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regionalhack (07/01/2009 18:16)
Trinity Mirror management clearly think the only thing about a local paper that has to be local is the name on the masthead, and place no value on journalists with local knowledge and local contacts. Curious to see an industry kill itself.


R. Slicker (07/01/2009 20:02)
These actions have been taken to protect vulnerable shareholders from further falls in dividends. A spell on the dole will hopefully make those miserable, disingenuous former 'members of staff' realise that a multi-platform media organisation does not revolve around them. "The proposed changes are currently subject to consultation but it is anticipated that the re-structure will result in approximately 16 fewer editorial roles. "The company is committed to achieving as many of the redundancies as possible on a voluntary basis and will be entering into a period of collective consultation with all affected staff."


old employee (07/01/2009 23:16)
I can't say I'm surprised. Sales at TMS papers, particularly at Harrow and Ealing, have been declining for many months and years. Recession was the last thing these papers needed when they were already struggling. Papers like Ealing tried to branch out with ideas like the Polish news pullout but they were done in a cheap and shoddy way. How are English speaking subs supposed to edit copy that is in Polish!?


Exiled Rick Hack (08/01/2009 09:31)
The loss of local and regional based news is summed up neatly in this article. Rickmansworth, which is covered by the Watford Observer, is in Hertfordshire and borders Buckinghamshire and Middlesex and is NOT in North London. The loss of the Ricky office will mean another small cog in the journalist wheel will have been dislodged


Reality Check (08/01/2009 11:49)
1. All journalists are being given laptops to enable them to spend more time generating local content on site 2. TMS had two of the best performing paid-for titles in the country at the last audit 3. The Gazeta Polska was in fact edited by polish people 4. Rickmansworth was only ever an admin & production centre so geography has no relevance


Paul Lagan (08/01/2009 11:57)
The Polish newspaper was a brilliant idea. The editor clearly thought hard about trying to give his punters something that was relevant to them. It showed initiative and should be commended. I fervently hope the papers survive this latest setback and the all staff affected by redundancy get the best deal possible.


Old employee (08/01/2009 12:30)
I can assure you that the subs who edited it were not Polish. In fact, it was not unheard of for a Polish girl from advertising to be frogmarched to editorial where she would be asked about spellings and whatnot.


Davey (08/01/2009 13:46)
You know, when newspapers expand in a booming economy no one bats an eyelid. When they close because people aren't buying them in a recession, everyone goes mad. It's a good job other industries aren't so precious about pruning when the public want less of the product. Look at the car factories running a four or three-day week. That could work in newspapers on a rota system. What about it journos? If it was to save your jobs what would you say?


Hannah (09/01/2009 11:50)
What is the deal with these stupid words?? "user-generated sources", "generating content". Why does TMS insist on discrediting journalists by basically describing them as robots? Shockingly bad practice given they are talking to people who they train to cut through the b***s***.


Old employee (09/01/2009 12:44)
They're more the sort of words councils would be expected to use aren't they Hannah...


Hannah (09/01/2009 13:57)
Agree totally, old employee. Davey - you are missing the point. This isn't just about being precious about jobs (although lord knows that is understandable). This is about working in an environment where resources and staff are being constantly chipped away at, more is expected of you all the time, you are treated badly by your employer and the only reason you stay is because of your stolid passion for the work - when you are still loyal through that it is a kick in the teeth to be made redundant. The workers deserve better.


Damien (10/01/2009 07:31)
Davey, it's not adequate to compare these cutbacks to a factory reducing production. Cutting back on staff and time so that a newspaper is less local, less comprehensive and less relevant fundamentally damages the papers' standing. It's more like saving money by making cars with doors that don't open and headlights that don't work. People don't buy individual stories, they buy a newspaper after gaining respect for it over a period of time, so it has to be an effective, consistent product.


Ole employee (11/01/2009 11:52)
It's almost the sort of language a council communications team would use...perhaps even Hillingdon Council


Hannah (12/01/2009 17:17)
Do you think I work in the communications team at Hillingdon, old employee? I don't. I am a reporter and I live more than 100 miles from Hillingdon. Sorry to disrupt your sarcasm.