Friday, January 30, 2009
Dallas-based Belo initiating more layoffs, cutting free parking, and other cost-savings measures
DALLAS — A.H. Belo will be cutting costs, including a layoff of 500, outlined in a letter to employees this morning from CEO Robert Decherd (and obtained by Eric at Frontburner).
The letter says that the company is looking at ways to "generate cash internally, and to preserve cash", with the "most significant cost initiative" to be a layoff by mid-February in the range of 500 jobs, to impact all of the operating companies and corporate.
Other cost-cutting measures: no more matching sales plan, a reduction in reimbursement for wireless devices, and no more free parking at the downtown office (new charges: $40 for lots, $70 for garage).
Posted by T.G.
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Teresa Gubbins, says:
In response to Decherd's memo, the Providence Newspaper Guild, which represents workers at the Belo-owned <em>Providence Journal Bulletin</em>, unanimously <a href="http://www.riguild.org/">adopted a joint resolution</a> calling for Decherd to take a pay cut from his $600,000 salary, as follows: "In recognition of the trying times facing the newspaper industry and the sacrifices A.H. Belo employees have been called upon to make, including in some cases their very jobs, we call on A.H. Belo CEO and president Robert W. Decherd to forgo his recent 140% raise and return his base salary to its 2008 level of a quarter million dollars a year."
Staff
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Clay213, says:
Is 'generate cash internally' code speak for soaking your employees?
Anonymous
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
alexander troup, says:
With all of this layoff and for the press, time for the press to realize, do they serve the people or just want to continue top preform in a manner, where they dont support their troops...you cant compare to the 1930's what is going on, while it is all the same when you now have billions of people, and how many newspapers in Dallas..
Today to handle the new 21st Century,wake up folks, this is all going to work out, but somebody has go to loose some weight and bad behaviour...A/T, Dougs Gym.
Verified
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jason Rice, says:
::generate cash internally
Yeah, Clay. That usually means the "Free Coffee" in the break room now costs you 5o cents payable to them to cover the 15 cents it costs overall.
It's not sustainable, but it looks good on paper for a quarter or two.
Verified
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
Wilonsky interviews Jim Moroney on cuts coinciding with performance bonuses and some really interesting thoughts about charging for access to online content:
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfai...
Staff
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jerryt, says:
NEWSPAPERS??? I quit them the way I quit smoking! Layed 'em down and walked away. Now I have more time to read what I want to read, not the drivel spewing from some left wing blowhard. Online "papers"...now ya got something there!!
Anonymous
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
alexander troup, says:
Yes it is sad, then again the future is like the 'Eyes Of Texas', it is upon us or they are upon you....oh well read sand script at the Belo Bar and Grill...A/T, Motion sickness at the Belo..
Verified
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
Layoffs were supposed to be this week, but according to DMNcuts, they've been delayed so management can finish deciding who/how many will go:
http://dmncuts.blogspot.com/2009/03/n...
Staff
8 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
The layoffs start today, but the newsroom layoffs are tomorrow:
http://dmncuts.blogspot.com/2009/04/c...
A commenter there says that they are migrating their email system today, meaning that a lot of people may find themselves locked out, and hence assume they've been terminated.
Staff
8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jason Rice, says:
Sigh... the "I am Spartacus" quote on the DMNCuts Admin comment just wrenched my gut.
Verified
8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal