USA Today Money desk hit hard by buyouts

Nine long-time business journalists working on the USA Today Money desk — with a total of more than 200 years of experience — have taken the paper’s buyout offer and left the newspaper.

Jim Healey, the paper’s auto writer since 1988, took the buyout. Anne Willette, the editor of the Money section and formerly a deputy managing editor, also took the buyout. She is married to Healey.

Bruce Horovitz, USA Today’s advertising/marketing writer since 1994, has left the building. So has Gary Strauss, one of the best markets reporters in the business.

Rodney Brooks, a deputy managing editor of personal finance and retirement columnist, is gone and will now write a column for The Washington Post. John Waggoner, who wrote an investment column, announced his departure in a column on Friday.

Nanci Hellmich, another personal finance journalist, also departed. Hellmich had been with the paper since January 1983.

Fred Meier, auto editor/blogger, took the buyout. So did Doug Carroll, the paper’s economics and real estate editor who had been with the paper since 1985.