Times will reduce staff, freeze pay

In a letter to staff, Times editor and chairman Paul Tash said the measures were a response to a “difficult economic climate” that has been especially hard on advertising, the largest source of newspaper revenue. Over the last two years, the Times’ fulltime staff has dropped from more than 1,500 to fewer than 1,300, mostly by attrition.

“We are navigating a period of historic change and challenge,” Tash said. “Getting through this stretch will not be easy, and it will take everyone’s best efforts, but I remain fully confident about our prospects."

Comments on this article

by Robert	May 30, 2008 8:01 PM
Sad, not surprising. You continue to cut the product in terms of sections, space and types of stories, and then wonder why the readers flock elsewhere. Sad that people willing to do the work will lose their jobs instead of the lame decision-makers.

by Dave	May 30, 2008 2:02 PM
All you have to do is try to buy The SP Times from a box in the afternoon and you will see they are getting stingy with ink. The difference between TBT and the regular print edition is less each time they make changes.

by glenn	May 30, 2008 2:02 PM
It's great to see another anti American liberal rag go down the tubes. It's a shame that they will many innocent workers with them. So for all you anti American, tree hugg'n socialists out there, this is one more example of your demise!

by bongo	May 30, 2008 12:16 PM
Bitch! Bitch Bitch! Have u looked at the Trib lately? Or any other Fl newspaper? The whole newspaper paradigm is being challenged by electronics. It takes a lot of advertising to support 1500 people, or 1200. Stressful times for everybody.

by ed	May 30, 2008 12:16 PM
could we get a count on how many management positions have been eliminated?? also. the recent salaries for top mgmt. were obscene!! the recent change to the times is a disaster!! BAYLINK IS A TOTAL MISH-MASH!!have read the TIMES for 20+ years-ugh!!

by wazzamattaU	May 30, 2008 11:42 AM
Does this include the executives? This reveals the decline in quality as more young interns are writing more articles instead of going out and investigating real news.

by Hang in there	May 30, 2008 11:37 AM
I read the article Somewhere East of Eden where the St. Pete was described as somewhat the archetype of a strong newspaper. You all are. As a fellow journalist, I pray you all unite to overcome obstacles. For all our sakes. We all need answers.

by former staffer	May 30, 2008 11:21 AM
Glad I got out before I was let go!

by Fran	May 30, 2008 11:21 AM
It used to be a newspaper, now it is a "harrass, insult and degrade anyone, at any expense and who cares about the fallout."Certainly Not the times, they find it humorous. Some people still have integrity. Not the times or their editors.

by Real World	May 30, 2008 11:20 AM
Jessica, what are you saying? Have you looked at the stock market lately? It's a roller coaster.Average folks going broke. How will that fix this once-great paper? Papers pandering to TV addicts is biggest problem. Get back to news, not Amer Idol

by Another Steve	May 30, 2008 11:20 AM
I quit the Times 10 years ago & joined a rather large alumni. Loss of advertising, subscriptions, employees, income, size of newspaper and all the liberal, left-wing socialist garbage that goes with it. How sweet is that & when is the Times funeral?

by L.	May 30, 2008 11:19 AM
This is a hot mess. The Times needs to check their leadership. Do you even care about your staff? Their product? Clearly, these cuts scream "No."

by Brant	May 30, 2008 11:17 AM
Try a little intellectual diversity among the editors. Part of your problem is that you work in a left-wing echo chamber, which causes you to neglect at least half of your potential readership.

by Carl	May 30, 2008 11:15 AM
This is without doubt a major problem - not simply because someone is losing their job, which is horrendous for he or she, but because one of the best daily papers in the world is suffering from the financial strains on the economy. Shame on you GWB.

by Jake	May 30, 2008 10:54 AM
Death, crime, disgusting behavior, not only do I not want to read this paper, I don't even want to live in such a pathetic area.

by Jake	May 30, 2008 10:50 AM
Let's see: Breaking news Hillsborough man gets death for two killings 2 bodies found in Zephyrhills home Woman killed by bus she was just on Pedestrian dies in crash on Hillsborough Avenue Why is it I would want to read this paper?

by Cost-Benefit	May 30, 2008 10:49 AM
You can read the daily paper - online, instead of, purchasing at a stand. Cost increases for printed copy.

by CaptBill	May 30, 2008 9:56 AM
It's easy to ask others to take a pay freeze or pay cut when you're insulated from reality and make the big bucks!Company probably buys their gas too. 2007 Pay for Paul Tash,$570,836;Marty Petty $468,328;Jana Jones $279,208;Karen Dunlap $260,806.

by indigo196	May 30, 2008 8:37 AM
With the poor quality of articles and killing of popular on-line features the paper was doomed to die. Start by firing the sports department to the last man and you will be on your way to recovery.

by John	May 30, 2008 8:37 AM
I'm so proud to have a locally owned newspaper. Most large cities do not. I'm proud that we have a major league baseball team. We can't afford to lose either. I wish all the negative folks would consider the value of these companies to St. Pete.

by mary	May 30, 2008 8:36 AM
What a shame that the world was advised of the down-sizing before the staff. It used to be a family at the Times; now it's just another company trying to make ends meet but we've seen it coming for years now. Guess it's just a sign of the "times".

by SickOfYou	May 30, 2008 8:36 AM
To read that people feel that the Times is "right leaning" "FoxNews" reporting is sick. This paper has been a consistant left-liberal leaning entity from the get-go. You people who make those assertions simply have no clue of reality. Get a life.

by Amber	May 30, 2008 8:36 AM
Get rid of the Times and keep only the TBT!!

by David	May 30, 2008 8:36 AM
The Times used to be a great newspaper. Now it is literally a tabloid. At times the front page stories are a joke and the REAL news is hidden. The new format is horrible. I agree. Go back to the way you used to be...more news, less fluff.

by Bonnie	May 30, 2008 8:36 AM
There is probably a lot of dead wood at the Times. In a paper, one would think it would be easy to find workers who don't produce. Why ax or freeze wages of your hard working employees? Trim the fat and keep good employees. Results - a better paper!

by another ex staffer	May 29, 2008 4:57 PM
Paul, It's time for the Hartford gang to be held accountable for years of ripping the heart out of what was once a first class company. Act now before it's to late, show some leadership man! Currently you are the one being lead, and that's just wrong

by Jay	May 29, 2008 4:31 PM
If you go under my cat will miss you, my bird will miss you and I've no idea what to liberally wrap the fish in.

by Tim	May 29, 2008 4:30 PM
I was stunned when we paid our annual subscription this year, and it was $60.00 more for home delivery, but then again, look at gas prices. Now you've shrunken and mixed your content to save ink, and are laying off people. You'll see a profit!!!!!!

by Hugh	May 29, 2008 4:30 PM
Can Paul actually say that with a straight face? Is he going to freeze his massive salary as well? What about a cut in his since they are performing so poorly? Oh sorry, that would be wrong to ask for a caring and sensitive CEO and execs.

by Donald	May 29, 2008 4:30 PM
If the Fl Times Union gets any thinner and is suriving on full page ads and no news it will follow the St Pete times.

by Simon	May 29, 2008 4:30 PM
I worked there for years. I had SEVEN middle management bosses. One of them tested me once a month on the job I did for 15 years, the others analyzed the data and agreed I could do it. It's so horrendously mismanaged I am surprised it's still there.

by Lin	May 29, 2008 3:22 PM
Any Times employee who doesn't produce content is basically overhead.The last two rounds of employee cuts didn't cut overhead, they cut the people that create the product.Who would go to Wendy's & buy an empty bun prepared by the company accountant?

by Lin	May 29, 2008 3:22 PM
Mary: It's true, accountants shouldn't make staff decisions.When they get rid of too many reporters, columnists & editors who will create the paper's content?The marketing & accounting staff can't write news stories.The newspaper's product is stories

by omygosh	May 29, 2008 3:04 PM
Well, the wise left first.. and still alive...Hope the paper survives and rehire the wise...

by Mr. Whiskers	May 29, 2008 3:02 PM
I left the Times over a year ago and never looked back. How anyone could make it there as an employee over 2 years is beyond my comprehension. They touted a "family" atmosphere but were slave drivers. Take the severance with a smile on your face!