Newsday staff reductions will affect 120* company-wide

*Updated Feb.29: 25 unionzed editorial staffers, 10 top editors and the entire national desk New York Post

Employees learned Thursday that non-union and union positions will be eliminated, with some workers' departure effective immediately. Other employees will have until the end of March. The reduction will be just under 5% of the current 2,300 employees.

The dreaded but expected news was outlined in a memo to employees from publisher Timothy P. Knight: "These difficult actions are based on our urgent need to focus on the things that drive audience and revenue growth, while we manage through a soft advertising revenue environment that requires us to significantly reduce costs. ... Though we all know we will not grow by cutting, we have no choice but to respond to the revenue decline and make cost adjustments now."

Elimination of positions in editorial, transportation and the pressroom will be done in accordance with the union contracts.