San Diego Magazine has joined the list of local publications that have cut back on staff in the midst of tough economic times.
Longtime editorial and art-department staffers were let go this week by the local publishing house. Executive editor Ron Donoho and art director Laurie Miller were laid off, as were four members of the company's custom news division, which is responsible for the Exquisite Weddings magazine and publications produced for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau. The receptionist at the magazine's Front Street headquarters was also pink-slipped.
One person with a knowledge of the magazine's inner workings said Donoho was the editorial workhorse at the publication and that it was hard to imagine how the staff would be able to put the magazine out without him.
The move was unexpected by staffers, who said they had been led to believe that there would no layoffs. Instead, they thought there would be cutbacks in other areas.
The layoffs came after magazine president Jim Fitzpatrick departed earlier this month and publisher Maureen Sullivan took on both positions.
NBCSanDiego.com contacted San Diego Magazine for this story and was told they had no comment.
