By: Hartford Courant is eliminating about 25 positions through attrition, voluntary buyouts, layoffs and leaving open jobs unfilled, according to a memo distributed Thursday.
In an e-mail to Courant staff, publisher Jack Davis acknowledged that a similar step toward reducing expenses for 2006 had been taken in early October. Fourteen jobs were eliminated at that time.
"However, given ongoing competitive media pressure and disappointing financial results, we need to achieve additional expense reductions if we are to remain as strong as possible in 2006 and beyond," Davis said in the e-mail.
The Courant, with a daily circulation of about 190,000, is owned by Tribune Co. Davis noted in the e-mail that other Tribune newspapers are taking similar steps.
On Wednesday, five newspapers owned by Tribune Co., including the company's two flagship papers in Chicago and Los Angeles, said they will cut jobs amid declining circulation and revenue.
Last December, the Courant eliminated 10 newsroom positions in Washington and Hartford, citing a budget crunch. Those layoffs came on the heels of the newspaper's reduction of 19 newsroom positions through attrition since June 2003.
Tribune reported this week that its consolidated revenues for the period ending Oct. 23 were down 3.5 percent, from $455 million to $439 million.
In Connecticut, Tribune also owns The Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time, several weekly newspapers and a Fox television affiliate, WTIC-TV.
Shares of Tribune rose 5 cents to close at $32.49 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
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