Al Diamon
Veterans Flee the Portland Press Herald
Fewer reporters. And maybe fewer bureaus.
The Portland Press Herald is losing seven journalists – reducing its staff to just 18 reporters – and closing as many as four bureaus in an effort to cut costs.
According to sources at the paper, experienced news people who are departing July 1 under a voluntary termination plan offered by the company earlier this month include Paul Carrier, who staffed the Press Herald’s State House bureau; Kevin Wack, who covered politics; Jonathan Kaplan, the Washington correspondent; as well as general assignment reporters Seth Harkness, Josie Huang and Tess Nacelewicz. In addition, Anne Gleason, who worked out of the York County bureau, has resigned and will not be replaced.
A source said the paper’s offices in Washington, Biddeford and Bath may be permanently closed, with Augusta staffed only intermittently.
Also taking the voluntary exit offer: Alfred Wood, an artist; night city editor, Dave McNabb and a copy editor.
Even with those departures, the company plans more layoffs, to bring the total staff reduction to 35 by July 1.
Al Diamon can be e-mailed at aldiamon@herniahill.com.
Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 in Permalink
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Reader Comments:
Here's an update and a correction: According to a Press Herald staffer who was present at the company's announcement today, the paper in permanently closing its Augusta, Bath, Biddeford and Washington bureaus.
I miscalculated the number of reporters the Press Herald will have left after the voluntary terminations. It's 19 full-time and one part-time.
Al Diamon
With Carrier, Wack, and Kaplan out, any word on who's left to cover state and federal government? Will the paper just rely on the AP for this coverage?
Another clarification: According to a staff source, Washington correspondent Jonathan Kaplan did not take the buyout offered by the Press Herald. Kaplan was eligible for the voluntary deal, but because he had been at the paper only six months, he would have received little in the way of compensation for accepting it. Instead, he was laid off.
Al Diamon
Al which photographer took the buy out? The Press Herald does have some long time talent.
No photographer took the buyout.
In addition, all news, features and business reporters will be covering towns, as well. That means if you're the outdoors reporter, or the food reporter, you're also covering a town.
The paper will probably rely on the Kennebec Journal for much of its Augusta coverage.
Al:
Do you know if all the managers -- other than the Nigh City Editor -- were spared, as the reporting staff shrinks?
Is there a list of all those cut? There were many talented staffers in the group.
According to my sources, one photographer was initially approved for the buyout, but decided to stay.
I don't yet have a complete list of those bought out or laid off.
Al Diamon
There's a little new information in today's Press Herald. The link is:
pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=196332&ac=PHbiz
but as of now, the Web site is only partially functional, and the story isn't accessible on line.
Al Diamon
Al Diamon
As one who was outsourced via the DOT COM times, this is not a fun time.
I wonder is the paper is doing the lay offs in order to shrink expenses enough for a buyer, or just to get the pressure off from the banks who hold the paper.
The reason I asked about the photographers, is I did notice one reporter posted picture last week, which was not the norm.
Seem when papers want to cut heads, they (the bean counters) tend to think that talent could be cut,and a tool given to someone that can not use it to make content.
The website down speaks volumes of the mess they are in.
Good luck to those on the inside.
Al thanks for being the story inside.
For what it is worth, when I was in software, and about to get laid off, the PPH business people tried to contact us for quotes so they could write a story on us.
So if their management is bummed out about these stories tough baby.
Lot of money spent on the website, and it's still not 'up'...badly organized, should have been able to read news, comment, read comics on par with the GLOBE, and then shop the on-line specials and job seek.
Site become encumbered and enormously complex, pop-ups on top of popups. pulldowns, click-ons, hoovers, etc. WHOOOOO!
Finally a red background appeared and I can't figure out why on one computer, and not on the laptop.
GUTTMAN never seemed to comprehend the Internet and the ease with which those of us who live in Cyberspace can traffic news, opinion, expertise, and visual information far easier than reading print media or unwrapping it.
The VILLAGE SOUP is a far more Internet SAAVY (lol) operation and it accounts for their recent acquistions and expansion to cover the mid coast.
Who is going to buy this conglomeration and put together a coherent, internet savvy, multi-media mode of communication we' actually pay for?