Washington will lose 3% of its remaining newspapers next week when four South King County papers are consolidated into one.

Carpenter Media Group, an Alabama-based chain, is combining its weeklies in Renton, Kent, Auburn and Federal Way into a single publication called the South King Reporter.

“We feel this gives the readers their local content plus additional content from other areas in King County that is relevant to them,” John Carr, Carpenter’s regional executive in Bend, Ore., said via email.

Carr declined to answer my questions about whether layoffs will result. There’s not much left to cut at the papers, which have just a few remaining reporters, including some who already cover multiple communities.

The move will result in savings and offset rising operating costs, Carr said.

“Designing and printing one product rather than four is much easier for the staff to plan, design, print and distribute,” he said.…