Newsroom churn hurts journalists. It hurts readers, too.
In any field, turnover hurts. Training new staff takes time and money, and valuable institutional memory is lost when longtime employees leave. In journalism, turnover means losing staff who have built up years of contacts and relationships. The loss of that familiarity reduces the quality of the news produced — which reduces trust among readers.
Too many of management’s proposals will mean an increase in turnover and the loss of valuable institutional knowledge. They also reduce the rights of employees who are just starting by chopping away at their future and their job security.
Management’s proposals undercut staff professionalism and voice. They want to hold all the cards when it comes to working conditions. When such conditions are in place, no one feels valued — and staff leave. Working conditions should be geared towards retention, not turnover.
Readers deserve the steadiness of a paper with minimal turnover.
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