USA Today is calling it quits on its weekend magazine, USA Today president and publisher Larry Kramer announced in a memo to staffers Friday. USA Weekend, which is currently the nation's second-largest news magazine, will print its final issue on Dec. 28.
The closure will reportedly result in approximately 30 layoffs for staffers, though the exact number is not yet confirmed.
The company underwent significant layoffs in September, cutting some 70 jobsfollowing news that the paper's owner, Gannett, would spin off and separate its publishing business from its broadcasting and digital entity. In 2011, the company underwent an even greater overhaul, cutting about 9 percent of employees, in an effort to focus on its digital strategy.
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To read the explanation in Sunday's Daily Times that it was no longer carrying the magazine after the 28th made no mention that USA Today corporate was pulling the plug, it only implied it would no longer be in the Sunday paper because it was duplicating the "USA Life" section material.
ReplyDeleteI don't appreciate USA Today material in my Daily Times frankly, it's a poorly designed sensory-overload experience that makes me turn away. Lay it out like a newspaper and not a Web page and maybe I'll spend a moment to read some of the content. It's also a very poor print job most days.
ReplyDeleteWhat an inglorious end for a tree to fall into the clutches of Gannett, USA Today or The Daily Times!