Standard General Promises No News Layoffs for 2 Years After Tegna Deal

Standard General pledged it won't make any journalism or newsroom staffing layoffs at Tegna stations for at least two years after consummation of the Tegna deal. Standard, in a docket 22-162 filing posted Friday, said it's reinforcing its commitment that the Tegna acquisition won't mean reducing local news or newsroom staff. It said its plans would mean more news content at Tegna stations and "actually increase the number of journalists and newsroom employees at the stations." Standard said it's willing to file regular status reports documenting investments made at Tegna stations and, after the two years, providing information about any Tegna newsroom layoffs. It also pledged Tegna will recognize each of the labor unions covered by a collective bargaining agreement with that company. Standard earlier this year told Tegna employees it's not planning newsroom cuts (see 2206170051).