Around 20 jobs at the East Anglian Daily Times and Evening Star in Suffolk are to be axed, managers announced today.

Staff at the two Ipswich titles were told of the move in two separate briefings by Archant Suffolk managing director Stuart McCreery.

In a company statement issued this evening, Mr McCreery described current trading conditions as “very difficult.”

He said that the company did not have any “set ideas” about where reductions will fall, but suggested that they would come from photographic, production and the newsroom.

The statement said: “In 2008 the Regional Media sector saw revenues decline quickly and profits on many titles have declined significantly. The outlook is not positive and we have seen other media owners close titles, shut offices and make announcements about staff redundancies.

“The economic environment for Archant Suffolk is very difficult too. Whilst there is considerable effort and activity taking place to improve our revenue performance, it is clear that we cannot continue to operate with the same cost base.

“We have been in discussion with the National Union of Journalists to explore how we can make cost savings within the Editorial department for several months.

“Unfortunately the suggestions put forward to date have only delivered small savings and further discussions with the Union have not led as yet to any suggestions that will provide savings to the level required.

“Archant has taken the decision to invest in an enhanced editorial system that will allow us to exploit the digital opportunities we see whilst delivering efficiency in print content management.

“We expect the system to be delivered to Suffolk during 2009, and the effect this will have on how we work will become clearer as we start planning for implementation. We will inform and consult with staff at the earliest opportunity, but we do expect further headcount reductions as a result of this change to a more efficient work flow.

“The announcement today outlines a proposal to save costs and improve efficiency. We would like to avoid redundancies wherever possible. However, because the proposal to reduce headcount could mean that over 20 people are redundant we will be meeting with representatives from the NUJ, in order to consult with them before final decisions are made.

“Whilst we do not have any set ideas about where reductions will fall, our initial thoughts are that they might come from photographic, production and the newsroom.

“Where redundancies are to be made, we are committed to looking for alternative roles within Archant wherever possible and will ask for volunteers for redundancy before resorting to any compulsory redundancy.

“It is going to be a difficult time for the department and I am sad that we are forced to take this action. We will endeavour to give as much support as possible to all staff affected and conclude the process as swiftly as possible to reduce any extended anxiety.”

Three months ago the two papers announced plans to merge their newsrooms from this month.

At the time of that announcement, five jobs were said to be at risk. An earlier decision to merge the production operations of the two titles had previously led to 20 job losses.

The editor of the Evening Star, Nigel Pickover, is the current president of the Society of Editors and has publicly called on proprietors to deliver more investment in journalism.

Comments

Newshound (12/01/2009 19:21:51)
Is this about direct inputting reporters’ copy to the page, bypassing highly trained subs? If so, better make sure the libel insurance is up to date.

Old Hack (12/01/2009 20:58:00)
It always gets me that the first place management types look at for redundancy is editorial, usually the most productive and hardworking department. How about looking at the newspaper executives who fail to see the way the wind is blowing and concentrate instead on lining their pockets? That way you keep the really valuable assets and get rid of the unproductive dead wood.
Oh silly me, the dead wood makes the decisions!

Woodstein (12/01/2009 21:02:56)
Yes, it’s only a matter of time before stories get ‘subbed’ in 30 seconds and legal action quickly follows because no-one read the copy properly. Where will it all end?

Newsage Hack (12/01/2009 21:13:14)
I can’t help but feel that we as journalists are sometimes our own worst enemy. Whatever sh*t management throws our way, we always make it work rather than stage walkouts or simply work. If management saw their paper wasn’t going to be filled in time, they would soon think again. Instead when staff are laid off, we work all the evenings and weekends god sends. And all the while there’s no mention of a few extra quid for our heroics. No wonder management are trying to see how far they can cutback. They must be saving a fortune on salaries while us mugs continue to make their ‘streamlining’ and ‘multi-platform’ offices tick over. They must be splitting their sides laughing.

Major Eyeswater (12/01/2009 22:33:37)
I couldn’t agree more, Newsage Hack. Journalism is a 24/7 business but that doesn’t mean we have to work 24/7.
We have to be flexible and adapt to different ways of working, but flexibility works both ways.
Sadly, too many people are so frightened of losing their jobs that they’ll work all hours they’re told to.

All Subbed Out (13/01/2009 08:57:06)
I just love the garbarge that management types come out with about ‘an enhanced editorial system that will allow us to exploit … digital opportunities’. So yet again, that means fewer and fewer trained reporters, leaving the remainder to get any old rubbish press releases or whatever copy they can lay their hands on turned around as fast as possible and splashed across umpteen ‘platforms’, giving lots of glitzy quantity without any actual substance or quality. And then management wonders why no-ones buying papers any more. Do you have to have a lobotomy to become an Archant executive or is it just a popular optional extra to climb the management ladder?

Woz a Worker (13/01/2009 09:17:58)
Agree with the comments, however the rot is not about to start it already did. Papers are not and have not been checked for ages. The Star and EADT are littered with mistakes, wrong captions, typos etc. This along with the missing ads replaced just with their reference numbers. Nothing is checked so you get a planner putting say a funeral director on a page, then an editorial person filling an edit space but neither know what the other is doing so you get a road accident story against an undertaker for example.
Add to this the down grading of The Advertiser, the loss of the Green Un and the sometimes poor quality printing where you need 3D glasses to read!!!
Archant is on the way out.
Wish I had the money to start up a local METRO that would finish them off!

Paul, Petts Wood (13/01/2009 14:53:00)
“Do you have to have a lobotomy to become an Archant executive or is it just a popular optional extra to climb the management ladder?” asks All Subbed Out.
In my experience the answer is a definite yes.

Journo (13/01/2009 16:34:54)
Archant Suffolk staff aren’t the only ones in the group to suffer the axe – editorial staff across the group’s east London titles, Newham Recorder, Dagenham Post – were told on Monday they will soon be expected to report for duty at the company’s Ilford base. Sounds like another short-sighted economy that risks losing touch with the punters who ar the lifeblood of local papers.

Well out of it (27/01/2009 09:13:00)
Further job cuts will be announced shortly as the production department at Norwich is further trimmed!