Gannett buyouts claim Arizona Republic’s top political & opinion writers

Multiple top reporters are leaving the Arizona Republic — and it’s unclear how many more will follow after
Gannett issued buyout offers in newsrooms across the country. 

Gannett Co. Inc, the country’s
largest newspaper publisher and the owner of the Republic, announced
earlier this year that it would be offering voluntary buyout packages to help offset declining sales.
On Wednesday, the Arizona Agenda confirmed the first round of
departures in the Grand Canyon State: long-time political reporter Mary
Jo Pitzl; Elvia Díaz, the first Latina to serve as editor for the
paper’s editorial page; and more than half of the opinions desk,
including columnists Laurie Roberts, E.J. Montini and Phil Boas. 

In a written statement, a
representative for Gannett emphasized that the buyouts are voluntary and
issued company-wide, not just at the Republic. The company owns more
than 1,000 newspapers in more than 220 markets across the country. A
Republic spokesperson added that the buyouts are part of a larger
strategy to mitigate overall revenue losses, but said the newspaper will
continue to “serve the community with expertise and dedication.”

“This (Voluntary Severance Offer)
allows us the near-term flexibility to drive improvement while
recognizing the value of our employees,” the spokesperson said in an
emailed statement.

In recent years, the company has struggled with year-over-year declines in revenue that it has sought to alleviate with staffing cuts, subscription price increases and a greater reliance on AI.
In 2021, the company’s annual sales were at $3.21 billion and in 2024
that number fell to $2.51 billion, with revenue plunging each year in
between. 

The buyouts come as Arizona’s
journalism landscape is already experiencing devastating cuts. In July,
Gannett announced it will move the Republic’s printing operations to Las
Vegas in October, laying off more than 100 workers. And last week, five rural newspapers were abruptly shut down because of their Illinois-based parent company’s financial problems.

It’s not certain how many reporters
will eventually leave the Republic or other Gannett-owned newspapers.
The buyout offer’s deadline is on Sept. 5. Richard Ruelas, the president
of the Arizona Republic Guild, said that several people at the paper
are mulling whether to take the buyout, but wouldn’t confirm the exact
number. The bright spot, Ruelas said, is that the offers are voluntary
and represent a welcome departure from the layoffs of the past. 

“These are people who get to decide
to leave of their own accord, of their own volition, with their head
held high,” he said. “I hope we get to celebrate them because another
option that I’ve been around for in my time at the Republic has been
involuntary layoffs and with that situation we haven’t got to say
goodbye to people. This is much preferable.”

Ruelas wouldn’t say what is prompting
Republic employees to consider the buyouts, but noted that in the past,
reporters who have accepted similar deals did so with retirement in
mind, or other opportunities. 

“People have varying reasons to go,”
he said. “(They) will only take the deal if it makes sense for them, if
they think it’s in their best interest.”

In the end, Ruelas said, the health
of the state’s largest newspaper and the future of journalists across
the state is dependent on public support.

“For those of us who do this, we love
it,” he said. “Its a job out of passion and we need the business to
succeed. If you like journalism and want to support journalists, support
your journalism outlet with your dollars. Consume the work we do, pay
for the work we do.”