USA Today will cut 26 newsroom jobs, reducing its newsroom staff by 5%, under cutbacks announced by newspaper publisher Gannett Co. yesterday.

USA Weekend magazine, a weekly insert in other newspapers, will also lose 11 positions. Its remaining staff will be combined with that of USA Today.

Non-union workers at other Gannett newspapers will be required to take more unpaid furloughs, or leave of absence. Employees in Gannett's community publishing division will be affected.

USA Today has been affected by the global advertising slump and a decrease in travel, particularly since it is distributed in hotels and airports.

"While advertising is showing some signs of picking up, the economic outlook for 2010 remains weak and the decline in travel has contributed to a recent drop in circulation," executive editor of USA Today, John Hillkirk, wrote in a memo to employees.

Redundant employees will receive severance pay for one week for each year worked at the company, amounting to the difference between their salaries and state unemployment benefits.

After this round of cuts, USA Today's newsroom will have been reduced by about 20% in two years, reports MediaPost.

Non-union workers at the 82 newspapers that form part of Gannett's community publishing unit will be required to take one week's leave without pay during the first quarter of 2010, which constitutes pay cut of around 2%. Corporate employees are also taking the unpaid leave, and the company is asking union representatives to support the furloughs and unionised workers to participate.

This news comes after Gannett slashed over 1000 positions this summer, and a further 4600 in 2008. Company-wide furloughs were also implemented in the first and second quarters of this year, with each employee required to take one week of leave without pay each quarter.

In recent weeks, job cuts have been announced at other newspapers including the Toronto Star, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Guardian News and Media, and the Star Tribune, among others.

It's not all doom and gloom though. Gannett shares rose 12 cents, or 1.2%, to close at $10.01 on Tuesday.

Source: AP, MediaPost