The Des Moines Register's historic downtown office building (Jason Hancock/Iowa Independent).

The figures represent a 13 percent daily reduction and a 6.7 percent Sunday reduction. That would put The Register’s daily circulation at a little more than 118,000 newspapers, down from 147,699 in September 2006. The paper’s Sunday circulation would total a little more than 206,000 newspapers, down from 237,870 in September 2006.

In a memo to staff explaining the numbers, Register President and Publisher Laura Hollingsworth points out that 56 percent of the daily loss and 36 percent of the Sunday reduction came due to “strategic changes we’ve made in our business as we’ve moved focus to circulation that is most important to our customers and to us.”

For example, Hollingsworth said the paper, owned by Gannett, eliminated many free upgrades that provided Sunday subscribers additional days at no charge. The paper also eliminated the biggest discount subscriptions and reduced delivery to areas where it was not as profitable. Lastly, a price increase also resulted in some circulation reduction, Hollingsworth said.

Without these moves, the paper’s circulation would have only declined 5.5 percent daily and 4.3 percent on Sunday.

“[These decisions] were painful to make,” she said. “But, these decisions bolstered the economics of our circulation operation while providing the most attractive distribution model for our advertisers. “

Despite the circulation numbers, Hollingsworth boasted that The Register’s overall readership is actually higher in 2009 than it was in 2001.

“In 2001, The Des Moines Register reached more than 516,000 people in central Iowa,” she said. “Today, The Des Moines Register, along with DesMoinesRegister.com and our many publications such as Juice, Moms Like Me and Homestyle, reach more than 597,000 adults. This is a growth in audience of more than 15 percent.”

According to the trade publication Editor and Publisher, The Register’s circulation drop is consistent with other papers across the country. Gannett’s flagship paper, USA Today, saw its circulation drop 17 percent. The New York Times reported a 7.28 percent decrease. The Los Angeles Times reported its daily circulation is down 11 percent.

The biggest drops came from the San Francisco Chronicle (-25.82), Newark (N.J.) Star Ledger (-22.22) and Dallas Morning News (-22.16).

Overall newspaper circulation is down 10.6 percent daily and 7.4 percent on Sunday.

Since August 2008, The Register instituted more than 100 layoffs and a mandatory furlough program in response to a declining economy.

The paper told its employees Friday that it would eliminate 12 full-time and three part-time positions by today after word came down from the paper’s corporate parent, Gannett Co. Inc., that 600 jobs would have to be cut company wide.

Our friend at the Gannett Blog has a running total of where the job cuts are coming, and the numbers are depressing to say the least (as of today):

• Alexandria, La.: 3 of 214 total employees (story link)
• Appleton, Wisc.: 8 of 581
• Asbury Park, N.J.: 50 of 1,492
• Asheville, N.C.: 6 of 250
• Binghamton, N.Y.: 1 of 390
• Brevard, Fla.: 11 of 600
• Bridgewater and East Brunswick, N.J.: 12 of a combined ??? employees
• Bucyrus, Mansfield and Marion — all in Ohio: 9 of a combined 254 employees at the three papers (story link)
• Burlington, Vt.: 6 of 272
• Cherry Hill, N.J.: 35 of ???
• Chillicothe and Lancaster, Ohio; plus other, smaller Ohio publications: 3 of ??? employees (story link)
• Cincinnati: to be determined for 1,143
• Des Moines: 15 of 1,000
• Elmira, N.Y.: 1 of 115 (story link)
• Fond du Lac, Wisc.: 5 of 120
• Fort Collins, Colo.: 4 of 250
• Green Bay, Wisc.: 8 of 376 (story link)
• Greenville, S.C.: 14 of 610
• Hattiesburg, Miss.: 1-2 of 175
• Honolulu: 54 of 697 (announced July 16; story link)
• Indianapolis: 23 of 1,441
• Ithaca, N.Y.: 3 of 130
• Jackson, Miss.: 20 of 490
• Lafayette, Ind.: 2 of 238 (story link)
• Lafayette, La.: 6 of 277
• Lansing, Mich.: 8 of 380 (story link)
• Louisville, Ky.: 15 of 1,100 (story link)
• Montgomery, Ala.: 10 of 375 (story link)
• Morristown, N.J.: 10 of 315
• Mountain Home, Ark.: 3 of 66
• Muncie, Ind.: 2 of 169
• Nashville: 10 of 1,182
• Oshkosh, Wisc.: 2 of 129
• Palm Springs, Calif.: 3 of 350
• Pensacola, Fla.: 4 of 420
• Phoenix: to be determined for 2,650
• Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: 3 of 250
• Rochester, N.Y.: 11??? of 975 (story link)
• St. Cloud, Minn.: 8 of 222 (story link)
• Sheboygan, Wisc.: 1 of 114 (story link)
• Shreveport, La.: 0 of 402
• Sioux Falls, S.D.: 1 of 300
• Springfield, Mo.: 5 of 380
• Tallahassee, Fla.: 8 of ??? (story link)
• Tucson, Ariz.: 2-4 (at the Citizen) of 776 (at the Citizen and the JOA) (story link)
• Visalia, Calif.: 3 of 140
• Westchester, N.Y.: 12 of ??? (story link)
• Wilmington, Del.: 16 of 619

The blog’s author, Jim Hopkins, said the figure for each paper’s total employment is most likely too high, as he culled that information from Gannett’s corporate Web site.

Publishers are instructed to inform their staffs by today of the job cuts at their paper, as well as say things like “We would prefer no more reductions, but…we must keep expenses in line with revenue” and to those being let go: “We will thank them for their years of service and treat them in a way that acknowledges their valuable contributions.”

The memo also outlines the severance package that will be offered to those employees losing their jobs.

Severance Benefits
• One week of pay for each year of service (52 week maximum)

• Minimum two-week severance benefit

• Medical benefits will continue for the length of the severance period

• Employees laid off may begin receiving their pension plan and 401(k) benefits(depending on applicable laws)

• Government unemployment benefits may also begin after severance benefits end, depending on state law

The Des Moines Register told its employees today that 12 full-time and three part-time positions are being eliminated. In addition, 11 vacant positions will go unfilled.

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.

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