Newspaper cuts 22 newsroom jobs

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Observer, North Carolina's largest newspaper, is cutting jobs.

It will be cutting 11 percent of its Charlotte staff. That's 123 people from all departments, including 22 from the newsroom.

"Circulation, operations, finance, information technology, human resources, marketing and administration" will all be affected, said Ann Caulkins, publisher of the Charlotte Observer.

Jennifer Schnabel

The announcement comes at a time when the economy is sliding, but that's not the only reason for the layoffs.

"We're going from being a newspaper only to multimedia company" said Caulkins.

She says more readers are turning to the Internet for news as well.

While there will be changes, she says they won't affect the quality of the newspaper.

"Readers still want all that. But they're selecting how they want it, whether it's online or in print" said Caulkins. "We just have to be ready for whichever way they want it."

James Iannuzzo has been reading the Observer for years. He has no complaints.

"Every morning, I read the paper -- that's the first thing I do" said Iannuzzo. "The front page and the city and state and then I read everything pertaining to history, government issues."

As for the changes, "we will see some differences in what we choose to pick and choose to cover and that will be based on what our readers want to see" said Caulkins.

There will also be an increase in the subscription rate. It's unclear how much it will be or when it will take effect, likely in the next couple of months.

As for those who are losing their jobs, some of the layoffs are voluntary, the rest are not.

The last day for most will be June 27, 2008.

Everyone will be given severance packages and help finding new jobs.

The Observer went through a round of cuts just last month. Caulkins hopes this one will be the last.