Seven news outlets in the McClatchy chain will be working remotely for the rest of 2020 in a bid to save costs and prioritize jobs. This is a major move for the company which is currently going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and is expected to be sold.
The publication will move out of its newsrooms in Miami, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Columbia, Modesto, Merced and San Luis Obispo, reports Poynter.
The moves are expected by August.
McClatchy says:
“The pandemic has accelerated our organization’s need and ability to work remotely. This has led us to look at new ways to find cost savings, including the exit of real estate leases, which our Chapter 11 reorganization allows. We will exit leases in seven locations and focus our resources where it matters: on saving jobs and delivering on our mission of producing strong, independent local journalism for the communities that we serve.”
The Charlotte Observer, which is also moving out of its office, executive editor Sherry Chisenhall added:
“Since mid-March, our team has worked effectively from home while providing vital local news coverage in our community,” she wrote, “Our journalists have covered two ongoing major news stories, reporting on the pandemic and massive protests of racial inequity nearly around the clock, seven days a week.
“The pandemic has deeply impacted our business, as it has many others. Revenue has fallen, and a timeline of recovery is uncertain. The move from uptown offices helps ensure that we can keep local journalists on the job, giving our community the daily reporting and accountability journalism, you expect from us. Our commitment is as strong as ever to informing the community with essential journalism that helps us all take on the challenges ahead.”
