335 years of experience gone

The highlight of this full page ad by the Akron Unit of the Newspaper Guild is the number 335 in large type. That is the total years of service of colleagues who either were laid off or voluntarily resigned to save someon’e job. “We appreciate their combined 335 years of service to our newspaper and to our loyal readers." the ad said. "We also salute the newsroom managers and 27 employees elsewhere in the building who left because of staff reductions.” Photos of seven were used.

The list of 24 includes Barbara Albrecht, clerk, 6 years; Dennis Balogh, artist, 21 years; Gary Estwick, reporter, 4 yerars; Mary Ethridge, reporter 18 years; Diane Evans, columnist, 30 years; Tim Good, copy editor, 6 years; Andale Gross, reporter, 9 years; Erin Hill, copy editor, 1 year; Gloria Irwin, reporter 21 years, Jim Kavanagh, copy editor, 15 years; Jody Kraner, copy editor, 3 years, Delano Massey, reporter, 1 year; Mickey Porter, copy editor/Porter’s People, 40 years; Kim Profant, copy editor, 7 years; Tom Reed, reporter/columnist, 6 years; Robin Sallie, photographer, 12 years; Lindsay Sample, photographer, 4 years; Jane Snow, reporter, food writer, 28 years; Kathy Spitz, reporter, 22 years; Chiffon Staebler, copy editor, 6 years; Debbie Stock Kiefer, copy editor/recipe roundup, 28 years; Sarah Vradenburg, editorial writer, 22 years; Judie Wallace, reporter, 6 years; and Jocelyn Williams, photographer, 19 years.

Newsroom managers laid off or took voluntary resignations were Dave Wilson, David Hertz, Susan Kirkman, Michael Needs, Bonnie Bolden and Debra Adams Simmons.

The ad appears on page B6 of the Beacon Journal, Saturday, November 18, 2006. Click on the image for an enlarged view.