Indianapolis Star make further cuts from an already deteriorating paper

Yesterday I was upset to read that my hometown paper, the Indianapolis Star was shelling back led by a big move from their parent company.

Gannett Company owns 82 newspapers across the country with over 20,000 employees.

We all know the newspaper business isn’t what is use to be but really…how bad is it?

Well, this is the fourth mass layoff for Gannett Co. since just August 2008. Tuesday’s layoff of 700 employees was the largest since July 2009 when they eliminated about 1,400 jobs.

Most specifically, the IndyStar laid off 62 employees, 26 newsroom employees—that’s more than 15% of their newsroom. The integrity of the paper will continue to drop, especially with the wealth of websites. But what will be very hard to replace is local news.

On Gannett.com, their vision is to “To be the trusted, leading media and marketing solutions company at the forefront of a new era in human engagement.”

How is that possible with considerable layoffs, cutbacks and reduced roles? I understand it’s a business so the papers run as the advertisers give them money, but at what point is the standard so low that the product has lost all value and can be replaced with online media?

Interesting that Chairman and CEO Craig Dubow paid himself $9.4 million last year, including a $1.8 million dollar bonus despite thousands losing jobs. The CEO is suppose to set an example. What message does that send to Gannett employees, that he took in almost $10 million and a big bonus amidst big newspaper cuts across the country.

None of the big name writers were cut as expected, but it was the employees that help make the paper look great and come across clean. They also cut the writers that would write about subjects that often would get looked over. So again, now only the big topics will be covered.

Honestly, I read the paper everyday. But I only read the sports section. And soon enough, I expect that to be replaced by ESPNIndianapolis.com, which probably will be up and running within the next five years.

I’ve said for years the Star needs another sports columnist. I love my man Bob Kravitz but for such a big sports town, multiple voices is needed. Like Kravitz has reiterated a lot, these local teams are fortunate and should be very happy to old have just one critical writer.

It’s evident another sports columnist would be a longshot, but now how long is it before some of the best writers like Bob Kravitz, Mike Wells and Jeff Rabjohns leave for another paper or online resource?

(Note: A couple hours later, Rabjohns officially announced that he left the IndyStar to join Peegs.com, a Rivals.com website dedicated to Indiana athletics.)

This is bad news for Indianapolis and the local paper. People still want their news and coverage but the way they obtain it has changed. These cuts country-wide are not good for the stability of newspapers and confirm what many have thought.

How long before the Indianapolis Star, who says they are profitable, quit printing and become purely online…or even worse, they completely fold. Bad news for Indiana.

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