In response to plummeting advertising sales, the Ventura County Star’s parent company has completely overhauled its newspaper division, shuffling top management in an effort to cut costs.

The Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Co. said the reorganization will affect all of its 13 newspapers, which will now report to an operating committee on sales and content. The move is being touted as an opportunity to refocus content on local news and improve ad sales, but the Scripps papers could end up sacrificing their autonomy — as well as some employees — in the process.

Mark Contreras, the company’s senior vice president of newspapers, said the newly formed committee will start meeting once a month to discuss streamlining production.