KGO-AM, which has been No. 1 in total total audience since the 1970s and one of the most successful news-talk stations in the country, has laid off five employees including afternoon co-anchor Greg Jarrett and East Bay reporter Greg Edmonds.

Both are long-time on-air personalities. Jarrett has been at 810 for 16 years, from 1986 until 1994 as a reporter. He then became a staff correspondent for ABC News. He returned to KGO in 2000. Edmonds has been at KGO since 1979.

General Manager Mickey Luckoff’s assistant, Sue Ostrom, has agreed to take a buyout package and is retiring after 41 years at the station.

Also leaving are Internet David Rich and talk show producer Harry Hall.

We’re told that Luckoff fought the layoffs every step of the way, looking for money everywhere and anywhere. The station is doing well, but owner Citadel Broadcasting is in terrible shape with its stock falling to about 20 cents a share (Symbol: CDL). The stock is about to be delisted by the NYSE.

UPDATE, Jan. 17: Luckoff has posted on his station’s Web site a letter explaining the departures of the five employees. [Link]