Buyouts offered at McClatchy's Bradenton Herald -- the 8th McClatchy newspaper this month

The Bradenton Herald offered buyouts to about 50 employees Wednesday, becoming the 8th McClatchy newspaper to offer buyouts this month. Bradenton.com:

Newsroom employees at the Bradenton Herald were offered a voluntary separation program Tuesday.

About 50 employees received the option of taking buyouts, but there are no set targets or quotas, Herald Publisher Will Fleet said. The buyouts are being offered because of current economic conditions, he added.

If too few workers elect to take the voluntary separation packages, layoffs and other expense reductions throughout the company might be necessary, Fleet said. Employees are being offered two weeks of
base pay for every year employed, up to a 26-week maximum, and three months of subsidized medical coverage.

The announcement followed a meeting two weeks ago informing employees of a companywide wage freeze instituted by McClatchy Co., owner of the Bradenton Herald's parent.

In recent days, McClatchy has also offered buyouts at its other newspapers, including the Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee and Wichita Eagle.

Earlier this year, McClatchy laid off 1,400 employees companywide as a cost-cutting measure.

A McClatchy Watch commenter tipped off the news about Bradenton earlier on Wednesday.

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