Herald OK’s buyouts for four in newsroom
The Boston Herald approved voluntary buyout packages for four newsroom employees, including three editors, as part of a cost-cutting measure.
Executive arts and lifestyle editor Larry Katz, Sunday editor Lisa Larson, food reviewer Mat Schaffer, and assistant sports editor Joseph Thomas are approved to take the buyout, according to current and former employees who did not want to be identified because they are not authorized to speak for the paper. The four have until Friday to make the buyouts official.
About a dozen other newsroom employees applied for the buyout, but were not approved, according to Herald employees.
Last month, the Herald offered voluntary buyouts to all 385 employees, who had until July 1 to apply. Members of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Boston, the union that represents Herald newsroom employees, were offered severance of two weeks of salary for every year of service. Employees approved for a buyout would leave the paper by July 15.
Gwen Gage, a Herald spokeswoman, would not comment on how many buyouts were approved or sought.
In an e-mail, Gage said, “This process is ongoing and we will comment only when the process is completed.’’
