Star Tribune management is blowing up their columnist roster.

According to a buyout memo released this afternoon and newsroom sources, Nick Coleman and Katherine Kersten will lose their columns, though they may be able to remain at the paper as reporters.

To put it mildly, that would be a stretch for Kersten, who has never held such a journalism job. Expect a gigantic eruption from the right wing.

The paper's other metro columnists — Lileks? CJ? — may not be breathing easy, either. Management's buyout memo asked for "up to three" metro columnists and "up to one" editorial cartoonist, which seems a classification limited to Steve Sack.

The buyout roster also includes up to two reporters and/or editorial writers and up to three photographers and/or videographers.

I'll have more on the memo, and the developments, in a subsequent post.