New England Press Association

15,000 U.S. newspaper jobs lost
in 2009 include 650-plus in N.E.

About 15,000 people in the U.S. newspaper industry lost their jobs in 2009, according to News Cycle’s list of layoffs and buyouts. Its list included more than 650 job losses in New England, although some of those jobs were later restored at one newspaper.

In December, there were 705 layoffs and buyouts nationwide.

The Associated Press reported that reducing payroll expenses has had an effect, and that some newspaper profits are on the rise.

Speaking at the UBS Media and Communications Conference, Craig A. Dubow, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Gannett Co. Inc., said many of the changes Gannett made during the year were needed because of the economy, but they "also represent necessary permanent changes."

Gannett, based in McLean, Va., and owner of The Burlington (Vt.) Free Press in New England, said in December that it was reducing the newsroom staff at USA Today by 5 percent. On top of the 26 newsroom jobs at USA Today. Gannett cut 3 percent of its total workforce, or 1,400 positions, this past summer.

Geoff Ramsey, chief executive officer of eMarketer.com, foresees more of the same for traditional newspaper advertising revenues in 2010.

“Next year, while broadcast television, radio, newspaper and magazine spending continue to downsize, though more slowly than in 2009, online ad spending will enjoy a nice bump-up: eMarketer currently forecasts 5.5 percent growth. And the increase won’t all come from search – banner ads will grow 3.3 percent, and online video will jump by 40 percent,” News Cycle said.

News Cycle is a Pennsylvania-based journalism Weblog by Jeff Pijanowski, who was an editor for 30 years, mostly with Newsday on Long Island, N.Y.

The list below of job losses was compiled by News Cycle and includes layoffs and buyouts. It includes newspapers, wire services and directly related industries. The information was gathered through announcements, Weblogs and tips to News Cycle. It reported the following job losses at newspapers in New England for 2009:

Oct. 29: The Wall Street Journal, nine, as its Boston bureau closed.

July 10: The Eagle Times of Claremont, N.H., 120. (The Eagles Times shut down but has since resumed publishing, restoring some of the 120 jobs.)

June 29: The Republican of Springfield, Mass., 30.

June 9: Blethen Maine Newspapers, 22 non-union employees and four executives. Five more people were later let go, according to a June 15 announcement.

May 16: Cape Cod Media Group of Hyannis, Mass., whose flagship is the Cape Cod Times of Hyannis, 11.

May 14: The Telegraph of Nashua, N.H., and affiliated Cabinet Press newspapers, based in Milford, N.H., eight.

April 30: Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, Mass., five.

April 24: Boston Business Journal, four.

April 23: Milford (N.H.) Observer ceases publication, one.

April 3: Telegram & Gazette, 20.

March 27: Boston Herald, 24.

March 20: Telegram & Gazette, five.

Feb. 27: Boston Herald, 20.

Feb. 25: The Providence (R.I.) Journal, 100.

Feb. 25: The Hartford (Conn.) Courant, 100.

Jan. 15: The Boston Globe, 50.

Jan. 15: Rutland (Vt.) Herald and The Times Argus of Barre and Montpelier, Vt., 14.

Jan. 9: The Christian Science Monitor of Boston, at least 15.

Jan. 7: The Record-Journal of Meriden, Conn., 45.

Jan. 5: The Republican of Springfield, 36.

This report was compiled by Donna Roberson, a Bulletin correspondent, based on published reports.

POSTED 1/7/10