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Free Press Cuts Seven from Newsroom Staff

September 18, 2012 05:46 PM in News • 14 Comments

The province’s largest newsroom is a little smaller after the Winnipeg Free Press laid off seven of its staff on Tuesday.

Five reporters, an online editor and a copy editor were let go in the layoffs, which were first made public on Twitter late this afternoon.

“Well, the newspaper layoff party train just moved into the Winnipeg Free Press, and I got a front row seat. So uh, anyone want to hire me?,” former reporter Melissa Martin tweeted.

The news kept getting worse from there, as social media reporter Lindsey Wiebe, music writer Rob Williams, sports writer Adam Wazny, deputy online editor John White, arts writer Alison Mayes and web paginator Mark Lowe.

The cuts, said to be based on seniority as outlined in an agreement within the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, account for about an 8% reduction to the newsroom’s staff.

A request for comment from Free Press publisher Bob Cox wasn’t returned.

Tags: Winnipeg Free Press

http://twitter.com/MBolero Morley Bolero

The Freep is blaming the cuts on the union? Jesus.
ReedSolomon

Somehow Gordon Sinclair remains
Gillis85

No, just union rules means the layoffs hit the least senior staff.
Dont_Ban_Me_Bro

And Nick Martin. If they go by seniority, he will end up being their only writer.
McLeod

Unions are terrible. If the Freep wanted to trim deadweight from the newsroom, there were plenty of more-deserving candidates. Sad it’s all based on seniority.
Bork McGork

There’s your headline. (Or sub-head.)
http://twitter.com/DoubleEmMartin Melissa Martin

This is correct. There seems to be some confusion about this, but yes, when layoffs hit union jobs are always seniority-based. Last ones in, first ones out. The five of us yesterday were, chronologically, the five most recent hires — basically everyone hired since 2006.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614859558 Kelly

I can’t imagine anything Bob Cox has to say will be of any interest, anyway.
Jeope

It could have either been these cub reporters or Doug Speirs. And we all know who wears the dingy old sweatpants in the Freep’s house.
Melvin

You’re a wonderful writer, Melissa. Some other publication will be lucky to have you. Too bad the layoffs went according to seniority.
Cdnfreak

That’s unfortunate that they would remove the online editor, John White. Seams like that would be the position most needed with everything moving from print to online.
gg_allin

Bad news, I really liked your writing and event reviews
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