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CHARLOTTE, N.C. The Charlotte Observer says it will eliminate 25 of 41 jobs in its ad design group, following its sister newspapers in sending the work overseas.

The newspaper says the work will be outsourced to Affinity Express, a Chicago company with facilities in the Philippines and India.

Employees received official notice yesterday but had known in advance of the layoffs. Newspaper officials say the workers can apply for the 16 remaining jobs as artists, designers and "traffic coordinators." Some people also will be offered positions elsewhere within the paper, which has about 1,000 workers.

The transition is expected to be complete by May 31st.

The News & Observer Publishing Company in Raleigh said last week as many as 16 jobs in its advertising department would be sent overseas.