暗黑爆料papers across the Mountain West have faced troubling times recently. There have been layoffs, budget cuts and, on Tuesday morning, Montana鈥檚 biggest alternative weekly was abruptly shut down by its parent company.
鈥淪o many of my friends lost their jobs today,鈥� Sarah Aswell, a frequent contributor to the Missoula Independent, said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 few opportunities for these kind of jobs in Montana.鈥�
The paper was purchased by Lee Enterprises last year. They own eight major newspapers in the region and dozens in the midwest.
Missoula Independent employees unionized after the paper was sold to Lee and tried to enter contract negotiations last month. But Lee said the alt-weekly was bleeding money. They shuttered it with almost no warning.
The papers鈥� employees said they were locked out of the building and given one month鈥檚 severance pay and benefits.
Around 70 people gathered near downtown Missoula, Montana on Tuesday night to protest the paper鈥檚 closure.
Long-time Missoula Independent freelance writer Andy Smetanka was holding a sign that said 鈥淣uts To You, Lee!鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like the death of a relative that you never had a chance to reconcile with,鈥� Smetanka said. 鈥淵ou know, this morning, suddenly yanked out of the picture.鈥�
Lee Enterprises was unable to comment before deadline.
This story was produced by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, Yellowstone Public Radio in Montana, KUER in Salt Lake City and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado.
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