SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News said it would merge its editorial staff with KSL-TV and Radio in the fall, cutting 43 percent of its staff.

Chief Executive Officer Clark Gilbert informed staff members of the decision in a morning meeting, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Wednesday.

After the meeting, staff members were told in private meetings whether their jobs had been cut.

In a statement, Gilbert said the newspaper needed to adapt to the digital age. "These shifts have caused some newspapers to simply cut costs, causing them to fade in influence. We choose to innovate and lead," he said.

The "shifts" means the loss of 85 jobs, 57 of those full-time positions, the newspaper said.