Mike Merschel, a 25-year veteran of The Dallas Morning News, describes the anguish of a layoff and the worries about how to survive on a very small — even embarrassing — severance package.

A Dallas News Guild analysis of Dallas Morning News’ photo staff finds the legendary staff has been cut from 35 photographers in 2005 to six today. The Guild wants to boost the staff and limit contract work for non-staffers. A hundred Guild members signed a petition against outsourcing jobs.

For us, creating the newspaper is our pride and joy. It’s an art and a science. It’s a privilege and a duty. Management punted that pride to an outsourcing center in Austin.