Christie-Critic Paper Cuts Newsroom by 25

The newspaper that has led the way with coverage of Chris Christie's bridge-gate scandal has cut the size of its news staff by 25 percent.

The Newark, N.J.-based Star-Ledger announced it was laying off a total of 167 people over the weekend, including 40 of its 156 newsroom staff.

The paper's own website called it a "grim day of reckoning" for the Garden State's largest newspaper.

The New York Times credited the Star-Ledger with leading statewide coverage of Christie's handling of the scandal which has dented his presidential hopes.

In an editorial in February, the Star-Ledger said it regretted endorsing Christie in his re-election bid for governor last year.

The Star-Ledger is owned by Advance Publications, which has slashed jobs on some of its other publications, including the New Orleans Times-Picayune, which has ceased daily publication, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the Oregonian.

The company says it is pursuing a digital strategy.

The Star-Ledger has a weekday circulation of 167,600 and a Sunday readership of some 265,500.

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