The Medium, The Message

McClatchy newspapers will extend a wage freeze instituted last year which, on top of pay cuts and furloughs instituted this year, ensures that its employees’ earning power continues to erode.

“We plan to extend the current wage freeze for all employees (including corporate) at least through December of this year, with the hope of restoring merit increases sometime in 2010, as business conditions warrant,” Publisher Orage Quarles III of  The News & Observer tells his employees in an e-mail sent today. “As we finalize budget plans this fall, each McClatchy newspaper will determine when the freeze will end.”

“We remain committed to lifting the salary freeze as soon as financial conditions allow,” he adds, after opening the note by saying that despite more than doubling its profits in the second quarter, the company “continue(s) to experience a challenging revenue environment and must remain disciplined in our cost control efforts.”