Media General Orders 15 Days Of Furlough For All Employees

The owner of newspapers in Hickory, Statesville and Concord is requiring employees to take 15 days of furlough. In a letter to employees, Media General's CEO Marshall Morton said the economy continues to take a toll on business. In 2009, Media General furloughed employees for 15 days, but was able to pay back two of those days last year. Over the past four years, the company has laid off 2,000 people, just over a quarter of its workforce. Media General owns 18 TV stations and 21 newspapers across the southeast. Those include the Hickory News Record, the Statesville Record and Landmark and the Independent Tribune.