The Day Publishing Co. has instituted cost-saving measures to counter a decline in first-quarter revenues, including layoffs in its news and operations divisions and wage-and-hour changes.

Gary Farrugia, publisher of The Day, said Wednesday that two newsroom positions and two positions in operations were eliminated in mid-April.

This brings the total number of recent layoffs to 42, following a previously announced downsizing in The Day's print-related operations of 38 full- and part-time positions. The Day began printing its daily newspaper at The Providence Journal in Rhode Island on March 28, resulting in the downsizing of its print operations, which previously employed 151.

Overall, employment in the company now stands at about 280, Farrugia said. That figure represents a 13 percent staffing decrease over the last two rounds of layoffs.

The Day continues to print its weekly newspapers and its Business, Daybreak and Perspective Sunday sections at its New London operation on Eugene O'Neill Drive.

Farrugia said this latest round of cost-cutting measures was painful and affected both Day staffers and department heads.

He said he remains upbeat about prospects during the second quarter, adding that advertising revenues have rebounded during April in the daily newspaper, its weeklies and theday.com website. Most of the 5 percent decline in advertising revenue during the first quarter - heavily affected by six winter storms during the first two months - were with national advertisers rather than local advertisers, said Farrugia.

The hour and wage changes affecting some employees vary by department and take effect with the company's first pay period in May. Newsroom employees will face two weeks of furloughs in 2011 as part of previously announced cost-cutting moves.

The company's online business continues its "rapid acceleration," according to Farrugia.

"As we transition to this new business model, we must continuously fine-tune the ... newspaper operation to balance expenses and revenues," Farrugia said in a letter to employees. "Most importantly, we must invest in future growth."

Farrugia said the strategic partnership with The Providence Journal is producing substantial savings for the company, which will fuel its continued growth in the digital news arena.

He said The Day will work hard to ensure its strong reputation for quality as it continues to evolve its business model. "It is vitally important that we maintain our standards as best we can during this time of historic disruptive change," Farrugia said.

a.cronin@theday.com