Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregonian newspaper editor, Sandra Rowe, announced  Monday that she is leaving at the end of the year. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Rowe says she's only been considering retiring for the last couple of weeks. She says that's when the paper's budget began firming-up as the number of staff who would be accepting a buy-out became clear.

Sandra Rowe: "I decided that it was best for the organization if I took my salary out of the budget first. Therefore potentially spare some other jobs."

The Oregonian has been downsizing for the last two years as the newspaper industry suffers nationwide. Rowe says "several dozen" other jobs will likely be cut some time in February, but after that, she's upbeat about the paper's future.

Sandy Rowe: "My strong believe is that after these lay-offs we will not have to do anymore. we have a budget now that is relatively conservative and that makes us profitable and our audience, if you count on-line and print is still growing and no doubt can grow some more."

Under Rowe's tenure, The Oregonian has won five Pulitzer Prizes. The paper's executive editor, Peter Bhatia, has been named her successor.