WEST PALM BEACH, FL (July 18, 2008) – An internal memo at The Palm Beach Post this week says that more than 300 employees applied for buyouts and that all have been accepted, but that there will still be some layoffs in some departments.
The memo says that more employees applied for the buyout than expected and there were too many in some departments and not enough in other departments, so there will still be some "involuntary separations" in some departments in mid August.
The layoffs are likely to be in the newsroom, where there is a goal of cutting 130 jobs and where only 80 some employees applied for the buyout. Employees must sign the buyout agreements by an August 11 deadline.
Included in those who have reportedly accepted the buyout are deputy director of photography John J. Lopinot, photojournalist Bob Shanley, Treasure Coast chief photographer Paul J. Milette, and photojournalists David Spencer, Chris Matula, photographer and picture editor Loren Hosak, and videographer Susan Miller.
Also on the list of those packing up their desks to leave are editorial cartoonist Pat Crowley, the twin brother of New York Times photojournalist Steve Crowley, and political editor Brian Crowley, their older brother, along with many staffers who have been at the Post for three decades or more, including society writer and photographer Thom Smith.
