Globe buyouts: not enough to go around

Published Mar 20 2007, 09:24 PM by Adam Reilly

When the Globe's latest voluntary buyout program was announced in January, the goal was getting 17 newsroom and 2 editorial-page employees to sign on. But following yesterday's deadline, several sources tell Media Log that demand has seriously outpaced supply. I'm hearing that well over 30 newsroom/ed page employees have said they'd like to take buyouts.

Obviously, this means there won't be enough to go around. Now editor Marty Baron has to figure out how to make the numbers work, either by convincing people to stay or by telling them a buyout's no longer an option.

So who's going? I'm told that assistant metro editor Steve Kurkjian and reporters Francie Latour, Peter Howe, Ric Kahn, and Charles Radin have all requested buyouts. Restaurant critics Alison Arnett is also reportedly eying an exit, as are Robert Turner, deputy managing editor for the editorial pages, and deputy managing editor Michael Larkin.

I'd also heard that business columnist Steve Bailey would be leaving, but Bailey tells me he's not going anywhere. Whether the initial rumor of his departure was unfounded or Baron convinced him to stay put, that's good news for the paper.

Stay tuned. Meanwhile, here's how the Globe buyouts will work: departing employees get three weeks of pay for every year of service--up to but not exceeding the equivalent of two years' salary--plus a resignation bonus.

UPDATE: Here's the New York Observer's discussion of the buyouts.