Muskogee Newspaper Cuts Jobs

Associated Press

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- The Muskogee Phoenix has laid off eight employees, including three from its newsroom, citing an economic downturn affecting the newspaper industry.

Publisher Larry Corvi said in a story in the newspaper Friday that the national economic downturn is hurting Oklahoma's economy.

"With the economy the way it is, we had to make a tough call," he said.

The eight constitute about 9 percent of the newspaper's staff.

Across the country, the newspaper industry has been suffering from declining readership and falling advertising revenue.

The Oklahoman and the Tulsa World, the state's two largest newspapers, previously announced staff cuts.

1/6/2009  Related story: Tulsa Newspaper Lays Off 28