PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence Journal Co. laid off 23 full-time workers Wednesday as part of a cost-cutting effort, including 16 members of the Providence Newspaper Guild and 7 non-union employees.
The cutback represents 5 percent of The Journal's workforce. The reductions come about two months after 11 employees accepted a voluntary separation offer.
"Given a persistent softness in advertising revenue and the resultant impact on our earnings, it is necessary that we reduce our cost structure," said Howard G. Sutton, publisher, president and chief executive officer, in a statement. "It is always difficult to reduce staffing levels through layoffs, but it's necessary to ensure the future of the franchise."
Sutton said that the primary objective of The Providence Journal is to protect the depth and quality of its news coverage on all platforms. To that end, no reporters or columnists have been laid off and there will be minimal impact on other content providers in the newsroom.
John Hill, president of the Providence Newspaper Guild, represents about 200 editorial and advertising employees at the paper.
"This layoff, though not the largest we've endured, is particularly painful because of the quality of the people we are going to lose," Hill said.