Tribune Publishing offers employee buyouts

Two months after hedge fund Alden Global Capital became the largest shareholder in Tribune Publishing, the Chicago-based newspaper chain announced a buyout program to reduce employee head count and expenses.

Notice of the voluntary separation offer was sent to all Tribune Publishing employees Monday, but only those employed for eight or more years are eligible. Details and terms of the buyout were not immediately disclosed, but participation is designed to “avoid turning to companywide reductions of the workforce as a last resort,” Tribune Publishing CEO Tim Knight said in an email to employees.

“While it is our desire to retain all of our talented employees, we must confront and plan for the significant financial hurdles ahead,” Knight wrote.

Alden, a New York hedge fund with a reputation for dramatic cost-cutting across its growing media empire, took a 32% stake in Tribune Publishing in November.

Two Alden representatives subsequently were added to the newspaper company’s board, expanding it to eight members. As part of that agreement, Alden is restricted from increasing its stake in the company to more than 33% until June 30.

Tribune Publishing is offering the voluntary separation as the industry struggles with secular revenue declines in the digital media age. While Tribune Publishing has achieved growth in its digital-only subscriptions, it continues to receive a “significant amount” of its revenue from its declining legacy print business, Knight said in the email to employees.

“Since we remain committed to extending the life of those products and services and to serving our home delivery subscribers, we need to anticipate continued print revenue declines by reducing our expenses,” Knight wrote.

In addition to the Chicago Tribune, Tribune Publishing owns the Baltimore Sun; Hartford Courant; Orlando Sentinel; South Florida Sun Sentinel; the New York Daily News; the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland; The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania; the Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia; and The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia.