The Lexington Herald-Leader is looking to trim its staff of 385 full-time employees by 4 percent through a voluntary buyout program.
A statement released by the Herald-Leader said there is no set number of employees it hopes will take the buyout, nor has the paper released information publicly or to its staff as to what the eligibility requirements are.†
"Öour business models are changing," a statement emailed by Herald-Leader Publisher Tim Kelly said. "We plan to continue our focus on both our print newspaper as well as Kentucky.com. At the same time, we plan to pay attention to our current and future niche products.†
"In order to support this effort, we must look for ways to operate more efficiently. This leads to a realignment of resources and changes in many of our business practices," the statement read.
The paper is the local franchisee of Charleston South Carolina's Skirt! Magazine, a monthly publication aimed at women that is scheduled to debut in the market this summer and currently has a preview issue in boxes around town. The Herald Leader also recently launched LexGo.com, a site aimed at local arts and entertainment.
The Herald-Leader's latest action follows similar cuts by many other dailies trimming staff by offering buyouts or layoffs while refocusing efforts on the Web and narrowly aimed publications.
The paper is leaving the door open for layoffs if fewer than 4 percent take the voluntary buyout. "Öthis does not preclude the possibility of the Herald-Leader identifying future efficiencies or other business model changes that could impact staffing," the statement read.
"We're disappointed," said Brandon Ortiz president of the Communication Workers of America local 33229, which covers newsroom staff. "We're happy that they are not laying anyone off and hope this prevents future layoffs."
A meeting with staff was called for 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon but staffers were not told of the meeting's purpose. The staff, however Ortiz said, "kind of knew what was going to happen."
Those taking the buyout are eligible to for a transition package that includes transition pay and an extension of their company-subsidized medical insurance, according to the statement, though no specifics were given. The buyout is companywide and does not target specific numbers in any one department including the newsroom, according to an e-mail from Kelly.
In March the Herald-Leader announced it was shutting down its internal ad design and outsourcing the jobs to an Illinois company with design centers in India and the Philippines.