Change has come to the Poughkeepsie Journal in the form of a reduced local workforce. Their parent company Gannett Co. Inc. announced today they were cutting positions company wide. Seven full time employees of the Journal have been laid off, including Executive Editor Stu Shinske.

Shinske came to the paper in 1989 and worked his way up to Managing Editor. He left in 2001 only to return in 2005 and has led the paper ever since. Under his tenure the paper received numerous awards, including being named a Newspaper of Distinction just this year.

Exectutive Editor of the Journal News in Westchester, Traci Bauer will assume a regional role and oversee both properties. Both will share a central digital desk and will work together on regional coverage. The plan is to maintain focus on Dutchess County from an editorial perspective.

The Poughkeepsie Jouranl was founded in 1785 and is the oldest paper in New York state.

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