• Editor & Publisher, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 11:02 AM

The Seattle Times, battered by a continuing decline in advertising revenue, will slice nearly 200 staffers -- more than half of them via layoffs. It will also close two suburban bureaus and cease zoned editions in two neighboring counties in a plan designed to save about $15 million. Spokeswoman Jill Mackie declined to discuss more specifics, but says: "There will be some changes that will affect both readers and advertisers."

In an email to its employees, the newspaper says the reductions will include up to 131 layoffs, while 60 unfilled positions will stay that way. Right now, the company has 1,845 full-time and part-time employees. "We had hoped the expense reductions made at the beginning of the year would prevent the need for further downsizing, but that is not the case," say Publisher Frank Blethen and President Carolyn Kelly.

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