The Boston Globe. (AP Photo)
On the heels of staff cuts in The Boston Globe newsroom Thursday, Editor Brian McGrory put the number of part-time and full-time staffers laid off at “two dozen” in a memo to staffers.
An additional 17 staffers accepted the terms of The Globe’s buyout program, according to the memo.
“We’ve worked beside these departing colleagues day after day, sometimes year after year,” McGrory wrote. “They’ve made us look good from the copy desk, traveled the world chasing major events, been pioneers in digital journalism, and brought national recognition to our features sections. They’re also our friends.”
Poynter reported earlier today that at least 10 staffers had been laid off, with more than a dozen staffers accepting buyouts.
In his statement to staffers, McGrory was somber about the cuts but optimistic that The Globe will continue to produce quality journalism.
“By the way, your performance, journalistically, has been something to behold through this period of uncertainty,” he wrote. “And stay tuned. Some of our best work will be on display in the coming weeks.”
“After the process ends, there’s much to discuss, and we will. In the meantime, please know that there were no good choices to be made today – only necessary ones.”
Here’s McGrory’s note:
This was a tough day in this newsroom. A layoff process began this morning and won’t be fully over until early next week, though the vast bulk of the departures occurred today. In all, we’re parting ways with nearly two dozen part- and full-time staffers, some relatively new, some who’ve been here a long time. Another 17 newsroom members accepted the recent buyout and have left already or are planning to leave in the coming weeks. These are sizable numbers, but we’re facing unfathomably difficult forces in the news industry. That, you already know.
We’ve worked beside these departing colleagues day after day, sometimes year after year. They’ve made us look good from the copy desk, traveled the world chasing major events, been pioneers in digital journalism, and brought national recognition to our features sections. They’re also our friends.
There’s little that a newsroom has that’s more important than its reputation, and these colleagues have helped burnish ours – something that doesn’t happen overnight, but over decades. Which is to say that not only are their contributions deeply valued, their impact is deeply rooted.
Going forward, we have a big, talented, ambitious staff, among the absolute best in the business. We’ll continue to invest in the aspects of this organization that will allow us to flourish, just as we need to be ever more creative in how we go about our work. There’s no time these days to stand still, and from everything I hear in the room, no desire to do anything like that. You know this already but I’ll say it anyway: The Boston Globe is incredibly well positioned to thrive.
By the way, your performance, journalistically, has been something to behold through this period of uncertainty. And stay tuned. Some of our best work will be on display in the coming weeks.
After the process ends, there’s much to discuss, and we will. In the meantime, please know that there were no good choices to be made today – only necessary ones.
