Here’s something we didn’t see coming. Sure, when reporters get downsized usually management decides who stays and who goes.

Well, in the case of The Kansas City Star, two reporters have been told one of them will stay and the other one will go and get this — they will be the ones to make the decision!

As pointed out by JimRomenesko, Karen Dillon and Dawn Bormann have been tasked with the difficult decision.

A source on KCConfidential.com revealed, “Dillon has seniority, so she has the option of taking it or not taking it. And if she does, Dawn gets laid off. Dawn’s a great person but I think Karen will vote in favor of herself because she’s got teenage kids at home.”

Dillon responded to Romenesko (he also contacted Bormann, and the paper’s editor and publisher), and indicated “we’ve not made an official decision.”

She added, “It’s one of the most difficult situations I’ve ever faced.”