Cuts at newspaper eliminate 12-15 jobs

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette eliminated several positions Tuesday, the company’s president said.

The newspaper will lose 12-15 employees by the time the process is completed, said Lynn Hamilton, president and general manager of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Some employees chose to stay with the newspaper as part-time workers, Hamilton said.

The cuts were necessary to keep the newspaper’s expenses matching its revenue, Hamilton said.

“It’s important we stay profitable,” he said.

Advertising has fallen more than any other source of revenue, and circulation has slowed, Hamilton said. The drop in advertising is a nationwide situation that began in the fourth quarter of 2016, he said.

Management had anticipated that the loss of eight company employees in January would be the only cuts.

“I’m saddened that it didn’t work out that way,” Hamilton said. “I’m as surprised as anyone.”