Erica Lenti was the Spring 2015 editor of the RRJ. The oxymoronic Star
Leave now or be fired later—this is the decision facing Toronto Star employees. The Star is gearing up for what publisher John Cruickshank says will be “the biggest restructuring of the Star‘s workforce in history.” Employees of the paper can take voluntary severance packages or risk being laid off later. The voluntary separation package comes as part of the paper’s plans to outsource part or all of its pre-publishing and editorial divisions.
It’s no secret Canadian newspapers are struggling to stay afloat. Just last week there were rumours rumblingthat the National Post would soon be resting in peace. Newspapers and other print media are struggling to keep their heads above water. But is outsourcing the way to go? A news team is like a well-oiled machine. From the lowliest intern to the publisher, every contribution assures a final product that stays true to the mandate and culture of a publication.
But it seems anything goes in the fight to save print culture, including getting rid of vital editing and pre-production positions, such as pagination. A little oxymoronic, don’t you think?
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