NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 2005--The New York Times
Company announced today that it plans to undertake a targeted staff
reduction program that will include approximately 190 employees at The
New York Times and the New England Media Group, which includes The
Boston Globe.
The staff reduction represents less than 2% of the Company's total
workforce and the Company expects to implement the program by the end
of August 2005 in accordance with certain contractual waiting periods.
Approximately two thirds of the total reduction will occur at The New
York Times newspaper, with fewer than two dozen of that number coming
from The Times's newsroom, where a voluntary reduction program will be
in effect. Staff reductions will be carefully managed so that they do
not adversely affect journalistic quality, the smooth functioning of
the Company's daily operations and the ability to achieve its
long-term strategic goals.
While the Company indicated it anticipates taking a charge against
earnings at some future point related to this reduction, it is not
possible to quantify the charge at this time. It is anticipated that
an update will be provided publicly at the Mid-Year Media Review in
June and the Company's third-quarter earnings conference call.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the
matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those predicted by such forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include national and local
conditions, as well as competition, that could influence the levels
(rate and volume) of retail, national and classified advertising and
circulation generated by the Company's various markets and material
increases in newsprint prices. They also include other risks detailed
from time to time in the Company's publicly-filed documents, including
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
26, 2004. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise.
The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company
with 2004 revenues of $3.3 billion, includes The New York Times, the
International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 16 other newspapers,
eight network-affiliated television stations, two New York City radio
stations and more than 40 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com
and About.com. For the fifth consecutive year, the Company was ranked
No. 1 in the publishing industry in Fortune's 2005 list of America's
Most Admired Companies. The Company's core purpose is to enhance
society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news,
information and entertainment.
This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com