New York, New York - The US-based Associated Press news agency is looking to cut almost one in 10 jobs to slash costs, its management said Monday, as the wire battles client cancellations and economic challenges.

In a memo to the AP workforce seen by AFP, management said the cuts would affect "about 8% of our workforce, with less than half impacting the news division."

AP would offer severance packages to a "small number" of staff volunteers, the memo said.

The agency was founded in 1846 and has journalists in nearly 100 countries and all 50 US states, according to its website.

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In March, AP reported that Gannett and McClatchy, two large US media companies, would stop using material from the news agency, a blow to the wire's bottom line.

Most of the personnel changes would be in the US rather than in foreign bureaus, the memo said.

"We are taking proactive steps, including making some staff reductions, as we focus on meeting the evolving needs of our customers," a spokesperson said.

Tony Winton, administrator for the News Media Guild union, said that the plan would be subject to a ratification vote by guild members.

"The plan basically is for 116 employees in the editorial unit, and five employees in the technology unit to be offered a voluntary buyout," he said of the layoffs affecting members of his union.

"We thought it made more sense to have people raise their hands for leaving the company, rather than a layoff," he added.

"It's a pretty sad day for journalism... I think of the collective journalistic skill that could be exiting (and) that's a hell of a blow."