Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Open Container: D-News Carnage
Posted By Josh Loftin on August 31, 2010, 9:37 AM
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.
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