Oregon Public Broadcasting

Spokane’s Spokesman-Review is laying off 60 employees. That represents about an 11 percent cut to the family-owned paper. The Spokesman’s editor resigned over the decision. Correspondent Anna King reports.

Steven Smith, editor of the Spokesman-Review, resigned Wednesday saying he couldn’t support such widespread layoffs to the paper. The cuts will take out about a quarter of the newsroom.

Managing Editor Gary Graham says it was Smith who read the names out loud at the newsroom meeting.

Gary Graham: "Most people were frankly stunned by the number. We are going to lose possibly as many as 27 people. So there were a lot of shock, and grim faces and some tears. It was difficult for everyone."

Nationwide the newspaper industry is suffering because of competition from web sites like eBay and Craigslist. At the same time newsprint and delivery fuel costs are up, while readership is down.

October 24 is the employees’ last day.