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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

KREM lays off at least 10 employees

Spokane’s KREM-TV handed out pink slips Tuesday to at least 10 workers, including at least one reporter. Belo Corp. Vice President of Investor Relations Paul Fry said the Dallas media company announced in March it would lay off about 150 TV workers at 20 stations nationwide. The Spokane cuts were part of that reduction. “But we don’t give the individual station numbers” for layoffs made, added Fry. Belo also announced it has cut station managers’ and executives’ salaries by 5 percent and ended matching contributions for 401(k) retirement funds. KREM general manager Jaime Aitken said most of the cuts were “behind-the-scenes” reductions. Like other media companies, KREM is struggling with declining advertising revenue, Aitken said. “Unfortunately the economy does not show signs of turning. We have to continue to adjust our expenses accordingly,” Aitken said.