More Philly Inquirer Staffers Take Buyout Package

The Philadelphia Inquirer fell well below its goal of reducing its workforce by 10% with its latest round of buyouts. According to a note to employees from Publisher Lisa Hughes, 26 employees accepted the buyout package, short of the company’s goal of 40, reports the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The departures include 17 from the newsroom, two in advertising, four in finance and three in systems. All but the three in systems are members of the News Guild of Greater Philadelphia, which has seen its membership fall to 300 (out of about 400 total Inquirer employees) from roughly 500 just six years ago. The guild had 1,500 members 20 years ago, according to group officials.

Still, Guild Executive Director Bill Ross said the Inquirer is advertising to fill many of the openings in editorial, advertising and circulation. For example, at least five of the 17 newsroom buyouts emanate from the sports department, including veterans Paul Domowitch, Les Bowen, Frank Fitzpatrick, Ed Barkowitz and Marc Narducci but the publication has hired a new Eagles reporter, Josh Tolentino from The Athletic, and a 76ers editor, DeAntae Prince of the Chicago Tribune. It is advertising for nine editorial openings, including three in sports.

In her note to employees, Hughes said that unlike past voluntary separation plans, many who accepted the buyouts will stay on for weeks, and in some cases, months.

“The staggered departure dates are mutually beneficial — employees have time to transition into their next chapter and managers can better plan for staffing needs,” Hughes said.

The latest buyout offer was not a surprise to employees. When the Inquirer was awarded a $10 million loan — the maximum allowed — through the Paycheck Protection Program in February, Hughes told employees the funds would enable the company to avoid layoffs in 2021 but that it may opt to offer buyout packages. She said the company decided to apply for PPP due to the continued impact of Covid-19 on its revenue.