A biz reporter on being laid off

Patrick Burns, a business reporter for the Lancaster Intelligencer Era, writes what it’s like to be laid off from a job based on first-hand experience this week.

Burns writes, “I’m not surprised, shocked or hurt; after all, as a business reporter I covered the monthly unemployment reports. Downsizing has been the norm in the newspaper industry for several years, and it’s not always pleasant — as my former colleagues at the Reading Eagle will tell you.

“That has not been the case at the Intell. For instance, the staff all gathered Wednesday one last time for a barbecue atop the company parking garage.

“After that, I packed up my dated dictionaries, thesaurus, AP style guide, family photos and Terrell Owens and Homer Simpson bobbleheads from my desk in the office at 8 W. King St., knowing that my experiences gleaned from working here will prepare me for the challenges ahead.

“We learned two months ago that seniority would prevail at Lancaster Newspapers and the new combined staff would boast something like 1,000 years’ experience covering Lancaster County alone. I regret not being a part of that team because the combined staff of award-winning writers and editors will undoubtedly establish a superior product.

“As you can imagine, it’s been kind of surreal working in the newsroom while counting the days until departure.”

Read more here.