Today, the Bainbridge Review near Seattle reported that its parent company, Sound Publishing, has  "announced major cuts" to publishing operations in Washington state.  

Sound Publishing is owned by Victoria-based Black Press, which is controlled by publishing magnate David Black.

Torstar Corp., owner of the Toronto Star, owns almost 20 percent of Black Press.

The changes were also announced in a company news release on December 3. They include:

”¢  Sound Publishing will close a printing press, which employs 44 workers on Bainbridge Island, with a third of the workers being offered jobs at a plant in Everett, Washington.

”¢  The Bainbridge Review will be reduced from a twice-weekly broadsheet to a once-a-week tabloid.

”¢  The Port Orchard Independent will be reduced from a twice-weekly broadsheet to a once-a-week tabloid.

”¢  The North Kitsap Herald will be reduced from a twice-weekly broadsheet to a once-a-week tabloid.

“There’s no question that the economy is taking its toll on every business," Sound  Publishing president Manfred Tempelmayr said in the  company news release.  "Coupled with that, the publishing industry is going through a major transformation, which will lead to a reduction in printed products and an increase in our on-line offerings.”

Black Press owns the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and the Red Deer Advocate, as well as  community papers across Washington state and  B.C.

Across Metro Vancouver, its holdings include the West Ender, the Surrey North Delta Leader, the Tri-Cities News, the North Shore Outlook, the Richmond Review, the New Westminster  News Leader, the Burnaby News Leader, the  South Delta Leader, the  Peace Arch News, and the Langley Times.