Today's slash of 80-90 employees, or 5% of the staff, is the third round of layoffs in a year at the Register's parent. Declining advertising revenue is to blame, President and Publisher Terry Horne said in a Register story, citing eroding local retail, automotive and classified ads.

"Fundamental shifts have occurred in how people acquire and use information, and this affects how they conduct business on the Internet and with newspapers," Horne said. "If we don't make large-scale changes now, there's no promise of a continually profitable and sustainable enterprise in the future."

I'm told that two deputy editors are among those leaving the paper, though I don't know whether they were actually laid off.

Also in Orange County: KCET, the PBS station in L.A., is holding auditions to staff the pilot for a morning magazine show that would air on the station's digital channel:

We are looking for two smart, lively hosts with strong Orange County connections. The locally produced morning magazine program would air on the digital channel KCET-Orange. The program will be live. It will have a casual, conversational tone with news headlines, pre-taped segments, and will feature "drop-in" guests from every facet of Orange County to talk about the news of the day - local, national and global.

Strong knowledge of O.C. politics, issues and culture a must. Journalism background a plus. AFTRA production.

Open auditions will held between Noon and 3:00 pm on Thursday, May 15 at:

Residence Inn® by Marriott® Irvine Spectrum
10 Morgan Street
Irvine, California 92618

More info