Washington Post launches 5th round of buyouts

[February 09, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Washington Post is launching another round of voluntary buyouts -- its fifth in the last decade -- in its shrinking newsroom.

Executive editor Marcus Brauchli sent a memo to newsroom staff Wednesday outlining the plan. The Post reported that he told staff the buyouts would be capped at about four dozen in a newsroom of about 600. As recently as 2008, the newsroom had about 800 workers.

Brauchli said the paper needs to achieve "real savings" in the buyout, but said it would turn down volunteers if their departure would impair the paper's journalism.

The Washington Post Co. recently reported a 9 percent drop in revenue from its newspaper publishing division. The company owns the Kaplan education company, a cable network and TV stations.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.