Tampa Tribune Lays Off 16% Of Staff
TAMPA (CBSMiami) - The newspaper business in Florida continues to suffer the woes of a bad economy and changing technology, with the Tampa Tribune the latest to announce major layoffs in its print and online operations. 16 percent of the staff was laid off Monday.
The 165 layoffs ordered by parent company Media General affect the Tribune, it's community-based newspapers, and it's online service, TBO. Not affected is the company's NBC affiliate, News Channel 8.
The cuts come as the company is gearing up to cover the Republican Convention, which will be held in Tampa this year.
After the cuts, about 670 people will work in the television, newspaper, and online operations in Tampa.
The layoffs are just the latest for Media General's Tampa operations, which saw 29 people let go just 6 months ago. Employees have also been forced to take unpaid time off as Media General struggles to balance its finances in a changing media landscape.
Other newspapers in Florida have been hit by layoffs, including the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Hundreds of people have lost jobs at The Herald, with 13 new layoffs in August, and the Sun Sentinel suffered major cuts related to the bankruptcy of parent company Tribune.
