Cleveland layoffs claim energy reporter Funk

John Funk, who has been covering the energy industry for the Cleveland Plain Dealer since 2001, was among the 14 newsroom staffers laid off by the paper on Monday.

In a farewell email, Funk wrote:

I have volunteered to take a layoff at The Plain Dealer.  The demand for another reduction in staff came during difficult negotiations between the Newspaper Guild and the company.

For me, the situation has boiled down to whether I believe in collective bargaining or not.  I do. And therefore I volunteered. April 1 is my last day working for the PD.

I do not know whether the newspaper will continue to cover utilities or any aspect of the the energy beat that I have developed since May 2001.

Funk previously covered politics and higher education for the paper. He also worked for the Akron Beacon Journal from 1985 to 1990.

His work can be found here. Funk said he is looking to stay in reporting.