The changes were announced today by the newspaper. The voluntary buyouts were presented during the day to employees 55 years of age or older and with more than ten years at the paper.
Spokeswoman Mary Dugenske says that in the buyouts, two weeks of compensation is being offered for each year worked at the paper, up to 52 weeks. Dugenske says those employees have until April 2nd to decide, and those who don't accept a buyout will still have jobs at the paper.
Effective April 1st, the newspaper will scale back its circulation territory to no longer include Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and many parts of Georgia. The paper has been delivered in 145 of Georgia's 159 counties, but now will only be available in 66 counties in the state. The paper won't be found in cities suchlike Augusta, Columbus, Savannah and Albany - except on line.
Editor Julia Wallace said the newsroom will be reorganized to put print and digital news on equal footing. It isn't clear how many staffers will shift from primarily print work to digital.
The Journal-Constitution, Georgia's largest newspaper, currently has 475 employees and an average daily circulation of about 355-thousand.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/2/94874