Tulsa World: Tulsa World announces staff reduction

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Tulsa World announces staff reduction

By Staff Reports
Published: 1/6/2009 10:59 AM
Last Modified: 1/7/2009 5:24 AM

The Tulsa World today terminated 28 employees citing deteriorating economic conditions nationwide and in media business.

The terminations included 26 news staff members and two in other departments.

"The unprecedented economic catastrophe has been swift, and it has directly affected the bottom line of most American businesses and our newspaper. The terminations though painful will ultimately strengthen our company as a whole," Robert E. Lorton III, Tulsa World publisher said.

The media industry has seen dramatic changes resulting in smaller audiences for television, radio, magazines and newspapers, Lorton said.

"We have worked diligently for several years to shape the Tulsa World and tulsaworld.com as the best and most authoritative, trusted news outlet in Tulsa. We have through attrition and some restructuring reduced our personnel and other operational expenses throughout World Publishing Company, while expanding our local news coverage and our online presence tremendously," Lorton said.

"Unfortunately, in recent months we have seen the local advertising market weakened as Tulsa businesses struggle with greatly reduced sales. Most advertisers' budgets are based on a percentage of sales, so when our partners are hurting, we feel their pain in a very real way. The media business is not immune from economic realities, as evidenced by recent layoffs at other state newspapers and our local television and radio stations," Lorton said.

"Just because this is the prudent business decision, it is not any less difficult. These co-workers have been part of our team and we will miss their contributions. Nothing is more painful than saying goodbye to our friends and colleagues. It's a story that has been played out across the city and country as businesses are faced with the unpleasant responsibility of adjusting their payrolls in this harsh economic downturn," Lorton said.

Joe Worley, executive editor of the Tulsa World, said, "The remaining newsroom staff will be challenged to continue to produce a quality product. We still have the largest news staff of any news organization in northeast Oklahoma and we will continue to produce the best possible newspaper and web site in Oklahoma."

The news staff was informed today that the terminations were effective immediately. Details of severance pay and benefits were not disclosed by Tulsa World officials.

The terminations follow a difficult 2008 for newspapers and media companies across the country.

Both KOTV and KTUL television stations in Tulsa terminated 13 staff members each in late 2008. The television stations cited economic conditions in making the cuts.

In the fall of 2008, The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City terminated 150 employees and cut operational expenses by shrinking the area where home delivered newspapers were sent.

In March 2008, the Tulsa World closed its Community World publications ending employment for 18 staff members, but expanded its daily local news and tulsaworld.com staff.

By Staff Reports