Layoffs at the Santa Barbara News-Press

Acting on an anonymous tip, the Independent is looking into rumors about large-scale layoffs at the Santa Barbara News-Press, where between 11 and 16 employees were reportedly laid off today. According to one source, among the laid-off are life editor Mindy Spar, image editor Bob Klinger, and Barry Punzal, a sports editor who has been with the paper since 1983.

Another source said several advertising representatives constituted a large chunk of the group of victims of the downsizing. News-Press management reportedly said in explanation of the layoffs that newspaper readership has fallen throughout the country and that Santa Barbara is no different.

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