Effective at the end of the month, the Journal-World will join a growing number of newspapers outsourcing its advertising production to a centralized facility.

The move is expected to improve service to advertisers because the new production facility, operated by Gannett Co. Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa, will be staffed at a level to permit more timely turnaround of ads both for digital insertion and for print products. The ability to transmit digital files over the Internet makes the service possible.

The Journal-World, which has a long history of printing USA TODAY for Gannett, is believed to be the first non-Gannett newspaper to contract for the outsourced service; the Des Moines staff heretofore has handled ad production only for other Gannett properties.

The change is expected to affect seven employees at the J-W plant.