Knight Center of Digital Excellence in Ohio is Closed

The Akron-based Knight Center of Digital Excellence was closed effective immediately on Thursday, according to OneCommunity, a Cleveland-based nonprofit that created the center two years ago through funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

“The purpose of the center was to consult with community organizations across the nation with the goal of creating affordable broadband access for all,” according to the release announcing the center’s death.

Meanwhile, on the jobless front:

• AOL will cut about a third of its workforce, or 2,500 jobs, to reduce costs as it prepares to be spun off from its parent company, Time Warner, according to news reports Thursday. AOL said it will ask for volunteers to accept a buyout package first and will then resort to layoffs if it fails to get enough takers.
• The News Media Guild announced Thursday that at least 71 workers for the Associated Press were let go this week. “The terminations Wednesday involved nine newspersons, three editorial assistants, one photographer, and one office assistant. The notice appears to state that correspondencies in Dayton, Ohio; Roanoke, Va.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Jacksonville, Fla., are being closed. In addition, the Guild is aware of layoffs among U.S. managers and overseas staff,” according to the group.
• Earlier this month, Microsoft said it would lay off 800 workers in addition to the 5,000 it had already announced this year, according to news reports.