Bay Area News Group Cuts 34 Jobs, Including Editor of Berkeley Voice

The Bay Area News Group, which publishes newspapers serving cities throughout the East Bay, cut 34 newsroom positions Tuesday to reduce costs as it attempts to shore up its online presence.

Ten of the positions were via voluntary resignations; the rest were layoffs. Staff members were notified on Tuesday morning, according to employees who did not wish to be named.

Some of the staff members who were laid off or who volunteered to leave, have worked for various divisions of the news group for as long as 30 years.

They include David Boitano, editor of the Berkeley Voice and El Cerrito Journal, David Newhouse, longtime sportswriter and columnist for the Oakland Tribune, and Steve Waterhouse, editor of the (Fremont) Argus and the (Hayward) Daily Review. Also laid off was Barry Caine, former movie critic for the Oakland Tribune and an entertainment editor for the Contra Costa Times.

Laid off employees include reporters, newsroom clerical staff members, photographers and copy editors.