The publisher of the Manchester Evening News Reach PLC has announced that it will be cutting nearly 320 jobs across its national titles but will be creating 135 new ones
The proposed restructure of editorial says the National Union of Journalists puts 600 journalists at risk and threatens 321 jobs
The changes will see the creation of a live news network across the group as well as the creation of more video and audio as opposed to text stories
It is understood that the publisher is preparing to create digital subscription products starting with the Manchester Evening News
Reach’s Chief content officer David Higgerson said: “Our new structure represents the biggest reorganisation we’ve ever undertaken, even more than in the early days of the digital revolution”
Chris Morley, NUJ national Reach coordinator, said: “This comes as a devastating body blow to staff who have done all that is asked of them and more in the last year to make a success of this business.” adding
“Who will bring the scoops, provide the colour and do the analysis and comment readers expect from such important titles in the fabric of each nation? Merging of resources and introducing identical newspaper pages between brands risks switch off from the buying public.”
