ABC News lays off 22 workers, loses more to buyouts after being hit hard by poor economy

ABC News lays off 22 workers; more lost to buyouts

NEW YORK — ABC News is laying off 22 employees but losing far more to buyouts.

The network said two months ago that it was would cut its 1,400-person staff by a quarter. The news division has been hammered by the economy and, unlike rival NBC, doesn’t have a cable network for extra revenue.

ABC News President David Westin said in a memo to staff members Wednesday that more people than anticipated took buyouts, lessening the need for layoffs.

An executive who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the network doesn’t discuss personnel issues says correspondents Lisa Fletcher, Laura Marquez, Brian Rooney and Betsy Stark are among the people leaving ABC News.

The buyout count was first reported by the Los Angeles Times and TV Newser website.