Oregonian Lays Off 37 People

The Oregonian announced today the layoffs of 37 employees. The Portland-based newspaper said that the majority are in the news department, with smaller numbers in advertising, circulation and accounting. Affected staff members were notified this morning.

The layoffs had been expected, and are part of News Cycle's newspaper layoff count in December of last year.

Severance packages were offered. Staffers were informed last year that layoffs were likely this month. The Oregonian, like all newspapers, has endured declining revenues the past few years, the result of the recession and the migration of advertising to the Internet.

After the layoff, Oregonian Publishing Company will have 750 employees, more than 200 of whom work in the news department.

“These layoffs are a painful but necessary part of our 2010 budget, which was developed to ensure financial stability for The Oregonian now and in the future,” said N. Christian Anderson III, president and publisher of The Oregonian.