A report from the American Society of News Editors says American daily newspapers cut 5,900 newsroom jobs in 2008, the worst cutbacks since records began in 1978.
Papers now employ 46,700 in newsrooms, down from 56,900 in 1990.
Newspapers have been slammed by the economy; by readers switching to free online sources; and by general reader dissatisfaction with declining journalistic ethics and practices.