No-Layoffs Policy Ends at Oregonian, Furloughs Added

By Mitch Nolan — Wednesday, August 5, 2009; 11:48 am

The Oregonian's parent company, Advance Publications, is ending its long-standing policy of avoiding layoffs, Oregonian employees learned this morning in all-staff meetings. According to Steve Newhouse, chairman of the company's online division, the no-layoffs pledge will end in February 2010. Previously, The Oregonian had offered buyouts to reduce payroll. The paper is also adding six furlough days and charging employees for a quarter of their health insurance premiums.

UPDATE (8/5, 2:25pm): The Portland Mercury's Matt Davis has 13 tips for turning The Oregonian around.

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Wednesday, August 5, 2009; 12:08 pm — Anonymous Source (not verified)

Suggestions

One might also suggest what various law firms and companies have been doing, which is encouraging employees to take a measured bit of time off at a very reduced or no pay, without the fear of losing their job altogether.

On the flip side - when I worked for Disney back in the crash of 2001, they did the galant thing. Before doing layoffs across the board, they asked first if anyone wanted to go with a comp. package. Some people were ready to open that life long dream of a bakery or go back to school. After that round of intentional minimizing, then the layoffs were much MUCH less impactful.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009; 12:38 pm — Anonymous Source (not verified)

That's pretty much what The O

That's pretty much what The O has been doing — furloughs and buyouts — although there's been no arrangement of longer furloughs for job security.

Thursday, August 6, 2009; 2:44 am — Will Radik (not verified)

the average horizon is 12 miles away

I'm sad to see media people will lose their jobs, but the writing has been on the wall for a while. The Oregonian has all the resources to turn itself around, but all the discretionary power behind it apparently lies in the hands of clueless, old, white guys.

Davis has good ideas. The first suggestion I'd have is pay attention to them. Matt is a very, very smart guy, and though he might offer it with a tongue-in-cheek tone, (maybe because he feels they'll never get it or folllow it) but it's sound, free advice.

You know what I get when I comment on an Oregonian article being silly or clueless on twitter? I get five or ten people saying, "Yeah. No kidding." Do they not read this stuff?

Raising your prices? Bad, bad idea. Reduce your operating costs. Pay attention to what's going on and lose the arrogance. Ancient primacy won't save the Oregonian. Look up Romulus Augustus and see how well it did him.

Once again. I don't want to see people lose their jobs. I deplore the way the Oregonian has been operating and these are my personal opinions and suggestions. I would love to see them turn around and have more success, as I'd love to see any other local business succeed, especially one that can foster the talented local media workforce.

Friday, August 7, 2009; 8:30 am — Anonymous Source (not verified)

I'll second Will and advance

I'll second Will and advance the notion.

What would save the Oregonian would be to hire Matt Davis to be their managing editor. I am not joking. He'd need some able assistance, the ability to fire and hire and set salaries. He might need some tutoring for the business points, managing relationships, the annual ABC audit, etc.

But he'd get the job done.

Monday, August 10, 2009; 9:43 am — Anonymous Source (not verified)

Huge Shake Up in Advertising and Marketing at The "O"

Steve Hubbard, long tenured marketing boss at The Oregonian is out. Replaced by Judy Rooks, who used to run business coverage in the newsroom.

Several demotions as Classified and special products areas get fractured. Ed Merrick out as classified manager...not replaced. He's running new 'vertical' allignment...but not phones anymore.

Similar put down to Denice Williams, who was retail manager.

One past manager will now be the "happy face of The Oregonian" at community events,etc.

Better than no job at least....at least until next February 5th.

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