Herald layoff decision shows lack of concern for readers

The recently announced lay-off of half of the Everett Herald’s newsroom is shocking.

While the new owners claim that this was a necessary business decision, it comes at a huge cost to our community.

Every one of the journalists, editors and photographers who were laid off are familiar to the readers of the biggest and most important community newspaper in Snohomish County. They are people whose excellent, award-winning work is a part of our everyday lives and they will all be missed. I wish to assure publisher Rudi Alcott that the readers will notice their absence.

The role that the Herald has played in chronicling the events of Snohomish County over the last 123 years cannot be overstated. A local paper isn’t just any business. It is the recorder of this community’s history and with a newsroom that is cut in half, it will certainly be challenging, perhaps impossible even, to continue doing so with the same high level of quality which has been attained in the past.

The true business decision that was made by these new, out-of-town owners was to demonstrate that they care little for building the trust of either their staff or the community that they serve. Not a good look for a newspaper.

Kimberly Larson

Everett