We’ve all said regrettable things in times of stress, so I tried to muster some forgiveness as I re-read Publisher Rudi Alcott’s comment that readers would not notice that The Herald’s new owners had laid off half the newsroom staff. Surely he didn’t mean to insult our intelligence. Surely he didn’t mean to disrespect the work of a dozen hard-working, prize-winning journalists who are losing their livelihoods.
If Carpenter Media Group demands that the remaining staff write twice as many stories, readers will notice a dearth of time-intensive, in-depth reporting. We’ll see fewer pictures, because two out of three photographers are gone. We’ll have trouble following local teams, because there are two sports reporters instead of four. We won’t see news out of Olympia that’s of special interest to Washington’s third most-populous county, because the Herald’s statehouse reporter was laid off. We’ll know less about how governments at all levels are spending our taxes and keeping us safe.
Making money from news these days is maddeningly tough. Most people in Snohomish and Island counties won’t know about the layoffs because they aren’t willing or able to pay for professional news coverage. But can we all agree that giving remaining customers less for their money is a bad business model? And that “reorganization” should be banished as a synonym for downsizing and penny-pinching?
Carpenter executives should honor their legal obligation to the Everett NewsGuild and negotiate to retain at least some of the laid-off staff. They should also keep in mind The Herald’s ongoing efforts to raise funds directly from the public to support investigative, environmental, health and education news. Two of the remaining reporters are paid from those donations. It’s up to Herald leadership to decide if their product is worthy of such support; and good enough to justify the subscription price increase that showed up in my mailbox this week.
Julie Titone
Everett
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
