On Thursday Sun Newspapers announced major changes were coming to the chain of local weekly papers, including the reduction of employees and the elimination and consolidation of some papers. A subsidiary of Advance Publications, the company was founded in 1969 and is one of the largest chain of weekly newspapers in the U.S..

Sun Newspapers currently puts out 22 publications serving 72 Greater Cleveland area communities in five counties - Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Geauga, and Summit. Once the 60-day reorganization plan is completed, there will be just half as many publications at 11.

The accounting, payroll and retail sales departments at Sun Newspapers will also be eliminated and handled through contracts with the Plain Dealer, which is also owned by Advance Publications. Classified ad sales will continue to be sold in-house, and home delivery will be handled by the Plain Dealer.

Editorial staff will also be reduced. Employees that lose their jobs will receive a severance package based upon their years of service, and will be paid any accrued vacation. They will also be eligible for temporary health insurance coverage.

Sun Newspapers President and CEO Keith Mathis said:

"We're going to focus on the papers with the strongest financial and community support and some that we feel have potential for growth."

He added that Sun Newspapers will continue to provide local news to readers, and remain a leader in the communities served by the papers.

With such deep cuts now in place a Sun Newspapers, it's clear that Advance Publications is bleeding money. How much longer until they begin to make even more drastic cuts at the Plain Dealer?