Another major American newspaper finds itself succumbing to the economic forces defeating print media everywhere. Next to feel the crunch is the Toledo Blade, which has announced that is is closing down production and laying off 131 employees.
The Mayor of Toledo, D. Michael Collins, says he received a letter from the paper informing him of the impending shutdown.
Block Communications informed the mayor that it intended to shut down its production facilities in the city and lay off 131 workers beginning August 1, though the paper noted that the layoff timetable could change.
Teamsters Local 20 President Bill Lichtenwald claims that the union is still negotiating with the management of the paper, but there isn’t likely much they can do in the end.
The Blade, published daily since 1848, is the oldest continuous business in the city and has operated out of its printing facilities on Superior Street since May 1, 1927.
Federal law requires companies planning large layoffs to give employees a 60-days notice about cuts. The letter to the mayor started that time clock.
The paper reported on May 31 that it sent a letter to employees saying the newspaper “has been losing money for many years, with losses exceeding $8.5 million in 2013.”
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.