MediaNews mows through the Merc newsroom

From Melanie Hauser:

"... MediaNews, the national newspaper chain that owns the Oakland Tribune and recently purchased the Contra Costa Times and the San Jose Mercury News, has unveiled its proposal to cut wages for new reporters at the Merc by more than thirty percent. ... "

" ... The wage proposal was immediately denounced by union leadership as insufficient to attract and maintain top-quality journalists in the ultra-expensive Silicon Valley. ..."

"... The wage proposal comes as no surprise for followers of MediaNews. The company prides itself in cutting costs. It’s also required under a business model that calls for going deeply into debt to purchase more newspapers. Click here for the company’s latest annual report. ... "

" ... MediaNews has told the union that if it does not meet its contract demands by November 30, then it will move forward with plans to lay off 101 employees in December, including 69 union members of which 40 would come from the newsroom. ... "