McClatchy guts SLO Tribune newsroom, part of nationwide layoffs

By KAREN VELIE

McClatchy gutted newsrooms throughout the United States on Thursday, including laying off five journalists who were working for the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

The layoffs include three reporters, one photographer and opinion editor Stephanie Finucane, according to a post by Kathe Tanner – one of the discharged reporters. Tribune editor Joe Tarica did not respond to a request for more information about the layoffs.

As part of a restructuring plan, McClatchy cut journalists from papers throughout the country.

At union papers, more than 90 reporters were cut at 13 papers. While union newsrooms reported the layoffs, the number of workers dismissed from nonunion papers is not publicly available.

In California, McClatchy cut 10 reporters at the Sacramento Bee and seven journalists at the Fresno Bee.

While consumer revenue fell 41%, McClatchy’s expenses remained flat, according to an internal memo to staff.

For years, the Tribune has reduced print copies and staff while McClatchy is shedding outlets.

In 2019, The Tribune slashed one day a week of print, eliminating its Saturday edition, after its parent company McClatchy reported a net loss of $42 million in the first quarter of the year.

A year later, McClatchy filed for bankruptcy. Later in 2020, the hedge fund Chatham Asset Management purchased the newspaper publisher and obtained ownership of its 30 news organizations. It later merged with a lifestyle magazine and a retail distributor.

In March, McClatchy began rolling out AI bots that allow “Bee editors to produce summarized and repurposed versions of its reporters’ work under new headlines, ”according to the Wrap.

In July, McClatchy sold two of its Georgia papers to the National Trust for Local News. The nonprofit news publisher has purchased more than 50 news outlets, and is planning to buy more. Major donors include George Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society and the Knight Foundation.