Richmond Times-Dispatch lays off 59 employees

By John Hoke

Richmond Times-Dispatch

RICHMOND

The Richmond Times-Dispatch laid off 59 employees yesterday as it responds to a sharp decline in advertising revenue that has affected newspapers across the country.

The layoffs, along with the elimination of 31 open positions, affected most of the newspapers' departments, including production, circulation, marketing, business, advertising, editorial, news, operations, facilities, prepress design services, and targeted solutions, a new-product development group.

The newsroom had the most layoffs, losing 28 reporters, photographers, editors, graphic artists, page designers and librarian-researchers.

''This is not a day I ever wanted to see come," President and Publisher Thomas A. Silvestri said. "I thank each and every departing employee for their years of valued service that helped publish Richmond's daily newspapers."

The newspaper said the loss of advertising revenue, including a changing market for classified advertising, and a difficult economic environment forced it to reduce its work force.

After the layoffs, The Times-Dispatch will have 602 full and part-time employees. The newspaper had 772 employees at this time last year.

All of the full-time employees laid off will receive severance packages and be provided outplacement services.

The newspaper also announced there will be no pay increases for nonunionized employees this year, extending a suspension enacted earlier this year. The Times-Dispatch is in discussions with the Richmond Newspapers Professional Association, which represents most newsroom employees, about joining the company in the cost-reduction effort.

The layoffs follow numerous actions to reduce expenses by the newspaper and its parent company, Richmond-based Media General Inc., including earlier layoffs, mandatory furloughs and improved operating efficiencies.

Media General eliminated about 200 positions companywide earlier this week in addition to The Times-Dispatch layoffs yesterday, corporate spokesman Raymond F. Kozakewicz said.

The newspaper said it has no plans to reduce its seven-day-a-week publication schedule, as some newspapers have done. This week, the two daily newspapers in Detroit stopped home delivery on certain days but publish a small print paper sold only at newsstands.

''We will do everything we can to retain our current customers by demonstrating our strength as the leading provider of high-quality content and services," Silvestri said.

The Times-Dispatch said it will continue its focus on breaking local news and coverage of its core market.

''Despite today's announcement, our news mission at The Times-Dispatch remains clear," said Glenn Proctor, the newspaper's vice president and executive editor. "We will provide readers and viewers with a vibrant news Web site and print product worth reading every day.

''We will do that by sharpening our focus on state and municipal government, state and local politics, education, crime and public safety, college and prep sports, and, of course, the economy and business."

Media General, which publishes 24 daily newspapers and more than 250 weekly newspapers and other publications, mostly in the Southeast, is taking cost-cutting measures companywide, including closing its six-person news bureau in Washington. The company also owns and operates 19 network-affiliated television stations and Web sites affiliated with its television and publishing properties.