Memo: Tampa Tribune and WFLA-Ch. 8 photographers to reapply for jobs in a merged department

(UPDATE: Tribune executive editor Janet Coats has confirmed to me that all the newspaper and TV station photographers will have to re-apply for their jobs in a new, merged department serving both outlets.

She also said they will likely downsize the department once they re-configure it, in the same way they downsized the reporter's ranks this week. She declined to reveal the names of the 11 reporters laid off this week, but said that the next round of 10 layoffs planned later this year, will likely include managers.

She also noted that when she began as executive editor at the Tribune in July 2004, the newspaper had 302 editorial positions. By the end of this year, they expect to be just above 200)   

Here's a copy of a memo Tampa Tribune photographers received by email today from management:

"Based on the information that we received yesterday, here is some
information you need to be most aware of.

1)      ALL photography department employees will need to reapply for
their job positions. This will probably take place in the next 2
weeks.
2)      The photo staffs of WFLA & the Tribune will merge (not sure
what that looks like or means exactly).
3)      The Pasco community section will publish 5 days a week
(Wednesday – Sunday) not 7 days a week as they currently do.
4)      The remainder of the community sections will publish once a
week, not twice as they currently do.
5)      10 individuals will be let go in eight weeks or less. Some of
which will likely be management positions.
6)      If you apply for a position and are not accepted for that
position, we were told that you would still receive the buy-out
package."

Comments

[dreaming]

i dont think there are going to be any marquee names. no, dan ruth, steve otto, martin fennelly etc are not going...

the next round may include mgrs, but their names will be even less known than the bureau reporters already laid off.

btw, i think readers of those gone reporters would know their names.

what id like to know is how the trib plans to implement its new news reporting system as posted in a memo on romenesko. it sounds more ambitious than anything ever done with a full staff...

[Eric Deggans]

Actually, I know who has been laid off. But because most of them are reporters who readers might not recognize, I feel there's limited value in circulating their names.

I'm more on the lookout for marquee names. I'm also not into publishing rumors at a time when so many people are hungry for the tinest scraps of information.

[dreaming]

so because janet coats wont tell you who got laid off, that's all you're going to do? geez, eric. the trib building is full of people who can tell you.
dont be a wuss....

[Mike]

When you don't have a collective bargaining agreement in place, this is what happens! "At-Will" employment sucks!

[Nick]

So who sent this memo? Clearly not the publisher, executive or managing editor.