I have written previously about Gannett, the largest newspaper chain in America, which owns the largest newspaper in Indiana, the Indianapolis Star.  Job cuts have been a regular thing with Gannett and the latest round of actions aimed at the company’s staff have resulted in some Gannett newspaper staff members walking out for a day on Friday.

It is not clear whether any Indianapolis Start journalists were part of the one-day action, but the union representing the reporting staff, the Indianapolis Newspaper Guild, posted a Twitter message bemoaning the lack of a contract and some staffers at the Star took Friday off from social media in protest.

The Poynter Institute, a respected nonprofit organization that reports on media news, says the Gannett employee headcount fell 6.5% in the last quarter.  400 staff members were laid-off, 400 open positions were not filled, a hiring freeze is in place, company 401(k) contributions have stopped for employees and workers will be required to take unpaid time off in December.

There are newspapers in the Gannett chain that are down to 1 or 2 reporters, according to Poynter.

In Indiana, other than the Star, Gannett owns 10 newspapers, some in towns as small as Spencer and Mooresville.

I know there are other sources of news beyond newspapers, but the print media, and its online presence, often set the stage for other media outlets.  Strong newspapers are in nearly everyone’s interest.

I have no idea whether the one-day protest by journalists at Gannett will make any difference, but I respect their willingness to put their careers on the line to make a statement about how they are being treated.  If the best journalists leave the profession, we all lose.