The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram and Maine Today are eliminating 27 positions, resulting in 15 layoffs, the papers’ publisher said Tuesday.

Charles C. Cochrane said the decision was based on a weakening national economy and advertising that is down “from the weak results posted last year.”
Cochrane also said the papers will cut the newshole – the percentage of the newspaper devoted to news and photographs – and cut back on what he said were “supplemental” wire news services.

The job reductions involve a mix of part- and full-time positions, he said, and will affect almost every department of the newspaper, including Maine Today, the paper’s online service. Although the cuts include newsroom employees, no reporters are being laid off, in an effort to preserve local news coverage, Cochrane said.

Employees who are laid off will receive a severance package, he said.

Cochrane said advertising this year is “considerably below budget” and the outlook for the rest of the year isn’t much brighter.

Many newspapers in Maine and other states have laid off employees as a result of falling advertising revenue. Last month, the Times Record in Brunswick laid off 10 employees, including one reporter.