News-Leader hit again by corporate cutbacks

Springfield News-Leader cut 12 jobs and is leaving four positions vacant as part of a corporate restructuring effort from its parent company, according to a report in today's News-Leader.

Gannett Co. Inc., which publishes 85 daily papers including the News-Leader, announced earlier this month that it is cutting 1,400 jobs - roughly 3 percent of its total work force.

"Unfortunately, we must take these steps because the advertising environment remains challenged," Gannett President Robert Dickey said in an internal memo obtained by Springfield Business Journal. "Even so, we know the economy will improve. To be ready, we need to continue our transformation and maintain a strong financial position. We must publish our newspapers, produce our Web sites and pay down our debt. By taking all these steps today, we will be stronger tomorrow."

News-Leader Publisher Thomas Bookstaver noted that the cuts were primarily in the production, accounting and advertising departments. He added that no reporting staff members were cut, although newsroom sources have confirmed to SBJ that some editorial department staff were among those laid off Thursday.

The layoffs mark the second round of staff reductions at the Springfield daily paper in less than a year. Nineteen positions were eliminated in December as part of a corporatewide 10 percent staff reduction. That followed a 3 percent corporate staff cutback in August.

Gannett stock (NYSE: GCI) closed Thursday at $3.19, compared to a 52-week range of $1.85 to $21.68.