  The End of Fun: Playboy Eliminates 80 Jobs
playboy10.16.08.jpgWe were under the impression people turned to
nudity in times of trouble, but apparently this doesn’t extend
to skin magazines. Man, this economy sucks.  In a memo sent to
staffers yesterday, Playboy Enterprises, Inc. CEO Christie
Hefner announced the company would be laying off 55 employees
and not hiring workers to fill another 25 empty spots.  In part,
Hefner blamed the fact that advertising dollars are heading to
“other platforms,” but given the magazine’s feeble (although
improving) Web presence one can’t exactly blame advertisers for
looking to spend their money elsewhere.  Hefner announced
additional cost-cutting measures including outsourcing newsstand
stales, switching to a lighter weight of magazine paper and a
significant reduction of travel, entertainment and overtime
reimbursements.  The grotto will remain, but who knows for how
much longer the water will flow over its hallowed falls.
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