New York Times Buyout Deadline Approaches; Jill Abramson Urges Staffers To Consider Them (UPDATES)

New York Times Buyout Deadline Is Here
NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Traffic moves along by The New York Times headquarters building April 21, 2011 in New York City. The New York Times profits fell 58 percent in the first quarter of 2011. (Photo by Ramin Talaie/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Traffic moves along by The New York Times headquarters building April 21, 2011 in New York City. The New York Times profits fell 58 percent in the first quarter of 2011. (Photo by Ramin Talaie/Getty Images)

The deadline for buyouts -- and possible layoffs -- at the New York Times is fast approaching (see update below).

The paper is looking for 30 staffers to voluntarily step down before it resorts to terminations. It's the fourth buyout at the Times in the past five years, as it seeks "significant cost savings." The buyout period ends on Thursday at 5 PM.

So far, several senior editors, including managing editor John Geddes, have publicly announced they are taking the buyout. Other lower-ranking editors and some reporters have also stepped down. On Thursday, HuffPost's Michael Calderone reported that sports editor Joe Sexton is another possible candidate for departure.

But the public numbers are nowhere near the magic number of 30.

On Wednesday, editor Jill Abramson, who has reportedly been "begging" senior editors to step down, wrote to Times staffers, saying that it will become clear in a "day or two" whether layoffs will be needed.

"If you think the buyout is something that works for you at this time in your life, we urge you to give the offer serious consideration if you haven't already," she wrote. "Each buyout we record reduces the possibility of layoffs."

UPDATE: Thursday, 1:50 p.m. -- New York Times assistant managing editor Jim Roberts announced his departure from the newspaper. It is unclear if he took one of the buyouts. He tweeted the news on Thursday and wrote:

After 26 years at the New York Times, it's time for @nytjim to move on and find a new handle. I've been so privileged to work with true giants of journalism - fearless correspondents, wise analysts & masters of visual expression. I'm particularly grateful to my digital friends, who've schooled me in potential of multimedia, interactive, mobile & social journalism. It's been a long awesome trip. Another will follow.

UPDATE II: By the day's end, only 10 staffers had publicly confirmed they were stepping down.

Before You Go

Jill Abramson, executive editor

New York Times

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