Kankakee, Ill.
Owner: Small Newspaper Group
Effective: Oct. 22, 2011

Eleven employees accepted buyout offers. “The local economy is not yet recovering, and while we know it will someday improve, we had to adjust the size of our operations to math the current economic conditions,” said general manager Ken Munjoy in a story on the paper’s website. Munjoy said the buyout offer “created an opportunity for people who were thinking of changing careers, going back to school or retiring, to fulfill those dreams.”
Source: The Daily Journal

Chicago
Owner: Real Times Inc.
Effective: Oct. 23, 2011

At least three employees were laid off, including the paper’s executive editor and news editor. A full-time photographer also was cut to part-time.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times via Romenesko+

Springfield, Ill.
Owner: GateHouse Media Inc.
Effective: Sept. 12, 2011

At least two employees were laid off: One web producer and a composing room employee. Two open positions were eliminated. Do you know more? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Sources: Paper Cuts tips

Galesburg, Ill.
Owner: GateHouse Media Inc.
Effective: Sept. 2, 2011

Three newsroom employees were laid off: The web editor, a sports reporter and an education reporter. Editor Tom Martin said the layoffs “were not easily made.”
Source: The Register-Mail

Joliet, Ill.
Owner: Sun-Times Media Group
Effective: July 8, 2011

Four employees were laid off, including the managing editor, features editor, editorial and business editor, and an education reporter. The paper now has 13 editorial staff members.
Source: Time Out Chicago via Paper Cuts tip

West Frankfort, Ill.
Owner: GateHouse Media
Effective: Aug. 1, 2011

Printing is being outsourced to Paducah, Ky. Do you know more? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Source: Paper Cuts tip

Chicago
Owner: Sun-Times Media Group
Effective: Aug. 3, 2011

Three employees were laid off, including a sports columnist. Do you know more? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Source: Paper Cuts tip

Aurora, Ill.
Owner: Sun-Times Media Group
Effective: Aug. 3, 2011

A photographer was laid off. Were there more layoffs? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Source: Paper Cuts tip

Freeport, Ill.
Owner: GateHouse Media Inc.
Effective: July 22, 2011

Three newsroom and one classified advertising employees were laid off. “Unfortunately, current economic conditions are pummeling Stephenson County and The Journal-Standard is reflecting that lack of dynamic business activity,” Publisher Steve Trosley said in a story on the paper’s website. “The action was no reflection on the quality, reliability or dedication of the affected employees.”
Source: The Journal-Standard

Chicago
Owner: Sun-Times Media Group
Effective: Fall 2011

Printing will be outsourced to the Chicago Tribune in the fall: More than 400 employees will be laid off. The Tribune will print the Sun-Times and seven Sun-Times Media Group daily papers. The Sun-Times’ Pioneer Press publications already are printed by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Do you know how many employees will be laid off? Leave a comment or send me an email: newspaperlayoffs@gmail.com. Emailed tips are anonymous.
Source: Chicago Tribune via Paper Cuts tip; Chicago Tribune

Update: Chicagoist reports 456 employees will be laid off. (08.07.11)
Source: Chicagoist via Paper Cuts tip