What is becoming known as “he Midsummer Massacre” may not be over. A couple of news reports indicate that more job cuts are coming for select chain newspapers. Bloomberg reports that A.H. Belo Corp., the publisher of the Dallas Morning News and three other dailies, will trim 500 newspaper jobs. It’s unreported how many of those are newsroom jobs or other employees. The Morning News hasn’t had a cartoonist since they laid off Bill DeOre in 2004.
Yesterday, The Star-Ledger (NJ) announced that they may have to sell the paper if they can’t get 200 employees to take a buyout. The paper is also in negotiations with union employees for “unspecified concessions.” The Star-Ledger is home to editorial cartoonist Drew Shenaman. At this writing, an e-mail asking for information regarding his position’s status or if he’s been offered a buyout has not been returned.
This is what happens when a TELEVISION COMPANY is allowed to own newspapers.
And they’re really hurting in the wallet:
“Belo profit exceeds expectations”
(Dallas Morning News, The (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 26–Dallas-based television company Belo Corp. earned about $26.4 million from continuing operations for the second quarter, up 9 percent from the $24.2 million it made in the same period of 2007.
It almost feels like there’s a glacial iceberg/cartoon connection. The further the polar ice caps melt, the more cartoons seem to melt off the pages of newspapers. How boring life would be to not experience the laughter born out of a cartoon.