Layoffs hit USA Today on Wednesday, the first major cuts since owner Gannett split off its publishing business.
The job cuts, first reported by Jim Romenesko, ended up eliminating between 60 and 70 employees. Roughly half of those came from the editorial side, with numerous veteran journalists being let go.
[seealso slug=http://sale-online.click/2014/08/05/gannett-split-publishing/%5D%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ESome of the laid off journalists tweeted about the moves.
Today is my last day at USA TODAY, after 30 years. I was laid off this morning, along with several great colleagues. Onward.— Edna Gundersen (@EdnaGundersen) September 3, 2014
This round of USA Today layoffs got me as well. It was a great 10 years. When the shock wears off, I'll be looking. Job offers are welcome!!— Sharon Jayson (@SharonJayson) September 3, 2014
If anyone was wondering, I got laid off from USA Today this morning.— Abby Westcott (@AbDub29) September 3, 2014
Friends and colleagues of those laid off also took to Twitter to voice sadness and disappointment with how the lay offs were handled.
Hearing about veteran journalists being laid-off & marched out of @USAToday by security so they can't say goodbye to colleagues. Disgusting.— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) September 3, 2014
Stupid newspaper news: Longtime @USATODAY pop music writer Edna Gunderson was just laid off BY PHONE. "Business decision," she was told. :(— Philip Booth (@PBoothMusic) September 3, 2014
So sad - and angry - to learn of USA Today layoffs today. Some of the most talented people are going out the door.— Anita Manning (@AManning09) September 3, 2014
The @USATODAY newsroom is a sad place to be today. 3— Natalie DiBlasio (@ndiblasio) September 3, 2014
USA Today remains the highest circulation U.S. newspaper, putting out 3.3 million papers each weekday. Despite its ubiquity, the paper has suffered the same problems as others in the newspaper industry, most notably falling ad sales.
The August split detached the most profitable sections of the company -- its television and digital assets -- and left Gannett as a pure publishing company.
The move has mirrored other companies that have undergone similar spin offs including Tribune Publishing, Time Inc. and E.W. Scripps. Layoffs have typically accompanied these moves.