Report: Philly Media Network "Gutted"

More than half of Philly.com’s editorial staff and 25 percent of Daily News editorial staffers were among the 46 people laid off by Philadelphia Media Network, according to the employee union head.

Howard Gensler

Emerging from a meeting with PMN management Wednesday afternoon, Howard Gensler, a Daily News columnist and the president of the Newspaper Guild Local 10, which represents more than 400 employees in editorial, advertising, circulation and finance, said Philly.com was “gutted.”

Philadelphia Business Journal reports Gensler said 17 of 29 Philly.com editorial staff were laid off, while 17 of 60 Daily News editorial staff were affected and 12 members of the Inquirer editorial staff — estimated to be between 150 to 200 people — lost their jobs.

“That tells you who still has the juice in this company,” said Gensler, referring to the Inquirer. “I don’t understand who the company thinks will put out Philly.com and the Daily News. I guess we’ll find out on Dec. 5, when everything becomes effective.”

Gensler said the company said it was not yet prepared to discuss how its plan to combine all three newsrooms into one would work, so it remains unclear if content will be shared among the two newspapers.

In a prepared statement, PMN Vice President of Human Resources Keith Black said it’s a difficult day for everyone at the company, especially those losing their jobs.