Three E.W. Scripps Co. daily newspapers in Texas have offered voluntary severance packages to employees 55 and older who have worked at least 10 years for the company.

The dailies are the Abilene Reporter-News, San Angelo Standard Times and Wichita Falls Times Record News. The three dailies made the announcements to employees March 21.

Then last month the company released its first quarter earnings showing that total newspaper revenue declined 7.8 percent to $170 million. Advertising revenue at newspapers managed solely by Scripps was $134 million, down 9.2 percent from the prior year period.

Employees who were offered voluntary separation had to be 55 and older, have completed 10 years of service at Scripps and had to meet certain job guidelines. The packages include such benefits as separation pay and a healthcare care subsidy.

The Reporter-News reported that employees had until April 2 to accept the offer and until June 30 to work out details of their departure.

Scripps also publishes the Corpus Christi Caller-Times in Texas but newspaper officials there could not be reached for comment.

Tim Stautberg, a communications officer for Scripps, said the severance packages were not companywide but were offered on a market-to-market basis at the publisher ’s discretion.

Nationwide Scripps has dailies and weeklies in 18 markets.