Three Salt Lake Tribune positions were eliminated Wednesday in a newsroom restructuring.

A graphic designer with 24 years of experience, a Web site technician who had been at the paper for almost 22 years and Editor Nancy Conway's administrative assistant, who had been on the job for 16 months, were informed of the cutbacks Wednesday afternoon.

"Improved technology eliminated the need for a couple of jobs," said Conway, adding that remaining staff members will pick up tasks performed by the departing employees. "This is a tough time for this [newspaper] business and we have to conserve resources and to be as efficient as we possibly can."

The staff members received severance packages, she added. No terms were disclosed.

Conway said she did not anticipate eliminating any more of the newsroom's remaining 154 positions.

The Salt Lake Tribune