NEW YORK – The Chicago Sun-Times said Wednesday it is considering an unspecified number of job cuts, blaming declining advertising revenue.

Any reductions, which could be announced next week, would follow the January announcement by the paper's union that the Sun-Times had laid off 17 reporters and editors and eliminated another 12 newsroom jobs through voluntary buyout packages.

In a memo to his staff Tuesday, Sun-Times Editor Michael Cooke said that while “circulation, in context, continues to be acceptable, advertising revenues are awful. So again we are left with no choice but to cut our costs to try to match the reduced income.”

Cooke's memo – posted Wednesday on the media-oriented blog edited by Jim Romenesko at The Poynter Institute – did not say how many positions were under consideration, though it said recent attrition has reduced the ultimate number.

Sun-Times spokeswoman Tammy Chase confirmed the memo's authenticity Wednesday but declined further comment.

Gerald Minkkinen, executive director of the Chicago Newspaper Guild, said his union met with top Sun-Times newsroom management for about three hours Tuesday and requested additional information. He said a follow-up meeting is likely next week to discuss buyout packages and other options.

The newspaper also said Tuesday that longtime sports columnist Jay Mariotti has resigned “to pursue other opportunities.”

Minkkinen said he did not know how Mariotti's resignation might affect the reduction total.

“A lot of things are up in the air,” Minkkinen said.