In light of U.S. newspaper group Gannett Co.'s historical job cuts this week, the U.S. National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is encouraging the newspaper industry to maintain diversity, the group announced Friday.

"Publishers still need to serve the diverse communities which support their newspapers and magazines by purchasing these media products and shopping with their advertisers," NABJ President Barbara Ciara said. "Plain and simple: diversity in the newsroom is good for business."

Gannett stated on Thursday that at least 2,000 jobs will be slashed across the group's 85 daily titles. In addition, nearly 100 newspaper managers were laid off this fall while an additional 1,000 Gannett positions were cut through layoffs, buyouts and attrition, according to the group. In all, nearly 14,000 jobs were cut this year, the group estimates.

"In 2007, there were 300 fewer journalists of colour in newsrooms than the year before, according to the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE). Sadly, this slide comes at the time when the industry's newspapers pledged to achieve parity with the communities they serve," the NABJ stated.

The group is offering its help "to aid the industry in any way we can to recruit and retain black journalists," and added that it wonders if "Gannett and other industry leaders continue their commitment to diversity in difficult economic times?"