Layoffs coming to Wisconsin State Journal

At least four full-time employees in the sports and video departments of the Wisconsin State Journal and Capital Times are being targeted in a buyout offer.

Here's the memo that was sent to Capital Newspaper employees on behalf of Wisconsin State Journal publisher Bill Johnson and Capital Times publisher Clayton Frink:

We are nearing completion of our operating budget for the next fiscal year, and we now know that we are going to have to reduce staffing at Capital Newspapers. We have looked at all areas of our operation for efficiencies and budget cuts, but we are not able to reach our budget expectations through non-personnel reductions.

We need to eliminate multiple positions in the combined newsrooms, and the sports and video departments are the primary areas which will experience the reductions. Initial estimates indicate that this will involve the reduction of approximately four full-time positions.

The full-time employees in sports and video are being provided with information on a voluntary severance program opportunity. The package consists of two weeks for every full year of service, up to a maximum of 52 weeks plus outplacement assistance and other benefits.

Capital Newspapers is jointly owned by Lee and The Capital Times Co. The Madison, Wis., papers cut 15 employees in August 2009.

Lee has entered the last quarter of its fiscal year, which in recent years has meant layoffs. Send tips to lee.ent.watch@gmail.com.

(Via e-mail.)

Capital Times faces defamation lawsuit

United Asian Services of Wisconsin has filed a lawsuit against The Capital Times and reporter Pat Schneider, seeking $10 million for defamation by slander, along with punitive damages and lawyer's fees.

In March, Schneider wrote a story about a dispute between the agency and its executive director, Koua Vang, over control of the agency. The suit says the story and illustration suggest the UAS was "ripped apart" by the dispute.

Read the story here.
See the illustration here.

Madison papers announce buyouts, merge departments

The Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times are cutting 15 positions. Buyouts have been offered; if there are not enough takers, layoffs will follow.

The papers operate under a joint operating agreement: Lee owns the State Journal, and Capital Newspapers owns the Times. Their JOA is getting very close. The papers will now merge several newsroom departments: Features, sports, photography, multimedia, design and production. Only news and opinion remain separate, although breaking news coverage is already a joint operation.

(Via e-mail)

Wisconsin State Journal editor quits

Wisconsin State Journal Editor Ellen Foley announced she was resigning, citing her husband's ongoing battle with cancer. The Journal no longer has a managing editor -- that position was eliminated and ex-managing editor Tim Kelley became the digital media manager at Capital Newspapers Inc. Capital Newspapers is jointly owned by Lee and The Capital Times Co.