Salt Lake Tribune Implements Hiring Freeze

None by Jeff Robinson

Editor Says Core Product Will Probably Decrease in Size

(KCPW News) More bad news for the traditional newspaper industry in Salt Lake City. Only days after the Deseret News cutting up to 35 jobs, the Salt Lake Tribune told employees it would implement a hiring freeze. Editor Nancy Conway said the Tribune will be re-evaluating its place in the market.

"Clearly, we're going to try to keep the core product strong," said Conway. "The reality is it will probably decrease in size. We're trying to improve on our online publications, although they're very successful as well."

Conway said other focuses will include the Tribune's niche products, like its recently launched Spanish-language weekly, "Ahora Utah," and its entertainment weekly, "In Utah This Week," both of which are distributed free.

Conway and Tribune publisher and owner Dean Singleton say they don't expect layoffs at this point.

"He says he does not see layoffs or buyouts, and neither do I. My feeling is we can get where we need to be," said Conway. "I don't know that we even know where that is yet. We're trying to assess that right now."

The paper has 170 employees in its newsroom. The Tribune and the Deseret News both own MediaOne, which handles their printing, circulation and distribution.

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