BJ to buy out 20 and trim section fronts

The axe is falling again at the Akron Beacon Journal. Editor Bruce Winges was the bearer of bad news at a 3:30 p.m. staff meeting today in the JSK room.

Buyouts are being offered to cut the staff by 17 per cent (around 20) and the paper will be confined to three sections; one for all news, one for sports and one for entertainment and other content. This would eliminate the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday section fronts.

The goal is to get rid of 8 reporters, 8 copy editor/page designers, 2 artists and 2 photographers. Management will decide which to accept.

Those 55 or older would be offered a lump sum payment of their pension entitlement plus $25,000. Younger staffers would get two weeks pay for every year of service plus an extra two weeks pay.

The Newspaper Guild is currently in negotiations.

Adding to the poor image: Nothing could be found in breaking news on Ohio.com, but Akron News Now was jumping all over the story.

Also, see our earlier post about the new design plans for the Beacon Journal.