Bloodbath at The Palm Beach Post! 20+ Workers Laid Off

Posted by Jose Lambiet , October 14, 2011 Print

The Palm Beach Post, privately held by an Atlanta family with three members on the Forbes 400 richest Americans, is laying off “more than 20 employees today, according to a memo exclusively obtained by Gossip Extra.

The Palm Beach Post

In an email sent an hour ago to the entire company in West Palm Beach, Publisher Tim Burke made it clear more layoffs could come soon as the newspaper’s umbrella company, Cox Newspapers, continues to contract during the economic downturn.

Today’s unexpected cuts from a staff that’s already stretched thin include four newsroom workers, including two who work mainly for the newspaper’s website, pbpost.com.

And among those pushed out the door is Edgar Thompson, who covered pro golf. Traditionally, the paper considered golf a key beat to attract advertising in the PGA Tour‘s home state and an area that legends of the game like Tiger Woods and Greg Norman call home.

The paper’s website has yet to announce the layoffs. In 2008, the Post laid off 300 employees from a staff of 1,300.

And according to Forbes, the three Cox owners on the magazine’s 400 list weigh a combined $24 billion! One, 91-year-old Anne Cox Chambers is a part time Palm Beach resident.

Cards on the table: I left the Post in April after seven fun years.

Click on (more) to see Burke’s email:

“From: Burke, Tim (CMG-WestPalm)
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 11:52 AM
To: All PBNI Employees
Subject: Important Company Announcement from Tim

To all employees:

There is never a good time or the right words to let you know we have informed more than 20 of our employees that their jobs are being eliminated.

Unfortunately, the latest economic downturn forced us to adjust our recently completed 2012 budget projections and say goodbye to our colleagues and friends. Though we are beginning to rebound from some tough summer months, we are still projecting year-over-year declines in revenues next year that necessitate this difficult decision.

Many of those affected will be leaving today, while several other employees will be staying between now and the end of the year to ensure a smooth hand-off of responsibilities. You will hear from your direct supervisor how these departures affect you or your department.

I realize this news is unsettling, especially in light of the NOM project involving the consolidation of various functions at our newspapers. These changes we are making in the short term are due to our own location needs and are not tied directly to NOM. Though there has been a slight delay in finalizing recommendations, I still expect to be able to give you a full update on the consolidation project by month’s end.

Every employee who is leaving us as a result of today’s announcement is being provided with financial assistance and transition resources through Human Resources, including the opportunity to apply for positions at other Cox properties. Our newspapers and Cox Media Group will continue to treat our employees with dignity and sensitivity. I also know and expect that all of you will show your colleagues the utmost respect, and wish them the best.

I will continue to communicate with you promptly. Please don’t hesitate to speak with me, your manager or any member of the senior team if you have questions or need more information.

Tim

Timothy D. Burke

Publisher and Executive Editor
The Palm Beach Post

voice: 561.820.4120 | toll-free: 800.432.7595 ext. 3728
tburke@pbpost.com | www.palmbeachpost.com

Cox Conserves. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
Contents of this e-mail may be confidential and proprietary. Use discretion when forwarding.”

Palm Beach Ann Cox Chambers, Edgar Thompson, Greg Norman, Jose Lambiet's Gossip Extra, layoffs, The Palm Beach Post, Tiger Woods, Tim Burke, West Palm Beach

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A. N. Yamoussoukro, 1 year ago Reply

Cox cutting personnel is like the sun rising. What used to be a caring company is now a corporate cutting machine. D. Franklin has no soul, only counting beans.
- SS, 1 year ago Reply
  
  It’s so TRUE! I’m one of the 300 souls that was forced to choose my way….. against my will!
  …..til this day i’m still feeling the affects!
  I remember like it was yesterday that so unexpected D.Franklyn meeting were He so humanly, showed us compassion and hope with his salesman beancounter way!
  But no seed will stay to grow forever! SS
Anonymous, 1 year ago Reply

At least they’re providing financial assistance to employees being laid off (they don’t have to, and many companies don’t do so). It’s sad that corporations these days care more about the bottom line and upper level profits than they do about Americans losing jobs. Theoretically, companies could keep more Americans employed by lowering the salaries, bonuses and profits of upper-level management, CEOs, and owners, but I guess these days it’s more fashionable to care more about those at the top and less about those in the middle or bottom. Pretty sad, really. Hope it works out okay for the remaining employees.
lizzie, 1 year ago Reply

anne cox chambers and family have always been
big democrat supporters. i don’t suppose occupy
wall street crowd will march on the cox family homes.
Greg Warneford, 1 year ago Reply

LOLOLOLOLOL! Lets check who the PBP endorsed for Florida’s Congressional District 22 in 2010…

U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, has spent four responsible years in Congress. He’s running for reelection against an irresponsible challenger.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL! Screw you PBP the end can’t come soon enough.
Blood on the newsroom floor: Yet more layoffs | eats shoots 'n leaves, 1 year ago Reply

[...] Jose Lambiet of GossipExtra: The Palm Beach Post, privately held by an Atlanta family with three members on the Forbes 400 [...]
llowery, 1 year ago Reply

Newspaper reporters think the whole world will collapse without them. It hasn’t. It won’t.

The Post loses money. Newspapers are a dying business. You don’t need an MBA from Wharton to realize that.

When a business loses a tremendous amount of money and customers it is not a good idea to keep your expenses and staffing at the level that it was when you were successful. You certainly don’t pay health benefits to people who don’t work for you anymore.

Some people think businesses are charities that exist to give them a job or for the public good. Businesses are in business to make money. Period. To not understand that is childish.

Cox makes most its money from TV and cable and advertising. Its newspapers are all money losers.

The Cox sisters didn’t become wealthy by being stupid with money. Paying someone’s health care who doesn’t work for you is stupid.

Start a business yourself and try doing it. You won’t last long.

The world has changed for newspaper staffs. Their cheese got moved. Change happened.

Newspaper reporters never accepted or understood that classifieds, comics, coupons and box scores drove sales more than their news reports. They still don’t.
- thatnick, 1 year ago Reply
  
  You are obviously, already retired. And nrvrt read a paper in your life!
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Toni, 1 year ago Reply

The Poll tells it all, the Post has become irrelevant. It’s been in bed with the Sheriff and State Attorney’s office and wouldn’t expose corruption in either agency if it fell on them – probably on orders from the Cox family. And, most of their news is rehashed from AP wires or fluff. Wish we had the St. Pete Times as our local paper but unfortunately wishing won’t make it so.
- thatnick, 1 year ago Reply
  
  he Post has uncovered all sort’s of corruption! You just don’t read the paper.
OPINION: Palm Beach Post’s Consultant a Dud! | Gossip Extra, 1 year ago Reply

[...] years later, the Post is selling nearly 70,000 fewer newspapers on weekdays and 72,000 on Sunday, a loss of more than [...]
thatnick, 1 year ago Reply

And that is why Jose is now working Online! Right!
- Toxie Moxie, 1 year ago Reply
  
  Write on! Jose!
Shadowed Reflections, 10 months ago Reply

Real News Stops here?

Under the Shady Post Palm.

Over 10 years now it has been festering

gangrene has set in long ago!

All attempts to cut away what is rotten

should have began at the core.

Evolving into dissolving that is

what’s in store!

Even that Coconut wont grow!

Ask a Local!

It’s good to Know!