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Editor and designer axed in latest Newsquest cuts

Sue LewisThe first female editor of a Welsh weekly is the latest redundancy announced in cuts by a regional publisher.

Sue Lewis, pictured left, left the Cardigan-based Tivy-Side Advertiser on Friday after being told two weeks ago her job would be axed.

Sue had held the role for almost seven years, and spent 13 years prior to that as deputy editor at the Advertiser.

Staff were informed of the move by Newsquest West Wales publisher Dean Merrick, which will also see the Haverfordwest-based Western Telegraph’s graphic designer leave their role.

It is understood Telegraph and Milford Mercury editor Holly Robinson will take on the Advertiser as part of her portfolio.

So far this month three other Newsquest editors have left the company – Paul Walker, group editor of seven titles in the company’s Stourbridge Division; Sue Smith, of the Stroud News and Journal and Gloucestershire Independent; and Skip Walker, of the Wilts and Glos Standard and Gloucestershire Gazette.

A number of photographic redundancies have also been made by the company across the country.

A source from inside Newsquest West Wales, who did not want to be named, said: “Newsquest accountants look at numbers on a spread sheet but they don’t have a clue about the work editors on smaller weeklies do – including reporting front page splashes and typing in village pars and taking photographs and local events.

“They are losing valuable experience – including contacts built over many years – and putting the futures of the titles at risk for the want of saving a few grand a year. Ridiculous.”

No one from Newsquest has so far responded to a request for a comment.

8 comments

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  • December 23, 2014 at 8:15 am
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    Twenty years of loyal service rewarded like that – just before Christmas too. Accountants do indeed rule the roost and I expect 2015 will bring many more negative moments like this one. I’ve never met Sue but wish her all the best in a job where her manifest talents will be fully appreciated.

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  • December 23, 2014 at 2:15 pm
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    Ah.these multi talented people editing several papers. Or maybe not from what I see. People like Sue will always be missed. Group editors are a fudge.

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  • December 23, 2014 at 4:08 pm
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    After being made redundant myself not so many months ago, I have come to the conclusion that if your talents and expertise are not appreciated and wanted, there are many other companies out there who will. Believe me, there is a better life after/out of Newquest, it’s just we become too institutionalised with the archaic management and monotonous business decisions to realise.

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  • December 23, 2014 at 8:10 pm
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    Typical Newsquest – I was made redundant by letter on Christmas Eve 2008 after 33 years service (editor, deputy editor, news editor) without even being given the option of working my notice as the management didn’t want disgruntled soon-to-be former employees hanging about giving off negative vibes!

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  • December 23, 2014 at 9:30 pm
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    Another sad day. Newsquest is misnamed. It has never quested for news, only for profit to feed the gannet. And we all know what voracious birds they are. NQ’s days in the UK are numbered.

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  • January 10, 2015 at 1:36 pm
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    Despite many written protests from the people of Cardigan after the Tivy-Side Advertiser axed the post of Cardigan editor, not a single letter on the matter has been published by the paper’s management.

    In addition, a letter from Aneurin Evans, the previous editor for 32 years, was deleted from the Tivy-Side’s online edition.

    Those who wish to read Mr Evans’s original letter, which includes a set of guiding principles from the first editor in 1866, may do so here:

    http://jackie-news.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-story-that-wont-lie-down.html

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