Gatehouse Media, which is planning to merge with USA Today owner Gannett, has quietly begun a round of newsroom cuts. More than two dozen newsroom staffers were reportedly laid off from at least 10 papers, including the Providence Journal and the Oklahoman, the Associated Press reported. The cuts began only a week after Gatehouse's owner, New Media Investment Group, announced its $1.4 billion cash-and-stock deal to take over Gannett to form the largest newspaper chain in the country. But the decline in New Media Investment Group stock since it was announced means the acquisition is now valued at only about $1.2 billion. The two dozen new cuts are only a sliver of the 10,000-plus employees at Gatehouse, which publishes more 150 dailies and 500 weeklies mostly in small-market America. Still, layoffs are making some staffers worry that more slashing could be in store should the merger come to pass.