July 1 (Bloomberg) -- Gannett Co., the largest U.S. newspaper owner, will eliminate about 1,400 publishing jobs by July 9 as it copes with declining advertising and circulation.

“We must take these steps because the advertising environment remains challenged,” Bob Dickey, president of Gannett’s U.S. Community Publishing unit, said today in a memo to employees. The division has more than 80 dailies and doesn’t include USA Today, the largest U.S. newspaper by circulation.

The cuts account for about 3.4 percent of Gannett’s workforce. The McLean, Virginia-based company has enforced two weeks of unpaid leave for most employees, slashed its dividend and shuttered the Tucson Citizen newspaper to save costs. Publishing ad revenue dwindled 34 percent in the first quarter.

Dickey said the company doesn’t plan additional unpaid leave this year. Gannett, which publishes the Detroit Free Press, has about 41,500 employees, according to a regulatory filing.

Tara Connell, a Gannett spokeswoman, confirmed the memo.

To contact the reporter on this story: Greg Bensinger in New York at gbensinger1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 1, 2009 16:06 EDT