Sun-Times Media Group eliminates 2 SouthtownStar editors' jobs

Two editors at the newly merged SouthtownStar are the most recent journalists to see their positions eliminated as Sun-Times Media Group continues to cut its operating costs.

SouthtownStar coeditors Mike Waters and Frank Shuftan informed the suburban newspaper's staff this week in an e-mail, stating their jobs were cut "as part of the company's reorganization."

Waters was the Daily Southtown's editor before its merger with The Star. Shuftan was The Star's editor. Each had spent more than 20 years at his newspaper.

"It is not easy to walk away from such associations," their e-mail said.

Murdoch Davis, president of Sun-Times Media's Midwest Suburban Publishing, assumes the editors' duties as publisher, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Crain's Chicago Business reported Friday that Sun-Times Media also recently let go four news staffers at The Naperville Sun, and planned to cut eight news positions from the Post-Tribune in Gary, Ind.

The ailing Chicago-based media company is trying to reduce operating costs by $50 million this year. Up to 35 newsroom layoffs are still expected at the Sun-Times, Chicago's second-largest newspaper.

The news group's parent company is Sun-Times Media Group Inc., formerly Hollinger International Inc.