Orlando Sentinel reduces staff by 50

The Orlando Sentinel is eliminating about 50 positions through layoffs and leaving open jobs unfilled as a cost-cutting measure, the newspaper's publisher said in a memo to workers.

Publisher Kathy Waltz said Tuesday that 21 employees had been laid off, and 33 positions would be eliminated from a staff of about 1,300. Some of the positions being eliminated were left open by "retirements and other voluntary departures," Waltz wrote in her memo, which was posted at The Poynter Institute's Web site.

A year ago, the Sentinel cut 20 jobs and stopped publishing a magazine for apartment hunters. The Sentinel has a daily circulation of about 221,180 and a Sunday circulation of 331,440. In addition to the daily newspaper, the company also produces online content, a weekly Spanish newspaper and several niche publications.

Six other newspapers owned by Tribune Co., including the company's two flagship papers in Chicago and Los Angeles, earlier this month also announced job cuts. Last month, Chicago-based Tribune, whose holdings include 11 daily newspapers, 26 television stations and the Chicago Cubs, said third-quarter profits tumbled 82 percent because of an adverse tax ruling that forced it to take a huge charge, AP reports.

A. A.