Newspapers have been almost “entirely” written by students and interns owing to a regional publisher’s unofficial recruitment freeze, union chiefs have claimed.

The National Union of Journalists says managers at Newsquest South London have cancelled interviews for senior reporter and content editor roles at its newspapers following the departures of eight journalists since March.

According to the NUJ, two content editors, four senior reporters and one trainee have resigned apparently because they were disillusioned by the company’s practices, while a digital editor has also left.

It claims two newspapers were recently produced written largely by an unpaid intern and students on work experience.

Newsquest South London staff during their 11-day strike in July 2015

An NUJ chapel spokesperson said: “Newsquest’s digital-first strategy is in tatters here. Reporters and content editors are at full stretch to produce quality newspapers, with little time left over to truly serve our readers online.

“Stagnating or falling web traffic has been masked by the use of picture galleries, which log one page view per image the reader sees.

“We work for a company that only implemented mandatory training for online reporting in the second half of last year. Journalists who love local news are paying the price for years of poor management by Newsquest.

“Everyone is thinking, ‘Who will leave next, and will I have to do their work as well?'”

Last July journalists at Newsquest South London held an 11-day strike over a proposed restructure of the company’s titles in the capital.

The action was ended after the NUJ and Newsquest reached an agreement which included a pledge to pay trainee reporters the London Living Wage.

Laura Davison , NUJ national organiser, said: “We are urging Newsquest to address the acute and harmful pressures they have put on the newsroom and our members. These constant and relentless cuts are making local journalism in South London unsustainable.

“Newsquest senior management have adopted a cavalier, bunker mentality and they must now take urgent action to improve the dire working conditions they have created.”

HTFP has asked Newsquest for a comment on the issue.