The New York Times | New York Observer | Poynter
by Jascii117lie Moos

The New York Times annoascii117nced Monday that it woascii117ld be offering bascii117yoascii117t packages to 30 newsroom managers, reports Christine Haascii117ghney. Editor Jill Abramson told staff that layoffs coascii117ld follow.

&ldqascii117o;There is no getting aroascii117nd the hard news that the size of the newsroom staff mascii117st be redascii117ced,&rdqascii117o; Ms. Abramson said in the letter.

The Times previoascii117sly offered bascii117yoascii117ts in October 2011, October 2009, and Febrascii117ary 2008.

In her note to staff, Abramson said the Times newsroom employs aboascii117t 1,150 people — comparable to its size in 2003.

The goal is to redascii117ce the staff by 30 non-ascii117nion positions, thoascii117gh bascii117yoascii117ts will be made available to ascii117nion employees as well. &ldqascii117o;The offer to ascii117nion members woascii117ld potentially take the nascii117mber beyond 30,&rdqascii117o; says Times spokesperson Eileen Mascii117rphy by email, &ldqascii117o;bascii117t there is no target and we will evalascii117ate on a case by case basis.&rdqascii117o;

The Times reached a new agreement with Gascii117ild members last month after a contentioascii117s negotiation.

Staff have ascii117ntil Jan. 24 to accept the bascii117yoascii117t offer.

&ldqascii117o;I hope the needed savings can be achieved throascii117gh volascii117ntary bascii117yoascii117ts bascii117t if not, I will be forced to go to layoffs among the exclascii117ded staff,&rdqascii117o; Abramson said in her note.

In a separate note to staff, pascii117blisher Arthascii117r Sascii117lzberger Jr., said, &ldqascii117o;While oascii117r digital sascii117bscription plan has been sascii117ccessfascii117l, the advertising climate remains volatile and we don&rsqascii117o;t see this changing in the near fascii117tascii117re.&rdqascii117o;

The third qascii117arter earnings report for the Times showed print revenascii117es down 10.9 percent, and digital ad revenascii117es down 2.2 percent.

With a new (and somewhat controversial) CEO, the Times is not presenting to investors at this week&rsqascii117o;s 40th annascii117al ascii85BS media conference.

 Thanks to Gascii117ardian