Widespread job cuts and furloughs impact community journalism

April saw 28 union reporters and four management editors being permanently laid off at the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports NewsGuild.

Rachel Dissell was one of the reporters laid off whose break-through investigative journalism had a big effect on Ohio and Cleveland. “I’m heartbroken that I am not able to do this job,” said Dissell.

The need for journalism is now greater than ever, especially for local news. However, ironically, this is the time when many news outlets are not able to sustain themselves and are rapidly cutting back on jobs or furloughing their staff.

Plummeting advertising revenues are further adding to the worsening situation.

The Los Angeles Times also ceased publication of three of its community papers laying off 11 people, which included 7 members of the union and 4 managers.

“It was a shock,” said Andy Nguyen, one of the reporters who was laid off.

Read more here as to how communities are being impacted by hard hits to journalism.