Facing ‘revenue challenges,’ Newsday to cut about 100 jobs

MELVILLE, N.Y. – Newsday is trimming about 100 jobs, or 3 percent of its work force, through buyouts and layoffs, its publisher said Thursday.

Details of the cuts, which follow a reduction of 72 jobs earlier this year, were not immediately released.

In an e-mail to employees, Publisher Timothy Knight said the decision was made after a review showed the Long Island publisher faced “continued revenue challenges” next year.

His announcement came two days after the resignation of Editor Howard Schneider. Half of the planned cuts are to come from the news staff, an article on the newspaper’s Web site said.

Newsday, which employs about 3,000 people, has been facing cost-cutting pressure after a scandal involving overstated circulation. Newsday is owned by Tribune Co., which also owns Hoy, a Spanish-language newspaper that also had overstated circulation. Tribune has tightened circulation controls and is making restitution to advertisers.

Tribune shares were down 23 cents at $43.40 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Dallas Morning News, owned by Belo Corp., and the Chicago Sun-Times, owned by Hollinger International, have also acknowledged inflating circulation figures.