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Times to Ax 300 Jobs, Local News Section

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 30, 2009 8:37 PM CST
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(Newser) – Amid growing gloom in the newspaper business, the Los Angeles Times plans to lay off 300 workers and shelve its local news section, LA Observed reports. Foreign and national news will be downplayed to fit local stories into the front section, the publisher said in a memo today. Seventy newsroom staff will get the ax, cutting reporting strength to half what it was before Sam Zell's Tribune Co. took over in 2000.

Morale among Times reporters "totally blows, especially in Metro, the department most hurt by losing the section," writes LA Observed blogger Kevin Roderick. Publisher Eddy Hartenstein "also has people kind of freaked out, I hear—but only unofficially since he has tried to ban employees from talking to me. 'We have a vindictive publisher,' an editor told me, asking to stay unnamed."

The Los Angeles Times building is seen in downtown Los Angeles Monday, Dec. 8, 2008.
The Los Angeles Times building is seen in downtown Los Angeles Monday, Dec. 8, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Atmosphere at the unveiling of the new awards season exhibit 'And The Winner Is...' at the Hollywood Museum on February 15, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.
Atmosphere at the unveiling of the new awards season exhibit 'And The Winner Is...' at the Hollywood Museum on February 15, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.   (Getty Images)
In this Jan. 9, 2007 file photo, the Los Angeles Times newspaper buildings are seen in Los Angeles.
In this Jan. 9, 2007 file photo, the Los Angeles Times newspaper buildings are seen in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
Samuel Sam Zell speaks on corporate growth strategies at the 2007 ACG Los Angeles Business Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007.
Samuel "Sam" Zell speaks on corporate growth strategies at the 2007 ACG Los Angeles Business Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Guest
Feb 1, 2009 5:10 AM CST
Hehe. Right below this "economic depression" story is one of buying the Cubs for $900mil. Hehe.

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LA Weekly

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LA Observed

 
Sam Zell • Tribune Company • layoffs • Los Angeles Times • newspaper industry

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