The Honolulu Advertiser announced a second round of layoffs, saying it plans to eliminate 27 positions in its community newspapers group.

Publisher Lee Webber said the Advertiser will consolidate its Pacific Media Publications — which produces PennySaver, Buy & Sell and four of the Advertiser's seven community newspapers on O'ahu — into its main publishing and business operations.

"We sincerely believe this decision — though very difficult —will put our company on a course to a stronger position as we move forward," Webber said.

"We will however continue to monitor our business conditions and react responsibly as conditions change."

The move comes more than a month after the Advertiser announced it was laying off 54 employees in its main publishing and business operations.

It also comes as newspapers around the country have eliminated thousands of jobs in the wake of the weakening national economy and loss of advertising to the Internet.

The combined layoffs at the Advertiser amount to about 10 percent of the newspaper's staff.

Wayne Cahill, administrative officer of the Hawaii Newspaper Guild, which represents about 325 of the Advertiser's employees, said the latest job cuts coincide with ongoing contract talks.

The Advertiser's unionized employees have been working under an extension of a three-year contract that was set to expire in June 2007.

"It certainly does not reflect a move toward trying to get a contract," Cahill said.

Established in 1856, The Advertiser is the state's largest newspaper with a daily circulation of 140,000 on weekdays and 150,000 on Sunday.

The Advertiser is owned by Gannett Co., a McLean, Va.-based company that is the nation's largest newspaper publisher.

According to a company news release, The Advertiser's seven community newspapers will be consolidated into four publications and will continue to serve the same communities.

The first publication date under the new format will be Sept 17.