02-24-2010/02-25-2010 Update SUN TRIBUNE DIVISION CLOSES PAPERS; LAYS OFF 22 The Sun Tribune Division of NPG Co. (LINK) closed down its Northland papers (except the Liberty Tribune) and let go 22 (out of a reported 50) employees Wednesday (2/24) morning, according to a reliable source. "It was a complete surprise to the employees," said a source. "They put out the latest edition and then were given the news." Sun Tribune is a group of community newspapers published in the Northland of Kansas City, including the Sun Tribune, Sun Gazette and Liberty Tribune. The Kearney Courier and The Smithville Herald are not part of the Sun Tribune group and will remain. The group is part of the NPG Companies (News-Press Gazette Company) based in St. Joseph, MO. NPG has owned the Sun Publications in Johnson County since 2005 and operates 22 newspapers. In related news, former Kansas City Star gossip columnist Hearne Christopher's columns have been dropped from the Johnson County Sun, and will now only appear in Kansas City publications owned by NPG.
02-25-2010 HOW CLOSINGS WERE HANDLED "The new (and final) edition is on newsstands as we speak with no mention of the lay-offs and shuttering of the two publications. There will be no "swan song" edition for either of the shuttered papers - what's on the news stands is it. "Apparently, Wednesday morning, H.R. folks from St. Joe were at the office at opening time, after this week's edition was off the press and out the door. There were essentially two rooms set up with staff meetings. A room with people who were "saved" and a room of people who were let go. Those that were saved are slowly being phased out of the Englewood Road office and moved to Liberty. It is hoped the Englewood Rd. office will be closed by April or May. "Some with names on the masthead of The Sun (Matt Daugherty) have been reassigned to different papers / groups, etc. One sales rep I know was re-assigned from Smithville to Liberty. Employees (the saved) are still on eggshells apparently waiting to see if the other shoe will drop or if there is even another shoe to drop.
No indication of what they'll do with their boxes, racks, etc. ---Michael Bushnell
02-26-2010 SUN KICKING ASS?
"Yeah, the Sun is really kicking ass and blowing The Star right out of the water." ---Jim Fitzpatrick
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