IR announces staff reductions
By The Independent Record
The Independent Record on Wednesday announced it will reduce its work force in response to a slowing economy.
The layoffs include five full-time employees, affecting nearly every department at the newspaper. Being eliminated are one position each in the newsroom, press room, circulation, technical services and accounting departments.
“These are difficult decisions, but necessary to weather through revenue downturns and increased expenses,” said Pat Schlauch, the newspaper’s publisher. “The economic outlook over the next year is challenging and we need to position ourselves to continue to grow our business and be the key news and information source for Helena.”
The Independent Record, combined with its subsidiaries Farcountry Press and Montana Magazine, now employs 138 people. With one staff reduction at the IR and three at the other publishing companies earlier this year, the total layoffs in the past year amount to a 5.5 percent reduction.
All across the country, newspapers n particularly those in larger metropolitan areas n have been hit hard by the downturn in the economy. The changes have been felt in many areas but more directly in classified advertising, which includes the real estate and automotive segments. While classified spending has dropped, newsprint, ink and transportation costs are skyrocketing.
Newspapers across the nation and in Montana are reducing employee numbers and seeking other expense savings in response to economic conditions and rising costs. While business has slowed, Schlauch noted that the Helena newspaper continues to see growth in several key areas.
The Independent Record is one of few newspapers across the country that has increased its circulation for five consecutive years. Its overall audience, combining print and online readers, has grown significantly as well. The paper’s Web site, helenair.com, averages 2 million page views per month. Combined, the print and online version reaches nearly 80 percent of all adults in the Helena market.
“We are determined to put out a local newspaper that reflects our community, its people and our events,” Schlauch said. “We have top-notch employees and will continue to put out great products and services to our community. I’m convinced our strategy will continue to provide this region with a strong newspaper for the long run.”
The layoffs include five full-time employees, affecting nearly every department at the newspaper. Being eliminated are one position each in the newsroom, press room, circulation, technical services and accounting departments.
“These are difficult decisions, but necessary to weather through revenue downturns and increased expenses,” said Pat Schlauch, the newspaper’s publisher. “The economic outlook over the next year is challenging and we need to position ourselves to continue to grow our business and be the key news and information source for Helena.”
The Independent Record, combined with its subsidiaries Farcountry Press and Montana Magazine, now employs 138 people. With one staff reduction at the IR and three at the other publishing companies earlier this year, the total layoffs in the past year amount to a 5.5 percent reduction.
All across the country, newspapers n particularly those in larger metropolitan areas n have been hit hard by the downturn in the economy. The changes have been felt in many areas but more directly in classified advertising, which includes the real estate and automotive segments. While classified spending has dropped, newsprint, ink and transportation costs are skyrocketing.
Newspapers across the nation and in Montana are reducing employee numbers and seeking other expense savings in response to economic conditions and rising costs. While business has slowed, Schlauch noted that the Helena newspaper continues to see growth in several key areas.
The Independent Record is one of few newspapers across the country that has increased its circulation for five consecutive years. Its overall audience, combining print and online readers, has grown significantly as well. The paper’s Web site, helenair.com, averages 2 million page views per month. Combined, the print and online version reaches nearly 80 percent of all adults in the Helena market.
“We are determined to put out a local newspaper that reflects our community, its people and our events,” Schlauch said. “We have top-notch employees and will continue to put out great products and services to our community. I’m convinced our strategy will continue to provide this region with a strong newspaper for the long run.”
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Reader Comments:
wonkerbean wrote on Sep 10, 2008 7:12 PM:
" I have a subscription to the IR because I believe in supporting the local daily. Its just that it doesn't support me. The paper most days is hardly a section in a real paper. We need a paper that represents the capital of Montana and not some podunk small town that lived here 20 years ago. The economy is booming so it must be your management style that sucks. There are new stores opening daily and help wanted signs everywhere. Things couldn't be better. WE are an oasis in the Bush desert. "
gln wrote on Sep 10, 2008 2:32 PM:
" Color me surprised!!! You printed an article on Saturday by MIKE DENNISON talking about how good things are in Montana and I wrote a comment about insane you were, that you have not seen the worst to come. I am not pushing for doom and gloom but the facts:
1- Oil, price increases due to speculative buying took oil to $147/barrel, not the Saudis,, the market was manipulated up over the past 6 months. Since the specs have moved over $40 billion out of the oil market, things will continue to get better, even with oil production cutbacks which may be implemented to stabilize decreases.
2- Price of oil is factored into almost every aspect of our lives. There is nothing it does not touch and increase in price- ESPECIALLY building material costs!. It will take 9-12 months for the drop in prices to be absorbed and decreases to be established. The U.S takes in more oil then all the other countries in the world- COMBINED! Out of control and the government has done nothing over the past years to really help us in the bigger picture.
3- Supply and demand, it doesn't get more fundamental than this. Commodities are just at all time highs over 300% in some cases in past two years. Look at copper, try to build a house w/o it. Look at its price at your local store lately,,, ready for a shock? Cement, asphalt insulation, etc. out of control! Anybody get a 300% salary increase?
4-People are only spending what they absolutely have to- period, and the debits are only getting worse. Banks are tapped (and closing), savings are tapped, credit cards are running and interest rates on cards are increasing this month,, making things worst.
5-Be prepared for another 6-12 months before any feeling of a bounce.
6- good news, U.S is ahead of the turn in the market correction but the EURO and Japan have further nightmares ahead, allowing the dollar to get strength, but the debt has got to be #1 concern, beyond any issue on the table, bush has doubled this hole where he was suppose to cut in half. This is not a political statement, this is a fact and getting deeper over 10 BILLION $/ month just for the war.
7- Things will continue to get worse over the next 3-6 months when the markets report earnings that mostly will miss guidance, why? They were raising prices to cover the drop in sales to keep stock holders happy- that well is going dry, people are not taking it anymore and the results will be in earning losses. Once losses are absorbed in the next 6 months, things will correct. Montana, 12 months minimum to see affect. More job losses and cutbacks coming soon, but you all knew this. "
1- Oil, price increases due to speculative buying took oil to $147/barrel, not the Saudis,, the market was manipulated up over the past 6 months. Since the specs have moved over $40 billion out of the oil market, things will continue to get better, even with oil production cutbacks which may be implemented to stabilize decreases.
2- Price of oil is factored into almost every aspect of our lives. There is nothing it does not touch and increase in price- ESPECIALLY building material costs!. It will take 9-12 months for the drop in prices to be absorbed and decreases to be established. The U.S takes in more oil then all the other countries in the world- COMBINED! Out of control and the government has done nothing over the past years to really help us in the bigger picture.
3- Supply and demand, it doesn't get more fundamental than this. Commodities are just at all time highs over 300% in some cases in past two years. Look at copper, try to build a house w/o it. Look at its price at your local store lately,,, ready for a shock? Cement, asphalt insulation, etc. out of control! Anybody get a 300% salary increase?
4-People are only spending what they absolutely have to- period, and the debits are only getting worse. Banks are tapped (and closing), savings are tapped, credit cards are running and interest rates on cards are increasing this month,, making things worst.
5-Be prepared for another 6-12 months before any feeling of a bounce.
6- good news, U.S is ahead of the turn in the market correction but the EURO and Japan have further nightmares ahead, allowing the dollar to get strength, but the debt has got to be #1 concern, beyond any issue on the table, bush has doubled this hole where he was suppose to cut in half. This is not a political statement, this is a fact and getting deeper over 10 BILLION $/ month just for the war.
7- Things will continue to get worse over the next 3-6 months when the markets report earnings that mostly will miss guidance, why? They were raising prices to cover the drop in sales to keep stock holders happy- that well is going dry, people are not taking it anymore and the results will be in earning losses. Once losses are absorbed in the next 6 months, things will correct. Montana, 12 months minimum to see affect. More job losses and cutbacks coming soon, but you all knew this. "
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gln wrote on Sep 23, 2008 5:43 PM: