Kansas City Star announces 50 job cuts

KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City Star announced Monday that it is laying off 50 more employees as it continues paring its staff in what the newspaper's publisher calls "one of the most challenging years in Star history.''

In a memo to employees, publisher Mark Zieman said the newspaper has "taken a number of extraordinary steps to keep the paper safe during this harsh economic downturn and to buffer this great newspaper against future financial pressures.''

The layoffs affect workers in several departments, including news, advertising and circulation. Zieman's memo said employees will receive severance pay, continuation of benefits and outplacement services.

The Star also is looking into the possible sale and lease-back of its $200 million glass-enclosed press pavilion, which began full production in 2006.

"But to be clear, our commitment to downtown remains steadfast,'' Zieman wrote in the memo. "We plan to be working and publishing here for years to come.''

The newspaper cut 120 positions in June as part of 1,400 jobs being eliminated by The Star's parent, The McClatchy Co. In September, 65 workers either accepted buyouts or were laid off.

Zieman said the newspaper is attracting a record number of new readers to its news and advertising content. But he said most new readers are from the Internet.