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News-Press Silences Goleta Valley Voice, Lays Off 17
Citing the stress of the economy, the Santa Barbara News-Press announced a “reorganization” of its operations Wednesday, resulting in the layoffs of 17 employees and the death of the Goleta Valley Voice.
According to a statement released by the newspaper, the Goleta Valley Voice and Valley Living, in the Santa Ynez Valley, have been “incorporated and expanded” into the pages of the daily paper. The weekly publications’ news staffs were among those let go. Previously owned by Jim Farr, the Valley Voice was purchased in 2005 by the News-Press’ parent company, Ampersand Publishing, which is owned by philanthropist Wendy McCaw.
“They called me in first and basically said, ‘The Voice is done, we’re folding it into the News-Press, here’s your check, sign this, buh-bye,’” he said.
Editor Martha Lannan and writer/photographer Lara Cooper were next to get the ax. This week’s edition of the Valley Voice had not been completed.
The layoffs come at a sketchy time for the 17 former employees, during the holiday season and amid a struggling economy.
“This is the first time I have been unemployed since the 1980s,” said Logan, a Dos Pueblos High graduate and a longtime News-Press copy editor who is confident he’ll be working again soon.
According to the news release, the 28,000-circulation News-Press will be expanding coverage in the Goleta and Santa Ynez valleys, Montecito and Carpinteria.
“Santa Barbara, Goleta and the Santa Ynez Valley remain our core news product,” said Don Katich, Ampersand’s director of news operations. “This reorganization will provide us the structure and resources necessary to provide the quantity and quality of relevant and topical news that is not currently served by our weekly products or by other media.”
Write to sfernandez@noozhawk.com
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» on 12.03.08 @ 08:28 PM
A few years ago the News-Press had a stable of community columnists providing “relevant and topical news” about Santa Barbara, Goleta and the Santa Ynez Valley.
These writers were cheap labor: They were paid by the column, did not come into the office, did not receive any benefits, and weren’t eligible to join the Teamsters.
The News-Press fired them all.
Go figure.
» on 12.03.08 @ 09:43 PM
So now they are going to report news for Goleta, but only after terminating all the staff who reported news for Goleta?
Their spin is insulting.
» on 12.04.08 @ 12:34 AM
This speaks towards a trend. Perfection in coverage will occur when the last employee is finally laid off.
» on 12.04.08 @ 05:20 AM
“Philanthropist” Wendy MCaw? Sounds like “Scrooge” Wendy McCaw.
» on 12.04.08 @ 05:49 AM
Let’s see - “expanding coverage” with fewer people. Brilliant! Why didn’t they think of that sooner?
» on 12.04.08 @ 06:51 AM
Travis Armstrong said that the Chamber of Commerce failed to protect existing businesses in Goleta like the Valley Voice. It’s good that they had the vision to support other news venues! Now they may get some local business coverage!
» on 12.04.08 @ 07:34 AM
Another nail in the NP coffin.
One wonders how much it will cost Wendy to maintain her bully pulpit
» on 12.04.08 @ 07:38 AM
When you compare the Noozhawk’s coverage of the building height fiasco (scandal) and the journalistic objectivity supported by facts about the council, that came out in the Noozhawk the day before the Newspress’ “Opinion” was published, with all the bias that Wendy and Travis could muster, it’s clear they may as well lay off everybody because they just can’t get the story right. Let the Noozhawk do the job.
» on 12.04.08 @ 08:06 AM
Why doesn’t Amphersand Inc. spin-off the Valley Voice to another owner instead of folding the only hometown paper Goleta has had for decades? Sounds like a strange “business strategy,” if indeed that is what it is.
In the meantime, thanks for the good service from Jim Logan, Martha Lannan and Lara Cooper. May you all land on your feet.
Best wishes,
Vic Cox
» on 12.04.08 @ 08:21 AM
oh my gosh, I guess it is true. A friend told me that the News Press does their layoffs right at the holidays. And here it is. So sad. They couldn’t even wait for the current issue of the Goleta Valley Voice to be completed. I hope more people cancel their subscriptions to that paper.
» on 12.04.08 @ 08:42 AM
Go figure!! If you didn’t see it coming you sure were not looking very close…or at all. Thanks to all the wonderful people who made of the Goleta Valley Voice. You will be missed and we all look forward to seeing you resurface somewhere far away from the disgusting Newspress!!
» on 12.04.08 @ 08:47 AM
Funny. I didn’t realize the Valley Voice was still in business. May the Newspress be close behind.
Thank you, Noozhawk, for the great scope of Goleta news reporting and your understanding of our issues. Way to go, Sonia Fernandez!!!
» on 12.04.08 @ 11:20 AM
How does Wendy McCaw qualify as a philanthropist? How are
you defining this word?
» on 12.04.08 @ 09:34 PM
Scrooge seems a very apt term.
» on 12.07.08 @ 11:07 AM
12-07-08
A fateful day, indeed ... Did you know there are 30 daily newspapers for sale? Including the Rocky Mountain News? The owner of the San Diego Union-Tribune was offered a bunch of money, not too long ago, turned it down, now wants to sell, no buyers.
What is the definition of “philanthropist?”
Raphael (not Maldonado)
» on 12.10.08 @ 07:46 PM
I personally know one of the victims of these layoffs—who has a family to support, has been a stellar employee per reviews, and felt certain that her job was safe. Now another family will be without health insurance, and may soon join the ranks of former middle-class homeless.
This was exceptionally inhumane, but fully in keeping with what we’ve seen of Wendy McCaw’s ways. This could have been handled far differently, if only to give these employees “notice” that their jobs would be taken away. The NP is just a toy to her, and its employees, her fellow citizens, meaningless appendages who either assist in propping up her sagging ego, or serve no purpose.
SO Merry Christmas former NP employees, and here’s your kick in the pants ! May you each land on your feet.
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