The Courier-Journal has announced it's laying off 51 employees. That number includes 17 people who accepted buyout offers.The layoffs are part of broader cutbacks by the newspaper's owner, Gannett Company, amid falling revenues.Among those accepting buyouts were a number of veteran reporters and longtime columnist Byron Crawford.Rick Redding is a local media critic and editor of the blog The 'Ville Voice.He says the cuts will no doubt impact the paper's journalistic efforts.“It’s still the largest news gathering operation in the state and that is still true. The fact is that I believe that the coverage that the newspaper will be able to provide for the city will be lessened.”In addition to the 51 layoffs, 18 open positions at the newspaper will not be filled.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.