Burlington Free Press City Hall reporter John Briggs has a surprisingly frank blog posting today about upcoming lay-offs at the Gannett-owned newspaper.
It's a tough time in the industry - the Times Argus and the Rutland Herald had our own cuts back in January that saw about 14 people leave the company - but the Free Press seems to have been hit the hardest in Vermont.
In the last year, the Freeps have had one round of lay-offs and two rounds of furloughs.
Here's what Briggs had to say:
"After weeks of rumors, Free Press employees got the bad news this afternoon. Bob Dickey, president of Gannett U.S. Community Publishing, told us that despite two quarters of company-wide furloughs and rounds of lay-offs last year, "we will need to implement job reductions to align our resources with the revenue realities we face. The news broke on the national wire well before it was given to employees."
Journalism is a tough job. But it's even tougher when you're not sure if you'll be paid for it next week. Our thoughts are out to our colleagues at the Free Press.
- Dan Barlow
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