St.
Paul Pioneer Press staffers' letter to PiPress executives
May
9, 2001
In
light of the recent restructuring announcement, we are concerned
that the Pioneer Press may face losing many of our
minority journalists, setting the paper back years in its
effort to create a diverse newsroom.
It
is clear that many recent hires are people of color. If we
do come to the point of laying off employees, the contract
dictates those journalists would be among the first to go.
Their loss would make further recruiting efforts even more
difficult, would undermine the trust we are building with
minority groups in the Twin Cities, and would strip our daily
coverage of the unique insights, contacts and hard work of
a talented group of people.
We
are also concerned about the effect layoffs here and elsewhere
could have on diversity throughout the Knight Ridder chain
and the newspaper industry in general. Even before the possibility
of layoffs was raised, newspapers, including the Pioneer Press,
were having problems retaining journalists of color. The American
Society of Newspaper Editors recently announced the first
decline in the number of minority journalists since it began
tracking newsroom staffing levels 23 years ago.
We
realize the elimination of jobs is something officials at
Knight Ridder believe is necessary. We know you do not have
an easy task ahead of you.
Still,
you can cushion the blow. We urge you to offer generous buy-out
and retirement packages in the hopes of attracting as many
people as possible. We do not want to pit older employees
against younger. The loss of any seasoned reporter, editor
or photographer would strip the newsroom of experience and
history. That, too, will hurt our newsroom. But those accepting
the package would have a choice.
If
the early retirement and buyout packages are attractive to
enough people, we are hopeful you will decide layoffs are
not necessary. We fear that with layoffs newsroom diversity
gains, long a Pioneer Press and Knight Ridder goal, will be
lost for years to come. We know this is your concern as well.
Please bear these concerns in mind during the next several
weeks as you prepare to restructure our newsroom.
Sincerely,
Natalie
Moore
Rachel Stassen-Berger
Maria Reeve
Becky Beyers
Amy Becker
Lynda McDonnell
Nancy Ngo
Karl Karlson
Murali Balaji
Kristina Torres
Phil Pina
Toni Coleman
Maja Beckstrom
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