Three columnists and a cartoonist have been axed by a regional daily after its Saturday magazine was scrapped as part of a series of cutbacks.
As previously reported on HTFP, the Leicester Mercury is in the process of reshaping its features team with four staff taking redundancy and two others resigning of their own accord.
Owner Trinity Mirror has now confirmed that the paper will also no longer publish its Saturday More magazine as a standalone supplement, with some of its regular content and features being absorbed by its Weekend magazine instead.
As a result, three columns published in More have been scrapped – including a weekly food piece written by former Great British Bake Off runner-up Holly Bell.
The front cover of More magazine from 18 June
Others to go include Kate Diamond, who writes a weekly piece called Rough Diamond, and Sarah Potter, who writes fashion column On The Plus Side.
Rachel Smith’s cartoon Vicky Park, which had been a feature of More since it began, has also been axed.
Discussing the changes to More, a Trinity Mirror spokeswoman said: “This is part of the outcome from the announcement made 27th May about reducing pagination for features.
“The More supplement will no longer be published as a separate supplement but some of its regular features/content will move into the existing Weekend supplement.”
Outgoing More editor Gemma Peplow, one of the feature writers made redundant as part of the changes, penned a farewell message to readers in last Saturday’s issue.
She wrote: “It has also been a privilege to work on More for the last two years. It’s a lot of fun, talking to people for a living. Sometimes we forget it’s actually work.
“So. Who do we need to thank? Well, there are all the brilliant Leicestershire people we’ve interviewed, of course: from the woman who designed a stage outfit for Beyonce and the first female Muslim football coach in the country, to the retired couple travelling South America in a 4×4 and the inspiring mum preparing for the North Pole Marathon. And there have been many, many more.
“There is always someone from Leicestershire doing something amazing somewhere in the world, and it’s been an honour to tell their stories.
“We’d also like to thank all the people who have contributed to More over the years, too. We couldn’t have done it without you.
“And lastly, we’d like to thank you, More readers. Thank you for picking us up each week. We hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have. It really has been a blast.”
Other staff departing as part of the changes announced in May include Lee Marlow, who won Feature Writer of the Year for the third successive year at this year’s Regional Press Awards.
Lee’s previously anonymous Fred Leicester column, which also featured in More, was published for the last time last month.
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
So, product devalued, content diminished and sales fall. Rinse. Repeat. The end.
Report this comment
Minim Guide to Synonyms: Axed = Trinity Mirror
Report this comment
Or perhaps there has been a strategic shift of revenue away from newspapers to other products, Facebook and Google in particular?
Report this comment
RInse? You are almost right Harry. But I would suggest that with Trinity Mirror rinse is always followed by a spin cycle.
Report this comment
Strategic shift of revenue? To Facebook or Google?
I think you’ll find there’s nothing to be made there. Facebook and Google have seen to that.
Report this comment
That was my point, Harry – revenues traditionally collected by newspapers are now being spent elsewhere, on Facebook and Google in particular.
Report this comment
I’m really, really sad for the staff who are losing their jobs and wish them the best of luck as they attempt to find new careers. But I’m not really so sure about feeling quite as sad about axing some columnists who pen a few words as an additional it of income. I’d far rather see newspaper companies stop sounding money on non journalists and use the cash to invest in journalists for whom writing is their only source of income.
Report this comment
Ever decreasing circles. A bit like watching the dot disappear when you switch off the old black and white tvs.
Report this comment
Perhaps they should rename it. How about “less”?
Report this comment