Journalists mourn the loss of newsrooms as publishers give up office space to save money

Work from home has been the norm for five months now. Some journalists who were previously accustomed to commuting to the office love this new rhythm. Others deeply miss the office and can't wait to come back. Some soon won't have a choice in the matter.Tribune (TPCO) Publishing has decided to save money by giving up its newsroom space in New York, Allentown, Annapolis, and Orlando. Other publishers have done the same, or are thinking about it. Television networks and other types of media companies are also expected to shrink their footprints in whatever the post-pandemic "new normal" is.Flexibility and cost savings will be gained, but some things will be lost. Intangibles like newsroom comradery and a sense of place.Tribune announcement on Wednesday was a "gut punch," Stephanie Sigafoos of the Morning Call newspaper in eastern Pennsylvania told me.It was "devastating," her colleague Jennifer Sheehan added. "We've been part of downtown Allentown for almost a century.""It's really difficult working at home but we've all done it to be safe, keep our families safe and do our jobs," Sheehan said. "But it's not what any of us want. A newsroom allows reporters to bounce ideas off each other, share ideas and offer a sounding board. You don't get any of that working at home on your kitchen table."Read source here