Another day in the newspaper business, more layoffs

General Media, a holding company that owns television stations and newspapers including the Winston-Salem Journal, the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Tampa Tribune, announced yesterday that it will layoff 11% of its workforce -- about 810 jobs.

Most of the cuts will come from its publishing division, which will lose 745 jobs. The newspaper business is taking a significant hit from:

• Declining advertising purchases.
• Higher costs that include newsprint, transportation costs, etc.
• Declining readership.
  

Interestingly, its broadcast division will lose just 45 jobs. Keep in mind that broadcast networks/stations have seen declining viewership for years, exacerbated by the lengthy mid-season writers' strike.

Corporate will lose 20 jobs. No explanation needed as to why there are not many cuts here.

Even more telling in terms of the future of the media business is that all is not bleak for Media General in terms of hiring.

Media General announced that it will add -- yes, add -- 60 jobs in its interactive media division.