It took a little longer than expected, but Newport TV has begun a serious layoff groupwide: 7.5% of the workforce throughout the group, with stations WPTY Memphis and KTVX Salt Lake City hit the hardest:
The company said newscasts were not cut and it did not envision more layoffs in the near term. The spokesperson said Newport remains 100% committed to news.
The 162 layoffs are across the board in terms of station positions, including some on-air talent.
At KMTR in Eugene, I've heard the toll was between two and six people, most likely the latter. From the comments on the original KMTR thread:
So I guess rumors were true. Apparently Cambra Ward walked out 6 people on Wednesday. A producer in training, a producer/reporter, a reporter, a graphics girl, an engineer, and someone in sales. Are you kidding me!? Are you F*cking kidding me. And a week before the OLYMPIC TRIALS???
A source tells me KTVX was hit with 27 layoffs, Tulsa and Albany each with 11, and KGET in Bakersfield lost 10% of its staff. So six doesn't seem so bad for KMTR all in all.
Romenesko has posted that the Register-Guard is cutting 11.5% of its staff - 30 positions.
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?...