Sources at the Times say the Outdoors staff has just been told the section will put out its final issue on Dec. 6. No word yet on what becomes of the writers, editors and other staffers. The section debuted Sept. 9, 2003. More cutbacks are expected to be announced over the next several days. A source in Chicago also emailed that buyouts offering two weeks of pay for every year of service have begun at the Tribune. [The question with that is always what's the cap? My source didn't tell me.] And the publisher of Tribune Company's Allentown Morning Call resigned today.

* Also at the Times: Joe Hutchinson was named Creative Director, a new masthead job reporting directly to Editor Dean Baquet. Hutchinson is the deputy managing editor who lost his responsibility over the design staff back in August. So I guess he's staying. Baquet's memo, which follows after the jump, confirms that the Sunday magazine's relaunch has now been put off until "early next year."

To: The Staff
From: Dean Baquet

I am pleased to announce that Joe Hutchinson has been named Creative Director of the paper, a newly created masthead position that reports directly to the editor.

This title captures the special role Joe plays as the editor in charge of the overall design of the paper and the editing of graphics. It is also an acknowledgment of how far the paper's design has come since Joe arrived five years ago and created the current system of design. The Times won 79 awards in the Society for News Design competition this year, the most won by any single publication.

Beyond awards, Joe has made design an integral part of the life of The Times.

In recent months Joe has overseen a dramatic redesign of the magazine, which will be re-launched early next year. He is also working on a redesign of the front page. In addition to working closely with me on future projects, Joe will continue to play a major role in the daily paper.

This announcement, and other recent leadership changes, will be reflected in tomorrow's masthead.