Heads roll at hyperlocal news site

Even deep-pocketed news sites are cutting costs these days. Hyperlocal news organization DNAinfo New York, which has been bankrolled since its 2009 founding by Chicago billionaire Joe Ricketts, has just laid off some of its higher-profile talent. Criminal...

Heads roll at hyperlocal news site

Even deep-pocketed news sites are cutting costs these days. Hyperlocal news organization DNAinfo New York, which has been bankrolled since its 2009 founding by Chicago billionaire Joe Ricketts, has just laid off some of its higher-profile talent.

Criminal justice editor and New York Post alumnus Murray Weiss, managing editor Michael Ventura, political reporter Jeff Mays (formerly of the Star-Ledger), and two Post and Daily News veterans—investigative reporter James Fanelli and senior editor Adam Nichols—were let go from the site on Friday, according to an industry source.

The move followed recent cuts at DNAinfo Chicago, which laid off two full-time staffers and a columnist earlier this month.

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"Finding the correct size of our team covering New York's neighborhoods is an ongoing challenge, and today's staff reductions were a difficult but necessary part of that process," a DNAinfo spokesman said in a statement, adding that "DNAinfo remains deeply committed" to its local news venture.

Ricketts, a longtime Republican Party donor, is the founder of TD Ameritrade. The Ricketts family also owns the Chicago Cubs.

News of the layoffs was first reported by Politico.

Even deep-pocketed news sites are cutting costs these days. Hyperlocal news organization DNAinfo New York, which has been bankrolled since its 2009 founding by Chicago billionaire Joe Ricketts, has just laid off some of its higher-profile talent.

Criminal justice editor and New York Post alumnus Murray Weiss, managing editor Michael Ventura, political reporter Jeff Mays (formerly of the Star-Ledger), and two Post and Daily News veterans—investigative reporter James Fanelli and senior editor Adam Nichols—were let go from the site on Friday, according to an industry source.

The move followed recent cuts at DNAinfo Chicago, which laid off two full-time staffers and a columnist earlier this month.

"Finding the correct size of our team covering New York's neighborhoods is an ongoing challenge, and today's staff reductions were a difficult but necessary part of that process," a DNAinfo spokesman said in a statement, adding that "DNAinfo remains deeply committed" to its local news venture.

Ricketts, a longtime Republican Party donor, is the founder of TD Ameritrade. The Ricketts family also owns the Chicago Cubs.

News of the layoffs was first reported by Politico.

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