Athens Banner-Herald: 15 jobs cut at Athens Banner-Herald

15 jobs cut at Athens Banner-Herald
From Staff Reports | Story updated at 11:38 pm on 1/27/2009

The newspaper industry's deep-rooted problems combined with recessionary pressures have led the Athens Banner-Herald to eliminate 15 full-time employees.

Scot Morrissey, Banner-Herald publisher, announced the eliminations Tuesday. All departments were impacted. Employees were given severance packages and employment transition services.

These cuts, combined with other cost-savings measures, will help offset significant revenue shortfalls, Morrissey said. The company employs more than 100 full- and part-time workers and more than 110 independent contract carriers. Morris Communications LLC is the parent company of the Banner-Herald.

"This downturn has hit our customers (both local and national) and, in turn, is affecting us," Morrissey said. "Right now, our customers are feeling the pinch and that affects what they spend on advertising and marketing. This is forcing us to make adjustments."

Whether tied to the volatile market or changes in the way people receive news, other print media have been forced into a similar position. Large newspaper companies such as the New York Times Co. and Chicago Tribune have undergone significant downsizing in recent years.

Augusta-based Morris Communications has not been an exception. During the past two years, the company has seen similar job eliminations across its 13 newspapers including the Augusta Chronicle, Savannah Morning News and Florida Times-Union, which make up Morris' footprint in Georgia.

While painful in the short term, Morrissey doesn't believe the recent moves cripple the Banner-Herald or prevent the newspaper from moving forward. In fact, he remains optimistic about the future.

"We're no different than many of our customers sitting down to decide what they can do without during this downturn. These decisions are painful," Morrissey said. "Once we weather this unprecedented downturn, and we along with our customers will weather it, this newspaper is positioned to serve the news and information needs of the community - no question.

"In fact, necessity is the mother of invention and will help define what needs our readers and customers have and how we should serve them."

As most newspaper executives across the country, Morrissey sees the newspaper's Web site, OnlineAthens.com, continuing to grow. A 2008 ABC-backed study ranked the Banner-Herald among the national elite in the newspaper's ability to reach audience both in print and online. Of the 130 participating newspapers, the Banner-Herald ranked third, reaching a higher percentage of its coverage area than nearly any other newspaper in the country.

"Many newspapers are only now ramping up online news and information offerings. The Banner-Herald is helping lead the nation in cutting-edge information and advertising online," Morrissey said.

Both the Internet site and other specialty publications to be rolled out during the year are part of the company's ongoing effort to develop new products that reach people where they want to be reached, Morrissey said.

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, January 28, 2009