Oregon Media Insiders

I'd been told to expect news on the O buyouts/layoffs by the end of the week, and sure enough, here it is Friday and the shoe has dropped:

Citing a deteriorating financial picture, [O publisher Fred] Stickel said the work force must be reduced by a minimum of 100 full-time positions and an unspecified number of part-time positions. ...

That gleeful shrieking you heard last night? It was me.

What's up?

So, the Big O has been listening to us - and are preparing a re-launch of the website.

http://www.oregonlive.com/aboutus/prelaunch/

Of course, they're getting the re-launch after several other newspapers in the chain get the makeover.

The good news: it looks different.

The bad news: it looks the same.

System-wide, the Gannett papers are facing layoffs and closing open positions, and the Statesman-Journal will be among the affected. This morning I got a copy of an email from SJ publisher Steve Silberman:

Here in Salem, we will not fill some open positions and we will also lay off three employees, or about 1.5% of our full-time workforce. In some areas, we have more employees than budgeted, which I have taken into account. Working with the Operating Committee, we have focused on strategically aligning our resources for future growth. We will make these reductions and notify the three affected employees on Monday.

It pains me to lay off people because I know the financial and emotional toll this will have. I have not made this decision lightly or rashly. As we realign our business, you have my assurance that we will treat employees fairly. The three impacted employees will receive one week's severance for each year of service with a minimum two-week severance benefit. Medical benefits will continue for the length of the severance period.

I don't know who the three people are.

I really hate layoff days.

Update: I hear two of the people laid off were a photographer and a librarian. I don't know names.

As reported here in the comments and at PDXRadio, the CBS Radio stations here in town have begun layoffs in advance of the expected sale of most if not all of the Portland cluster. Reports so far are that KUFO MD and midday guy Dan Bozyk is gone as of yesterday, along with KHits morning show team Dave Hood and Carol Batchelor.

The layoff list is assumed to be larger, though. Anyone have the full scoop?

From the mouth of KGW-TV GM DJ Wilson this afternoon: