affect the size or content of either newspaper
and that subscribers and advertisers should not
be impacted.
The two newsrooms will remain separate and
maintain independent operations, but the
change will result in as many as 70 layoffs at the
Journal‘s printing facility in Albuquerque.
William P. Lang, president of the Journal, said
the financial savings from the arrangement will
strengthen the newspapers’ ability to continue to
report and print news important to New Mexico.
“We have been in this plant for 38 years and it
has served us well, but as an aging plant it has
become more and more expensive to operate,”
he said.
Robin Martin, president of The New Mexican,
said her father — Robert McKinney — counted
Lang’s father — C.T. Lang — among his friends.
“That was rare in the days when most
newspapers were family-owned and
neighboring publications were often fierce
rivals,” she said. “I am sure our two fathers
would be happy that their children are working
together to keep their publications family
owned and dedicated to their communities.”
The change will take effect Oct. 12. The Journal‘s
sister newspapers — the Rio Rancho Observer, El
Defensor Chieftain of Socorro and the Valencia
County News-Bulletin — also will be printed at
The New Mexican’s plant.
Severance packages for the employees who
lose their jobs will include health care benefits.
Officials said there will be some employment
opportunities with The New Mexican for those
who qualify.