Chronicle to cut workforce by 7 percent

Less than a year after firing 10 percent of his employees, Chron publisher Jack Sweeney is again swinging the ax:

The Houston Chronicle is cutting about 7 percent of its work force as it restructures the operations and support areas of the newspaper, Publisher and President Jack Sweeney said. In a letter to Chronicle employees released late Thursday, Sweeney outlined the changes, which include involuntary layoffs, open positions that will not be filled, and changes in the use of contract labor and use of outside services. The restructuring will not affect the newsroom and advertising sales staff, Sweeney wrote.

Unfortunately, that last line is all too true. The Chron's news operations will continue as if nothing happened, alienating readers and leading to more layoffs to come.