First on PRNewser: News and information distribution services company PRNewswire has laid off 2% of its work force today, PRNewswer has confirmed. A source told PRNewser this morning that 45 people had been laid off at the company, however Rachel A. Meranus, Vice President of PR at PR Newswire said the number is much lower.

Meranus sent PRNewser the following statement:

PR Newswire did reorganize some resources the other day. We eliminated some positions in the U.S, and in certain areas we are replacing those positions with new ones that are better suited to our future needs. We are also actively hiring in other areas. While we are not giving specifics on these changes, I will tell you that it's less than 2% of our total headcount when considering the positions we are replacing and the new ones we are hiring. Once we have filled those positions, our headcount today will be exactly where it was this time last year.

We are reorganizing these resources because the communications and media industries are changing and the market for our products and services is evolving.

The company announced a new CEO, Ninan Chacko in February, which coincided with the planned retirement of then current CEO Charles Gregson.