This week the death spiral of local news as the New York Daily News lays off half

its editorial staff and the parent company Trunk seems to have no clear strategy.

What is the future for the

local newspapers and outlets that readers love? It's time for the story behind

the story. I'm your host Brian Stelter and this is the Reliable Sources Podcast, our weekly chance to go in depth with media leaders and newsmakers.

This week, a story that's simply tragic to hear about Trunk and its ownership of the New York Daily News,

it's mishandling of the paper. On Monday, the paper announced layoffs that affected 50% of the staff and I'm joined by three of

the reporters who were let go. Aaron Durkin was a reporter covering the City Hall

Bureau covering politics and government

Kerry Burke city reporter and Chelsea arose Marcius also a staff reporter

at the daily news. Thank you all for being here with me. Thank you for having us. Thank you. Thank you all all for being here with me.

Thank you for having us.

Thank you.

We're talking two days after the layoffs.

All of you, of course, were on the staff of the paper.

And from what I've read, from what I've heard, the way this went down was was pretty ugly

you know making a bad situation even worse.

Chelsea can you tell me what happened that morning?

We were told to report to the newsroom at 9 a.m. the day before and we

were all gathered in the middle of the newsroom at nine and one of Trunks people came out and he told us

that we would all be getting another email soon and that we would all be divided into groups and the

situation would be handled within those groups. The situation?

...