Birmingham News cuts costs with 2-week unpaid leave, benefits freeze

The Birmingham News is cutting costs to battle the tough economy. Full-time non-union employees will take 10-day unpaid leave. Also, the newspaper will freeze benefit accruals in the pension plan starting May 15, though it will double 401(k) company matching.

Publisher Victor Hanson III cited declining advertising as the problem. In 2008, the News reduced staff with voluntary buyouts and early retirements.

Also:

March event: All the Way to Hoover

Wine'd Down

  • March mixer: All the Way to Hoover
  • Tuesday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day)
  • 5:30 to 7 p.m.
  • Wine’d Down, Patton Creek, 180 Main St., Suite 212, Hoover [map]
  • Free (drinks: pay your own way)

Come all the way to Hoover to Wine’d Down in Patton Creek for our networking mixer. Wine, beer, martinis, Scotch — all available.

Join the MOB on Tuesday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), any time between 5:30 and 7 p.m.

Anyone in media, advertising, PR and Web should stop by — please tell your colleagues, friends and enemies to join us. Complete details are available on the Evite.

Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

P.S. Please join our free mailing list for all the updates straight to your In box.

AIGA: Using Social Media in Business Networking

AIGA Shop Talk

  • Using Social Media in Business Networking
  • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, March 3
  • Cantina, 2901 Second Ave. S.  [map]
  • Free (lunch: pay your own way)

Panelists:

  • Jeremy Flint, Senior Web Designer at Kinetic Communications
  • Whitney Sides, social media/interactive endeavors at CBS 42
  • David Griner, social media strategist at Luckie & Company

Moderator:

  • Scott Fisk, associate professor of graphic design at Samford University

For more information, visit the event Web page.

Fox 6 lays off 10 employees

A third Birmingham TV station has cut jobs. Fox 6 (WBRC) cut 10 jobs Friday, as first mentioned by veteran former TV reporter Ike Pigott and later by the Birmingham Business Journal.

In January, NBC 13 and ABC 33/40 cut 25 jobs total.

Business Journal reporter and MOB member Jimmy Debutts wrote:

Fox 6

Fox6 WBRC cut 10 jobs, including on-air personality Chris Montana, on Friday.

Fox6 General Manager Lou Kirchen confirmed the station trimmed its staff in response to economic pressures. Kirchen would not comment on individual positions cut but a source familiar with the layoffs said Montana was among those affected.

Kirchen said the layoffs will not affect the station’s mission.

“Our news coverage will continue intact,” Kirchen said. “It was very difficult. We feel bad for the staffers and families affected by this.”

Local TV, owner of Fox 6 since July, has swapped stations with new owner Montgomery-based Raycom Media, with the transaction to be completed in the first half ot this year.

Photos from the Inaugural Happy Hour

Our 2009 started off with a great time (if a little chilly) at Rojo in January. Thanks to Gordon Bell for all the photography.

Be sure to check out all the great photos, and if you’re in them, let us know! (Or tag yourself in the Facebook album.)

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Lipstick magazine folds – exclusive report

Lipstick magazine - Birmingham, Alabama

Lipstick magazine, a specialty publication of the Birmingham News, has folded. Staffers were laid off and had their last day Friday, including editor in chief Tina Hatch.

The monthly women’s magazine began in 2007 and ran for 16 issues. The March issue will be the last one.

Cottage Living, a title at Birmingham-based Southern Progress Corporation, closed in November.

February event: Lunch for Success, Making Plan B

Urban Standard

  • February lunch: Making Plan B
  • Tuesday, Feb. 17
  • 11:30 a.m. – noon: networking
  • noon – 1 p.m.: lunch + discussion
  • Urban Standard, 2320 2nd Ave N., downtown [map]
  • Free (lunch: pay your own way)

Worried about the economy? Trying to survive a layoff? Looking for ideas on what to do next, or just some friendly support?

Join the MOB at Urban Standard at for our first ever lunch event, Tuesday, Feb. 17. We’ll discuss the job market, planning ahead, freelancing, networking and other strategies.

If you’d like to lead a discussion at your table, just contact us.

Anyone in media, advertising, PR and Web should stop by — please tell your colleagues, friends and enemies to join us. Complete details are available on the Evite.

Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

P.S. Please join our free mailing list for all the updates straight to your In box.

[photo by Elaine Faith]

ABC 33/40, NBC 13 cut jobs

Two Birmingham stations cut 25 jobs in the past two weeks.

NBC 13

On Thursday, NBC 13 laid off 10 people:

Ten people in the news, sales and marketing departments were laid off this morning and their positions eliminated at NBC 13.

“As a result of the continued business recession, WVTM has been affected by lower advertising spending,” Vice President and General Manager Gene Kirkconnell said of the layoffs.

“Parting with valued employees is difficult,” he said. “I don’t anticipate anything else to come.”

ABC 33/40

And less than week before that, ABC 33/40 laid off 15 people (nearly 13 percent of its total staff):

Birmingham’s ABC 33/40 laid off 15 full-time and part-time employees Friday afternoon, including sports reporter Melissa Lee and meteorologist Brian Peters, a station official confirmed.

The cuts affected all areas of the station – including producers, engineers, photographers and sales representatives – but Lee and Peters were the only on-air personnel let go. The station employed 120 people before the layoffs.

“It’s a very difficult time,” ABC 33/40’s vice president and general manager, Mike Murphy, said Friday. “We regret that it had to take place.”

Photos from The Day the Mirth Stood Still

We closed out 2008 at Bottletree in December. Thanks to our volunteers Jeff Keeton for shooting the event, and Erin Shaw Street and Zachary Moore for hospitality.

Be sure to check out all the great photos, and if you’re in them, let us know! (Or tag yourself in the Facebook album.)

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Photos from Fifth Anniversary Dinner

Almost 20 people came by Jackson’s Bar and Bistro for the special MOB fifth anniversary dinner in November 2008. Thanks to Cecilia Pearson for taking these photos throughout the evening.

Be sure to check out all the great photos, and if you’re in them, let us know! (Or tag yourself in the Facebook album.)

Continue reading