ABC to cut 25 percent of its staff by the end of 2010

             ABC News will restructure by undergoing big personnel reductions by the end of the year, the Post Standard reports. ABC News President David Westin says the number could be as high as one quarter of the current 1,400-person news staff.

            The plan involves a new use of digital journalism, where journalists will produce and shoot their own stories. Westin says the goal is to have “a more flexible blend of staff and freelancers.”

            He says three factors has led to this reduction decision: recent economic conditions, the digital age changes in newsgathering, and new technologies that give the opportunity to do more with less people.

Staff members received a memorandum Tuesday and will be offered voluntary buyouts. Layoffs will likely follow if the target number is not reached.

ABC is not the only station making cutbacks. NBC News closed facilities in New Jersey two years ago, and CBS News is also currently making layoffs.

South Korean wins gold under huge pressure

            South Korea won its first figure skating gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics Thursday. Kim Yu-Na, 19, performed a flawless free skate and outscored all the other competitors. Japan’s Mao Asada took the silver medal and Canada’s Joannie Rochette the bronze.

            Yu-Na scored a record-breaking number for her short program earlier this week, and definitely felt all eyes on her from her homeland.

            “There was a lot of pressure on her because South Korea really wanted this victory,” Yu-Na's coach, Brian Orser, said.

            South Korea adored Yu-Na before the Games, and now the teen will receive even more love. According to CNN, Kim's country has dubbed her “The Queen,” and Kim’s representative, IB Sports Management, says she has yielded $10 million in sponsorships and endorsements. Samsung Electronics has even created the “Yuna Haptic” cell phone, and over one million have been sold, Samsung said.

            South Korea is overjoyed by Yu-Na's win, as CNN journalist Brett Cole said, “the whole nation literally stopped for Yu-Na’s performance.”

Syracuse University students make the Dome their home

Wednesday after the Syracuse University women's basketball game SU students started lining up inside the Carrier Dome to get the first pick of seats for the Villanova-Syracuse game Saturday. The Post Standard says around 450 students have been camped out in the Dome, keeping themselves busy with video games, movies and homework. Other must-bring items include air mattresses, sleeping bags, laptops and chairs.

Students can form groups of four to wait in line; at least one person from the group needs to be in line to keep the team's spot. S.U. student Dave Cunningham and his team have the No. 1 spot in line to pick student section tickets. 

Although the weather has been all snow, those people camping in the Dome aren't feeling the cold. SU workers turned up the temperature inside to melt the snow on top of the Dome. 

"We were surprised by the heat, but it's still pretty comfortable in here," Cunningham said. 

SU students only need to camp out one more night until they get to cheer for the Orange Saturday.