New London — A revenue decline and sharp increases in the cost of newsprint have caused The Day Publishing Co. to lay off nine employees, Pat Richardson, president and publisher, announced this week.

Four of the layoffs are in The Day’s newsroom, with others coming in the paper's advertising department; at Madison-based Shore Publishing, the company’s string of weeklies; and D2 Media Solutions, a New London-based marketing agency.

In addition, remaining employees are being asked to take five unpaid days off by the end of the year. Two unfilled positions, one of them in the newsroom, also were eliminated.

“While we have been able to offset some of the decline in print advertising with new revenue sources this year, the dramatic increase in newsprint prices and other debt we are carrying are forcing these job cuts and unpaid leave,” Richardson said Tuesday. “These actions are necessary to stabilize the company and protect our future."

“These decisions are painful and difficult for all of us," she said. "Our colleagues that are leaving the organization have dedicated their time and energy to serving our customers and they will be sorely missed.”

Richardson said the cost of newsprint jumped monthly during the first six months of the year and was up 26 percent over the same period the previous year. In late August, the U.S. International Trade Commission blocked tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on imported newsprint, a move expected to benefit The Day and other papers.

“At the same time we are making these cuts, we are also taking steps to improve revenues, and I am very optimistic about the plans we are putting in place to invest in and grow opportunities for the future,” Richardson said.

The Day Publishing Co. employs more than 200 people.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com