Day of Reckoning

Heard there were some more staff cuts at the Orlando Sentinel, but don't know the particulars. It wouldn't surprise me, given that so much has been happening of late in the newspaper industry.

The Miami Herald is about to slash about 19 percent of its staff, and those remaining will take a pay cut and a one-week furlough. Those making less than $50,000 will take a 5 percent cut, while those earning more will see their pay go down 10 percent. I guess it beats not having a job. Meanwhile, no candidate has stepped forward to buy the paper.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer published its last print edition Tuesday and converted to an online edition only. In the process about 90 percent of the staff was let go. That ought to make eyes pop. If online is about 10 percent of newspaper revenue, then I guess you need only 10 percent of the staff?

I can hear it now: You have to align the staff to the numbers, Maria.

Indeed.

Anybody have more info about how the Sentinel is aligning staff to revenue, please let the rest of us know.