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North East hit by newspaper cutbacks

Six newspaper and magazine titles across the North East are set to close as a result of recession-induced cutbacks by publisher Trinity Mirror.

The publisher has announced it is preparing to drop 25 editorial jobs at its newspapers in Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

The company announced the closure of five district offices in the region last November, along with the loss of 28 journalists’ jobs. But as the recession continues to impact on all media outlets, managers have been forced to announce more cost-cutting measures.

Newcastle-based ncjMedia is proposing to close the South Tyne Chronicle Extra, North Tyneside Chronicle Extra, North-East Exclusive, and City Living, while Teesside’s Gazette Media is closing the Times series and the Yarm Town Crier.

Trinity Mirror has estimated the total redundancy figure at 66 in all across the two North East businesses.

Chris Morley, northern organiser for the National Union of Journalists, said: “The announcement of these savage cutbacks have left people feeling shell shocked and angry. These latest cuts must represent about 10% of the editorial workforce and come on top of reductions in staffing earlier this year.

“NUJ members will now decide on how they plan to respond. Combined with Trinity Mirror’s plans for cutbacks across the Midlands, the company’s stated commitments to local communities look pretty hollow. It is left to its journalists to stand up for quality on their titles.”

Georgina Harvey, managing director of Trinity Mirror Regionals, said: “We, in common with all UK publishing companies, are facing some real challenges. As a consequence, this will involve difficult but necessary decisions to secure our long-term future.

“These actions announced today are designed to protect our North East businesses and the majority of their employees. We are seeking volunteers from within affected groups in order to minimise any necessity for compulsory redundancies.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .