June 21, 2008:

Could this month mark he largest loss of media-related jobs in Salt Lake City's history? Three of Utah's major news-related organizations are dealing with large-scale layoffs. The daily metro newspaper, The Deseret News is preparing to trim its staff by up to 35 positions. Television station, KTVX (ABC affiliate; channel 4) has cut about 15% of its staff. MediaOne, the company that prints and distributes the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune, and that sells advertising for the two papers has also made layoffs (one report suggests between 30 and 40 people lost their jobs). Company officials point to a declining national economy and Internet competition as reasons for the layoffs.

In Utah we have enjoyed traditional media products that in many cases are as good or better than similar products in larger markets. It seems some of our local media organizations--and many others across the nation--have been slow to react to the presence of new media and disruptive technologies.

Best of luck to those who lost their jobs.

Other coverage about the local layoffs:
MediaOne lays off workers in multiple departments (Deseret News)
Utah TV stations lay off at least 27 workers (The Salt Lake Tribune)
Channel 4 owner blames economy for layoffs (Deseret News)
Deseret News to cut up to 35 jobs next month (Daily Herald)
Deseret News Sells Property To Fund Employee Layoffs (National Press Photographers Assocation)

Related national stories:
TV Layoffs in Miami, Denver, and Sacramento (U.S. News & World Report)
News & Observer Lays Off 70 As Newspaper Executive Stays In Luxury Hotel (The Raleigh Chronicle)
Central Valley TV stations cut staffs (Central Valley Business Times)

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