Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News Slash Jobs

The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News have cut 68 jobs between the two papers.

Employees in the advertising, circulation, customer service, finance, marketing and systems departments have been affected, according to a memo released yesterday.

The company that owns both papers blamed dwindling revenue for the layoffs. The following statement was released:

With the recent downturn in advertising affecting almost every radio station, television station and newspaper in the country, we reluctantly have been forced to make these adjustments in staffing levels. During this difficult economic period, we need to be as absolutely efficient as we can be in order to preserve and indeed enhance our leadership role as the preeminent source of news and information in the region

Before the cuts, the company had 2,400 unionized and non-unionized employees. It appears that all 68 affected positions are union positions, affiliated with the Newspaper Guild.

One year ago, 100 jobs were axed from the Inquirer’s newsroom and from its advertising department. In this move, advertising took the brunt of the hit, with 49 job losses.

The union released the following remarks:

It’s time to change the climate of fear to a climate of working together, so we can solve this. We’re ready to work together.