Gannett Forces Workers to Take Unpaid Leave

Handout would violate journos' watchdog role

(NEWSER) - With the industry in dire straits, some in the journalism business want government help—but they’re not looking for a financial bailout, Reuters reports. “That is so clearly contrary to what our role is as a watchdog that it’s just not acceptable,” said a former newspaper editor. What publishers want are legal concessions: changes to antitrust laws, tax breaks, perhaps the ability to become non-profits. More»

Customers line up to nab front pages covering historic day

(NEWSER) - The newspaper industry might be in its death throes, but it briefly jolted to life this morning as long lines of people waited at newsstands for souvenir copies of front pages that hailed the inauguration of America’s first black president, the AP reports. In Washington, some editions of the Post and Times, ideological rivals, ran identical headlines: “Obama Takes Charge.” More»

Top editor gone; sports, metro sections ditched

(NEWSER) - The Washington Times has slashed half of its 170 newsroom staff ahead of Monday's relaunch of its print edition. The sports and metro sections will cease to exist as separate sections and nearly all staff members of those sections have been laid off, sources tell the Washington Post . Managing editor David Jones is among several high-ranking editors losing their jobs. More»

(NEWSER) - The Boston Globe's biggest union has ended a four-month battle with the New York Times company and voted to accept $10 million in pay and benefit cuts, the Boston Herald reports. Union members—who have been living with a 23% pay cut since rejecting an 8.3% decrease last month—approved a 5.9% wage slice by a wide margin. The deal also includes 8 unpaid work days, a pension freeze and no health insurance for retirees. More»

Paper's top union wants stake in broadsheet

(NEWSER) - A Boston real-estate and investment firm is considering buying the Globe from the New York Times Company, and the paper’s biggest union wants a piece, too, the Herald reports. Intercontinental Real Estate Corp. says it’s been in talks for weeks to purchase the beleaguered newspaper. More»