5 out as BJ works on losing 2^nd 1,000 years of experience

The BJ buyouts, which include a year’s pay, today went to columnist Jewell Cardwell, Jim Carney, Bill Lilley, Dave Scott and Olga Reswow.

One exempt (non-Guild) choice also was made, probably chief editorial writer Laura Ofobike. 
 Before the first round of layoffs at the Beacon Journal in 2001, the bargaining unit had 197 full and part-time members. Today’s departures reduced that number to less than 60, or about 30% of the 2001 newsroom staff.

The rapid demise of the BJ began in 2001 when about five centuries of experience walked out the door on the same day. Gone were sports columnist Tom Melody, chief  artist Art Krummel, the copy desk’s late Sandy Levenson, columnist Mickey Porter, Features Department editor Joan Rice, superb writer the late Bill Bierman, Reference Librarian Diane Lynch, copy editor George Davis, editorial board member Tim Hayes, Metro reporters Bill Canterbury, Bob Hoiles and Dennis McEaneney,

Mark Braykovich, reporter Barb Mudrak Galloway, columnist Steve Love, Jim Quinn, religion writer  Laura Haferd and Terence Oliver.

In 2006 24 left with 335 years of service, including Bonnie Bolden, wife of today’s editor, Bruce Winges; clerk Barbara Albrecht, artist Dennis Balogh, reporters Gary Estwick and Mary Ethridge, columnist Diane Papparone Evans, copy editor Tim Good, reporter Andale Gross, copy editor Erin Hill, reporter Gloria Irwin, copy editors Jim Kavanagh, who went to CNN, and Jody Kraner, reporter Delano Massey, copy editor Kim Profant, reporter Tom Reed, photographers Robin Sallie and Lindsay Sample, food writer Jane Snow, reporter Kathy Spitz, reporter, 22 years; Chiffon Staebler, copy editor Debbie Stock Kiefer, editorial writer Sarah Vradenburg, reporter Judie Wallace and photographer Jocelyn Williams.

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

In 2008 there were 18 departures with 273 years of service, including city hall reporter Carl Chancellor, deputy Metro editor Keith McKnight, Metro editor Ann Sheldon Mezger, columnist David Giffels, cartoonist Chip Bok and classic music critic Elaine Guregian.

That’s a thousand years of service, and far more than that in experience since few began their newspaper careers at the BJ, in just three lopoffs.

Some just switched from the BJ to the Plain Dealer.

There’s not much Beacon Blue blood left to be let.