Washington Post closes bureaus

The Washington Post daily newspaper is to shut its bureaus in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.



In a memo, Executive editor Marcus Brauchli told staff that although the posts of six correspondents in the offices were safe, three news aides had lost their jobs.



The move is said to be a cost cutting measure after the company lost US$166.7 million during the first three quarters of this year.



Meanwhile, the editor said the national paper would now focus more on political stories and local news coverage in Washington.



Like other US media, the paper has seen a decline in advertising revenue and circulation in recent years.



The bureaus are due to close at the end of the year.