Washington Times announces future staff cuts to reach multimedia goals

Washington Times to cut staff to reach goals

WASHINGTON — Staff cuts are in store at The Washington Times as the publication aims to improve its multimedia reach, the newspaper said Wednesday.

In a statement, President and Publisher Jonathan Slevin outlined the paper’s goals, saying a “new Washington Times will continue to reach readers and more effectively earn new audiences via digital, broadcast, print and wireless media.”

Slevin said achieving “efficiencies of scale” will require a “significant staff reduction” of the newspaper’s 370 employees.

“Changes at the Times are rooted in a rigorous business analysis, applying sound and tested financial principles, and shaping plans informed by current marketplace realities,” he said. “The new Washington Times will continue to report Washington-focused news that other journalistic enterprises often overlook.”

No details on when or how many jobs would be cut were provided. Messages left for a company spokesman were not immediately returned.

The announcement comes after the recent resignation of the paper’s executive editor and ouster of three other top employees. The paper’s former opinion editor filed a religious discrimination claim against the company last month.

The newspaper said it will make changes through the first half of next year. Plans include expanding the paper’s theconservatives.com site, a subscription-based briefing service, and its morning radio program, “America’s Morning News,” through syndication with Talk Radio Network.

It also will partner with its affiliate company, United Press International, in photo and online sales, among other areas.

In addition, the paper said in the first quarter of 2010, the local print edition will be distributed for free to “targeted audiences,” including some federal government offices and other “key institutions.” Single-copy sales will continue through boxes and retailers.

At-home and office delivery will be offered at a premium price. The paper dropped its Saturday print edition last year with editors citing low circulation.

The paper said it will tighten its news operation by investing in its strengths, including reporting on politics, national security and “cultural coverage based on traditional values.”

The Times is often viewed as the conservative alternative to the much larger Washington Post. It was founded in 1982 by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, leader of the Unification Church.

The paper’s former opinion editor also filed a complaint in November with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Richard Miniter said he was coerced into attending a Unification Church event that included a mass wedding. And he said the Times investigated him after he joked about the church to a co-worker.

In a note to readers, the Times denied the claim.