Further job losses are in prospect at Johnston Press-owned weekly titles in Yorkshire as the company’s editorial shake-up continues.
In a move announced to staff last week, the editorial department of the Wakefield-based Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group is to be reorganised with the loss of five roles.
Those whose posts are under threat include two sports journalists, a photographer, a deputy news editor and a digital assistant.
Titles affected by the changes include the Wakefield Express, Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express and Pontefract and Castleford Express.
The changes are set out in an internal memo which has been seen by HoldtheFrontPage. The company has yet to make any official comment.
It states: “A proposal to reorganise the editorial department across YWNG has been announced as part of the relaunch of paid-for titles and the move to develop ‘platform neutral’ newsrooms throughout the Group.
“The following changes are proposed:
• The centralisation of the YWNG sports reporting into a team based in Wakefield, comprising a group sports editor, a group deputy sports editor and four sports reporters. As a result of this there would be a loss of two sports specific roles.
• The re-modelling of the YWNG photographic structure to a centralised format which will result in the loss of one photographic position.
• Changes in digital responsibility for key roles within YWNG which will result in the loss of the YWNG digital assistant role.
• It is proposed to relocate the editorial staff from the office in South Elmsall to the office in Pontefract, and cease the reception service. The resulting change in workflow would result in the loss of the deputy news editor at Pontefract.
“Prior to any implementation, the company will consult extensively on an individual and collective basis to explain the procedure, consider all alternatives, examine ways of mitigating the effects of this proposal, determine redundancy terms and address any other issues that may arise.
“It is expected the consultation process will be complete by June 1. In the event the proposal goes ahead, the company will endeavour to minimise the impact through re-deployment to alternative positions and voluntary redundancy.”
The latest job losses come on top of seven editorial redundancies at the Halifax Courier as a result of its forthcoming switch from daily to weekly.
A separate announcement, also made last week, will see a reduction of up to five advertising line management roles across Leeds, Halifax and Wakefield.
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‘…consider all alternatives, examine ways of mitigating the effects of this proposal, and determine redundancy terms…’
Surely the redundancy terms are set on a national group-wide basis and are the same for everybody?
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If it means they can save a few bob they’ll negotiate the cheapest redundancy terms possible for them! It’s all about the money, ch-ching ch-ching!
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The company will consult extensively – for all of…urm..a fortnight, then do exactly what it always intended to do, utterly ignoring anything anyone may have said during the “consultation”.
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And this morning we heard that the PAs’ jobs are going to be merged – with one PA working for seven managers in Johnston Press’s south division. It seems that every Friday the decisions are announced to the staff affected, and every Monday the rest of us find out. Wonder who it’ll be this Friday?
Trouble is, now there aren’t enough managers, in some cases there isn’t anyone to read the announcements so they get emailed to staff instead. It’s a great company to work for.
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All the usual suspects then: sports journalists, a photographer, a deputy news editor. My advice is stay as a reporter, they tend to fare well when cuts are made.
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I used to work for this shower … what a joke. They couldn’t care less who is laid off, or how, as long as it saves Johnston Press money.
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