Well, the Star Tribune layoff memos are out. Bottom line: no "reporters or their editors" cut, but "more stories will get fewer reads."

That means fewer staffers who do copy editing functions — up to 18 positions, though those aren't all copy editors, I'm told. I don't have a percentage figure on the job classification, but trust me, it's a lot of cast-off bodies between story editors and your eyes. (And speaking of eyes, it looks like the photography staff gets nailed too.)

If you're interested in the sausage-remaking — which includes mandated spellcheck for reporters, which I can assure you is far from foolproof — dig into the memo from editor Nancy Barnes and her leadership team, below.

Despite a slightly more than 10 percent newsroom cut, editors promise they won't drop coverage areas and won't shrink the newshole, so that's good. But of course, everyone will be scrambling to learn the new system while doing more.

As the memo notes (sort of), lots of other media organizations are hollowing out their non-bylined forces. Given that new ownership mandated 30 newsroom cuts in November, going lean(er) between writer and reader may be the only option in an age when new-media insurgents erupt wafer-thin. Management would note stories will still be read by an editor and a copy editor (who, in some circumstances, might now be another reporter), as well as a designer, many of whom have copy-editor training.

Here's the roster of potential buyouts; according to their contract, Strib Newspaper Guild members get a week and a half of severance for every year of service up to 30 weeks. [Update: A Guild statement is appended below management's memo.]

The position count totals a max of 35, but management says the bottom-line number can shift depending on who steps forward. As the memo notes, management expects layoffs, which means they think there won't be enough buyout volunteers. Staffers have until Jan. 20 to sign up; the contract gives people 45 days to take back their request:

Copy editors: Up to 18
Photographers: Up to 3
Photo lab assistants: Up to 1
Photo editors: Up to 2
Wire and web editors: Up to 2
Copy desk chiefs: Up to 1
News assistants: Up to 3
Graphics technicians: Up to 3
Graphics artists: Up to 2

Here's the memo from Barnes, senior managing editor Rene Sanchez, managing editor for new products and innovation Cory Powell, and managing editor for operations Duchesne Drew:

NEWSROOM REORGANIZATION

Dear staff,

As you know, we have had a team of staff members working for the last two months on a plan to reorganize work flow in the newsroom, with the expectation that we will eliminate about 30 jobs. Before we talk further about the results of that work, we want to thank everyone for their time, thoughtfulness, and patience as we’ve faced this challenge. Bob Schafer will soon send a note with the buyout plan for the newsroom, which is likely to ultimately result in a number of layoffs.

We all recognize that this is painful and difficult, especially coming after a tough year. I also want to re-emphasize our strategy so you all understand where we ended up. Our plan, as a newsroom and a company, is to protect (and expand) the breadth and depth of our content in myriad ways in order to maintain our position as the state's leading provider of news and information. For that reason, there are no buyouts or layoffs planned in the ranks of reporters or their editors. That means that the cuts are focused in other areas of the newsroom, as unwelcome as that news may be.

As we reorganize, our focus will be on streamlining how stories, photos and other content flow to the print, online and mobile editions. Similar steps are being taken in newsrooms across America. Over the past month, we have consulted with craft leaders in our newsroom who have a precise sense of how our paper and website come to life. They made many smart suggestions and raised important cautions. Their insights have been vital to facing this necessary task of reorganizing content flow and production. At the heart of this plan is the intent to have fewer layers of editing of all content.

This step will require structural change and increased flexibility among individuals and departments. More stories will get fewer reads. More pages will be templates and easier to produce. The roles of team leaders and designers will broaden. Some firm copy deadlines will be set earlier, and the daily schedules for some jobs will be tweaked or revamped. This will also require more individual responsibility: Reporters cannot turn in stories without running a basic spell check. Editors should have reporters read over every story they have edited. Photographers must turn in accurate cutlines that adhere to AP style. More staffers will need to be flexible about the work they do, meaning some reporters might serve a shift as a copy editor or line editor in any given week.

Reorganizing will mean different things to different departments; there is clearly not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some of what we’ll need to do will not be entirely clear until the buyout window closes in two weeks. That means that department managers will be working intensely with their staffs this month to tailor the best solutions to suit their daily demands.

But much of what we will or won’t change is already clear.

Here is what’s NOT changing: Nearly every department will stay intact, as will most reporting teams. Nightly deadlines will not be altered. Space is not being cut in any section. We are not forsaking any coverage areas or topics. Any sensitive story will still get at least three editing reads.

What will change: Most stories will now flow from team leader to designer to slot. We are posting several new slot/team leader jobs to help make this new system work. Reporters and team leaders will be required to write initial headlines for their stories. Many team leaders will shift to work schedules that begin at 10 a.m. and end at 7 p.m., but such shifts or rotations will vary by department. Photo editing will be revamped. Some shifts on the homepage of the website will blend into other editing work. Every reporting team will have a formally designated backup editor to the team leader; the two of them will not be allowed to take vacation at the same time. On the daily budget, many stories will be tagged with strict, earlier deadlines. For efficiency, we are also eliminating several management positions.

We are confident these changes will maintain the quality of the paper and the website, and we will immediately begin training those in the newsroom whose work will be affected. 

If you have questions, please ask us, or your department manager or leader. We appreciate your perspective and your patience as we face this challenge in the short run. These have been some of the toughest years any of us have ever had to work through. But in the long run, we believe that, as a company, the changes will give us the flexiblity and breathing space we need to make the Star Tribune a successful 21st century information company.

Nancy
Rene
Duchesne
Cory

The Guild statement:

Today management has decided to reduce the Star Tribune newsroom by up to 35 members. This occurred despite painful sacrifices made by Guild members totaling more than $10 million in two concessionary agreements over the past 18 months. The Guild requested and was denied a formal role in the reorganization that resulted in the announced reduction. We are deeply concerned about the impending loss of our colleagues and the impact their departure will have on our newspaper, website and this 142-year-old institution.

Janet Moore/David Chanen
Co-chair Star Tribune Guild

Vice-chairs
Jackie Crosby
Myron Medcalf
Kathe Connair
Graydon Royce
Pam Miller