Los Angeles - The Los Angeles Times Wednesday announced plans to cut 250 positions across the company, including 150 editorial positions. 

The move by one of the most prestigious newspapers in the US underscored the challenges facing newspapers as young readers get their news on the internet, classified advertisers use free online products, and the real estate slump hits newspaper ad revenues. 

In addition to the job cuts the paper will reduce the number of pages it publishes each week by 15 per cent. 

Times Publisher David Hiller said the goal of the cuts was to "get to where we need to be for the long term. We want to get ahead of the economy that's been rolling down on us and get to a size that will be sustainable." 

He said the size of the reductions was predicated on the expectation that the economy would "bottom out and reach equilibrium" early next year. Companywide employment will be about 3,000 after the reductions, he said. 

The editorial staff cuts, which amount to roughly 17 per cent will be spread between the print newsroom and the Times' web operations which together currently employ about 876 people. 

The cuts are the latest round of reductions that has pared the editorial staff down from its 2001 level of nearly 1,200. (dpa)