Gannett, the owner of USA Today and more than 80 other daily US newspapers, planned to complete the cuts this week.

The layoffs are occurring at most Gannett newspapers but not at USA Today.

The payroll reductions represent two percent of Gannett’s 32,600 employees.

The division targeted in the cutbacks employs 22,400 people at newspapers that include The Indianapolis Star and The Arizona Republic.

The layoffs are Gannett’s biggest in two years and are the latest austerity measures triggered by a steep drop in newspaper advertising that began in 2006.

Gannett’s annual revenue has fallen more than $2 billion, or nearly 30 percent, since then.