Newspaper publisher Gannett Co. plans to cut 1,400 jobs in the next few weeks, about three percent of its work force, as it faces a prolonged slump in advertising revenue.

Bob Dickey, head of the company's newspaper division, informed staff of the layoffs in a letter Wednesday. He told employees that "there have been some promising signs of a recovery, but the reality is the improvements are not broad-based and the economy continues to be fragile."