Gazette and radio stations cut back
JANESVILLE — A struggling economy has forced The Janesville Gazette and radio stations WCLO/WJVL to cut their local work force by about 10 percent since the start of the year.
Seven full-time Gazette employees and two at the radio stations learned in the last week that their positions were eliminated to cut costs. Earlier this year, the Gazette cut five full-time and several part-time positions.
Other positions vacated by attrition plus new hires in other areas bring the Gazette and the radio stations to 158 employees, down from 174 at the start of the year.
Bliss Communications owns and operates the newspaper and radio stations.
Company officials attributed the cuts to significant increases in operating costs such as fuel, utilities, newsprint and ink. They also said a slumping local economy has hurt advertising revenues.
Sidney H. “Skip” Bliss, owner and chief executive officer, said the Gazette is not alone. The national newspaper industry is challenged, and newspapers have been shifting resources and trimming expenses to remain competitive, he said.
Gannett Co., the nation’s largest newspaper publisher, said earlier this week that it will lay off 10 percent of its newspaper work force—an estimated 3,000 jobs nationwide—in the face of plummeting ad revenues. The reductions follow a 3 percent cut by Gannett announced in August.
Earlier this year, Bliss bought Community Shoppers, publisher of the Janesville Messenger and similar, twice-weekly community newspapers in Walworth County and the Beloit area.
In 2007, Bliss completed construction of a $22 million printing and distribution plant in Janesville.
“Both projects have strengthened our company by diversifying our revenue sources and product offerings and represent strategic investments in the future of this marketplace,” Bliss said. “Ideally, a strong economy would have followed, but I am confident that the investments we made will aid the local economy by ensuring that readers and advertisers are well served.
“Regardless, I regret that current economic conditions require us to make these adjustments.”
Starting Saturday, the Gazette office at 1 S. Parker Dr. will not be open Saturday mornings, although classified advertising staff will be available to take ads over the phone. In addition, the customer service department will close at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Nov 3, 2008 at 10:22 a.m.
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Regarding the TIF question, an employment guarantee was part of the deal, and Bliss Communications CFO Rob Lisser assures me that we have met our obligation.
Scott Angus
Editor
Nov 1, 2008 at 5:30 a.m.
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IF THESE CUT BACKS ARE NECESSARY? THEN WHY NOT START BY CUTTING THE YOUNGEST EMPLOYEES FIRST? (from the bottom up) your not doing that are you Mr.bliss! your sorting out the very people that made your paper and station what it is today, and you can already tell the difference by just reading or not being able to read the articles that these long time employees brought us..maybe it's time that you younger employees, who were spared your jobs, get together and form a "UNION" down there and protected your self from such acts as we are seeing right now!...it's all about the money, isn't it Mr. bliss! it has nothing to do with getting a better paper out to Joe public, it about corporate greed!, from the people who brought you the weekend, "the union"..shame on you Mr. bliss!
Oct 31, 2008 at 9:12 p.m.
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Did the TIFF for the distribution center carry any employment strings? If so, how does this announcement factor into the TIFF agreement?
Oct 31, 2008 at 9:47 a.m.
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robo96. You forget that Bush influenced congress to go to war with a country that had nothing to do with Sept. 11th.. That lie, caused the oil p[eople in the mideast to "take revenge", especially when Cheny said "we will pay for the war with Iraq oil Revenue".. that really ticked off those oil people, so they kept raising the cost, & it took 6 years, but they brought America, & those who took Bush"s side, to our knees, without firing a shot, or blowing up a building. Bush's "up yours" & In your face attitude", won us nothing but disdain, & contempt for America..Not congress..
Oct 31, 2008 at 9:32 a.m.
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tom 3205; Do you really think one man caused this mess? How about the Democrats (Dodd, Obama, Frank) who accepted huge donations from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and refused Republican attempts to reform their risky and broken business model? There are many factors that allowed this to happen. The president whether Democrat or Republican, always receives too much credit when the economy is good and too much blame when its bad. Congress has the real power to (usually)cause damage.
Oct 31, 2008 at 9:27 a.m.
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If the advertising rates in the Gazette were not so high, they may get more advertisers. I know our company has reduce the ads because of price. Maybe if they lowered some of the rates they would get more adveritsers. Also the internet is the way of the future. If they want to stay alive they need to let people purchase the e-version of the gazette without getting the paper verison. If you dont read the paper version why get it. Save the tree.
Oct 31, 2008 at 9:02 a.m.
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Angelwings.. Welcome to 'BUSH'S WORLD', Does anyone think we would be in this mess if the "COURTS" hadn't "appointed" BUSH, as our president ????
Oct 30, 2008 at 9:48 p.m.
Oct 30, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.
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I don't wish anybody losing their job. I would even pay for a electronic copy of the Gazette, but they won't offer it unless I take the hard copy which I don't want. Therefore, I don't pay anything to the Gazette (which is their choice). Good luck to the people who are being cut.
Oct 30, 2008 at 6:54 p.m.
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Yes,Dragon,my family would for sure suffer if the paper goes away!Problem is, most people dont realize(or care)that some rely on this paper for income.All they do is bitch because the paper isnt the way they want it.Sounds a little selfish to me!
Oct 30, 2008 at 6:29 p.m.
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I want to add one thing...I agree with ahgelwings. It is sad whenever someone loses their job. It doesn't matter if it is a Gazette employee, or a GM employee. Someone gets hurt!
Oct 30, 2008 at 6:19 p.m.
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All newspapers across the country are cutting back. The internet, news only TV, causes lower newspaper sale, less advertising, etc. News papers rely on the advertising dollar for their existance. When newspaper sales drop, advertising dollars drop. Please learn a little about what you're talking about before putting mouth into gear.
Oct 30, 2008 at 5:47 p.m.
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Do you people really think this is funny? You may not like the Gazette but others rely on it for income,such as myself! I have had "glamorous jobs" in the past and this one is by far the best,considering the hours!My kids wont like it if I lose my job and have to go back to a nights and weekends kind of job!Work more,get less---doesnt sound very nice to me!
Oct 30, 2008 at 5:24 p.m.
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im chucklin with kennedy AGAIN:)
Oct 30, 2008 at 5:06 p.m.
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DuPre' has a Sunday morning auto show with Daley.
Oct 30, 2008 at 2:11 p.m.
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i stand corrected,but it is news to me.
Oct 30, 2008 at 2:02 p.m.
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ISaidGoodDay....I just wanted to comment on your name.....I love it. Makes me think of Fez right away. LOL!!!
Oct 30, 2008 at 1:41 p.m.
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desertman: Actually ALL of it was built with union labor. How about you do some research before flapping your gums! Have some sympathy for the people who lost their jobs.
Oct 30, 2008 at 1:21 p.m.
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how much of that 22 million new building was built with union labor. probably not much! boo hoo the republician gazette, oh i mean the janesville gazette is having to cut back, welcome to the bush economy.
Oct 30, 2008 at 11:48 a.m.
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We're not. "The fundamentals of our economy are strong." Duh.
Oct 30, 2008 at 11:38 a.m.
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How are we not in a recession?
Oct 30, 2008 at 10:49 a.m.
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Unfortunately, "local talent" actually costs more money than syndication of a national program. And I assume that tbremel means the show is profitable on an advertising support basis. I don't know why so much talk radio is so belligerently right wing, but a case can be made that obnoxiousness does hold attention that reasonableness doesn't.
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I'd been wondering when the Gazette would join this trend. It's been a tremendously bad year for newspapers. The Chicago Tribune cut staff and redesigned, cutting sections. The Boston Globe cut sections. The L.A. Times cut staff (after multiple rounds the last few years). The Christian Science Monitor, which is actually subsidized by a church, finally closed its daily print edition and will publish only on the web. Even web advertising revenues are down as companies trim marketing budgets to stay lean. It's a very difficult environment to be in.
Oct 30, 2008 at 10:45 a.m.
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"Drop all syndicated shows and make the station entirely local. Give local talent like Bob Daley (more time), Beth Wheelock and Mike DuPre' their own shows."
I hate to say this but I see Dupre missing from the staff directory....a mistake I hope.
Oct 30, 2008 at 10:22 a.m.
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Yea Beth!
Oct 30, 2008 at 10:16 a.m.
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Laura Ingraham does get a "rise" out of the listening audience from time to time. But that's her job. Like many national talk hosts, her success is driven as much by people that like to "hate" her as it is by those who love her. Ultimately, she generates dialogue about important issues -- and that is the positive thing. By the way, the Laura Ingraham Show costs WCLO no cash.
Oct 30, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.
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Drop all syndicated shows and make the station entirely local. Give local talent like Bob Daley (more time), Beth Wheelock and Mike DuPre' their own shows.
Oct 30, 2008 at 9:55 a.m.
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If WCLO wants to "save" some cash, drop the Laura Ingram show. She's too egotistical and too far to the right. Some of what she says makes sense but most of it is rubbish.
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