The Oregonian needs to shed about 70 positions from its newsroom, but only 31 staffers have signed up to take a buyout, which is on offer until Monday, the Willamette Week reports.

The paper used to guarantee job security for life, though obviously much has changed since that pledge was made.

According to the Oregonian's own web site, there are 209 staffers in the newsroom (Oregon Media Central puts the number closer to 300), but either way, a reduction of 70 is pretty severe.

The e-mail from Sandy Rowe, editor of the Oregonian, to staff, after the jump.

Colleagues:

I promised to update you regularly on the buyout and budget situation. Peter and I have done so in stand up meetings and scores of individual conversations over the past month.

This is where we stand now: 25 full-time staffers and 6 part-time have either accepted the buyout offer or have indicated to us they are going to sign the paperwork. A number of other employees have said they are seriously considering doing so. As you know, the deadline for accepting the offer is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, and most taking the buyout will stay on payroll until Dec. 18.

Last week it became apparent that we would not reach an acceptable budget target. Sadly, I therefore believe that a layoff is inevitable despite our determination to avoid it. I do not know when a layoff would occur or the terms. But, the severance connected to an involuntary layoff will be less than the buyout package currently offered.

Understandably, throughout this difficult process you wanted to know the number of positions we need to reduce. Early on in this process, we had hoped the number would be lower than it now can be, given our revenue. I now know that will be about 70 positions, or within one or two of that depending on the PT and FT distribution. Without knowing the exact number taking the offer or how many staffers we will need to accomplish robust zoning in paper and hyperlocal sites online, we cannot today determine exactly what positions will be eliminated or all the jobs that will change. In some — but not most — circumstances we have been able to alert individuals that their jobs are likely to be eliminated. In the case of a layoff, staffing decisions will be based on the needs of the organization, range and depth of skills of the individual and seniority, with the needs of the organization in terms of future staffing being the most significant of those.

That is all I know at this point, and some of that is my best guess given the information we have now. If you are considering the buyout, I encourage you to complete that process. This is an excruciating time for all of us; I am deeply sorry and wish more than anything I could preserve more jobs and relieve that anxiety. We will go forward as quickly as we can to complete this and will be on sound financial footing once we have.

Thank you for all you do on behalf of our readers, this newsroom and The Oregonian.

Sandy