ruthless and impersonal pages, fired half of its editorial staff on Monday, marking the latest round of media cuts by besieged Trunk.
"We fundamentally restructure the Daily News", reads Tronc to an email from the team. "Today we reduce the size of the editorial team by about 50% and refocus a lot of our talent on the latest news, especially in the areas of crime, civil justice and of public responsibility. "
those who are affected at the end of the day. As journalists and editors waited, some were seen running around the newsroom, thanking each other for their work. "Just try to get the best out of it," says a staff member.
The word massive layoffs began to circulate on Thursday and Trunk sent an email Sunday to staff telling them "to be in the New York press room Monday at 9 am for an important message from Grant Whitmore, "The general manager of East Trunk Region." Before announcing the layoffs, Whitmore held a "30-second meeting" with staff in which he said, "Keep us, today." It will be difficult, "according to a source in the newsroom.
" We had a feeling that something was going to happen, "a staff member told HuffPost when rumors began to spread. The cancellation of a large scheduled event with trainees also triggered red flags. The Media Insider Newspaper The Study Hall first reported clippings last week.
After Trunk bought the daily financially troubled last summer for only $ 1, he began a restructuring. roles in the Trunk headquarters in Chicago. The New York paper was also hit by a sexual harassment scandal in February, which saw two of its biggest publishers fired.
"The decisions announced today reflect the realities of our business and the need to adapt an ever-changing media environment," Tronc e-mail told Daily News employees. . "They are not a reflection on the important talent that is leaving today, there is no doubt that these colleagues are much appreciated and we will miss them."
Staff members laid off were informed that they would be paid for 90 days and "would be eligible for transitional benefits thereafter." "An editor told HuffPost of the breakup.
Editor-in-Chief Jim Rich and Chief Editor Kristen Lee were among those leaving. Robert York, who was named editor of Morning Call in 2016, Trunk's newspaper in Allentown, Pennsylvania, will head the Daily News on July 30.
Rich declined to comment on the planned layoffs. At the time, rumors were circulating that Rich, former editor of HuffPost, was about to resign or may have already resigned. On Monday morning, Rich tweeted that "today was a good day" for those who "hate democracy and think that local governments should operate without control".
The Daily News, which won 11 Pulitzer awards in 99 years from existence, has experienced the same ups and downs that have hit a large part of the press industry in recent decades. It was saved from bankruptcy in 1993 and almost disappeared, and in 2016, its print distribution dropped significantly.
He changed direction and devoted himself to digital news, becoming one of the top 10 publishers in 2016. But he has substantially reduced over the years, significant layoffs have occurred in 2013, 2014 and even earlier this year, when 21 people – mostly production workers – were fired.
In April, Trunk dismissed Lewis D & Vorkin, editor of the Los Angeles Times. and laid off several dozens like the staff of the syndicated newsroom. Trunk recently sold the LA Times to Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a billionaire biotech, for $ 500 million, as well as several small California newspapers
Layoffs in March hit The Chicago Tribune, a flagship property of Trunk.
This is a story in development. Check back for updates.
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