Fresh Loaf

Ever since their new publisher told them in mid-January that the paper was losing $1 million a week, AJC employees have been bracing for a payroll bloodletting. And those who weren’t worried then got up to speed a month later when newspaper brass held meetings to warn staffers that “substantial” cuts were on the way.

Well, the rumor now going around Marietta Street is that the paper is poised to execute layoffs on an unprecedented scale, if not this week then early next week. The number being bandied about is that at least 25 percent of the newsroom could be let go. That’s what you’d call a Holy shit! number.

To put this in perspective, the paper shed about 70 of its most experienced writers and editors in its first round of buyouts back in July 2007, then unloaded another 73 last August in a second round that wasn’t restricted to old-timers. Combined with still others who’ve been lost through attrition, the AJC newsroom currently numbers somewhere around 325.

If the 25-percent figure proves to be accurate, that could mean upwards of 80 editorial staffers who stand to get axed – in addition to layoffs in other, non-editorial, departments.

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Here’s the official list of AJC editorial staff members who’ve taken the staff buyout. Sources say Editor Julia Wallace sent the list to the newsroom today.

To all,

Here is a list of the folks who have taken the VSP and wanted their names shared. There are years of great contributions here — stories, postings, headlines, photos, wonderful editing. All will be missed.

Julia

Stan Awtrey, Lisa Axelberg, Tony Barnhart, Byrone Battles, David Beasley, Scott Bernarde, Peter Bilodeau, Kevin Braun, Arthur Brice, Kathy Brister, Lisa Brown, Curtis Bunn, Walter Cumming, Dale Dodson, Rob Douthit, Eileen Drennen, Henry Farber, Nancy Foreman, Sheila Garland, Susan Gast,

Julie Hairston, Renee Hannans, Glenn Hannigan, Ann Hardie, Bill Hendrick, Sarah Hicks, Alma Hill, Michelle Hiskey, Courtney Hoover, Chris Hunt, Bill Husted, Naftal Jahannes, Kris Jensen, Andrea Jones, Elizabeth Lee, Bob Longino, Rebecca McCarthy, Helen McCoy, Amanda Miller, Jill Miller, Adrianne Murchison, Frank Niemeir,

Tom Opdyke, Gerry Overton, Wendy Parker, David Pendered, Buddy Pinkston, Susan Puckett, Stephanie Reid, Yolanda Rodriguez, Karen Rosen, Jacki Rudd, Bill Sanders, Maria Saporta, Andy Sharp, Minla Shields, Diane Stepp, Cameron Tankersley, Paige Taylor, Yemi Toure, Jim Walls, Scott Walton, Beth Warren, Susan Wells, Tom Whitfield, Clint Williams, Matt Winkeljohn, Connie Woods, Rick Zabell

Those are a lot of longtime staff members and familiar bylines. Four of the 73 people who’ve taken buyouts aren’t on Wallace’s list because they didn’t want their names shared.

The one name missing that was mentioned in my earlier post is veteran sports columnist Furman Bisher, who was on lists circulated Friday by staff members. Although newsroom insiders said Bisher may be switching from a staff position to a contractual arrangement, AJC spokeswoman said Mary Dugenske said this in an e-mail: “Furman was not on our list of VSP applicants. He remains a valuable voice for the AJC.” Carefully crafted statement to avoid saying he did take the buyout, or does it just mean he didn’t take it? Dunno. Will update if Mary tells me.

The earlier post provides more details on what the staff members mentioned do at the AJC.

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