Great followup on the layoffs

On the day it laid off dozens of journalists at its Chicago paper, Tribune asked a bankruptcy court to approve $13 million in bonuses to nearly 700 managers, directors and others. It also asked permission to resume severance payments to individuals who left Tribune before its Chapter 11 filing in December. : "These motions are likely to get media attention."

Here’s the lead on followup story.

Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co. today filed motions in Delaware seeking U.S. Bankruptcy Court authorization to resume severance payments to individuals who left the media company before its Chapter 11 filing in December, as well as to pay discretionary incentive bonuses for 2008 to nearly 700 managers, directors and others.

Tribune Co.’s top 10 executives would not be part of the managerial pool that would split a little more than $13 million in bonus money, which the company considers part of the would-be recipients’ annual compensation as part of the normal course of business.

The median award would be $9,500 and the average award a little more than $18,000, with 84 percent of the recipients receiving payments of less than $30,000 and 70 percent getting less than $20,000.

Earlier Wednesday, before the motion was filed in anticipation of a May 12 court hearing, the Tribune Co. flagship paper Chicago Tribune reduced its newsroom staff by 53 in response to economic conditions and industry changes.

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