More Gannett Cuts at Dailies in Four Big States

By: E&P Staff More details are emerging about the latest round job cuts made at Gannett this week.

Twenty-six jobs were cut at the Lansing (Mich.) State Journal. According to the Journal, no reporters were laid off. Two other staffers had their hours reduced. LSJ Media President and Publisher Brian Priester said in a statement, "Like all businesses, we have to keep our expenses in line with revenue and that?s what we?re doing."

No other cuts have been reported at Gannett papers in Michigan, which include the Battle Creek Enquirer and the Port Huron Times Herald. The Detroit Free Press, also is owned by Gannett, was exempt from the cuts, because it is in a separate unit, as is Gannett's flagship paper, USA Today, and is not subject to the community newspaper division's headcount reduction mandates.

Among the states hardest hit by the cuts was New Jersey, which cut 125 full-and-part time jobs at its six New Jersey papers: the Asbury Park Press, the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, the Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, the Courier News in Somerville, the Daily Record in Parsippany and the Daily Journal in Vineland. The cuts were announced by Thomas M. Donovan, president and publisher of the Press and vice president of Gannett's East Newspaper Group.

"Advertising revenues have not rebounded and, as we looked at economic forecasts for the second half of 2009, we had to make further reductions," Donovan told the Asbury Park Press.

At the Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal, 16 staff positions were eliminated, including positions in the circulation, finance and advertising departments, in addition to the newsroom.

The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader has cut 12 positions and is leaving four positions vacant. According to the Springfield Business Journal, the cuts were primarily in the production, accounting and advertising departments. News-Leader Publisher Thomas Booksaver told the Journal that no reporting jobs were cut, but other sources told the publication that some editorial staff were among those let go.

In all, approximately 1,400 jobs have been cut by Gannett newspapers, the nation's largest newspaper chain.