More Layoffs at San Diego Union Tribune

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The bleeding continues at The San Diego Union Tribune, where up to 40 editorial staffers were pink-slipped this week, according to a report by NBC.

Reporters, feature writers, and web editors were among those axed as a cost-savings measure to offset shrinking ad revenues.  Since it acquired the Union Tribune last year, investment firm Platinum Equity has slashed nearly 300 jobs off the newspaper's payroll (see "TUOL" post 8/13/09).

According to the NBC story, management has created junior staff writer positions that pay between $30,000-$35,000 to generate news content. The Union Tribune would not confirm the latest round of staff layoffs.

In Union-Tribune There Is No Strength

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Three months after new owner Platinum Equity lopped 192 positions off the newspaper's payroll, The San Diego Union-Tribune has announced that the daily will further reduce its staff by 112.

The newspaper is promoting its coverage of local community news and prodding small businesses to advertise at reduced rates through a "micro-zoning" inititative. The Platinum Equity investment firm is one of three prospective purchasers of The Boston Globe that submitted bids to Globe parent The New York Times Co.

At its current pace, the Union-Tribune may soon have the same number of players as the San Diego Padres and would likely be as inept.