More unannounced layoffs at Tribune Co.

Much is being made — and rightly so — over the Orlando Sentinel‘s attempt to not discuss layoffs made last week at the paper. (Of course, Paper Cuts followers were in the know. Stay tuned, a second round of layoffs at the Sentinel will be announced this week.) The Sentinel cut 16 jobs Wednesday while editor Charlotte Hall and publisher Howard Greenberg kept silent. Newspaper spokeswoman Lisa Jacobsen called news of layoffs “misinformation.” “Nothing is happening, and nothing is planned,” she told Editor & Publisher.

Finally, on Friday, Hall released an “update” memo saying jobs had been cut, and Greenberg returned a call to Editor & Publisher to say the same thing, and hinted that layoffs would also be coming to other departments. Greenberg said newspaper management planned to make an announcement at the end of the month after all cuts had been made. But the Sentinel still hasn’t publicized the 45 human resources, marketing and technology jobs that were eliminated in March.

And no one is saying anything about layoffs being made at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel either.

Sun-Sentinel employees were told about 20 percent of the newsroom will be laid off, but newspaper leaders have not released information to the public.

On Friday, the first two newsroom employees — reporters a reporter and investigations editor Joe Demma who were starting vacations today — were told they were being laid off. The rest of the layoffs will be made this week. Also on Friday, 11 pressmen were laid off.

This Tribune Co. trend is unacceptable. Just as they hold community leaders accountable for their actions, newspaper leaders must be held accountable. You can help: Send me your tips about layoffs and buyouts. (Anonymity guaranteed for anyone who fears retribution.)

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Updated July 21 with the name of the laid-off Sun-Sentinel editor.