Staff cuts in several newspapers belonging to the Hollinger International company should be expected this year.
Newspaper publisher Hollinger International Inc. on Thursday said it plans to reorganize its Sun-Times News Group by splitting it into two groups and cutting staff by 300, or about 10 percent, to reverse its disappointing 2005 financial performance.
Hollinger said it expects the Sun-Times News Group’s 2005 segment operating income before items to be down 15 percent from $92 million in 2004 due to industrywide factors as well as the lingering effects of the company’s circulation overstatement.
Papers within the Hollinger portfolio include: Chicago Sun-Times, Pioneer Press, Daily Southtown and Star, Naperville Sun, Post Tribune of Northwest Indiana, and other suburban newspapers.
The Sun-Times employs editorial cartoonist Jack Higgins.
UPDATE: I was reminded that Eric Allie is the editorial cartoonist for the Pioneer Press – one of the Hollinger papers. Eric took first place in the Illinois Press Association annual journalism contest. Hopefully that has some sway in the decision making.