INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Star Media Group laid off 37 employees this week, including 17 in the newsroom, as part of a national cost-cutting move by parent Gannett Co.

The cuts were the latest in a string across the industry as newspapers struggle to cope with a challenging advertising climate and a prolonged recession.

Dennis Ryerson, The Star’s editor and vice president, said cuts reduced newsroom management by about one-fourth. He said newsroom functions would be re-evaluated in coming weeks. “We recognize that we can’t continue to do all that we’ve been doing,” he said. “There will be strategic changes. There will be newsroom changes.”

He added that the newsroom would continue to focus on certain core areas, including watchdog journalism, economic and business reporting, and sports reporting. Michael G. Kane, The Star’s publisher and president, said in a memo to employees that the company is also cutting costs by reducing zoned pages, consolidating some operations and reconfiguring the statewide circulation operation.

Gannett, based in McLean, Va., said earlier this month that it planned to cut 1,400 jobs, about 3 percent of its work force, saying the economy continues to be fragile.(Star report)