Central Maine newspapers to lay off 20
There are more layoffs at Blethen Maine Newspapers, this time at the Kennebec Journal in Augusta and the Morning Sentinel in Waterville.
About 20 full- and part-time employees at the two papers -- or about 10% of the company's payroll -- will be laid off this month or will have left voluntarily through severance packages or resignations, according to the Kennebec Journal. Many of the positions cut are in the production department, which has seen a decline in its commercial printing business in the past few months and will close at the end of August. Publisher John Christie said the papers are more than $200,000 short of their financial targets due to declining advertising and classifieds revenue and rising energy, ink and newsprint costs. This is the second round of layoffs at the two papers, which cut nine jobs in April.
The two papers are part of Blethen Maine Newspapers, which also includes the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram and MaineToday.com. Blethen's owner, the Seattle Times Co., is negotiating with a group of Maine investors to sell the papers.
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