Gannett Co. Inc. eliminated 55 positions last week at four of its six papers in New Jersey, including Asbury Park Press, the Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, the Courier News in Bridgewater and the Daily Record in Parsippany, Asbury Park Press reported.

This job cuts were due to continuing adverse business conditions, according to the company.

Thomas M. Donovan, president and publisher of the Asbury Park Press and vice president of Gannett's East Newspaper Group, said in a statement to employees that "this is not a decision that is easy to announce at this, or any other, time of year.”

According to Donovan, the staff impacted will have the opportunity to interview for the current open positions. “It is my hope that the total number of impacted employees will be reduced as a result,” he added.

The employees whose jobs were eliminated and who do not obtain another within the company will receive "severance and benefits in accordance with their years of service," Donovan said.

In earlier May, Gannett offered voluntary buyouts to 166 full-time staff over age 55 and with 15 years of service, at the Press, the Home News Tribune, the Courier News, the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill and the Daily Journal in Vineland. Eighty-three accepted the buyouts, Asbury Park Press reported.

"We will continue to focus our existing resources on accelerating our audience growth with non-daily products, online offerings and enhanced daily newspapers. These necessary reductions and shifts in our operations will position us for a better performance for the remainder of 2008 and beyond," Donovan added.