Dow Jones Newswires columnist Lewis is laid off

Al Lewis, a business journalist who has written a column for Dow Jones Newswires for the past five years, has lost his job, Talking Biz News has confirmed.

His last day will be Aug. 2. The position has been eliminated as a result of the combination of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires newsrooms.

“I had a good five-year-run,” said Lewis when reached by Talking Biz News on Monday.

Lewis said he will continue to write a column for The Wall Street Journal Sunday, which is printed in papers around the country, and once a week for Marketwatch.com, another Dow Jones property, as a freelancer. And he plans to continue writing his “Tell it to Al” blog. But he is looking for full-time work.

While writing his Dow Jones column, Lewis won five Best in Business Awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and two Clabby Awards, an internal Dow Jones competition.

Lewis also once wrote a business column for the now-defunct Rocky Mountain News.