Pink slips coming at WSJ.com

Slowing ad spend claims more victims

Online newshound WSJ.com is to lay off staff as part of parent company Dow Jones' cost cutting campaign.

The site, which has 250 full-time staff - including 80 in editorial, will be hit by "a limited number" of layoffs, a Dow Jones representative said today.

The job cuts are part of a move announced earlier this month to save Dow Jones $55 million and $60 million during the year. The action, blamed on the slowing economy and a general softness in advertising spend, includes reducing the company's total headcount of 85,000.

The representative declined to say which areas of WSJ.com would be affected - or how many people would lose their jobs, only commenting: "We're not talking huge numbers".

"Most of the layoffs will happen in other areas [of the company]," she added.

More details have been promised for April 12, when the company is due to report its Q1 earnings.

WSJ.com has 535,000 subscribers, who pay $59 per year for the online service (or $29 if they already have the print subscription for The Wall Street Journal). ®

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