Washington Post to get thinner in hard times

The iconic Washington Post newspaper will cut out its standalone business section and fold it into the front section, from Monday to Saturday, to save on newsprint. The plan was announced to employees in a memo from four editors today, said Kris Coratti, a spokeswoman for the publisher.

The actions ''allow us to save on newsprint, an important objective in these times,'' the memo said. ''These moves will allow us to continue providing the features that our readers tell us they most value in the newspaper.''

The Post will also begin running a daily page devoted to local business, rather than a weekly section. The newspaper will run fewer comics in its Sunday print editions, moving some to its web site, and will eliminate one of its crossword puzzles. It currently runs three daily pages of comics.

The newspaper is also eliminating daily stock listings. It will instead offer a half-page of statistics and graphics that will focus on prices of major and local stocks and other economic data.

However, it will have an enhanced business section on Sundays, which will include fresh financial tables and graphics along with more personal finance stories aimed at helping people and small businesses survive the downturn.

Executive editor Marcus Brauchli said in a statement that the changes, which take effect from 30 March, also reflect "the increasing overlap of political and economic events" and would allow the Post "to run a leaner, better-organized newspaper''.