Breaking: At Least a Dozen Staffers Laid Off Friday at Ogden Standard-Examiner - Updated

Will our home town newspaper survive, now that it's been reduced to its current skeleton crew? 

We saw the massive layoffs happen at the Deseret News.  We witnessed it happening at the Salt Lake Tribune.  Via former Standard-Examiner reporter Scott Schwebke we learn that a "wildly popular editorial cartoonist [is] among at least [a] dozen staffers laid off Friday at Ogden Standard-Examiner."

It's sad, but true O Gentle Weber County Forum Readers.  Cal Grondahl privately confirmed last evening that he's the "wildly popular editorial cartoonist" among the dozen or so Standard-Examiner staff employees who've received their "walking papers."

Sodden question:  Will our our already short-staffed home town newspaper survive, now that it's been reduced to its current "skeleton crew"?

Imagine if you will... a world without newspapers:

• Blumner: A chilling vision of a world without newspapers

Imagine a Standard-Examiner without Cal Grondahl...

Update 1/13/14 5:25 p.m.:  Via Bob Becker in the comments section down below, we learn that the "Trib is now reporting the story the SE isn't":

• Cartoonist Cal Grondahl, others lose jobs at Ogden newspaper

The Standard will attempt to lure Grondahl back under a new "no cut" contract, if they have a lick of sense; no doubt about it.

Update 1/15/14 7:44 a.m.: Cal Grondahl informs us that he'll be returning to the Standard for a limited "freelance" gig. "I met with my editors at lunch today and told them I would do a Sat. Caption Cal Contest cartoon and a Sunday editorial cartoon on a local subject of their choosing," our intrepid  genius local cartoonist reported in yesterday's Facebook status message.  Smart move on the part of S-E management, wethink.

Breaking: Veteran Reporter Cathy McKitrick Returns to the Standard-Examiner

Welcome back to O-Town, Ms. McKitrick!

By: The Cathy McKitrick Fan Club

Fantastic news for Ogden political wonks, as we learn this morning that Cathy McKitrick, a diligent and skillful reporter on the topic of "all things Ogden," after 8 years reporting for The Salt Lake Tribune, has "returned to her roots at The Standard-Examiner, covering Weber County and whatever else comes her way."   Here's the full skinny, cheerfully gleaned from Cathy's Facebook page:

FB friends, many of you responded so wonderfully when I let you know I'd been laid off from The Salt Lake Tribune on Sept. 12, 2013. (The words of encouragement helped me through a rough patch) So now I need to tell you I'm back reporting for the newspaper that gave me my start — the Standard-Examiner. Today was my first day back in the Ogden newsroom where I cut my journalistic teeth from May 2000 to May 2005. Right now I'm covering Weber County and whatever surprises come my way. You can still find me on Twitter at @catmck, or email at cmckitrick@standard.net. And every now and then I'll come up for air on Facebook.

With the recent departure of Ace reporter Scott Schwebke to his new gig with the Orange County Register, it's great to know that the ever-Ogden savvy Ms. McKitrick will be back in harness, capably "filling the gap" and covering "the Weber County/Ogden Beat," Yes?

Welcome back to O-Town, Ms. McKitrick!

"Carpe diem," Standard-Examiner management!