PMN spokesman Mark Block said two factors drove the need for workforce cuts: continued challenging conditions in the news business, and the privately held company's desire "to combine newsroom functions for more efficiency wherever possible."
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 Thursday.
Inquirer editor Stan Wischnowski said financial pressures spurred similar restructurings recently at newspapers in Chicago, Washington, and other cities.
"This is a difficult situation for our newsroom, but our work continues," Wischnowski said. "I can assure you that we'll continue to become more efficient, more innovative, and more competitive through this process. 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 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.
Guild reaction
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 was still determining how many independent, management employees could lose their jobs.
Union officials criticized the "devastating reduction in force."
