CBS affiliate WISC-TV (Ch. 3) has laid off six full- and part-time staffers from various departments, including two on-air newscasters.

News anchor Teri Barr — who handled the 9 p.m. newscast on WISC partner My Madison TV (Ch. 14) and co-anchored WISC’s 10 p.m. newscast — and sports reporter Trisha Hermanson were among the staffers let go on Wednesday.

Other cuts were made in engineering, marketing and promotions, and administration.

“It’s because of the advertising,” said station manager Tom Bier. “In our business, our almost exclusive source of revenue is advertising. We give away the product for free. Obviously the recession hurts.”

He said the reduction of auto advertising and national advertising in particular has lowered revenues, but local advertising has remained supportive.