At least 250 biz journalism jobs lost this year

In a new SABEW post, Chris Roush tallies that at least 250 business journalism jobs have been lost in 2009 so far.

Included in the list of business publications that made staff cuts already this year is Bloomberg, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Chicago Tribune and the San Diego Union-Tribune.
From the article:

"During the first six months of the year, more than 250 business journalists lost their jobs due to media closings, layoffs or newsroom buyouts, according to an analysis of the industry by the Carolina Business News Initiative at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill."

Local TV stations in Chicago form news service

Four local TV stations in Chicago will begin combining their coverage efforts and sharing content next week in an effort to save money, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Tony Capriolo, a WMAQ sports producer, has been selected as managing editor of the service, which will be based at WBBM's headquarters across from Daley Plaza but separate from Channel 2's news operation. Each participating outlet will provide two news crews and an assignment editor, and they remain on their station's payroll. Capriolo is an employee of the service, paid for by participating stations.

While the service will save its member stations money otherwise spent on covering the same event or story, some worry that it will make it easier for the stations to lay off employees who are no longer needed.
The stations, on the other hand, say that the move will allow them to cover more angles and stories than they could before.
Click here to read more.

Cuts on the Trib biz desk

Michael Miner of the Chicago Reader has a partial list of the staffers that were cut in the latest reductions at the Chicago Tribune.
On the business side he has listed four reporters staffers so far. The total number of employees cut will be about 53, so more names might be added in the following days.
Here's a partial list. For the full list click here.
* Susan Diesenhouse, Real Estate Feature Writer
* Eric Benderoff, Technology Reporter, Financial News
* James P. Miller, Corporate Strategy and Manufacturing Reporter, Financial News
* Joshua Boak, Business Reporter