Chicago Tribune lays off 40 journalists

CHICAGO, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- More than 40 jobs were eliminated from the Chicago Tribune newsroom as part of the Tribune Co.'s cost-cutting efforts at the newspaper, company officials said.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday the layoffs Friday were preceded by 30 voluntary departures by reporters at the 161-year-old newspaper.

The Chicago Tribune newsroom now has 480 staffers, the Sun-Times reported.

One of those given a pink slip was Mark Hinojosa, associate managing editor for multimedia. He said he was laid off after working for the Tribune for 17 years.

"Everyone was grieving for their friends and colleagues who have now left," Hinojosa was quoted as saying.

In a memo Friday, Tribune Editor Gerould Kern said although the layoffs are "painful," they are necessary to "establish the foundation for a sustainable future."

The journalists laid off will get an allocation to their cash balance account equal to one week's pay for each consecutive period of six weeks of service to the newspaper. They will receive a minimum of three months and a maximum of 52 weeks, the memo said.