Cedar Rapids Weather
The Gazette Company Reorganizes in Response to Economic Downturn
CEDAR RAPIDS - The Gazette Company, which owns The Gazette newspaper and KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, has announced it is
eliminating about 100 jobs as part of a companywide reorganization. In a news release, CEO and President Chuck Peters says the restructuring has been in the works for two years but changes were needed after last summer's flooding and the current economic crisis. He says many of the company's advertisers have been affected, and he cited increased newsprint costs. In a separate blog, Gazette Editor Steve Buttry says he laid off 13 people Tuesday. The company employed 600 people at the time of last year's flooding. Peters says after the reductions, it will employ about 500. Read the full release below. ----------------------------------------- The Gazette Company Reorganizes in Response to Economic Downturn The Gazette Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which includes Gazette Communications and The Gazette newspaper, KCRG – TV9 and Color Web Printers announced today that it is in the process of reducing its workforce and reorganizing the company in line with current revenue. During the reorganization the company will continue to pursue new business opportunities and continue to provide comprehensive local information through The Gazette newspaper, KCRG TV9 and related digital and print products and services. The workforce reductions will occur in all business units. Chuck Peters, President and CEO, said “We have been working for two years to reconfigure the company to continue our mission of strengthening the communities we serve in Eastern Iowa by providing relevant information when and where people want and need it. As we finalized that process, we never expected to also be confronted with the worst natural disaster in Iowa’s history and the weakest national economy in decades. Many of our advertisers have been impacted at the same time, and newsprint prices have increased significantly. The actions we are taking are designed to allow us to pursue these new opportunities to serve our communities while adjusting to current financial realities.” As part of the reorganization, Peters announced that Steve Buttry, who joined the company in 2008, will now be responsible for leading all information content creation for all products and services of Gazette Communications, whether print, online, mobile or special products. Dave Storey, Publisher of The Gazette newspaper, announced that Lyle Muller, an editor with over 25 years experience in Eastern Iowa, is now the Editor of The Gazette newspaper, effective immediately. Peters writes about the reorganization at http://cpetersia.wordpress.com and Buttry writes about the new content creation enterprise at http://stevebuttry.wordpress.com. Muller’s observations as editor can be found at http://muller.gazetteonline.com. At the time of the Flood of 2008, The Gazette Company employed 600 people. Following this reorganization and a reduction in workforce it is anticipated that the company will employ approximately 500 people. More Good Stuff |
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