Smith Announces Big SR Layoffs, Resignation

Editor Steve Smith of the Spokesman-Review announced a “deep and devastating” staff cut at a newsroom meeting this afternoon. Twenty-one newsroom employees and four to six managers will lose their jobs in two or three weeks as part of a companywide reduction in force. He also told the newsroom whose names were on the list. The paper is offering buyouts for individuals whose names aren’t on the list. Also, Smith announced that he has resigned his job, effective Friday. Smith told the newsroom meeting that he made his decision to quit “easily and comfortably and with enormous peace.” Smith described the reduction in force “deep and devastating.” The newsroom will have approximately 85 to 88 employees when the layoffs are complete. The Spokesman-Review issued this statement re: the layoffs here .