Aubrey WieberLess than three weeks after being purchased by a West Virginia newspaper chain, the Ogden-based Standard-Examiner went through a round of layoffs Thursday.
The company did not make an announcement, but several employees confirmed the rumors on Twitter.
According to KUER, six employees, including Publisher Brandon Erlacher, were laid off. Three open positions will not be filled. According to the paper’s staff page, about 20 newsroom employees remain.
Executive Editor Greg Halling confirmed on Twitter that he was one of the six who were fired.
Other employees lamented on Twitter and reminded readers that subscriptions are the easiest way to save local journalism.
The news comes on the heels of a Tuesday announcement by The Salt Lake Tribune, which said it will lay off an undisclosed number of employees within a week. As of Thursday night, no jobs at The Tribune had been cut.
Ogden Publishing Co. purchased the Standard-Examiner in April. The West Virginia company, owned by the Nutting family, holds 40 newspapers across the country, including the Daily Herald in Provo and The Pyramid in Mt. Pleasant. In addition to its newspaper arm, the family owns MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates.
Aubrey started at The Tribune in November 2017 covering breaking news, crime and courts. He previously worked in Oregon covering cops and courts and in eastern Idaho as a general assignment reporter and editor. Outside of journalism, Aubrey enjoys skiing, fly fishing, craft beer and NBA basketball.