Layoffs hit Tronc’s San Diego Union-Tribune

Seven journalists were laid off from the San Diego Union-Tribune on Tuesday, editor and publisher Jeff Light said in a memo to staffers.

“I feel badly about these difficult decisions,” Light said. “Everyone we are saying goodbye to is a dedicated journalist and a valued colleague. Some have spent decades at the U-T.”

“In an organization of our size, it is a small number,” he continued. “But that does not lessen the sense of loss everyone in our newsroom will feel today.”

Cuts have been an annual occurrence in each of the last three years. In August, six newsroom employees were laid off. In May 2015, the Union-Tribune laid off nine of the newsroom’s employees, which then numbered about 170.

Here’s Light’s memo:

All –Today, we’re reducing our newsroom by seven positions. I feel badly about these difficult decisions. Everyone we are saying goodbye to is a dedicated journalist and a valued colleague. Some have spent decades at the U-T. In an organization of our size, it is a small number, but that does not lessen the sense of loss everyone in our newsroom will feel today. Each person who is directly affected already has been notified this morning. I’d like to thank each of them for their commitment to our mission as journalists, for the sacrifices they have made for their careers and for their significant contributions to this company.

Benjamin Mullin is the managing editor of Poynter.org. He previously reported for Poynter as a staff writer, Google Journalism Fellow and Naughton Fellow, covering journalism innovation, business practices and ethics. He’s also reported for USA TODAY College and The Sacramento Bee, and he was editor in chief of The Orion, Chico State’s student-run newspaper. An Air Force brat who grew up around Northern California, he’s still adjusting to the Florida sunshine.