In the wake of Tuesday’s layoffs, the Gannett Co. is “tracking the impact to diversity and we work very hard to ensure no group has been adversely impacted,” Gannett spokeswoman Robin Pence told Journal-isms on Wednesday. “As you know, Gannett is tremendously committed to diversity.
“We have maintained our percentage of female and minority employees over the last few years despite reductions and we work very hard to make sure it’s a fair process for all employees.”
The National Association of Black Journalists said in a statement Wednesday that it had “received reports that there are fewer or no people of color working as reporters, columnists, editors at some Gannett newspapers. NABJ is concerned about its members who are among the 2 percent of Gannett’s current workforce who are being dismissed as company executives are rewarded with bonuses that exceed $1 million.”
It also announced, “Our organization will compile a list of laid-off members to send them special assistance packages and provide job placement support. Membership for all laid-off employees will be extended six months from their current expiration dates so that these members will have access to services such as job postings at www.nabj.org. These displaced members also will be eligible for financial assistance to attend this year’s Convention and Career Fair, scheduled Aug. 3-7 in Philadelphia.”
It added, “From a business perspective, we want to remind Gannett that some corporations are strengthening their commitment to diversity as our nation becomes more brown and black. It makes good business sense. Our nation’s history is replete with examples of what happens when newsrooms failed to recognize the growing African-American communities.”
Doris Truong, national president of the Asian American Journalists Association, said in a message posted on the AAJA website, “I spoke today with a top executive at Gannett, and we are working to formalize a way in which AAJA can reach out to the affected employees to help them find other work in our industry.”
The Native American Journalists Association added, “Diversity is a problem at mainstream newsrooms and layoffs compound the problem in coverage of communities of color. NAJA stands alongside its UNITY alliance partners to help those journalists affected by the layoffs.
“We are forwarding job positions to the Asian American Journalists Association’s (AAJA) president Doris Truong where the information will be shared via Facebook, Twitter, and AAJA’s website (www.aaja.org). We will post that information for our NAJA members that are affected as well.”
Likewise, Michele Salcedo, president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, wrote, “NAHJ board members are compiling openings in various regions and will work to connect our talented employees with potential employers. NAHJ will share information via social media and our website, nahj.org.
“We also are asking that those affected by layoffs contact NAHJ VP for Print/Financial Officer, Russell Contreras, at russell [dot] contreras [at] gmail [dot] com so that NAHJ can identify those who need assistance.”
