NEWSDAY LAYS OFF 100 STAFFERS, HIKES PRICE

By KEITH J. KELLY

Newsday is slashing 100 jobs, or 5 percent of its workforce across the board, in response to the deteriorating advertising market.

Although the paper has been through numerous rounds of cutbacks over the years, the latest marks the first since the $650 million June takeover of the paper by Cablevision.

"It is well documented by now that the newspaper industry continues to experience significant upheaval," said Publisher Tim Knight in a memo to employees.

"The current economic difficulties have increased the challenges for newspaper and other advertising businesses, and Newsday is no exception," he said.

The company had a significant headcount reduction in its newsroom right before the takeover when nearly 50 editorial jobs were chopped, but that was apparently not enough.

"When we began our 2009 budget process, we were anticipating a tough year, and since then, the newspaper-advertising market has continued to decline," said Knight.

Included in the latest cuts are 27 editorial positions. The photo de partment and the sports department are being particularly hard hit.

Three sports columnists' jobs are being eliminated. They are Sean Powell, Johnette Howard and Ken Davidoff.

Insiders said that some of the staffers might be allowed to reapply for lower-paid editorial positions. Davidoff's name was expected to be among that group.

Newsday staffers appear shellshocked. "This is like the 10th downsizing in eight years," said one.

In addition to the headcount reductions, Editor-in-Chief John Mancini said that the paper is cutting back on travel, entertainment and supply budgets.

He said Newsday would be going forward with a considerably smaller photo desk. One source said he expected many of the laid-off photographers' work to still appear in the paper as freelancers.

The paper also said it is hiking its newsstand price. On Long Island, the price of a single copy will jump 50 percent to 75 cents, from 50 cents.

The daily paper will remain 50 cents in New York City but the price of the Sunday paper in the city will rise by 25 cents to $1.25 as of Sunday, Dec. 14.