In a memo to staff today, Laura Hollingsworth, president and publisher of The Des Moines Register, announced that the paper will eliminate 12 full-time positions and three part-time positions.

Today's Des Moines Register.

Today's Des Moines Register.

In addition, the paper will not fill 11 currently vacant positions.

“These layoffs will affect several departments and will be completed by Wednesday, Aug. 20,” the memo said. “A severance package will be provided to employees whose jobs are being eliminated.”

Hollingsworth said the layoffs will come from within The Des Moines Register and other Central Iowa weekly newspapers.

“There are no plans for any further reductions at this time,” the memo said. “I do wish I could say with certainty that this will be the final action needed to address the economic slump; however we will continue to manage our expenses in line with revenue.”

Laura Hollingsworth, publisher and president of The Des Moines Register.

Laura Hollingsworth, publisher and president of The Des Moines Register.

The Iowa Independent reported Aug. 1 that Register Editor Carolyn Washburn told the newsroom that staff reductions were coming but that details were not yet formalized. Yesterday, The Register’s parent company, Gannett Co. Inc., confirmed that it would be cutting 600 jobs and leaving another 400 unfilled, a move that will affect all of the company’s 84 daily newspapers and 900 non-daily publications.

“I realize these payroll reductions are significant and will be difficult as we see fellow employees and friends who have worked hard alongside us impacted by this decision,” Hollingsworth’s memo said. “We recognize we will lose dedicated employees who have helped us to past success and that will be tough on us all.”

Here is Hollingsworth’s memo:

Friday, August 15

To: All Des Moines Register and Central Iowa Weekly Newspaper Employees

From: Laura Hollingsworth

As reported in this morning’s Des Moines Register, Gannett has confirmed plans for staff reductions across the U.S. Community Publishing Division due to the continued decline in economic conditions. The reduction will impact approximately 600 employees, and an additional 400 positions will remain unfilled. This equals about 3 percent of the division’s workforce.

Regretfully, we are experiencing the same declines and conditions as our peers across the company, and will be impacted by the reduction here. At this time, I am able to detail specifically what that impact will be.

12 full time, and three part time positions will be eliminated within The Des Moines Register and our Central Iowa weekly newspapers. We will not fill an additional 11 open positions. These layoffs will affect several departments and will be completed by Wednesday, August 20th. A severance package will be provided to employees whose jobs are being eliminated.

I realize these payroll reductions are significant and will be difficult as we see fellow employees and friends who have worked hard alongside us impacted by this decision. We recognize we will lose dedicated employees who have helped us to past success and that will be tough on us all.

It is, however, in our best interest to manage diligently through this period to ensure our viability and position us for the future. In the meanwhile, the Company continues to be focused and urgent in growing new and protecting and maximizing our core business until conditions improve. Your management team is also working hard to maximize local opportunities and we will continue to rely on your innovation and resiliency as we maneuver through this period.

There are no plans for any further reductions at this time. I do wish I could say with certainty that this will be the final action needed to address the economic slump; however we will continue to manage our expenses in line with revenue.

I want you to know that I am very confident in our strategies and our future as the leader for local news and information in Central Iowa, despite this turbulence. I will plan for and enjoy discussions on that note.

Please let your department vice president or me know of your concerns or any other way we can help.

Sincerely,

LH