Oklahoma's Largest Newspaper Announces Layoffs

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Citing a "difficult economic climate," the publisher of The Oklahoman says the newspaper is laying off 46 employees.

Oklahoma's largest newspaper announced the layoffs Wednesday on its website, saying the layoffs affected most major departments. The newspaper says those laid off have been offered severance packages and outplacement services.

Publisher David Thompson says the layoffs reduced the newspaper's staff to 690 employees "while still maintaining the largest news-gathering team in the state."

He says The Oklahoman is "no different from businesses in other industries that have had to make changes in a difficult economic climate."

It's the third time in the last 2 1/2 years The Oklahoman has had major layoffs. The company laid off 150 people in September 2008 and 57 in May 2010.