when I started this blog five years ago, I was a pet sitter and the name animal-crackers made sense. now I'm a stay-at-home-dad and freelance writer, but rather than confuse everyone by getting a different blog, it's just easier to keep posting things here.


Friday, June 08, 2007

Newspaper jobs

The Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record fired on Thursday 41 people including 11 newsroom employees. It's been almost eight years since Andrea worked there. She knew (but hasn't kept in touch with) three or four of those who were fired.

We've read about dwindling newspaper jobs for years now. But this hits close to home and has Andrea worried about her job.

The reason for the Greensboro lay-offs is the standard: The company must keep operating expenses in line with revenue. Revenue sucks, so everyone pays. Well not everyone. Of course, the investors get their dividends and the executives get their bonuses.

The paper Andrea works for maintains a no-layoff policy. But for how long? She worries we could be next. And she worries about what would happen then.

Unfortunately worrying provides more heartburn than answers. Whatever happens will happen irrespective of what we feel.

And if lay-offs find their way to Andrea's newspaper -- and if she's fired -- and if neither of us can find another job -- and if we get close to draining our resources -- we'll still be OK.

I have a grandfather who lives alone in a small town in Pennsylvania. I'm sure he wouldn't mind a few house guests for a little while.

(This, btw, is the same plan we have in the event of the apocalypse or other cataclysmic occurance. :)
posted by todd at 2:45 PM

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