CA Dodges Layoffs In Latest Round From Gannett, Loses Open Position

The Commercial Appeal dodged layoffs in the latest round of news staff reductions by Gannett, the paper’s parent, but lost one open position.

Gannett was slated to lay off 6 percent of its national news staff this week, or about 200 employees. This move came after a previous round of similar layoffs a few months before.

Laura Testino, president of the Memphis Newspaper Guild, confirmed the Commercial Appeal news in a Friday tweet. But she said “everyone loses when working hours and jobs are cut.”

Testino put the situation into context in a Twitter thread and offered ways for locals to help reporters affected by the cuts.

Read the thread here:

🧵The Memphis Commercial Appeal did not lose any employees to involuntary layoffs this month, in the third round of Gannett layoffs/furloughs across just four months. But everyone loses when working hours and jobs are cut.
— Laura D. Testino 〽️ (@ldtestino) December 2, 2022

Our Memphis newspaper is losing an open reporting position, for at least the third time in six months.

Memphis is a regional hub, a culturally important city, and deserves a newsroom to be fully resourced, equitable to its peer cities.
— Laura D. Testino 〽️ (@ldtestino) December 2, 2022

Across the company, many of the employees who help our work shine online – even make it online in the first place – were cut this week. Those aren’t Memphis-only news positions, but they work with us often. To you all: We are so sorry.
— Laura D. Testino 〽️ (@ldtestino) December 2, 2022

Our newsroom dodged layoffs in late summer, and we successfully fought furloughs in October. But that was only for Guild employees. The newspaper’s vital editors and management will be furloughed a week each this month. That hurts the newsroom.
— Laura D. Testino 〽️ (@ldtestino) December 2, 2022

I am proud of the Memphis News Guild for advocating for our members during each round of cuts, and negotiating with Gannett in the ways we can. No one should be laid off. And the near-monthly emails with threats of cuts have got to stop.
— Laura D. Testino 〽️ (@ldtestino) December 2, 2022

This impacts newsroom morale. It dissuades young people from interest in an unstable profession with unsustainable wages. It damages journalist retention. Local institutional knowledge in this industry is invaluable, and it continues waning.
— Laura D. Testino 〽️ (@ldtestino) December 2, 2022

Easiest may be is to shun Gannett, wish for what was before, and stop reading the news. But do you want a future without newspapers? Only people with things to hide benefit from fewer reporters. And the reporters are demanding improvement.
— Laura D. Testino 〽️ (@ldtestino) December 2, 2022

Your subscriptions demand improvement. Your tips demand it. Your feedback demands it. You care for Memphis demands it. For all of us, each story is a story that teaches you something about this place, and maybe even makes it a little better.
— Laura D. Testino 〽️ (@ldtestino) December 2, 2022

To support journalists hit directly by Gannett layoffs, check out the community aid forms below. Thank you always for your support https://t.co/L99X1vA7OS
— Laura D. Testino 〽️ (@ldtestino) December 2, 2022

Toby Sells