SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KCBS) - Tuesday is the deadline for employees of the San Francisco Chronicle to volunteer to quit the paper, and accept a buyout in return.
Longtime readers may be stunned to hear which well-known journalists will be leaving the paper.
The Hearst Corporation said it has to cut 150 positions at the San Francisco. If enough workers don't apply for the voluntary termination program by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, the paper will start layoffs next month.
KCBS' Doug Sovern reports
Many reporters, editors and photographers, especially more seasoned ones, are deciding to take up to one year's pay, plus health insurance, to give up their jobs. "There are more than 80 people who have applied for voluntary buyouts," explained transportation reporter and union president Michael Cabanatuan. "And we belive that the number will probably get up to around 100."
Among those leaving voluntarily: Chronicle fixtures like music critic Joel Selvin, feature reporter Steve Rubinstein, and Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Kim Komenich. "I'm just shocked by some of the names that have been announced by some of the people who've told me they're thinking about it," Cabanatuan said. "You know, there are some people who I've idolized before I came to the Chronicle. There are some people who I've idolized since I got to the Chronicle. You know, it's going to be tough on all of us."
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