The newspaper edited for decades by John S. Knight, now in the hands of new owners due to the demise of Knight Ridder, plans to cut staff. The Akron, Ohio, Beacon Journal is still profitable but profit levels have been dropping and the new owner, Black Press Ltd. of Canada, intends to reverse that, according to a story in the Beacon Journal this morning. As is routine when the ownership of a newspaper changes, the publisher is replaced. Jim Crutchfield, who headed the Beacon Journal for five years, will be replaced by Ed Moss, who comes from Media General.