Santa Fe New Mexican announces layoffs amid COVID-19

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Santa Fe New Mexican has announced nearly a dozen layoffs, salary reductions and a shortened workweek amid an economic downturn caused by the spread of COVID-19.

Publisher Tom Cross said Tuesday the moves are intended to keep the family-owned newspaper, its website and other operations as healthy as possible while the media outlet deals with a decline in advertisement.

Under the plan, New Mexican managers will see reduced salaries and staff will have reductions in hours worked. It’s unclear if the layoffs affect the newsroom.

In addition, staffers at the alternative newsweekly Santa Fe Reporter announced the publication also had layoffs and salary cuts. The weekly has set up a “Friends of the Reporter” website to seek donations.

The Gallup Independent also said it would move its entire newspaper staff to part-time but still print regularly.

The New Mexican will continue to publish seven days a week and also will continue its commercial printing operations. The New Mexican’s printing plant produces a variety of other newspapers, including The New York Times.

The New Mexican has been in business since 1849.

As the economy improves, Cross said the newspaper hopes to restore hours, positions and wages back to pre-COVID-19 levels.

The New Mexican, like other newspaper and media outlets, is defined as an essential service under Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s recent stay-at-home order.