Sun-Times staffers get pink slips...by phone

Chicago Sun-Times newsroom staff members were being notified of layoffs by phone Wednesday night, part of parent Sun-Times Media Group's effort to cut $50 million in operating costs in a bid to return to profitability.

Sun-Times Media, which owns the Sun-Times and dozens of area publications, is making reductions at all its area publications and in all its departments, including advertising.

Layoffs began earlier this month in the editorial department of the Sun-Times with the exit of seven non-union reporters and editors and at least eight union reporters, editors and other staff age 55 and older accepting buyouts.

Click on the headline to read the story by Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune media columnist