Lee, Gannett, and other newspaper chains tighten belts in response to pandemic-related ad revenue loss

Lee Enterprises locations; cluster in Va. and N.C. are former BH
Media papers (Lee map; click here to see full list of publications)

News-media companies across the U.S. are tightening their belts because of a drop in ad revenue from the coronavirus pandemic. That includes Lee Enterprises, which owns newspapers, many of them small, in 25 states, Kristen Hare reports for The Poynter Institute.

In a memo sent to staff on Tuesday, Lee CEO Kevin Mowbray announced pay reductions and furloughs to make sure the company can stay afloat. In the third quarter of 2020, the executive team will take a 20 percent pay cut on top of the pay cut they got in the first quarter. "All other employees will be subject to either a pay reduction or furlough equivalent to two weeks of salary also in the third quarter," Mowbray wrote.

Other chains have taken similar measures. Alternative weeklies all over the country are laying off staff and closing, Hare reports. And, on Monday alone, Gannett announced company-wide furloughs and cost-cutting measures, Vice cut some pay and benefits, Maven Media Brands (which owns Sports Illustrated) announced layoffs and pay cuts, and The Tampa Bay Times, which Poynter owns, cut most of its print days and furloughed some non-newsroom staff.