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News Blog

Open Container: D-News Carnage

by Josh Loftin

Posted // 2010-08-31 -

Official: Deseret News is firing almost half their staff. Editor Joe Cannon and Publisher Jim Wall gone. Salt Lake City is now a one newspaper town.

In short, here's the result of the 10 a.m. staff meeting at the Deseret News. The info is from a few brave/idiotic souls at the paper who were feeding me info or live tweeting:

43 percent of the staff will be laid off.
Editor Joe Cannon and Publisher Jim Wall are voluntarily stepping down.
Whoever is left will work with KSL for breaking news or become part of a enterprise team, which I am guessing is who will be filling the newspaper with stories.
Lay-offs are starting today. People are meeting with managers today to learn their fate.

I've already received a few messages from people saying that people are, understandably, breaking down and hysterical. For that reason, I'm not putting out any calls for comment. A news release is expected from Clark Gilbert later today, and I'll post that. But at this point, just let me say that it is a very sad day for Utah journalism. I don't care if they print something every day. There is no logical way to argue that the Deseret News is a daily newspaper after they lay-off half their staff and get rid of the two top executives.

More as I hear it.

UPDATE: The Deseret News has put out a news release about the "bold new direction" and the editorial board is clarifying the truth about the rumors (which is, by the way, that the rumors were true). I need to parse these, and will post on them this afternoon.

Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
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REPLY TO THIS COMMENT

BlackMamba

Posted // August 31,2010 at 15:18

D-News:"Golly, we're really excited about the Bold New Direction of the Deseret News!"

BM:"Oh, and what is that direction exactly?"

D-News: "We laid-off half the staff, pushed out the top two executives and consolidated our reporting staff with...a television station."

BM:"And that's your Bold New Direction? Check, please!"

REPLY TO THIS COMMENT

Fritz

Posted // August 31,2010 at 11:03

Hey bonehead, if you actually READ the story, you would see that the Deseret News will continue to publish a paper seven days a week.

So.....Salt Lake Trib Deseret News = TWO newspaper town.

jones

Posted // August 31,2010 at 11:38 - Sounds like "cutting the fat". While getting rid of that many employees is horrible; it very well could be that they did this and have a different paper or keep all employees and everyone goes down with the ship. As they are merging more with KSL news, it sounds like they will be doing more over the internet and the remaining people will be producing the paper. It's a change that other papers may have to do as well, how many people "get the paper" anymore?

doyouread?

Posted // August 31,2010 at 11:09 - hey bonehead, if you actually READ the entire story... "I don't care if they print something every day. There is no logical way to argue that the Deseret News is a daily newspaper after they lay-off half their staff and get rid of the two top executives."

REPLY TO THIS COMMENT

Jen

Posted // August 31,2010 at 10:47

The world needs more reporters, not less. What a shame to lose a valuable journalistic competitor in an environment that clearly needs as much in-depth reporting, investigative reporting and watch-dogging as it can get. RIP, DNews.

Lemming

Posted // August 31,2010 at 15:27 - Clark Gilbert, as he led a once-proud institution over a cliff, said, "We are in a period of massive innovation. Audiences are migrating from traditional newspapers to digital news sources, which allows us to reach more audiences than ever before. These shifts have caused some newspapers to simply cut costs, causing them to fade in influence. We choose to innovate and lead." This has to be one of the most ridiculous quotes I have ever seen from a suit. Ever!