Layoff survivors grapple with satisfaction and quality of work as newspapers reorganize

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Issue Date
2010Author
Reinardy, Scott
Publisher
Journal of Media Business Studies
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Lewin’s (1947) organizational development theory says that
after an organization reorganizes and downsizes, it “refreezes” to prechange
comfort levels. This study of 2,159 newspaper layoff survivors
indicates they perceive that refreezing at this time would be problematic
because it would result in a journalism of mediocrity, more focused on
quantity rather than quality. In light of previous research, the reduction of
newsroom staff also alters the product attributes. In this case it may
perpetuate the downward spiral of lost circulation and advertising
revenue. The results indicate that for those employees experiencing a
decline in trust, morale, satisfaction and commitment, newspapers are
creating production-line journalism that is seen as void of purpose and
function.
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Citation
Reinardy, Scott. (2010) Layoff survivors grapple with satisfaction and quality of work as newspapers reorganize. Journal of Media Business Studies, 7 (4).
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