KARE11 workers were just informed they'll have to take an unpaid week off by March April, part of a company-wide cost-cutting measure by beleaguered parent Gannett Co.

I don't have the memo, but it probably looks like this one published at Jim Hopkins Gannett Blog. CEO Craig Dubow's memo says the temporary layoff will happen "across all U.S. divisions and at Corporate headquarters" and that "most of our U.S. employees ... will be furloughed."

This likely means the plan will hit the St. Cloud Times, which Gannett also owns.

Both operations have already been hit; late last year, 11 percent of St. Cloud's workforce was cut, while KARE announced buyouts for selected workers over 55.

At the time, KARE's management noted, "If business conditions worsen, it may be necessary to consider other expense reductions, including layoffs."

Newsgathering will be a nightmare with a checkerboard of vacancies crammed into the next six 10 weeks.