PMN spokesman Mark Block said two things are driving the workforce cuts: First, conditions remain challenging in the news business. Also, the privately held company wants "to combine newsroom functions for more efficiency wherever possible," he said.
PMN's top editors met with Guild leadership Wednesday to discuss plans for combining the functions of the copy desks, metro desks, and sports and features departments of The Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com. Editors intend to hold staffwide meetings about the changes on Thursday.
Inquirer Editor Stan Wischnowski noted that financial pressures have spurred similar restructurings recently at newspapers in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other markets.
"This is a difficult situation for our newsroom, but our work continues. I can assure you that we'll continue to become more efficient, more innovative, and more competitive through this process," Wischnowski said. "As the state's largest newsroom, we can't and won't let up on our commitment to quality journalism. Our readers deserve and expect that."
PMN will offer voluntary buyout packages only to full-time reporters, editors, artists, photographers, and other employees, who will have until Feb. 29 to decide. Based on response to the voluntary program, the company might then resort to layoffs of Guild members to reach its goal of eliminating 37 positions by March 31.
Because the layoffs could fall on full-time or part-time employees, the number of people affected by the workforce reduction could be more than 37.
Not all newsroom employees are unionized. The company said it is still determining how many independent, management employees could lose their jobs.
