DEPARTING J/S STAFFERS NAMED

Special to the Readers of milwaukeeworld, since you won't read it in the paper

[For more recent news on this subject from July 29, 2009, go here.]

By Michael Horne

Journal Communications, [NYSE: JRN], the parent company of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, announced on Wednesday, November 7th, 2007, that it had accepted the voluntary separation of 55 to 60 of its long-term employees in a move that is expected to cost the company $3 million this quarter, and save the firm $4 million per year in the future. The move came in response to falling revenue at the vintage broadsheet, according to management. It appears 22 newsroom employees will be affected, according to a Journal Sentinel news report, which did not name names. The paper will continue to focus on "news you can't get anywhere else," according to editor Martin Kaiser, who also added, somewhat paradoxically, that the paper plans to hire some new reporters to fill the soon-to-be-emptied slots. [Attention recent journalism grads -- apply now, competition for these career-path jobs is sure to be intense!--Ed.]
You'd imagine that the "news you can't get anywhere else" would include the names of the newsroom employees who will be leaving the firm. Alas, the paper has always been circumspect about reporting about itself, which has always been a boon to www.milwaukeeworld.com. Therefore, we are happy to share at least some of the names of The Departed with you. We provide them as their names become available, and as their careers are confirmed dead.

IN MEMORIAM TO THOSE WHOSE CAREERS HAVE FALLEN IN THE SERVICE OF THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

Gould, Whitney [Architectural writer, 1st Class.]
Skiba, Katherine [Washington, D.C. Bureau, formerly embedded with servicemen abroad, interviewer of statesmen; fashion inspiration to the Corps Diplomatique, member, Harvard Club, Washington.]
Stanford, Gregory [Editorial Writer, Sagacious West Side Dweller & future book author.]
Derus, Michele [Residential Real Estate writer.]
Doege, David [Reporter to the Court of Waukesha County; husband to prominent early J/S casualty Gretchen Schuldt.]
Riepenhoff, Bob [Outdoorsman, Frontier Correspondent, survived by Best Friend Cody the Dog.]
Pufall, Dick [Sports dude, and like the above, a union official.]
Feyrer, Richard [Assistant to the Grand Vizier of the Waukesha Bureau.]
Helf, Bob [Designer, Entertainment Division.]
Brome, Nancy [Headmistress, Waukesha Home Bureau.]
Lynch, Jim [Newsroom laureate; Copy Editor.]
McDoniels, Verne [Copy Editor whose name looks misspelled, yet is not.]
Ziegler, Jerry [Another Copy Editor whom correct's reprorters' misteaks.]
McCann, Dennis [Peripatetic Travel Columnist who moved out of Milwaukee years ago. (Up north, eh?).]
Meyer, William [Photographer.]
Dembski, Barbara [Opinion molder in her role as Senior Editor in charge of the Sunday Crossroads section.]

A Memorial Service for the Fallen is expected to be held Thursday, November 15th, 2007.
Our condolences to the survivors. Let us hope, for the sake of their financial security, that they invested in something other than Journal stock during the course of their careers.
-- Management and Staff of www.milwaukeeworld.com
Footnote: milwaukeeworld records with some amazement the news that not all of The Departed are disappointed at leaving their jobs. Who would have ever guessed?