Gannett to Consolidate Editing of 4 NJ Papers

Many papers, including Gannett, have been laying off staff and requiring furloughs

Gannett Co. is consolidating copy editing and page production operations for four New Jersey newspapers.
     
The Asbury Park Press will house the regional operation at its offices in Neptune. The other three papers are the Home News Tribune of East Brunswick, the Courier News of Somerville and the Daily Record of Parsippany.
         
This is a tumultuous time in the industry as newspapers deal with declining circulation and plummeting advertising revenue.

Many, including Gannett's New Jersey papers, have laid off staff and required furloughs for those remaining in the past year.

McLean, Va.-based Gannett publishes more daily newspapers than any other company. Its 85 papers include USA Today.

The company says copy editors and page designers at the papers can transfer to Neptune.
         
Copy editing management jobs at the papers are to be eliminated and replaced with 16 new jobs in Neptune. A company memo says all hiring for those spots will be from within.
         
After the reshuffling, the company says, 10 managers will lose their jobs.
         
The managers who do not get the positions in Neptune and workers who do not accept transfers are to receive severance packages.
         
Jobs for reporters, photographers and their supervisors are not being eliminated in the consolidation.
         
The operation is be phased in by June 1.

The Courier-Post in Cherry Hill and the Daily Journal of Vineland are not included.
         
William Hidlay, president and publisher of the East Brunswick and Somerville papers, declined to comment.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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