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Union-Tribune Staff Buyouts and the Effect on the Newsroom

Why is the “San Diego Union-Tribune” reducing its news staff? The newspaper recently sent out a memo to employees announcing a "Voluntary Separation Program" as a way to cut costs.The story of what'

Union-Tribune Staff Buyouts and the Effect on the Newsroom

Tom Fudge: Every day, the San Diego Union Tribune follows the news of our city and county, and sometimes, it becomes a part of the news. That's the case right now, as major changes are occurring in staffing the paper.

The changes happening at the Union Tribune now are not positive. They're making cuts. The process has begun with offers of severance buyouts to more than 80 employees. Perhaps of most concern to San Diegans who follow the news are the cuts being made in the newsroom. The paper seeks to eliminate 43 newsroom positions . That represents a cut of 12 percent of the reporters, editors and photographers who cover your community, and this could be just the first of several staff reductions.

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This should come as no shock to us. The newspaper business has suffered real financial trouble due to the Internet. But what will become of our local daily paper, which provides the most comprehensive source of local news that we have?

We start by talking with a reporter who has chosen to accept the buyout, and leave the Union Tribune .

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