News Corp. to Cut 25 at 'WSJ,' Says 'Financial Times'

By: E&P Staff News Corp. is expected to cut jobs at its London and New York newspapers in the coming weeks, the Financial Times reports today.

The FT reports that News International, whose papers include The Times, Sunday Times and The Sun, has nearly completed an efficiency review conducted by the Boston Consulting Group and could cut up to 50 jobs, or some 2.5% of its staff, although some new posts could be created.

The Wall Street Journal is expected to trim about 25 positions, or 3% of its editorial staff, through attrition, voluntary redundancies and possible layoffs.

When Murdoch assumed control of Dow Jones in late 2007, he said he planned to invest in the Journal while others in the industry were making cuts. Since then, the newsroom head count has remained stady at about 760 employees.

Les Hinton, Dow Jones chief executive, told staff in a January memo the group planned to freeze employees' salaries, in the hope that this would "mitigate future possible job cuts."