News about the Sun Sentinel and it's not good: employee cutbacks on the horizon

Some of you will remember what happened at The Palm Beach Post when they cut their staff. The paper has never been the same; it's especially evident on the editorial page. Chris Joseph at the Broward New Times has this news about buyouts being offered at the Sun Sentinel; here is an excerpt:

     According to an anonymous source who works at the Sun-Sentinel, the entire staff received an email Monday announcing an "Employee Voluntary Separation Program," [emphasis added] which says the buyout program is "voluntary." Those who take the buyout, the email says, would receive a severance package that includes certain medical benefits continuation, outplacement services, as well as equity vesting, and retiree medical.
     The cuts have been something looming over the company since former Baltimore Sun publisher Timothy Ryan replaced the fired Austin Beutner as publisher of Tribune Publishing on September 8. But, according to the anonymous source, the feeling of foreboding within the Sun-Sentinel has been building up even before then.

It's not a good time to be in the newspaper business. Anyone remember the Post's former reporter Willie Howard? You'll be happy to know he writes for The Coastal Star now.