PORTLAND – The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on Friday began notifying employees they would be laid off or be eligible for early retirement programs as part of the newspaper’s cost-cutting measures.

The newspaper announced last month it planned to cut its work force by approximately 10 percent because of declining advertising revenue and the rising cost of newsprint.

The paper has about 570 employees.Jean H. Eichenbaum, general manager of the newspaper, said several employees were notified they are being laid off, while others in certain job classifications were offered voluntary early retirement packages.

The company declined to specify the numbers of affected employees, or which departments they work in.

“I regret the impact these actions may have on some of our valued employees, and we have tried to minimize the scope of the labor force reductions as much as we can,” Eichenbaum said.