As expected, various media outlets used the insane hype of the Obama inauguration to take out the trash and announce layoffs, hopeful that the news will be buried in a corner at the back of the business section with all the Obamamania coverage going on.

• Months after Global Toronto eliminated its morning newscast, it decided to kill its noon newscast as well. Dozens of jobs are expected to be lost.
• Astral Media is “reorganizing” across Canada, eliminating 23 jobs. The company issued a news release saying it wants to “sincerely thank these employees for their contribution and wishes them the best of luck for the future.” The cuts include Rob Braide, former head honcho of CJAD/Mix/CHOM. Braide is now acting as a consultant.
• B.C.’s Vista Radio is cutting up to 3% of its workforce.

But the big cuts are south of the border, with Clear Channel cutting 1,850 jobs (9%), Warner Brothers cutting 800 (10%) and the Los Angeles Times planning to cut an unspecified number.