Lexington, KY - The Lexington Herald-Leader has announced another in a four-year series of reductions in its workforce, leaving the city’s daily newspaper without 42 percent of its employees since layoffs and buyouts began in 2008.
Rufus Letter
Letter sent to Herald-Leader staff from President and Publisher Rufus Friday.
"The economic recovery continues at a slower-than-hoped-for pace, and revenues remain negative year-over-year," Herald-Leader President and Publisher Rufus M. Friday wrote to staff in a letter.
"Although we've all been working hard to improve the revenue picture and to avoid expense cuts that impact our employees, we've decided additional reductions in the workforce and a second-half furlough are necessary.”
The equivalent of 10 positions have been eliminated. It is unclear if that means 10 full-time jobs were affected, if the number of employees actually impacted could be more due to the elimination of some part-time jobs, or if fewer members of th staff are being let go because the 10 include some vacant positions that have now been eliminated.
This round of layoffs – the first since Friday became publisher in June of last year - leaves the paper with the equivalent of 216 full-time positions. When the reductions in workforce began in 2008, the paper employed 370.
Reductions in this round occurred in general administration, circulation, the newsroom and operations.
According to an article on the Herald-Leader’s website, two of the jobs eliminated were among the paper’s executive committee.
In lieu of responding to questions as to specifically which newsroom and other positions are affected, Friday referred Business Lexington to the paper’s posted article and the publisher’s letter to staff.
Jared Peck, president of the Lexington Newspaper Guild, said two of the newsroom employees it represents were laid off. He declined further comment on behalf of the guild.