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AP and Cleon Wall reportingThe Deseret News is cutting up to 35 jobs as revenue falls at the Salt Lake City newspaper.
Editor Joe Cannon says it's painful and unprecedented in the paper's recent history. The Deseret News has about 200 full-time employees.
"This is the oldest business, continuously operating business, in the state of Utah, and I don't think we've had layoffs before -- certainly not in modern times," Cannon said.
The newspaper reports on its Web site that revenue has fallen 32 percent since January, mostly from a drop in employment ads. Employers posting ads on the Internet have hurt the bottom line.
The layoffs will occur over six weeks and will affect all departments. Workers who are cut will be paid based on years of service.
Separately, Cannon says the newspaper will be restructured to appeal to local readers as well as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church owns the Deseret News.
Cannon says the paper will be "more local, more online, more Mormon."
E-mail: cwall@ksl.com
(The Deseret News and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
