Philadelphia Media Network journalists prepare to make public statement about coverage

As the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com prepare to share some content, 37 staffers will be laid off. First come the buyouts.

According to Philly mag, the two-week buyout period began yesterday, and employees are eligible for different payouts and benefits coverage depending on their tenure.

Philadelphia Media Network has to approve any buyout applications. Once that happens, those employees will get anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000 and one two three months of COBRA.

WHYY/NewsWorks’ Dave Davies shared with the us the following statement from PMN journalists, which he received from someone at the Inquirer:

“As the only business mentioned in the Bill of Rights, newspapers serve more than private ends.   The news we publish is crucial to civic life, to holding the powerful accountable, to democracy itself.
That information must be gathered and printed without fear or favor. As The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and philly.com have gone up for sale once again, we watched with dismay as our own coverage of the process was compromised and censored.  Our employers promise this won’t happen again. That must be the case. Top political and business leaders are now competing to buy Philadelphia Media Network.  Regardless of who emerges as our new owners, they must guarantee that the integrity of our reporting will never be sacrificed to serve their private or political interests.  One thing must be non-negotiable in any sale: our bond of trust with our readers.”

The statement is being circulated through the newsrooms to gather journalists’ signatures and release publicly.