The Ventura County Star offered buyouts to nearly two dozen employees, many in the editorial department, The Associated Press reported. The employees taking the offer will receive a week’s pay for every six months they have worked for the paper, for up to a year’s worth of pay, and 18 months of company-paid health benefits, The Associated Press said. Of the employees offered the package, 14 are in the editorial department, four in production, three in circulation and one in information systems, The Associated Press said. “I’ve been in the business 29 years, and I’ve never seen a slump come on as quickly as this one in advertising dollars,” Star publisher Tim Gallagher was quoted by AP. “It kills your soul to see the collective experience and wisdom that might be going away.” The Star is owned by E.W. Scripps Co. The paper recently moved from its long-time headquarters in Ventura to a new facility in Camarillo.
